OT: Hurricanes Lounge XL. 99 Luftballons

[Lempo]

Got the hospital bill for the birth of our 2nd child this week. Even though I think our country has way too high tax rate and all that, I have to say that I'm very pleased to pay only ~$160 for a 3-day all inclusive hospital visit without any health insurance needed. I'll try to keep my murmurs to a minimum at least until summer.

It's the elections time, you gotta murmur.

 

[Negan4Coach]

I hate Crypto. I think it is a scam. I think blockchain is a great technology and will likely change the way we do many things, but leave it to Americans to take an exciting new technology and immediately use it to rip each other off. And don't get me started on NFTs- it makes me want to launch the iPad through the wall.

I hear all this claptrap about "fiat" currency. Currency is a fantasy. Everybody just agrees that some random things is worth something because it beats bartering with actual trade goods. I mean even gold is just a dumb a metal that is only worth a lot because we say it is.

The government has allowed Crypto to play its little games because it is no actual threat to replace the dollar. Who wants to get paid or pay in something that can change in value up to 30% or whatever a day? The moment it does they will outlaw it and crucify you for owning it. Our entire military industrial complex exists to enforce the Bretton Woods agreement that secures the Petro-Dollar. The only reason we can get away with goddamned fiscal shenanigans that we play is that the money we print is the world reserve currency. The moment that shit stops- we are done.

You want to read something terrifying? Read "The Mandibles: A Family, 2029-2047,”

 

[DaveG]

Arkansas now allows kids to work in mines, make the little leeches do something productive.

(Yes, really, as long as its part of a 'work education' program).

 

[Negan4Coach]

View attachment 667387

HAHAHA.

But yeah, pretty soon they'll be working the mines. The virtual mines for in-game currency that is then sold for dollars like in a Neal Stephenson novel.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Arkansas now allows kids to work in mines, make the little leeches do something productive.

(Yes, really, as long as its part of a 'work education' program).

Hasn't that been the case in West Virginia for years? Maybe not technically legal, but happening anyhow?

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Ukranian War too white and political for Oscars…

Meanwhile the winner in a category is…Navalny.

Lul.

 

[Negan4Coach]

Ukranian War too white and political for Oscars…

Meanwhile the winner in a category is…Navalny.

Lul.

Well I didn't watch it but from what I understand the "diversity hire " movie that swept all the awards was one I actually turned off halfway through it was so god awful. And I love movies about the multiverse. I mean damn that thing was bad. It deserved a "Fred the Elephant Boy" speech:

"This is outrageous, I condemn you, Howard condemns you, goodnight and Bababooey to y'all!"

 

[Blueline Bomber]

So you didn't watch it (or turned it off halfway through) and you assume it won all the awards because "diversity."

 

[Porvari]

I respected the winner more than I liked it, because I have a very low tolerance on endless kungfu mayhem. The acting was impeccable, though, and I was bummed Stephanie Hsu couldn't get a statue, too.

But to say that a movie about Chinese American immigrants is a "diversity hire"...

 

[HisIceness]

I only care if Will Smith slapped a fool again, if not then the awards didn't happen.

 

[Negan4Coach]

So you didn't watch it (or turned it off halfway through) and you assume it won all the awards because "diversity."

Damn, I was afraid that was worded poorly. No, I turned the actual movie off halfway through (which I almost never do)

It certainly does seem like diversity is the reason it won all the awards, at least to read all the headlines of Huffpo, etc the next day. And in the actual words of the "crouching tiger hidden dragon" lady, who appears to only care about "people who look like her" who were watching the movie. Pushing this obsession with race is incredibly dangerous.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I did watch it all the way through, and I'm 95% sure it won all the awards because of the second half of the movie. That's when the movie really expanded beyond just your typical multiverse movie, and the actors really shone

 

[tarheelhockey]

Everyone I've seen who actually watched the movie has raved about it. I can't say either way because I haven't seen it yet, but this thread is the first time I've seen it portrayed as anything but excellent.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

Everyone I've seen who actually watched the movie has raved about it. I can't say either way because I haven't seen it yet, but this thread is the first time I've seen it portrayed as anything but excellent.

I’ve had a few people say it was great fun … and a few who hated it.

 

[HisIceness]

Honestly I have zero clue what movie you people are talking about. The only movie I would have gone to see last year was the Top Gun film.

I was never a big movie buff but I'd go see 4-5 a year, sometimes more or less. I honestly don't remember the last film I saw in theaters was but it was before Covid. The experience just isn't that fun anymore and hasn't been in awhile.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Honestly I have zero clue what movie you people are talking about. The only movie I would have gone to see last year was the Top Gun film.

I was never a big movie buff but I'd go see 4-5 a year, sometimes more or less. I honestly don't remember the last film I saw in theaters was but it was before Covid. The experience just isn't that fun anymore and hasn't been in awhile.

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

Basic premise is an ordinary woman is shown the ability to tap into the lives of her other selves across the multiverses, because an alternate version of her daughter is going to destroy all the multiverses. Mix in family issues, a possible divorce and a nasty business audit, and you've got a very good movie.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

everything everywhere all at once is such a good movie it makes me physically ill

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

I mean my gripe with ze Academy IS THE UTTER FU^KING DISRESPECT TO ANIMATED MOVIES.

And their hypocrisy in matters political. Bar for Ru^^ians is so fu^king low, it’s not even funny.

 

[Lempo]

Oscar Shakes Up Best Picture Eligibility Standards; Strict New Diversity Requirements Take Full Effect In 2024

As promised when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced their Academy Aperture 2025 initiative, new standards of representation and inclusion have been announced by AMPAS today that will gradually be put in place for the 94th (2022) and 95th (2023) Oscars, but in full effect...

deadline.com

By this 2020 article (I can't quote it in full to get all of it in, so peek up the link), one could be forgiven for thinking that diversity politics may have played a part in what film won.

As promised when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative in June, new standards of representation and inclusion have been announced by AMPAS today that will gradually be put in place for the 94th (2022) and 95th (2023) Oscars but in full effect beginning with the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. In its most dramatic swing toward true diversity, Oscar is laying down significant requirements in order to be eligible for Hollywood’s most sought-after prize: Best Picture.

Beginning with the 94th and 95th Oscars, submitting a “confidential” Academy Inclusion Standards form will be required for Best Picture consideration, though meeting the actual inclusion thresholds will not be required for Best Picture eligibility until the 96th Oscars in 2024.

STANDARD A: ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES AND NARRATIVES
To achieve Standard A, the film must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A1. Lead or significant supporting actors

At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.

• Asian
  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • Black/African American
  • Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
  • Middle Eastern/North African
  • Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
  • Other underrepresented race or ethnicity

A2. General ensemble cast

At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two of the following underrepresented groups:

• Women
  • Racial or ethnic group
  • LGBTQ+
  • People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing

A3. Main storyline/subject matter

The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s).

• Women
  • Racial or ethnic group
  • LGBTQ+
  • People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing

 

[sabremike]

This advice actually applies to all of social media as well:

 

[DaveG]

I really can't comment as the only two movies I caught this year were "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Top Gun Maverick", though "Tar" is right up my alley as well from the synopsis, but that was one of those movies that was basically impossible to find in theaters and I'm not paying 20 bucks to stream a rental.

But it kindof feels like film hit it's zenith about 30 years back. I mean 94 (95 Oscars) you literally had possibly the greatest slate of finalists ever. "Pulp Fiction", "Shawshank Redemption", "Forest Gump", "Quiz Show", and "Four Weddings and a Funeral" as the finalists, and films like "Lion King", "Ed Wood", "Wyatt Earp", and "Clear and Present Danger" out that year as well.

 

[DaveG]

This advice actually applies to all of social media as well:

Considering my dog has learned how to open doors (seriously) and most people I get into arguments with don't understand how to turn on a computer, I'd expect a better argument from the dog.

 

[raynman]

I really can't comment as the only two movies I caught this year were "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Top Gun Maverick", though "Tar" is right up my alley as well from the synopsis, but that was one of those movies that was basically impossible to find in theaters and I'm not paying 20 bucks to stream a rental.

But it kindof feels like film hit it's zenith about 30 years back. I mean 94 (95 Oscars) you literally had possibly the greatest slate of finalists ever. "Pulp Fiction", "Shawshank Redemption", "Forest Gump", "Quiz Show", and "Four Weddings and a Funeral" as the finalists, and films like "Lion King", "Ed Wood", "Wyatt Earp", and "Clear and Present Danger" out that year as well.

All Quiet on the Western Front was pretty effin good. Didnt see any of the competitors in the cinematography category but damn if it wasn’t legit.

 

[Svechhammer]

Uh oh.... Global warming is coming for ya!

 

[WreckingCrew]

Uh oh.... Global warming is coming for ya!

When climate change isn't quite happening fast or severely enough for your political agenda, you take matters into your own hands!!

EDIT: Man the comments thread on that post is hilarious to read through!