This is a short video featuring an eight-month-old cheetah and an eight-month-old puppy playing in the snow at a zoo in the United States. The two critters have been best friends since they were quite young.
What surprises me about this video is how aggressive the dog is with an animal that has to be a lot more dangerous. The cheetah clearly looks larger to me, but the dog is the dominant alpha here.
My son, who has never seen real snow in person, found this video amusing but somewhat confusing. He knows what snow makes the ground white but apparently did not understand that it could also be deep.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
bidet porn
Sometimes I see erotic shoots and I wonder what in the world the photographer was thinking. Take the photo below, which is from a set featuring an attractive young woman posing on a dirty bidet in a farm field.
In some of the shots, she seems to be relieving herself. But as most everyone knows, you don't pee or poop in a bidet unless you're drunk or uncouth. And this certainly isn't one of those combination toilet/bidets.
I would not be surprised if this was the photographer's spur-of-the-moment idea. He arrived in the field with the model to shoot her, saw the abandoned bidet, and thought it a momentary flash of brilliance.
Maybe bidets are erotic to the photographer. To most people, particularly when they're in a field and dirty, I suspect not.
In some of the shots, she seems to be relieving herself. But as most everyone knows, you don't pee or poop in a bidet unless you're drunk or uncouth. And this certainly isn't one of those combination toilet/bidets.
I would not be surprised if this was the photographer's spur-of-the-moment idea. He arrived in the field with the model to shoot her, saw the abandoned bidet, and thought it a momentary flash of brilliance.
Maybe bidets are erotic to the photographer. To most people, particularly when they're in a field and dirty, I suspect not.
Friday, January 29, 2016
the ugly duckling
New York magazine recently featured a cover with an early George Clooney photograph. When I first saw this, before I read the cover blurbs, I thought it was Clooney's homely cousin.
Young George was not a handsome fellow. The hairstyle is really bad, and his various facial features don't seem to fit together right, like they were cobbled together from several different sources. To make matters worse, he also has a pernicious look to him, like he'd clean out your wallet and slip out the door while you were in the loo.
Middle-age George is handsome in a classic way. He has the true look of a movie star.
Homely young men sometimes grow into handsome older men. I know that's certainly true in my family on my father's side. Most had to grow into their looks.
But, of course, what's on the inside is all that really matters. Unless you want to be a movie star, that is.
Young George was not a handsome fellow. The hairstyle is really bad, and his various facial features don't seem to fit together right, like they were cobbled together from several different sources. To make matters worse, he also has a pernicious look to him, like he'd clean out your wallet and slip out the door while you were in the loo.
Middle-age George is handsome in a classic way. He has the true look of a movie star.
Homely young men sometimes grow into handsome older men. I know that's certainly true in my family on my father's side. Most had to grow into their looks.
But, of course, what's on the inside is all that really matters. Unless you want to be a movie star, that is.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
the three faces of donald
I'm certainly not a conservative, so this ad is not directed at me. However, it does a great job underscoring how Trump is a shameless flip-flopping fraud who will tell any lie for a vote.
Donny is the perfect example of a demagogue. The New York Times ran a very good piece a few weeks back about Trump the demagogue. But, as an American friend here in Australia said to me, "I don't think most Trump supporters even know what the word demagogue means."
If you're not a Trump supporter and know any Trump supporters, email them a link to this video. Hopefully it will make them see some sense.
Donny is the perfect example of a demagogue. The New York Times ran a very good piece a few weeks back about Trump the demagogue. But, as an American friend here in Australia said to me, "I don't think most Trump supporters even know what the word demagogue means."
If you're not a Trump supporter and know any Trump supporters, email them a link to this video. Hopefully it will make them see some sense.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
frozen to death
I was reading some news stories online about a 21-year-old woman from Milwaukee who left a party last week while very drunk and only wearing a tanktop and shorts. The temperature was minus six degrees Fahrenheit.
She was found dead the following morning, literally frozen to death. A surveillance video recorded her collapsing in the snow at 4:30 in the morning.
I imagine she had extreme hypothermia before she collapsed, and hypothermia causes disorientation and confusion. Now add the fact that she was very drunk and underdressed, one could imagine she spiraled downhill very quickly.
The victim had a history of binge drinking to the point where she had to be hospitalized several months before her death due to extreme intoxication. The night she died, no one had followed her outside into the cold to render help.
As you may know, binge drinking is dangerous for anyone but doubly so for young women. Some end up sexually assaulted and worse when extremely drunk.
I had a relative who died about fifteen years ago after binge drinking. She was so drunk she passed out, and her fall knocked over some burning candles, which in turn started a fatal fire, according to arson investigators.
The fire only burned one room but the smoke killed my relative. Another resident of the house, somewhat less drunk, had wandered into another part of the house, leaving my severely intoxicated relative alone in a room with a half dozen burning candles and a fire in the fireplace.
Anyone who sees someone else drinking to the point of serious intoxication should make sure no harm comes to that person. If nothing else, call the police or other authorities so the drinker can be taken to a hospital.
She was found dead the following morning, literally frozen to death. A surveillance video recorded her collapsing in the snow at 4:30 in the morning.
I imagine she had extreme hypothermia before she collapsed, and hypothermia causes disorientation and confusion. Now add the fact that she was very drunk and underdressed, one could imagine she spiraled downhill very quickly.
The victim had a history of binge drinking to the point where she had to be hospitalized several months before her death due to extreme intoxication. The night she died, no one had followed her outside into the cold to render help.
As you may know, binge drinking is dangerous for anyone but doubly so for young women. Some end up sexually assaulted and worse when extremely drunk.
I had a relative who died about fifteen years ago after binge drinking. She was so drunk she passed out, and her fall knocked over some burning candles, which in turn started a fatal fire, according to arson investigators.
The fire only burned one room but the smoke killed my relative. Another resident of the house, somewhat less drunk, had wandered into another part of the house, leaving my severely intoxicated relative alone in a room with a half dozen burning candles and a fire in the fireplace.
Anyone who sees someone else drinking to the point of serious intoxication should make sure no harm comes to that person. If nothing else, call the police or other authorities so the drinker can be taken to a hospital.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
narcos
After making our way through most of the Oscar movie screeners sent to me by my American movie business friend, the husband and I decided to go back to some marathon TV series watching. For our next show, we chose Narcos, a new Netflix series we both had heard quite a lot about, notably the glowing media reviews and the high viewer scores on sites like IMDb and MetaCritic.
The bottom line is we both liked the series but didn't love it. We'll watch more seasons when they come out, because the series grew stronger as it went along, but on the whole the show seemed somehow soulless and distancing.
The lead character Pablo Escobar is played by Brazilian Wagner Moura, who is absolutely superb, the best actor by far in the series. Escobar clearly is depicted as a monster in the show, yet Moura makes him so endearingly cuddly in many scenes that the contrast ends up the most disturbing yet fascinating aspect.
The style clearly is emulating Goodfellas, as one of the producers admitted in a recent interview, and therein lies the biggest weakness. Rather than trying for something original and fresh, resorting to the derivative almost always underwhelms, as it does here.
Narcos heavily relies on voiceover, particularly in the earlier episodes, and that's a big problem, too. It's annoying and distancing more often than not.
Worse, at moments were subtlety would work, the show's creators then shoehorn in copious voiceover to drive the point home with a mallet. It dumbs-down the show and weakens the overall result.
Perhaps intentionally, the show brings to mind horrible violence perpetrated by narcos in Mexico today. This left me wondering if the show could have been more powerful if it told a contemporary Mexican story as opposed to a 1970s Colombia story about essentially the same timeless struggle.
The bottom line is we both liked the series but didn't love it. We'll watch more seasons when they come out, because the series grew stronger as it went along, but on the whole the show seemed somehow soulless and distancing.
The lead character Pablo Escobar is played by Brazilian Wagner Moura, who is absolutely superb, the best actor by far in the series. Escobar clearly is depicted as a monster in the show, yet Moura makes him so endearingly cuddly in many scenes that the contrast ends up the most disturbing yet fascinating aspect.
The style clearly is emulating Goodfellas, as one of the producers admitted in a recent interview, and therein lies the biggest weakness. Rather than trying for something original and fresh, resorting to the derivative almost always underwhelms, as it does here.
Narcos heavily relies on voiceover, particularly in the earlier episodes, and that's a big problem, too. It's annoying and distancing more often than not.
Worse, at moments were subtlety would work, the show's creators then shoehorn in copious voiceover to drive the point home with a mallet. It dumbs-down the show and weakens the overall result.
Perhaps intentionally, the show brings to mind horrible violence perpetrated by narcos in Mexico today. This left me wondering if the show could have been more powerful if it told a contemporary Mexican story as opposed to a 1970s Colombia story about essentially the same timeless struggle.
Monday, January 25, 2016
big endorsement
I love Tina Fey. Someone even found the same tacky sweater for her with all the tiny pins hanging off if it.
Even though she's become much bigger than Saturday Night Live, Fey is a real pro to keep coming back to support the show.
Even though she's become much bigger than Saturday Night Live, Fey is a real pro to keep coming back to support the show.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
pity sex
A website called Askmen recently queried women about their experience with pity sex. I have a sense after reading the responses that "pity sex" means different things to different people.
For some, pity sex is what women do after the male begs and whines for nookie even though she isn't really interested in making the beast with two backs. Fuck him to shut him up, in other words.
For others, including me, pity sex is exactly that -- you have sex out of pity. You feel sorry for him for a variety of reasons: he's a virgin, he's just broken up with another girl, you won't date him again but you give him a bang to ease the pain, etc.
I engaged in pity sex when I was single. I'll admit I was superficial -- if the guy was cute and hot looking, I wasn't going to waste a chance for sex just because he was boorish out of bed.
Of course, what happens a few days after pity sex is that he wants a sequel. He senses you're an easy fuck and he goes back to the well for more.
That's when things can get tricky. If you make it clear the sex will just be a friends with benefit thing, then you might be okay.
But, invariably, more often than not, he's looking for a relationship, because a relationship means even more sex for an indefinite period and he doesn't have to share you with anyone else.
In other words, give him an inch, and he'll take a mile.
For some, pity sex is what women do after the male begs and whines for nookie even though she isn't really interested in making the beast with two backs. Fuck him to shut him up, in other words.
For others, including me, pity sex is exactly that -- you have sex out of pity. You feel sorry for him for a variety of reasons: he's a virgin, he's just broken up with another girl, you won't date him again but you give him a bang to ease the pain, etc.
I engaged in pity sex when I was single. I'll admit I was superficial -- if the guy was cute and hot looking, I wasn't going to waste a chance for sex just because he was boorish out of bed.
Of course, what happens a few days after pity sex is that he wants a sequel. He senses you're an easy fuck and he goes back to the well for more.
That's when things can get tricky. If you make it clear the sex will just be a friends with benefit thing, then you might be okay.
But, invariably, more often than not, he's looking for a relationship, because a relationship means even more sex for an indefinite period and he doesn't have to share you with anyone else.
In other words, give him an inch, and he'll take a mile.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
a senator and a pig
A Kansas senate committee chair -- male of course -- has imposed a dress code on women testifying before his committee but has made no requirements for males.
"Low" necklines and "too short" skirts are prohibited in the eleven-point dress requirements. Male senators are sometimes seen wearing jeans and no ties on the senate floor, so presumably male witnesses may be equally casual.
The committee chair claims he "offered more detailed guidance" to women because he had observed provocatively clad females at the Capitol.
A female senator of the chairman's own party said in response "an individual's opinions are more significant than what garment drapes that person's shoulders."
Someone needs to send a memo to the committee chair and inform him that it's no longer 1893.
And Dorothy, next time your house goes flying around Kansas, try to land on the committee chair in question.
"Low" necklines and "too short" skirts are prohibited in the eleven-point dress requirements. Male senators are sometimes seen wearing jeans and no ties on the senate floor, so presumably male witnesses may be equally casual.
The committee chair claims he "offered more detailed guidance" to women because he had observed provocatively clad females at the Capitol.
A female senator of the chairman's own party said in response "an individual's opinions are more significant than what garment drapes that person's shoulders."
Someone needs to send a memo to the committee chair and inform him that it's no longer 1893.
And Dorothy, next time your house goes flying around Kansas, try to land on the committee chair in question.
Friday, January 22, 2016
strolling naked in public
Public nudity erotica is not uncommon, and much of it seems to come from central Europe, for whatever reason, as is obvious from the backgrounds. I always find reaction by passersby interesting.
This set is a good example. Some people clearly gawk at the naked lady while others seem not to care. More than a few are completely oblivious.
The guy photographing the swans has no idea a naked babe is right behind him. If he did, I think the swans would lose out as photography subjects.
My favorite is the guy featured below who keeps looking at what his girlfriend is showing him on her cellphone while ignoring the naked lady parading down the street in front of him -- he's seen in several pictures and never looks. He's a keeper, sweetie, so don't let go of him.
Some of the shots show kids in the background, which is not cool. My three-year-old son has seen naked women -- namely me -- but that is always with parental knowledge.
When you take your child on a public outing, you don't expect naked people cavorting in the streets.
This set is a good example. Some people clearly gawk at the naked lady while others seem not to care. More than a few are completely oblivious.
The guy photographing the swans has no idea a naked babe is right behind him. If he did, I think the swans would lose out as photography subjects.
My favorite is the guy featured below who keeps looking at what his girlfriend is showing him on her cellphone while ignoring the naked lady parading down the street in front of him -- he's seen in several pictures and never looks. He's a keeper, sweetie, so don't let go of him.
Some of the shots show kids in the background, which is not cool. My three-year-old son has seen naked women -- namely me -- but that is always with parental knowledge.
When you take your child on a public outing, you don't expect naked people cavorting in the streets.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
$495 flipflops
Buzzfeed has a short piece questioning why Saint Laurent is selling "designer" flipflops for $495 American.
I can understand someone trying to sell sandals for a ridiculous amount of money -- they know the world is full of suckers. What I don't understand is why some fool would spend that much money on cheap footwear that won't last very long.
They actually look well made as far as flipflops go, but not for anywhere near that kind of money. Flipflops are designed to break, to be stepped on and rip apart, to be forgotten at the beach. Spend accordingly.
Chances are Saint Lauren has sold more than a few of these absurdly price shoes that most mortals buy at discount stores for a few dollars.
I'm always amazed how people who have so much money are rather quick to spend it on crap. Many of them had lots of smarts that helped them amass that fortune.
So how come they're so stupid about spending money?
I can understand someone trying to sell sandals for a ridiculous amount of money -- they know the world is full of suckers. What I don't understand is why some fool would spend that much money on cheap footwear that won't last very long.
They actually look well made as far as flipflops go, but not for anywhere near that kind of money. Flipflops are designed to break, to be stepped on and rip apart, to be forgotten at the beach. Spend accordingly.
Chances are Saint Lauren has sold more than a few of these absurdly price shoes that most mortals buy at discount stores for a few dollars.
I'm always amazed how people who have so much money are rather quick to spend it on crap. Many of them had lots of smarts that helped them amass that fortune.
So how come they're so stupid about spending money?
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
the moron and the clown
Given I've been candid about my loathing of people like Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian on this blog, it likely comes as no surprise that I have an equally low opinion of Sarah Palin, a know-nothing dimwitted attention whore who has nothing important or interesting to say.
So I was not particularly surprised to see her endorse Trump yesterday at an Iowa event. The two greedy narcissists are a perfect pair.
Palin's profile has long been on the wane, so she undoubtedly will try to use Trump to jumpstart her own career via some idiotic realty TV venture or ghostwritten book.
The fact that Trump would solicit an endorsement from such a shallow dolt speaks volumes about his sincerity. The presidency needs someone with gravitas and eloquence, two traits that Trump utterly lacks.
Here in Australia, I'm intrigued by how the foreign press regards Trump. The consensus from both sides of the political spectrum is that he's a boorish buffoon and an embarrassment to Americans everywhere.
On a related note, the new President, whoever he or she might be, will be sworn in one year from today.
So I was not particularly surprised to see her endorse Trump yesterday at an Iowa event. The two greedy narcissists are a perfect pair.
Palin's profile has long been on the wane, so she undoubtedly will try to use Trump to jumpstart her own career via some idiotic realty TV venture or ghostwritten book.
The fact that Trump would solicit an endorsement from such a shallow dolt speaks volumes about his sincerity. The presidency needs someone with gravitas and eloquence, two traits that Trump utterly lacks.
Here in Australia, I'm intrigued by how the foreign press regards Trump. The consensus from both sides of the political spectrum is that he's a boorish buffoon and an embarrassment to Americans everywhere.
On a related note, the new President, whoever he or she might be, will be sworn in one year from today.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
aging 404
My cousin in the States sent me an email detailing his snow clearing efforts and also a link to a news story about a 101-year-old man in Minneapolis (soon to turn 102) who not only shoveled snow from his own walk and driveway but also his neighbor's.
That's the kind of old person I want to be. I want to keep living life as normal right to the end. None of that senior living lifestyle for me.
Of course, most people don't choose to sicken as they age. Unfortunately, the genetic deck is stacked against nearly everyone.
Which leads me to conclude if I can't live to a really old age as a healthy person, I don't want to be a fossil with a pulse. If I have some horrible cancer or wretched medical condition, there's no real point in hanging around just for the sake of racking up numbers.
I want to live as long as I can while healthy and with all my mental facilities, but I also want to go very quickly once the body and the brain seriously malfunction.
All of the above aside, I don't want to be shoveling snow at 101 or 80 or 60 or 40 for that matter. I've now lived too long in a warm climate to ever return to snow country again.
And as long as we're on the weather, would you hate me if I told you it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit with 35 percent humidity here?
That's the kind of old person I want to be. I want to keep living life as normal right to the end. None of that senior living lifestyle for me.
Of course, most people don't choose to sicken as they age. Unfortunately, the genetic deck is stacked against nearly everyone.
Which leads me to conclude if I can't live to a really old age as a healthy person, I don't want to be a fossil with a pulse. If I have some horrible cancer or wretched medical condition, there's no real point in hanging around just for the sake of racking up numbers.
I want to live as long as I can while healthy and with all my mental facilities, but I also want to go very quickly once the body and the brain seriously malfunction.
All of the above aside, I don't want to be shoveling snow at 101 or 80 or 60 or 40 for that matter. I've now lived too long in a warm climate to ever return to snow country again.
And as long as we're on the weather, would you hate me if I told you it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit with 35 percent humidity here?
Monday, January 18, 2016
five thirty eight
As the first of the American presidential primaries grows closer, I regularly turn to FiveThirtyEight for insightful and statistical analysis about the important races. The site is the brainchild of Nate Silver, widely regarded as the most accurate poll analyst who follows American elections and politics.
The site also runs interesting pieces the involve number-crunching in the worlds of entertainment, finance, and sports. Additionally, the site features some curious news stories like "The Most-Edited Wikipedia Pages Over The Last 15 Years" and "How Badly Can A Car Salesman Swindle You?"
If you're not familiar with FiveThirtyEight, I highly recommend the site. I know many people find it addictive, and I'm one of them.
The site also runs interesting pieces the involve number-crunching in the worlds of entertainment, finance, and sports. Additionally, the site features some curious news stories like "The Most-Edited Wikipedia Pages Over The Last 15 Years" and "How Badly Can A Car Salesman Swindle You?"
If you're not familiar with FiveThirtyEight, I highly recommend the site. I know many people find it addictive, and I'm one of them.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
a diamond is not forever
Two economics professors in Georgia recently found, after surveying more than 3,000 married couples, that if you spend a lot on a wedding and engagement ring, you're more likely to end up divorced.
"We find evidence that marriage duration is inversely associated with spending on the engagement ring and wedding ceremony," the duo said in a summary of an article publishing their findings. Their paper is called "'A Diamond is Forever' and Other Fairy Tales: The Relationship between Wedding Expenses and Marriage Duration."
Some interesting findings from their research: men who spent more than $2,000 on a ring were more likely to end up divorced than those who spent less.
Also, couples who spent more than $20,000 on the wedding itself were three and a half times more likely to report shorter marriages.
Our wedding cost less than $100 -- the only expenses were the license and the fee to the official performing the ceremony. And my husband bought the ring at cost for around $500 from a jewelry designer who was stiffed by the man for whom he originally made the piece.
I guess this means we'll be married a very long time. I like the sound of that.
"We find evidence that marriage duration is inversely associated with spending on the engagement ring and wedding ceremony," the duo said in a summary of an article publishing their findings. Their paper is called "'A Diamond is Forever' and Other Fairy Tales: The Relationship between Wedding Expenses and Marriage Duration."
Some interesting findings from their research: men who spent more than $2,000 on a ring were more likely to end up divorced than those who spent less.
Also, couples who spent more than $20,000 on the wedding itself were three and a half times more likely to report shorter marriages.
Our wedding cost less than $100 -- the only expenses were the license and the fee to the official performing the ceremony. And my husband bought the ring at cost for around $500 from a jewelry designer who was stiffed by the man for whom he originally made the piece.
I guess this means we'll be married a very long time. I like the sound of that.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
sean penn admits failure
The American news program "60 Minutes" will air a piece tomorrow with Sean Penn about his Rolling Stone interview of notorious druglord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. "Let me be clear. My article has failed," Penn says on the show.
Here's what struck me as surreal about Penn's comments. He says he wanted to interview the murderous druglord to start a "conversation about the policy of the war on drugs."
Penn has been highly critical in the past about the United States' anti-drug stance and favors drug decriminalization, so he thinks gently interviewing a mass murderer and writing a puff piece will suddenly make in favor of drug legalization?
What's your thinking here Sean? If people could just buy cocaine and meth legally at the corner store, we wouldn't have evil druglords?
And Sean -- what about the physical, mental, family, and community toll on families and children when you have drug-addicted wastrels committing crimes to pay for their legal drugs?
Apparently Penn never realized that journalism is about reporting the news, not trying to contort the news to fit your personal agenda.
Stick to making movies, Sean. You're a failure as a propagandist.
Here's what struck me as surreal about Penn's comments. He says he wanted to interview the murderous druglord to start a "conversation about the policy of the war on drugs."
Penn has been highly critical in the past about the United States' anti-drug stance and favors drug decriminalization, so he thinks gently interviewing a mass murderer and writing a puff piece will suddenly make in favor of drug legalization?
What's your thinking here Sean? If people could just buy cocaine and meth legally at the corner store, we wouldn't have evil druglords?
And Sean -- what about the physical, mental, family, and community toll on families and children when you have drug-addicted wastrels committing crimes to pay for their legal drugs?
Apparently Penn never realized that journalism is about reporting the news, not trying to contort the news to fit your personal agenda.
Stick to making movies, Sean. You're a failure as a propagandist.
Friday, January 15, 2016
alan rickman
The great actor Alan Rickman died earlier this week. He was best known for his Die Hard and Harry Potter villainous roles, but his subtler, more nuanced performances showed the great range of his acting brilliance.
My personal favorites were his romantic roles in Truly, Madly, Deeply and Sense and Sensibility. He shined so wonderfully in both excellent films and gave some of his finest performances.
If you've not seen both of these magnificent films, you're missing a real treat.
Rickman was 69 when he died of cancer. I think 69 is too young to go in our era. Everyone should live to at least 90.
He had a great career, but I wish he had been able to stay with us a few more decades to make it that much greater.
My personal favorites were his romantic roles in Truly, Madly, Deeply and Sense and Sensibility. He shined so wonderfully in both excellent films and gave some of his finest performances.
If you've not seen both of these magnificent films, you're missing a real treat.
Rickman was 69 when he died of cancer. I think 69 is too young to go in our era. Everyone should live to at least 90.
He had a great career, but I wish he had been able to stay with us a few more decades to make it that much greater.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
douchebag prom
I see photos like the one below (enlargement) that make me wonder: did these people deliberately dress this way as a joke? Or are they deadly serious and think they look like a class act?
I also want to know if she made both outfits or can you really rent a camouflage cutaway somewhere. Do people rent them for a joke or because they think this getup makes them look badass?
As a high school dropout, I never had a chance to attend a prom. I can't say that I feel deprived at this point in my life. I have the sense now that proms are a way for people who aren't yet adults think they really are adults.
I also want to know if she made both outfits or can you really rent a camouflage cutaway somewhere. Do people rent them for a joke or because they think this getup makes them look badass?
As a high school dropout, I never had a chance to attend a prom. I can't say that I feel deprived at this point in my life. I have the sense now that proms are a way for people who aren't yet adults think they really are adults.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
playboy mansion for sale
The Playboy Mansion is for sale but with a catch: 89-year-old Hugh Hefner will continue in residence rent-free for the rest of his life.
The price is a whopper: $200 million. That makes the property the most expensive current real estate listing in Southern California; in comparison, the much larger Palazzo di Amore is selling for only $149 million.
According to various real estate professionals quoted in the media, the Playboy property without the Playboy association would sell for around $35 million, primarily because of the five-acre lot, which is large by Los Angeles standards and can be subdivided into smaller parcels for more mega-mansions.
So the price suggests the Playboy people think the now-faded Playboy brand is worth the approximate $150 million price bump.
In my non-real estate professional opinion, that's ridiculously wishful thinking. I attended a Playboy Mansion party about ten years ago and the place seemed somewhat shabby and worn down when I was there.
I suspect the time to sell the Playboy Mansion was about 1990 or so, when the brand was at its zenith and oil billionaires had money to burn.
I'm predicting a long time will pass before the property sells, if at all, and the price will be severely cut.
The price is a whopper: $200 million. That makes the property the most expensive current real estate listing in Southern California; in comparison, the much larger Palazzo di Amore is selling for only $149 million.
According to various real estate professionals quoted in the media, the Playboy property without the Playboy association would sell for around $35 million, primarily because of the five-acre lot, which is large by Los Angeles standards and can be subdivided into smaller parcels for more mega-mansions.
So the price suggests the Playboy people think the now-faded Playboy brand is worth the approximate $150 million price bump.
In my non-real estate professional opinion, that's ridiculously wishful thinking. I attended a Playboy Mansion party about ten years ago and the place seemed somewhat shabby and worn down when I was there.
I suspect the time to sell the Playboy Mansion was about 1990 or so, when the brand was at its zenith and oil billionaires had money to burn.
I'm predicting a long time will pass before the property sells, if at all, and the price will be severely cut.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
the druglord and the moviestar
The notorious Mexican druglord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was captured by authorities late last week, months after his escape from prison in 2015. Coincidentally, the day after he was apprehended, Rolling Stone magazine published an article written by moviestar Sean Penn, who secretly interviewed the murderous druglord last October.
Penn was also reportedly interested in securing Guzman's film rights concurrent to the interview.
In a curious footnote to these events, Mexican authorities claim they ultimately were able to capture the escaped criminal because Penn communicated with him to arrange the interview.
Some public figures are calling for Penn's prosecution because of the interview, but that's not likely in the United States because of the First Amendment, according to various legal experts interviewed in the media, as long as the actor did not aid Guzman in any capacity.
Whether or not he could be prosecuted in Mexico remains unknown, although authorities there do want to question him.
The legalities aside, I think the interview raises moral questions because Penn is not a professional journalist. Does his meeting with a mass murderer serve in any way to condone Guzman's many crimes, particularly given Penn's somewhat cuddly article, which reads more like something Barbara Walters did as opposed to 60 Minutes?
Although I think Penn is a brilliant actor and have really enjoyed some of his roles and movies, offscreen he's often a narcissistic pain in the ass. I suspect he may have undertaken the El Chapo piece as a fuck-you to some of his critics, but given he may have been responsible for the druglord's recapture, the actor ends up looking like a fool.
Penn was also reportedly interested in securing Guzman's film rights concurrent to the interview.
In a curious footnote to these events, Mexican authorities claim they ultimately were able to capture the escaped criminal because Penn communicated with him to arrange the interview.
Some public figures are calling for Penn's prosecution because of the interview, but that's not likely in the United States because of the First Amendment, according to various legal experts interviewed in the media, as long as the actor did not aid Guzman in any capacity.
Whether or not he could be prosecuted in Mexico remains unknown, although authorities there do want to question him.
The legalities aside, I think the interview raises moral questions because Penn is not a professional journalist. Does his meeting with a mass murderer serve in any way to condone Guzman's many crimes, particularly given Penn's somewhat cuddly article, which reads more like something Barbara Walters did as opposed to 60 Minutes?
Although I think Penn is a brilliant actor and have really enjoyed some of his roles and movies, offscreen he's often a narcissistic pain in the ass. I suspect he may have undertaken the El Chapo piece as a fuck-you to some of his critics, but given he may have been responsible for the druglord's recapture, the actor ends up looking like a fool.
Monday, January 11, 2016
a spectacular mess
The husband and I finished watching the DVD screener for The Revenant last night. We ended up viewing it over two nights because of length.
The story is fairly simple and straightforward. In the 1820s, some fur trappers run into a whole lot of bad luck and, when separated, struggle to make their way back to a fort some unspecified miles away.
If I was one of those thumbs-up-thumbs-down film critics, I'd give this a sideways thumb. James felt the same way. Some of the movie is astoundingly good, while other parts are downright awful.
Sometimes the really good elements cross over with the really bad elements. Take, for instance, the look of the movie.
In quite a few places, the cinematography is stunning. There are a few jaw-dropping shots where you're left wondering how in the world they were made. In one, for example, a character on horseback accidentally hurtles over a cliff, and you really feel like you're falling with him and his horse.
At the same time, every single daytime shot in the movie is gloomy and heavily overcast, washing much of the color out of the landscape. Yes, the Rockies have bad weather in the winter, but no, they do not have it every single solitary day.
DiCaprio's performance was not particularly interesting. In contrast, the gifted Tom Hardy gives one of his best performances ever.
Some of the action scenes are amazing, but others are so clumsy they're laughable. Story and character logic are often left behind in the snowdrifts somewhere, and the dialog in a few places is so awful we ended up groaning.
On the whole, I'd say this is a "wait for the DVD or download" movie. It's somewhat worth seeing, but also worth waiting for home viewing.
The story is fairly simple and straightforward. In the 1820s, some fur trappers run into a whole lot of bad luck and, when separated, struggle to make their way back to a fort some unspecified miles away.
If I was one of those thumbs-up-thumbs-down film critics, I'd give this a sideways thumb. James felt the same way. Some of the movie is astoundingly good, while other parts are downright awful.
Sometimes the really good elements cross over with the really bad elements. Take, for instance, the look of the movie.
In quite a few places, the cinematography is stunning. There are a few jaw-dropping shots where you're left wondering how in the world they were made. In one, for example, a character on horseback accidentally hurtles over a cliff, and you really feel like you're falling with him and his horse.
At the same time, every single daytime shot in the movie is gloomy and heavily overcast, washing much of the color out of the landscape. Yes, the Rockies have bad weather in the winter, but no, they do not have it every single solitary day.
DiCaprio's performance was not particularly interesting. In contrast, the gifted Tom Hardy gives one of his best performances ever.
Some of the action scenes are amazing, but others are so clumsy they're laughable. Story and character logic are often left behind in the snowdrifts somewhere, and the dialog in a few places is so awful we ended up groaning.
On the whole, I'd say this is a "wait for the DVD or download" movie. It's somewhat worth seeing, but also worth waiting for home viewing.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
lips like a dog toy
For several years, Britain's Channel 4 has run a documentary series called Bodyshockers which features people planning extensive body modifications like plastic surgery and/or tattoos and pairs them with people who had similar procedures and now regret doing so.
According to what I've read, more often than not, those planning the modifications don't change their mind, even after meeting a future version of themselves who tells them they're idiots who will regret their choice.
I saw a promotional photo for one of the people featured on the show, seen below. How he possibly would think this makes him look better or more handsome is anyone's guess.
As you can see, he has rather huge lip implants not like the indigenous tribes of South America, Africa, and elsewhere, most of whom have abandoned such practices.
Coincidentally, his lips look like our dog's favorite squeak toy.
According to what I've read, more often than not, those planning the modifications don't change their mind, even after meeting a future version of themselves who tells them they're idiots who will regret their choice.
I saw a promotional photo for one of the people featured on the show, seen below. How he possibly would think this makes him look better or more handsome is anyone's guess.
As you can see, he has rather huge lip implants not like the indigenous tribes of South America, Africa, and elsewhere, most of whom have abandoned such practices.
Coincidentally, his lips look like our dog's favorite squeak toy.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
ravished raisins
Like with my last pregnancy, I am now experiencing pretty intense food cravings. Fortunately, this time they're not particularly disgusting.
I want raisins and peanut butter all the time. Together, separately, mixed with other things -- it doesn't matter.
I'm now buying both in the largest available containers and by the case. I found one store that sells two kilogram canisters of raisins -- a little over four pounds each -- and you can by them by the case of twelve. The same weight is available for peanut butter, too.
I know that eating too much peanut butter will pack on the pounds, so that means I end up eating many more raisins than the equivalent weight in peanut butter. I'm polishing off one of the raisin canisters on average every three days.
I put raisins in or on nearly anything. In cereal, of course, but also pasta, salads, desserts, soups, ice cream, you name it. Mars needs women; I need raisins.
I don't force the family to eat by raisin concoctions. I just add raisins to my serving. My husband laughs and calls them "mouse turds." My son wants to try, too.
Heaven is peanut butter rice cakes with raisins on top. Or peanut butter raisin cake.
Writing this post is making me hungry. Again. Excuse me -- I have to go ravish some raisins.
I want raisins and peanut butter all the time. Together, separately, mixed with other things -- it doesn't matter.
I'm now buying both in the largest available containers and by the case. I found one store that sells two kilogram canisters of raisins -- a little over four pounds each -- and you can by them by the case of twelve. The same weight is available for peanut butter, too.
I know that eating too much peanut butter will pack on the pounds, so that means I end up eating many more raisins than the equivalent weight in peanut butter. I'm polishing off one of the raisin canisters on average every three days.
I put raisins in or on nearly anything. In cereal, of course, but also pasta, salads, desserts, soups, ice cream, you name it. Mars needs women; I need raisins.
I don't force the family to eat by raisin concoctions. I just add raisins to my serving. My husband laughs and calls them "mouse turds." My son wants to try, too.
Heaven is peanut butter rice cakes with raisins on top. Or peanut butter raisin cake.
Writing this post is making me hungry. Again. Excuse me -- I have to go ravish some raisins.
Friday, January 8, 2016
the duchess of poon
Someone did a clever Photoshop job here with Kate Middleton. I'm left wondering how many hours it took to find two similar poses from two very different sources in order to craft this.
Maybe the creator has a good spatial and visual memory. He (she?) sees one photo and immediately knows of a match already stored somewhere on the computer.
For whatever reason, when I was looking for a photo for yesterday's post, this one popped up on Google. My search term was something like "naked girl kilt," which returned no naked girls wearing only kilts and instead a whole lot of digital flotsam.
Maybe the creator has a good spatial and visual memory. He (she?) sees one photo and immediately knows of a match already stored somewhere on the computer.
For whatever reason, when I was looking for a photo for yesterday's post, this one popped up on Google. My search term was something like "naked girl kilt," which returned no naked girls wearing only kilts and instead a whole lot of digital flotsam.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
scots poverty safari
Many Scots are up in arms over a grant of £15,000 (about $22,000) from taxpayer funds to an artist whose "arts project" involves nothing more than remaining entirely within the Glasgow city limits for one year.
There are no restrictions on earning money from other sources during that period, except that the artist must remain within the city the entire time.
Taxpayers will not be able to view the "art" they're funding, since nothing could be exhibited. Maybe if they spot the artist on the street or in the supermarket, that might be considered some kind of artistic moment.
The publicly funded project is purported to "increase the artist's sense of belonging" and determining if an artist can be successful by staying only in Glasgow. I think the answer is "yes" if you can hoodwink a grant to pay for doing nothing, particularly considering she already lived in the city before receiving the award.
Not surprisingly, Scots have expressed outrage at this endeavor on social media. "Homelessness in Glasgow, food banks overcrowded, but we give money for this utter nonsense," wrote one.
Others were more humorous. My favorite: "If you’re an artist and want to properly immerse yourself in Glasgow culture, can you come paint my hall?"
I think the directors of this rather nebulous endeavor should have imposed some requirements on the artist for this apparent boondoggle. For example, she should be required to keep a daily blog.
I wonder if Creative Scotland, the funding agency, would give me £15,000 for my blog if I promise to play bagpipe music the entire time while writing it?
There are no restrictions on earning money from other sources during that period, except that the artist must remain within the city the entire time.
Taxpayers will not be able to view the "art" they're funding, since nothing could be exhibited. Maybe if they spot the artist on the street or in the supermarket, that might be considered some kind of artistic moment.
The publicly funded project is purported to "increase the artist's sense of belonging" and determining if an artist can be successful by staying only in Glasgow. I think the answer is "yes" if you can hoodwink a grant to pay for doing nothing, particularly considering she already lived in the city before receiving the award.
Not surprisingly, Scots have expressed outrage at this endeavor on social media. "Homelessness in Glasgow, food banks overcrowded, but we give money for this utter nonsense," wrote one.
Others were more humorous. My favorite: "If you’re an artist and want to properly immerse yourself in Glasgow culture, can you come paint my hall?"
I think the directors of this rather nebulous endeavor should have imposed some requirements on the artist for this apparent boondoggle. For example, she should be required to keep a daily blog.
I wonder if Creative Scotland, the funding agency, would give me £15,000 for my blog if I promise to play bagpipe music the entire time while writing it?
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
the old man's sweater
The Washington Post published an interesting column the other day about how Bill Cosby's appearance before his arrest last week was staged and managed for maximum public pity.
The writer focused attention on how Cosby's ill-fitting "grandpa" sweater and his fragile cane were props meant to elicit sympathy, to make it seem Cosby is a frail old man, while in reality he vigorously pursued a packed public schedule until recently.
The article also looks at how Cosby's lawyers manipulated viewers by the way they "escorted" their client to his arraignment.
My cousin in Pennsylvania, who works within the justice system there, told me Cosby deliberately appeared at the district court, as opposed to the police station like most suspects, to surrender on his arrest warrant so there would be no "perp walk" with cops leading him in handcuffs to the hearing.
Had he surrendered at the police station and not the court, they would have arrested him, cuffed him, and then hauled him into court.
Cosby is reportedly worth at least $400 million, so we can expect high-powered lawyers and media consultants will stage manage the entire forthcoming trial to their client's benefit.
They have every right to do that, but hopefully the public and any potential jurors will see through the hokum.
Whatever the outcome of the criminal prosecution, Cosby's reputation probably is forever stained. After being accused of sexual assault over five decades by more than fifty women to date, perhaps that is the best judgment that could be served, making him a pariah until the end of his miserable days.
The writer focused attention on how Cosby's ill-fitting "grandpa" sweater and his fragile cane were props meant to elicit sympathy, to make it seem Cosby is a frail old man, while in reality he vigorously pursued a packed public schedule until recently.
The article also looks at how Cosby's lawyers manipulated viewers by the way they "escorted" their client to his arraignment.
My cousin in Pennsylvania, who works within the justice system there, told me Cosby deliberately appeared at the district court, as opposed to the police station like most suspects, to surrender on his arrest warrant so there would be no "perp walk" with cops leading him in handcuffs to the hearing.
Had he surrendered at the police station and not the court, they would have arrested him, cuffed him, and then hauled him into court.
Cosby is reportedly worth at least $400 million, so we can expect high-powered lawyers and media consultants will stage manage the entire forthcoming trial to their client's benefit.
They have every right to do that, but hopefully the public and any potential jurors will see through the hokum.
Whatever the outcome of the criminal prosecution, Cosby's reputation probably is forever stained. After being accused of sexual assault over five decades by more than fifty women to date, perhaps that is the best judgment that could be served, making him a pariah until the end of his miserable days.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
room
The husband and I continue to make our way though the boxes of screeners sent by my movie industry friend. In our most recent viewing, we were particularly struck by the independent film Room, told through the perspective of a five-year-old boy imprisoned with his sex slave mother in a tiny garden shed.
The young boy's mother is something like the real-life Jaycee Lee Dugard, held as a helpless captive living entirely under the control of a madman who we only see in a few brief scenes. The movie avoids all the sentimental and sensational pitfalls that a big studio likely would have forced on a gifted team of filmmakers and instead deals frankly with the trauma such horrors would bring.
This is not an easy movie to watch, particularly if you're a woman with a small child like me. But the performances and story are so mesmerizing, I couldn't help but watch. The movie has been earning rave reviews and audience praise on a variety of movie websites, and I totally understand why.
Both Brie Larson as the mother and young Jacob Tremblay as the boy are astoundingly good. The latter is so young yet he seems to completely understand and inhabit his role. I suspect the director may have let the child improvise at times because he's so utterly realistic.
William Macy and Joan Allen are also exceptional as the young mother's troubled parents. The script is by Emma Donoghue, based on her award-winning and much acclaimed novel of the same name.
Both my husband and I recommend Room with great enthusiasm. It's one of the best movies of the year. Don't miss it.
The young boy's mother is something like the real-life Jaycee Lee Dugard, held as a helpless captive living entirely under the control of a madman who we only see in a few brief scenes. The movie avoids all the sentimental and sensational pitfalls that a big studio likely would have forced on a gifted team of filmmakers and instead deals frankly with the trauma such horrors would bring.
This is not an easy movie to watch, particularly if you're a woman with a small child like me. But the performances and story are so mesmerizing, I couldn't help but watch. The movie has been earning rave reviews and audience praise on a variety of movie websites, and I totally understand why.
Both Brie Larson as the mother and young Jacob Tremblay as the boy are astoundingly good. The latter is so young yet he seems to completely understand and inhabit his role. I suspect the director may have let the child improvise at times because he's so utterly realistic.
William Macy and Joan Allen are also exceptional as the young mother's troubled parents. The script is by Emma Donoghue, based on her award-winning and much acclaimed novel of the same name.
Both my husband and I recommend Room with great enthusiasm. It's one of the best movies of the year. Don't miss it.
Monday, January 4, 2016
is this sexy?
I honestly thought the woman below was a post-operative transsexual. I was wrong. She's a champion bodybuilder and has always been a woman. More revealing photos confirm that fact.
I wondered what kind of man would find her attractive. I showed my husband. He was not tempted. He has only ever favored slim, small-breasted women.
Which made me think about all the big muscleheads I've known. They all seem to like very petite slim women. Perhaps subconsciously they realize they look bigger with small women on their arms.
When I danced in clubs, the big bouncers often quickly made my acquaintance. Many of the girls ignored them, but I always tried to be nice. Some of them were very sweet although few had much going on upstairs.
But I found many examples online of men who find the woman below attractive and alluring. On her YouTube videos and various forum postings, they leave comments like: "She could crush me so easily. That makes me so hard."
I wonder if big women like her are into femdom. If so, then I really do understand why some men would find them sexy.
Different strokes for different folks. If some men find big girl muscles sexy, then good for them.
I wondered what kind of man would find her attractive. I showed my husband. He was not tempted. He has only ever favored slim, small-breasted women.
Which made me think about all the big muscleheads I've known. They all seem to like very petite slim women. Perhaps subconsciously they realize they look bigger with small women on their arms.
When I danced in clubs, the big bouncers often quickly made my acquaintance. Many of the girls ignored them, but I always tried to be nice. Some of them were very sweet although few had much going on upstairs.
But I found many examples online of men who find the woman below attractive and alluring. On her YouTube videos and various forum postings, they leave comments like: "She could crush me so easily. That makes me so hard."
I wonder if big women like her are into femdom. If so, then I really do understand why some men would find them sexy.
Different strokes for different folks. If some men find big girl muscles sexy, then good for them.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
a tattoo or a rash?
When I first glanced at the photo below (enlargement), I thought the one woman had some kind of rash like ringworm on her torso. When I looked more closely, I realized it was a tattoo of pale pink flowers.
If that's a work in process that will eventually inked in with more color and some depth, then it will become more distinct. But if that's all there is and will ever be, then I think it's an eyesore.
More and more women in porn seem to have more and more tattoos, and the same seems true for more and more ordinary women. IMHO the point of over-saturation long passed.
I very rarely see a woman who I think has been enhanced by a tattoo. The woman in this picture is no exception. Even without the tattoos, she'd still look a little skanky.
If that's a work in process that will eventually inked in with more color and some depth, then it will become more distinct. But if that's all there is and will ever be, then I think it's an eyesore.
More and more women in porn seem to have more and more tattoos, and the same seems true for more and more ordinary women. IMHO the point of over-saturation long passed.
I very rarely see a woman who I think has been enhanced by a tattoo. The woman in this picture is no exception. Even without the tattoos, she'd still look a little skanky.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
trump's hairspray crisis
Another day, another news story about Donald Trump opening his piehole and saying something that makes him look like even more of a narcissistic clown.
Most recently in a campaign speech he babbled about how he can no longer buy the hairspray that he likes, which he tried to blame on the wrong President.
This is what Trump has reduced political discourse to: nonsensical rambling rants about irrelevant issues that have nothing to do with important issues facing America. It also proves what many have long suspected, including me: he says whatever pops into his head at any given moment because he has no real policy platform.
The world has no shortage of babbling fools and idiots. I never cease to be amazed at the fact that people not only spend time listening to Trump's drivel but also think they're pearls of wisdom that demonstrate how he's most qualified to be President.
Most recently in a campaign speech he babbled about how he can no longer buy the hairspray that he likes, which he tried to blame on the wrong President.
This is what Trump has reduced political discourse to: nonsensical rambling rants about irrelevant issues that have nothing to do with important issues facing America. It also proves what many have long suspected, including me: he says whatever pops into his head at any given moment because he has no real policy platform.
The world has no shortage of babbling fools and idiots. I never cease to be amazed at the fact that people not only spend time listening to Trump's drivel but also think they're pearls of wisdom that demonstrate how he's most qualified to be President.
Friday, January 1, 2016
happy 2016!
Happy New Years to readers everywhere. I hope 2016 exceeds your wildest expectations. If all goes well, we'll have a new member of our family in a few months.
The pooch in this video is absolutely amazing. Not only does he perform phenomenal tricks, he really looks like he's enjoying himself while he does them.
The pooch in this video is absolutely amazing. Not only does he perform phenomenal tricks, he really looks like he's enjoying himself while he does them.
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