BBC Presenter Corrects the Woke Script Written For Her, Clarifying That "Pregnant People" Means, Obviously, Pregnant Women

This is actually a major breakthrough, insanely enough.

One employee of the BBC actually Believes In the Science (TM) and is willing to share it with the public. Huzzah.

Note that a presenter had previously been disciplined for accurately stating that a "transgender woman" who won a chess tournament was, in fact, a male.

But now the BBC is sensing the public's growing hostility to woke lies, and is said to be supporting the presenter's brave use of simple honesty.

BBC bosses have backed a television presenter who corrected the phrase "pregnant people" to "women" while broadcasting live, in what has been welcomed as a rejection of gender-neutral language.

Martine Croxall, 56, was citing a study about protecting vulnerable people in hot weather and, after reading out the report's phrasing, immediately rolled her eyes and changed the wording to "women".

"Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, says that the aged, pregnant people ... women ... and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions," she said.

JK Rowling was among those to support the presenter, calling Croxall "her new favourite BBC presenter" on X, and the former Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova also backed her.

Croxall added: "A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen to follow me today for whatever reason. It's been quite a ride."

She has gained almost 50,000 followers on the social media platform since the incident on Sunday afternoon.

BBC bosses are also understood to have been "intensely relaxed" about the wording amid concerns from some staff that Croxall may have faced disciplinary action.
Last year Justin Webb, a presenter of Today on Radio 4, was found to have partially breached BBC guidelines over the way in which he described a transgender woman in a debate about chess.

Webb was told that he was at fault for describing the transgender woman as "in other words, male" during a debate in August 2023 about guidelines issued by the international chess federation about whether men have an advantage in the game.

But the BBC's position appears to have shifted since Webb was sanctioned.
Following Sunday's broadcast, bosses are understood to have checked in with Croxall in a supportive way.

"It's a real cultural moment," said one fellow BBC presenter, who said that there is a groundswell of support internally for using "honest language".

Posted by: Ace at 03:46 PM | Comments (336) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Iran Launches Six Missiles Towards US Base in Doha, Qatar

Trump warned Iran that if they retaliated against the US, his mission would change from destroying Iran's nuke program to destroying the government and its military leadership.

Iran launched six missiles towards our base at Doha. Reportedly, all were intercepted:

Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg

JUST IN: Qatar confirms that Iranian missiles launched toward U.S. Al Udeid Air Base were successfully intercepted.

There are no reports of any damage or injuries.

"We reassure that Qatar's air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles."

"We call for the immediate cessation of all military actions and for a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue."

Will this cause Trump to attack the regime directly? I don't know. I have a memory of Iran attacking Israel last year. I think people said that Iran had offered a token attack just to prove that the regime was still intact, but calculated it to be small enough so as to not provoke a substantial Israel attack. This might be the same thing.

Posted by: Ace at 02:32 PM | Comments (591) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Turns Out, Trump Did Call Democrat Leaders Before the Strike.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Was Just Too Busy to Pick Up the Phone.

Schumer did pick up the phone, but somehow did not leak advanced word to Iran.

CNN tried to stir controversy by reporting that while House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune were briefed ahead of time, Democrat leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries were only informed shortly before the public announcement, after the operation had already taken place. But as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained on Fox News, this was nothing more than a misleading narrative designed to distract from a major American victory. Leavitt didn't just push back; she dismantled the lie piece by piece.

"We did make bipartisan calls," Leavitt stated, setting the record straight from the outset. "Thomas Massie and the Democrats -- he should be a Democrat 'cause he's more aligned with them than with the Republican Party -- were given notice. The White House made calls to congressional leadership. They were bipartisan calls."

The White House, contrary to the manufactured narrative, conducted its due diligence and reached out to leaders on both sides of the aisle. The administration's outreach efforts were comprehensive, but in a detail that speaks volumes, the top Democrat in the House was apparently unavailable to take a call of such national security importance.

Leavitt revealed the specifics of the outreach, exposing the disingenuous nature of the complaints.

"In fact, Hakeem Jeffries couldn't be reached," she explained. "We tried him before the strike and he didn't pick up the phone, but he was briefed after, as well as Chuck Schumer was briefed prior to the strike."

As to Massie: Trump has declared war on him and will support a primary challenger.

President Donald Trump tore into Rep. Thomas Massie on Sunday, blasting the Kentucky congressman for siding with Democrats and opposing a decisive U.S. military operation that crippled three of Iran's most critical nuclear facilities.

"Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Actually, MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him."

Trump accused Massie of consistently opposing critical Republican policies and likened him to "Rand Paul, Jr." for his habit of voting no on major legislation. Trump blasted him as "a simple-minded grandstander" and said Massie was playing into Iran's hands by trying to block efforts to prevent the Islamic regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"Iran has killed and maimed thousands of Americans," Trump wrote. "This 'lightweight' Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night in Iran," referring to the military operation he authorized.

On CBS's Face the Nation Sunday, Massie defended his position, stating, "We were tired of endless wars in the Middle East... we should have debated this war powers resolution instead of staying on vacation." He argued Congress should reclaim its constitutional authority over war decisions.

Trump dismissed that argument outright. "Massie should drop his fake act and start putting America First, but he doesn't know how to get there -- he doesn't have a clue!" he said, adding that Massie is "disrespectful to our great military."

The president ended the post with a vow: "The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard."

Posted by: Ace at 01:28 PM | Comments (491) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Federal Magistrate Orders Trump to Release Abrego Garcia

Back to this crap again.

A Tennessee judge has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia--a suspected MS-13 member accused of smuggling migrants, narcotics, and ammunition into the U.S.

Key Details:

U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes ruled Sunday that the government failed to prove Kilmar Abrego Garcia should remain in federal custody before trial.

Garcia, a Salvadoran national, is accused of making over 100 border-crossing trips as part of a years-long smuggling operation. He was deported in March, only to be returned to the U.S. in June to face criminal charges.

Despite acknowledging ICE would likely detain Garcia regardless, Holmes wrote that "the strength of the factors weighing in favor of release outweighs all other factors in favor of detention."

Diving Deeper:

A federal magistrate in Tennessee has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal migrant accused of operating a wide-ranging human smuggling ring and suspected of gang affiliations. The decision--handed down Sunday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes--denied federal prosecutors' request to keep Garcia in detention ahead of his trial.

According to court records, Garcia allegedly ran a years-long smuggling operation involving over 100 border-crossing trips. Prosecutors say he helped transport not just illegal migrants, but also narcotics and ammunition throughout the country. Despite these allegations, Holmes said the prosecution did not sufficiently prove that Garcia posed either a flight risk or a danger to the public.

"Overall, the strength of the factors weighing in favor of release outweighs all other factors in favor of detention," Holmes wrote in her ruling. "Particularly given the clear default under the law that persons who have not yet been convicted of a crime should be released pending trial."

The Trump administration quickly moved to counter the ruling, filing a notice of appeal and signaling that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would likely take Garcia into custody regardless of the court's release order. Holmes herself acknowledged that her decision may ultimately be symbolic. "Either Abrego will remain in the custody of the Attorney General... or he will likely remain in ICE custody subject to anticipated removal proceedings that are outside the jurisdiction of this Court," she noted.

The Assistant Secretary of DHS says: Never.

Posted by: Ace at 12:30 PM | Comments (434) | Trackbacks (Suck)

THE MORNING RANT: Local Tennessee News of National Importance – 6/23/2025

Much like the Powerline guys reporting on Minnesota stories that have national significance, I’d like to report on a few things going on here in Tennessee that have importance beyond the state.

*****

President Trump Fires Another Climate Cultist from TVA’s Board

Donald Trump has just fired another radical left-wing climate cultist from the Board of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the utility which provides electricity to seven states in the South. This is the 3rd radical ecovangelist appointed by Joe Biden that Trump has removed from TVA’s board.

“President Trump fires third TVA board member since March” [WATE Knoxville – 6/11/2025]

Beth Geer was appointed in 2023 by President Biden (or more likely by his handlers) and her tenure on the TVA board was supposed to go through 2026.

How radical is she? Very radical, as documented in this story from the Chattanooga newspaper a few days ago:

"I believe that carbon pollution is a public health emergency," Geer said. "When the health and safety of our communities, children and grandchildren are at stake, we must act ... and we must move quicker to address the climate crisis."

Geer, who chaired the board committee in charge of executive pay incentives, celebrated at a meeting in November a new payout incentive based on how quickly TVA expands renewable energy.

"We need to go further, faster on our renewable energy goals," Geer said in May 2024. "We hear you, we see you, we are working on it. I just want to say that out loud."

"One item that was very important to me as we develop goals this year was to ensure that we are, in fact, incentivizing management to increase carbon free resources."

Those of us who rely on the TVA for electricity dodged a bullet with Donald Trump’s election.

And by the way, the “true conservatives” at National Review and the rest of Conservative, Inc. got their way when Joe Biden was “elected” President in 2020. Biden then stuffed TVA’s board with radical anti-carbonists. In 2024, National Review and Conservative, Inc. again worked to defeat Donald Trump (to “save conservatism” and thereby elect Kamala Harris. She would have not only kept Biden’s TVA appointees, but added more “net zero” zealots to it.

Donald Trump flushing the climate communists out of the TVA is actual, real-life conservatism in action. Meanwhile, as I scan National Review and their Twitter feeds, I see that Dan and Charlie et al are having the vapors over Donald Trump’s handling of Tik Tok, which violates some sacred penumbra of “true conservatism,” yet they were perfectly willing to let Biden and Kamala inflict the left’s decarbonization agenda on residents of the Tennessee Valley. If that is “principled conservatism,” please give me Donald Trump’s unprincipled version instead.

*****

Parking Garage Fire in Nashville Causes Structural Damage

There is an emerging trend of parking garage fires that are so intense that they cause structural damage to the building itself. Just a month ago I wrote about the massive fire at a garage at Jacksonville’s airport. It was so intense that it caused a partial collapse of the structure. The vehicle that started the Jacksonville fire is was a BMW, but the ATF has still not confirmed if it was an EV / plug-in hybrid. I have my suspicions.

Just a few days ago, there was another massive fire at a public parking garage in Nashville. It too was so intense that it caused a partial collapse of the structure. In fact, the damage is so extensive that the adjacent downtown library has been closed for at least a month due to damage.

“Nashville Public Library to close for nearly a month after garage fire” [Tennessean – 6/16/2025]

The cause is still being determined, but the intensity of the fire gives a clue. Also, much of the fleet where the fire started belonged to a left-wing public agency committed to all the sustainable, green nonsense that is associated with promoting EVs.

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM | Comments (376) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Mid-Morning Art Thread

A moonlit lane
John Atkinson Grimshaw

Posted by: CBD at 09:30 AM | Comments (309) | Trackbacks (Suck)

The Morning Report — 6/ 23 /25

Good morning kids. Well, what's done is done, and now come the repercussions and ramifications both geopolitically and domestically. Since Israel decided to strike at the head of the snake in the wake of the October 7th attacks from Iran's proxy army Hamas in Gaza, the potential for direct American involvement against Iran was always a possibility. Even being a big Trump supporter, Jew and Israel booster, I was never sanguine about the prospect, even with Donald Trump as commander-in-chief, mostly because of our prior disasters and debacles by getting involved militarily in the Middle East, regardless of who was in the Oval Office. All that said, the hopefully complete or near complete destruction of Iran's nuclear weapons program, regardless of who did it, can only be viewed as a gigantic positive in terms of pulling the region and indeed the world back from the brink of armageddon, at least in the near term.

That said, I'm reminded of Craig T. Nelson's line from "Poltergeist" :

"You moved the headstones — but you left the bodies?!"

With this unrelated yet absolutely related story that is getting very little coverage because of the Iran strike and also because of the nature of the story itself and the media, no doubt gentle reader you will immediately see where I'm going with this.

At least 20 Christians were killed and 52 others were wounded on Sunday when a radical Islamic terrorist opened fire in an Orthodox church in Damascus, Syria, and then detonated an explosive vest, according to Syria’s interior ministry.

The terrorist, affiliated with ISIS, targeted Mar Elias Church in Dweila, on the outskirts of Damascus, the BBC reported. A person who witnessed the attack told AFP news agency that “someone entered carrying a weapon” and began firing at worshipers. A group of church members charged the attacker and “tried to stop him before he blew himself up,” the witness added.

So, what does this have to do with Iran? Everything. That is, everything that matters. First of all, the term "radical Islamic terrorist" is a triple redundancy but kudos at least for using the word Islamic and not Islamist which is obfuscatory by design. Substitute waves of Hamas attackers raping and maiming their way into southern Israel from Gaza or an IRGC missile crew firing off a nuclear tipped V-2 clone or No-Dong Big Schlong missile at Tel Aviv, et VIOLA as we say.

So, we may have destroyed Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities, whatever the geopolitical and domestic repercussions. The problem was is and always has been – for over 1500 years and counting – ISLAM, Unless and until Islam reforms itself (a non-starter) or is otherwise neutralized, Civilization will still be at risk of being destroyed at some point down the road. When the #1 baby name across most of Europe is Mohammed, nuclear weapons is the least of our worries. Iran, or Turdogon's Turkey or the Saudis do not need nukes with several hundred million "Tiny Time Pills" in the form of immigrants/migrants spread out all over Europe and here in America. While far too many of the indigenous non-Muslim citizenry are willfully committing cultural suicide courtesy of Leftist/Socialist cultural rot eating away at the foundations of 2,000 years of the advancement of humanity via Judeo-Christianity and Western Civilization.

Lest we forget, Pakistan has nuclear weapons and shares a very long border with Iran so what's to stop them from helping the Mullahs reconstitute their nuke program or just give them one or two warheads. And as for Iran closing off the Straits of Hormuz, I imagine that would not include oil shipments to the Chi-Coms and/or NORKs, perhaps in exchange for a few small tactical warheads. What if Iran had a missile or even a boat with an Islamikaze crew and a warhead heading at ramming speed towards a US Aircraft carrier parked off Israel or in the Gulf. Remember the USS Cole incident post 9/11?

So, now that the hornet's nest has been kicked, what's next? I think the IRGC is too vested both in Islam and conventional internal power politics to ever willingly cede power to any other party, certainly none that are not Islamic in nature and for sure not the scion of the late Shah or any pro-western moderate secular party.

Even if Khameni and some or all of his associates are forced out, the Iranian people will still have a giant rusty scimitar at their throats. Wish I could be more upbeat about their prospects, and then again, I'm no expert and have no inside dope on the Iranian street, but all things being equal, unless they are armed to the teeth and/or have significant police and army personnel willing to help them seize power across the nation, get ready for Islamic Republic 2.0.

Back here at home, and with everything going on, let's hope that this is a one-off and unrelated, but with years of a wide open border, this raises pulses.

Police told Click on Detroit that a security guard at Wayne, Michigan’s CrossPointe Community Church shot and killed an alleged active shooter Sunday morning. The City of Wayne Police Department posted to Facebook, “The Wayne Police Department responded to an active shooter at Crosspointe Church in Wayne this morning. Upon arrival, officers determined that a security guard for the church shot and killed the suspect.”

Maybe it was just a run-of-the-mill transexual psycho and not a harbinger of Hamas infiltrators, so let's not sow needless panic and Islamophobia! Gevalt...

And lastly, a quick shout-out and thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.

Have a great day!

ABOVE THE FOLD, BREAKING, NOTEWORTHY




• Victor Davis Hanson: What Trump’s Strike Means for Iran, the Middle East, and American Power.
  Ten Iranian Questions
  
• Michael Walsh: . . . my controversial observations about the failure of American military leadership since 1945, especially our defeat by a handful of Saudi Arabian and other Muslims at the Battle of 9/11.
  THE CONVERSATION: Clausewitz, Music, and the Real Art of War

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at 07:21 AM | Comments (416) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Daily Tech News 23 June 2025

Top Story

• Why 51% of engineering leadership thinks AI is leading the industry in the wrong direction. (Engineering Leadership)
  
  Because (a) AI is leading the industry in the wrong direction and (b) the other 49% are trying to sell you something.
  
  Fortunately generative AI may be on track to delete itself entirely.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM | Comments (145) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Sunday Overnight Open Thread - June 22, 2025 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings! Welcome to the Sunday ONT. You know the drill -- skim the content, jump into the comments, go back and look at the content again, repeat one or more of those things. No matter how YOU take your ONT, we're glad you stopped by. C'mon in!

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:50 PM | Comments (386) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Gun Thread: Post-NoVAMoMe Discussion and Analysis Edition!

Howdy, Y'all! Welcome to the wondrously fabulous Gun Thread! As always, I want to thank all of our regulars for being here week in and week out, and also offer a bigly Gun Thread welcome to any newcomers who may be joining us tonight. Howdy and thank you for stopping by! I hope you find our wacky conversation on the subject of guns 'n shooting both enjoyable and informative. You are always welcome to lurk in the shadows of shame, but I'd like to invite you to jump into the conversation, say howdy, and tell us what kind of shooting you like to do!

Holy Balls O' Poo! How in the ever-loving Hell did it get to be the 2025 Post NoVAMoMe Discussion and Analysis Edition??? Please consider this an open thread to discuss your NoVAMoMe experience, or really any other MoMe for that matter. Who knows, you may help a scairdy-cat lurker throw caution to the wind and commit to attending one!

NoVAMoMe Update
A bigly big thank you to all those who attended the 2025 NoVAMoMe! It is always so much fun to see our online pals and make some new freshly de-lurking friends as well! The weather was perfect and as far as I could tell everyone had a great time visiting one another. My bestest blog buddy, organizer and generally nice person extraordinaire bluebell and I thank everyone for attending. Hopefully those who were there will inspire others to join the fun at a MoMe near them!

Have I said it's fun?

With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?

Posted by: Weasel at 07:00 PM | Comments (142) | Trackbacks (Suck)

The CBD-Less Food Thread

Good afternoon. CBD is out on secret assignment. Or he just wanted to take the day off from you Morons. I'm not sure.

Just remember, if you fall asleep cooking to the Mystery Click, it isn't my fault!

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at 03:54 PM | Comments (219) | Trackbacks (Suck)

First World Problems

The past three summers have seen me falling behind on yard work. And oh boy do I have projects planned. Both on paper and in my mind.

My current project is to clean up stepping stones. I'm also planning on installing several new 4"x 4" x 8' for bird feeder stations. Although I have a fair number of lawn and garden tools I do not own a post hole digger or a lawn edger attachment.

So I called the local company whose name is, "Owner's Name Rentals, Sales & Service". I asked if I could rent a lawn edger and power auger. Well unless I had a tractor with a PTO they didn't have an auger for me. What about an old fashioned post hole digger? That wasn't there either. So I decided the bird feeders can wait.

The sidewalk edger? It is an item that may or may not be on their Wish List. I then asked where I might find such equipment. I was advised of a national chain hardware store approximately 45 minutes away that has an outstanding rental outlet.

Hmmm 90 minutes of drive time? I don't think so. So with a couple of shovels, some elbow grease and sweat, I was able to save a few bucks, keep the earth green and clean up those dang stepping stones.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at 02:00 PM | Comments (166) | Trackbacks (Suck)

The (Insert Curse Adjective) Unserious Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) & The Rest Of Them

Of course the following was written before last night's Iran strike. Rumor has it that Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is now waving an "I Stand With Iran" banner.

When you think of nationally elected democratic representatives and senators what do you think?

Do you think of them as entitled, self-absorbed pond scum sucking weasels? If you do, who am I to judge!

Do you think of them as hypocritical, self-serving, power hungry scavengers? If your answer is yes. You are not alone.

Since November 7, 2024 it is nearly impossible to keep tabs on their immature behavior.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at 12:10 PM | Comments (385) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Sunday Morning Book Thread - 6-22-2025 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]

(HT: Pete Zah)

Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading. Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material. As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants...(It ain't easy being a Moron.)

So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, and dive into a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?

NOTE: Please keep comments book related. Yes, important news happened overnight. It can wait until the political thread for discussion. Or continue the discussion in the Tech Thread. If something huge happens, then CBD may come along and throw in a new thread.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:00 AM | Comments (285) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Daily Tech News 22 June 2025

Top Story

• 80% of patients in a recent study were cured within six months - of Type 1 diabetes. (Hartford Courant) (archive site)
  
  The subjects of the study were the subset of diabetes patients who have hypoglycemic unawareness - that is, they also lack the usual warning signs that their glucose levels are dangerously low.
  
  That was not specific for the treatment, but made the treatment more necessary.
  
  Because there is a big downside. The treatment involves using stem cells to recreate the missing pancreatic islet cells that generate insulin, but leave the patient needing lifetime immunosuppressant treatment - which is probably not an improvement over diabetes for most patients who don't also have hypoglycemic unawareness.
  
  But still, it works. It's an option, and if the immune issue can be resolved, it's a cure.
  
  
  

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM | Comments (439) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Saturday Night "Club ONT" June 21, 2025 [The 3 Ds]

NOT the Super Secret Location of the MoMe. Or IS it??

Welcome to Club ONT! A collaboration of your Sunday through Wednesday ONT Crew - The Disco, The Doggo, and The Dino. For those that didn't skip town, let's keep the fire pits burning and the sharp commentary rolling.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:30 PM | Comments (897) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Trump To Address Nation at 10 PM Eastern on the Successful Bombing of the Primitive Screwheads

I would just point out that 99.9% of Iran was not bombed.

Posted by: Duke Lowell

Posted by: Ace at 09:40 PM | Comments (528) | Trackbacks (Suck)

TRUMP: US BOMBERS HAVE HIT THREE IRANIAN NUKE SITES INCLUDING FODROW

Ace jumping in for updates here.

Trump says all the crew are flying their planes back home.

According to X, top ranking Dem members of intelligence committees were not briefed on the strikes but the Republicans were.

heh
Posted by: Tonypete

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at 08:25 PM | Comments (621) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Saturday Evening Movie Thread [moviegique]: Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

We saw a lot of good and interesting movies this past fortnight-and-a-half. Bring Her Back, a melancholy horror from the makers of Talk To The Hand, er, Talk To Me; the romantic Lost In Starlight; the 25th anniversary of Dogma (about which I have much to say); the 30th anniversary of Eat Drink Man Womanl Wes Anderson's Wesandersony The Phoenician Scheme; the French Kung-Fu Giant Penis Farce Zenithal; and the picaresque coming-of-age apocalyptic survival horror 28 Years Later.

I can recommend all of them to people who like those sorts of things.

But I shan't review them today. Today I want to talk about changes in the movie biz, vis a vis how relates to your nearly 29-year-old correspondent. If we go back 45 years ago (there will be no math), we might find your humble moviegique didn't just see the top 20 movies, he saw 90% of all the movies that were released.

I didn't see them all in the theater, admittedly. I wasn't so adamantly anti-watching-movies-on-TV back then, and it wouldn't have been an option to see them in the theater once they'd past their second run.

In 2010, I still saw most of the top 20. By 2020, I'd seen two of the top 20. And there's a near 0% chance I will see the ones I "missed".

In other words, whatever mojo Hollywood had over me, it lost it five years ago. Yaboi Zack is on a year-plus long rant against "birthday party clowns" (as he calls them): People who gained fame and fortune by bashing popular culture and now can't do anything else. They can't admit when something is good.

Of course, simply redirecting my entertainment dollars to stuff I like allows me to avoid having to grouse constantly. But I do think it's important to call out when things are good. Not because Hollywood is getting better (his thesis). It's not, at least in any way that matters: Any industry stays centralized and powerful because of the virtuous cycle of talent attracting money creating power which attracts more talent and more money and more power. My thesis is that Hollywood's degraded to the vicious version of the cycle: They lost talent, they lost money, they lost power, and this is accelerating.

Hollywood is Carthage. It's Detroit. It's Joe Biden.

That doesn't mean it has no lucid moments, of course.

This brings me to Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.

Tom Cruise with long hair and bangs gives me Neal Breen vibes.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:30 PM | Comments (219) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Hobby Thread - June 21, 2025 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) a spin. It must have been thirsty because it came up with home brewing and winemaking. Credit to Stateless for the topic request. We did a beer theme in September 2024, but that wasn't focused on homebrewing and didn't include winemaking.

[Top photo: Ginormous wine presses at Kloster Eberbach, Rhine River, Hessen, Germany. There are a dozen, although none operational now.]

The Cistercian monks of Eberbach wrote on their wine press in 1801: "Wine delights the heart of man." (Psalm 104:15)

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM | Comments (99) | Trackbacks (Suck)