DMC

Ironic thing for me with the prequels is they’ve grown on me over the years. Other than ROTS, I absolutely hated them as a teenager when they came out - I was 14 for TPM and turned 20 four days before ROTS. I agree that they are significantly better than the sequel trilogy, and while that may be faint praise, it’s a pretty crucial difference because I will actually rewatch them. Also I thought McGregor was pretty great as Obi Wan throughout the trilogy. I can’t say that about a single character in the sequels.

Um, the fact they agreed to a ceasefire template that included releasing hostages on Monday. The fact it doesn’t “enter the ballpark” of Israeli demands is immaterial. If you disagree with Hamas’ conditions, fine! Then publicize your own conditions for THEM to meet rather than plainly not giving a shit and being intent on the Rafah offensive. This is Diplomacy 101. No it’s not, it’s just convenient.

You’re talking in circles. Israel needs to keep the Rafah offensive on the table for negotiations, but the negotiations are not going to garner anything because Hamas won’t agree to any “concessions.” (Even though they have.). This is a rather transparent rationale to excuse further belligerent action without supporting it explicitly.

Either your position is for the IDF going ahead with their pointless offensive in Rafah, or it isn’t. Obviously the ceasefire I’m referring to includes “concessions” by Hamas, namely returning the hostages, which I thought was the entire point.

Of course Israel cannot control Hamas’ response, but a change in tack would be a significant step in advancing goodwill and at least the attempt at a diplomatic solution would plainly go a long way with Arab neighbors Hamas relies upon. Instead, your position seems to be yes, Israel has no ability to resolve this conflict via force, but let’s continue employing force that obviously galvanizes and emboldens the enemy because . Disregarding civilian deaths, it’s laughably stupid strategy.

Well, then, perhaps accepting a temporary ceasefire rather than apparently being determined to proceed with a Rafah offensive that promises to kill thousands of more innocents is the wiser course.

Israel claims to prevent Hamas from re-establishing military hold in Gaza's Jabalya: I hope the IDF is successful, but again, this is the fundamental problem with asserting goals like “destroying Hamas.” You’re just playing whac-a-mole for months, years, decades. As has been emphasized by me and others, it’s another “war on terrorism,” and the fact there’s so much pushback to such an obvious lesson from recent history is severely disappointing. Israel will never be able to bomb and kill their way to victory under such conditions.

I don’t entirely agree with Pinsky’s characterizations in this piece, but I thought it was worth sharing given recent discussions - Antisemitism, Islamophobia and ‘feeling unsafe’:

She’s also wearing a black shirt. I don’t like that. It’s such a dark and threatening color. And couldn’t she have done something better with her hair? It’s all bushy and stuff. These are the important things to consider when you go to protest - how you will be scrutinized when a photojournalist takes your picture and it ends up on the cover of Time.

Yeah I don’t buy this at all. At least anymore than any other successful team at home.

This is not a comment on the protests either way. Can’t emphasize that enough. But, as someone who appreciates data, I do think it’s important to emphasize these protests do not reflect the vast majority of campuses across the country’s colleges and universities. Axios has a pretty good map based on arrests and encampments that shows most of this is concentrated in the northeast/Ivy Leagues and UC schools.

Or, it’s just the best players get the calls. Always been that way, always will be.

Yes it’s all a nefarious plot to get those huge..Denver media market ratings. It’s, like, the third best layover airport in the US!

Wow Ann Coulter went full racist..thirty years ago.

Just caught up on the last three episodes of X Men and damn, now THAT’S how you plot an arc. I also think my enjoyment was enhanced by being entirely unfamiliar with the new big bad. Finale comes out on my birthday, nice present!

Well, like I said Ross was the first set and also clearly produced the whole thing. In that way, wouldn’t surprise me if it was contrived by Ross and Brady to emphasize to the other comedians on the dais that it was off limits.

There’s a wide breadth of literature on social movements, many of which focus on whether or not they are successful. Some of this is really basic stuff I include in my curriculum teaching 18 year olds. To summarize, since it’s apparently needed: Social movements are the instruments of political outsiders - those that generally have great difficulty having their voice heard in the status quo political process. Social movements are generally generally grassroots phenomena - and therefore dependent on the participation of large numbers of ordinary people to persuade the general public. The difficulty in sustaining such an effort is why most peter out. Social movements are composed of people with a shared sense of grievance. Again, it is rare in convincing average citizens to continuously organize and participate in such efforts. Social movements rely on the use of unconventional and disruptive tactics. These are employed to gain attention of the media and the general public in order to make their grievance manifest - subsequently pressuring officeholders to affect change. In the American context, this informs why anti-war movements are generally unsuccessful. The president has wide discretion on foreign policy/warmaking - not to mentioned is invested in their operations’ “success.” Thus, LBJ and certainly Nixon had no interest in listening to the Vietnam protesters, and nor did Dubya with Iraq - even after the War became very unpopular. Indeed, Biden is plainly the most receptive to such protests in the modern era.

Heh, cute. Jeff Ross was the first set and he made a joke about it. Brady got up and “whispered” in Ross’ ear “don’t say that again.” I imagine it was one of Kraft’s conditions for attending. To Brady’s credit, he endured all the divorce - and even jujitsu instructor - jokes with good humor.

So I watched the Tom Brady roast on Netflix. Figured I’d put this here. It was pretty funny. Nikki Glaser’s set was easily the best. Belichick and Kraft both being there was hilarious. Only thing that was clearly off limits was Kraft’s massage proclivities.

Yeah I don’t think there’s any food I can’t stand that I used to love when I was younger. But then I was a really picky eater as a kid.

The comments about steak are interesting. I wouldn’t say I’ve lost my taste for it, but I was just thinking the other day pretty sure I’ve only had it 2 to 3 times the past year. Probably just a coincidence though, have still had plenty of burgers.

“A worm ate my brain.” “I shot a puppy.” Campaigns in 2024 are weird.

This is the same type of “equality” we have in the US Senate. TBC I don’t have a problem with it in the UN, but couldn’t help point out - not the greatest comparison!