tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90412890716119025582024-03-19T03:47:47.477-05:00Cressreviews, story archives and updates, and random musingsCresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.comBlogger1031125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-82915995500499198552024-03-16T11:55:00.005-05:002024-03-16T11:56:20.999-05:00The Ides of MarchAmazing that Chuck Shumer called for new elections in Israel. Finally saying that Netanyahu needs to be ousted as Prime Minister. This is a major development that I hope means that Biden's administration will defy Israel more. Is this really the moment that Democrats are no longer scared of AIPAC, and are willing to pressure Israel in public instead of behind the scenes? I can only hope Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-32556926776240581622024-03-10T11:28:00.017-05:002024-03-15T08:56:56.923-05:00CabriniI had no idea this movie was made by the same director and same studio as Sound of Freedom. I only realized it when most of the trailers were for Angel Studios films. Apparently it's a "family friendly" studio and streaming service that makes a lot of faith-based movies and TV shows. (However, this article claims it was already made before Angel Studios bought the film. I didn't realize that the Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-34580550192156460772024-03-06T10:20:00.007-06:002024-03-06T10:24:21.367-06:00Cheers for ProgressWell Super Tuesday happened, and Kyrsten Sinema announced that she won't run for re-election. It's surprising that she caused so much damage in one term. Good riddance to that Benedict Arnold. Meanwhile, over the weekend, Biden finally decided to start airdropping humanitarian aid to Gaza, bypassing Israel's restrictions on aid trucks. Thank goodness. He finally caved to public pressure. Plus Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-82028408694434508972024-03-01T09:14:00.005-06:002024-03-06T10:30:37.570-06:00RantingFucking Israel attacking civilians waiting for food in Gaza. So much for ceasefire hopes. Why can't Biden do something? Would America tolerate this kind of behavior if we were helping fund any other nation's war? Like if Ukraine was committing war crimes, we'd just shrug and say that's their choice to defend themselves that way? Everyone keeps saying that Biden has to delicately negotiate behind Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-65902319057274758432024-02-28T09:26:00.006-06:002024-03-01T09:29:52.202-06:00Primary ProtestMichigan had their primary last night and it looks like over 100,000 Democrats voted "uncommitted." They have a large Arab-American population and were trying to send a protest message to Biden about the Israeli war in Gaza. There are actually Democrats all over America, such as me in Texas, who want Biden to change policy on that war. It's just that Michigan has a significant concentration of Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-20148090475668877472024-02-25T09:08:00.002-06:002024-02-25T09:22:31.484-06:00YuckWe're in the midst of early voting for the March primaries. I went yesterday as I work too late to make the weekday hours. I've seen some political ads on TV with abhorrent Republicans yelling about the border and praising Abbott. It's sick. I did see a couple of ads for Colin Allred; he's still trying to win against Gutierrez before going to the general election against Ted Cruz.After voting, I Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-8420816766880817052024-02-19T07:58:00.011-06:002024-02-22T08:44:35.407-06:00CabaretI saw a local production of Cabaret the musical. Apparently the plot is very different from the film with Liza Minnelli, as the film writers decided to adapt Christopher Isherwood's novel rather than the musical. (I didn't know that there was a previous novel, a previous play and film called I Am A Camera, or that Sally Bowles was based upon an actual person.) It seems that all incarnations of Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-77064999633349067312024-02-15T08:19:00.004-06:002024-02-15T08:20:49.576-06:00Gun NutsI've had spotty internet in the mornings, making it difficult to get online and post before work. I think I've finally solved it by moving my modem onto a high bookshelf. Seems ok so far.Meanwhile apparently there was a shooting at the post-Superbowl parade for the winners. Of course, there are constant deadly shootings all over America, but I've become numb to the sheer number while Congress Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-81780708246134617452024-02-07T08:59:00.003-06:002024-02-08T08:10:18.436-06:00WowHooray, Disney is giving Turning Red a theatrical release this month, just in time for Lunar New Year. The film was originally supposed to come out during the pandemic, but then Disney just sent it to streaming instead. So this is a nice belated release. Also The Marvels is coming to streaming.Earlier this week, the Grammys had performances by Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell which people are Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-55880870983483730962024-02-04T11:47:00.008-06:002024-02-08T08:12:58.129-06:00Other NewsI've been worried with all the saber-rattling by Abbott about the razorwire at the border. Not to mention the Houthis in Yemen and the continuing war in Gaza. Still no cease-fire in sight. I did hear about Biden sanctioning four settlers in the West bank, but I'm not sure how that puts pressure on Israel itself to do something. Then there are 21 Democrats signing a letter to get more humanitarianCresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-39559214824039112202024-02-04T11:31:00.004-06:002024-02-07T08:21:58.905-06:00Murder on the Orient ExpressThe freezing temperatures have gone away lately and I'm not sick anymore. So I was well enough to see a stage version of Agatha Christie's famous mystery last night in Richardson. It was a nice cozy theater with plush furniture and free popcorn. The acting was great and the set design interesting. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a picture of the set model. (Of course I didn't take any Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-15476570040119826012024-01-21T20:58:00.002-06:002024-01-21T21:11:35.051-06:00Miserable WeekendI thought I already got through the worst of the freezing temps, but they fell again and I got a bad cold. Worse, I had to work through the weekend with a cough and scratchy throat. So I thought I would make myself feel better with some hot chocolate, but no, that made me nauseous. I had to go home and go to bed at 7pm just to stop shivering so much. The next day, hot tea was better than hot Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-11148400112765109422024-01-15T15:36:00.004-06:002024-01-21T21:13:12.282-06:00Snowed InThis MLK weekend is extremely chilly, with temps below freezing until Wednesday, and I don't want to risk the icy roads. I did manage to go out on the last warmish day last week to a play and the grocery store. I wish I had time to see more movies, though, as it looks like American Fiction finally opened near me but may be gone by next weekend.I did manage to see The Book of Clarence on WednesdayCresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-66259996225801479962024-01-04T08:17:00.001-06:002024-01-04T08:17:56.033-06:00TV MemoriesMeanwhile, in pop culture news, Norman Lear died in December and I watched a 2016 PBS documentary about him. He revolutionized the sitcom genre and founded a political organization to fight back against the rightwing Moral Majority that arose in the Reagan era. Lear also had some flaws, such as having disagreements on how to write the Black characters on Good Times. Eventually he burned out afterCresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-83845956174248986372024-01-03T08:29:00.004-06:002024-01-04T08:04:24.989-06:00Sad NewsThe New Year has been very chilly and rainy. I bought an exercise bike and put it together after finally getting some missing parts. I don't have any specific resolution to lose weight, but am trying to generally be more active. Hopefully that will help me keep going.Meanwhile Eddie Bernice Johnson died. She was an outstanding Congresswoman for years, and leaves a great legacy behind. Jasmine Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-61725382962314261472023-12-25T13:44:00.001-06:002023-12-25T13:45:28.154-06:00Happy HolidaysIt's been very rainy in the early mornings the last few days. While I'm glad that it wasn't snow or ice, it is frequently loud and worrisome. Anyway, Christmas is done and the New Year is almost here. I wish for peace in Gaza and less Republican insanity in the US.On Saturday, NBC aired a Night Court Christmas episode which I hadn't expected, and it was apparently without regard to continuity. Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-75120106008822444692023-12-16T09:44:00.004-06:002023-12-16T09:52:17.919-06:00Various MoviesI liked The Marvels, but I'm not really excited about end of the year movies like Wonka and Disney's Wish. I saw the soccer/football movie Next Goal Wins last month but I was disappointed. There was a nice trans character on the team, but overall the film wasn't as hilarious as Taika's previous comedies. Will Arnett has a cameo as the new boyfriend of the coach's ex-wife, but it was too little. Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-24926216405378550192023-12-06T07:47:00.006-06:002023-12-06T08:02:48.609-06:00Two Wrongs Don't Make a RightLooks like the Israeli settlers on the West Bank have been attacking Palestinians. These Palestinians have nothing to do with the war in Gaza, but the aggressive settlers want to punish them anyway. As for the Gaza war itself, Israel continues to exact its revenge on Gaza, while the US tries again to tell them not to commit war crimes.Wonkette is continuing to have disagreements about how to Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-1068446812540399972023-12-02T08:17:00.000-06:002023-12-02T08:17:08.720-06:00December DeathsWell I'm sad that the ceasefire ended, but apparently Qatar is helping to still negotiate with Israel. I'd prefer a permanent end to the war, of course, and that all hostages be freed. There's more scandal about the intelligence failure, and I'm really hoping Netanyahu can be ousted permanently. We'll see.I'm sad that Rosalyn Carter died recently too. I didn't know until her obituaries that she Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-72592716770541066722023-11-26T12:35:00.000-06:002023-11-26T12:35:04.233-06:00After Turkey DayWell Thanksgiving is over as well as the dumb Black Friday manufactured holiday. I got to see my family and watched some videos from their recent trips. Now to get ready for Christmas I guess.I'm thankful that the ceasefire deal was finally made in Israel, and that hostages are being released. I hope the peace can hold longer. I also went to a new Vietnamese movie called Đất Rừng Phương Nam. It'sCresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-71440682415462099932023-11-21T09:02:00.001-06:002023-11-21T09:02:54.430-06:00Almost ThanksgivingBetter get my grocery shopping done before holidays start. There's a new cold front in Texas so I'll have to dress warm. I'm actually working on Thursday and will celebrate with my family on the weekend.I recently saw on Deadline that Adrienne Warren is developing a show about Black Wall Street, but she wants to set it before the 1921 massacre. So it will explore happier times for Black residentsCresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-1522992974386642922023-11-16T10:22:00.003-06:002023-11-18T06:19:50.632-06:00More ChaosSpeaking of history, the US Army has now vacated court martials and given honorable discharges for 110 Buffalo Soldiers. The soldiers were originally executed due to 1917 Houston riots, but now the Army is making amends. Some good news at least.Meanwhile, it seems a government shutdown will be averted if the Senate can get it passed in time for Biden to sign. They're kicking the funding down to Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-89097689075049426932023-11-06T07:27:00.007-06:002023-11-16T09:48:42.878-06:00Brutal HistoryI gave another chance to Christoper Huang's Unnatural Ends, after not liking the sample chapters. I was just put off by the first chapter from Alan's perspective, droning on about archaeology, history, and his father's lineage; I could not see the point of that deadly dull inner monologue. Once I got into the next chapter with Roger and got actual dialogue with Iris, I started to be more Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-49004045659524711252023-10-30T22:40:00.004-05:002023-11-06T06:26:09.500-06:00Inspector SunThere's been lots of rain lately, and the temperatures dropped so much that there could be a freeze. I hope it will warm enough that any ice melts and we don't get snow.I wasn't going to go out today, but then I saw that an animated film called Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow was playing. This a kids mystery film from Spain that has been dubbed into English. The characters are all Cresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9041289071611902558.post-61127052181182501592023-10-23T07:57:00.005-05:002023-10-23T08:00:49.857-05:00ElectionsI got a pleasant surprise with my property taxes this year. It's almost $1,000 less than last year. In fine print on the bill it says "this is contingent on voter approval in the November 7 election." This year's elections are for Constitutional Propositions, not for any elected office. So if the tax proposition doesn't pass, the tax office will bill me later. Now, that's a real motivator to voteCresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04961045566817216838noreply@blogger.com0