Fake

 Glenn Greenwald wrote a piece today.....where he's judging a number of news outlets that have created 'fact-checkers'.

So Glenn went and suggested that various fact-checkers are just stamping various stories as fact, with little to no research.  So they go and spread around a story....claiming such-and-such news source told some factual story, then weeks and months later....the 'facts' on the table area deemed 'fake'.  

You stand there....not only was the original source fraud....but the fact-checkers stamped once-over, and made it a second time fraud.

Added to this issue....part of the facts (originally made up)....were passed out via the FBI, State Department or CIA....which were fraudulent as well. Three times over....fake.

So you stand there....the consumer, and after forty-odd times of being faked-out, you start to wonder....on a weekly basis, how much is fraud?  Ten-percent?  Thirty-percent?  Fifty-percent?

At some point, you just give up, and avoid reading these sources (like WaPo or NY Times).  

A society that has limited or marginal trust?  The same society is dependent upon democracy to work, but it can't function in this type of circumstance?

It's like some fake reality show now.  

Seven-Line Resume Story

 I sat and watched a news piece today that chatted on Meghan Markle's position in life.  Then I went looking for her background for the past 15 years (the resume, as I would call it).

The degree?  Double major situation: theater and international studies.  The hope that this would lead onto the State Department?  You have to test for their foreign officer situation....that didn't work out for her with the end-score.

A couple of years as a bookbinder instructor?

First real acting job?  A one-day job as a nurse on General Hospital. 

A couple of minor roles with The War at Home (2006) and CSI: New York (2006).

A couple of modeling jobs.

A brief stint as a "briefcase girl" on Deal or No Deal.

Then a remarkable year or two with the show 'Suits'. 

Beyond that?  Pretty marginal.

I often talk about people who attempt to impress you....with a seven-line resume.  You keep going back to the resume and trying to figure out how they got this far in life off seven lines.  She's one of those people.

Oscars Chatter

 In the last couple of days....the movies nominated for the 2021 Oscar situation came out on a list.

I looked at the group...it's just an odd list.

The only movie that I've seen?  "Mank".  I'd describe as a 1940s type story...done in black and white, and went straight to Netflix.  It's a nice period piece but as for Oscar-type material?  No.

The rest?  I've seen previews.

You come to “The Father”.  Basically, a 80-year guy (Anthony Hopkins) who is in decline from dementia.  It's not exactly a movie that the bulk of folks would pay $15 for an evening seat at the theater to see.

Then you come to  “Judas and the Black Messiah”....a historical piece over the 1960s and the Illinois Black Panther group.  Maybe if you were into political intrigue and Black Panthers....you might have spent $15 for a seat....otherwise, no.

"Nomadland"?  I've watched the preview to this at least four times.  Basically, some lady who wants to be alone, and goes off to some Montana-like setting....discovering she has no real talents for the situation.  A $15 ticket?  No.  

“Minari”?  Some South Koran couple has immigrated into the US with high expectations, and fairly challenged.  The thing with this preview I watched....if you remember Glenn from Walking Dead....he's the key figure in the movie, and from the preview....he does a 5-star job.  Asking myself....would I pay $15 to go watch a movie like this?  It's questionable.  

“Promising Young Woman”?  It's advertised as a 'black-comedy' revolving around a rape and revenge.  So the humor part to this story is missing for some reason.  Worth $15 for a ticket?  I just don't see it.

“Sound of Metal”?  Upon completion, went to Amazon.  Basically the story of a drummer going deaf, and his complications of accepting this.  $15 ticket material?  Well....no, but it might be worth watching via Amazon Prime.

“The Trial of the Chicago 7″? Upon completion, went to Netflix.  Historical piece from 1968.  Worth a $15 ticket?  No, but maybe worth watching via Netflix.

Lousy year?  Part of the blame is Covid-19, and the other half being some desire to have social messages/brands to make movies over.

Viewers for the Oscars?  I'll predict at least ten-percent fewer viewers than in 2020.  The studios?  They are in trouble....with the public and with theaters.  

Chicago

 I sat and looked over reporting in Chicago from yesterday.

On Sunday morning....around 4:40 AM....something occurred (cops still aren't that sure of the event).

When the smoke had cleared....15 folks at what was described as a party....were wounded by gun-shots.  Ages?  Ranging rom 20 to 44 years old.

Two folks would be 'stamped' dead at the scene.  

People talking?  Not really.

Booze and drugs compromising people's perceptions or behavior?  Well....the police won't suggest that....but you have to wonder with this party getting near 5 AM.

If I were mayor....I'd toy with the idea of starting a city curfew for 11 PM, and putting violators into jail for 90 days.  I'd also start stopping drivers after 9 PM....testing them for alcohol and drugs.  

Ending of Castaway

 One of the top dozen movies on my 'must-watch' list (I've probably watched it at least ten times)....is Castaway (2000) with Tom Hanks.

My problem with the movie?  It comes up in the final two minutes of the movie, where 'Chuck' has lost his relationship upon returning to civilization, and has delivered the remaining box from the island adventure to this house in the rural regions of Texas.  

He's laid the box at the door, with a note.  Then he goes a mile or two down the road where he hits the intersection and debating his path remaining in life.  The artist lady who made this item stops and has a forty second description of paths (north, south, east and west)....telling Chuck where each leads him.

She climbs into the truck, does a angel-like grin, and drives home.

Chuck spends the next 30 seconds debating his path.....then the screen darkens. 

I kinda wished that Chuck had slapped his head....realizing the right path, and the final scene being him on the front porch of the artist-lady....sipping an ice-tea....and chatting over music from ZZ Top, episodes of Bonanza with 'Adam', and sharing favorite Bible-quotes from the Old Testament (sarcastically spoken of course).  

So with the sun setting....Chuck and artsy-lady chatting....things would have been made right.  

Instead, you are just left wondering....did Chuck drive back to visit the artsy-lady or did he get confused....driving off to the west coast?  

Migrant Chatter

 Most of the news networks are avoiding the topic, but if you gaze at the numbers over the past month....there's a massive number of migrant and immigrants caught near the border of the US, and being held in some way.

Covid-19 testing?  Well....there is some policy in place to test everyone they 'capture'.   Big mistake in my humble opinion.

If these folks are 'positive', then how is the quarantine program supposed to work?  If this were Michigan, NY state, or California....they'd expect absolute obedience with quarantine, but these folks are homeless.  

I'm going to predict over the next month....this turns into a five-star mess and some National Guard element will be activated by President Biden to build border quarantine stations, and temporarily run them.  

Calling FEMA Into a Mess

 For those who haven't noticed....along the border, in the past month....there's a new crisis brewing....migrant children arriving in massive numbers and the Border Patrol guys in dire need of help.

So the Homeland Security folks got a order (apparently from President Biden)....yesterday.  It was handed down to FEMA (your Federal Emergency Management Agency).

Normally, they handle floods, hurricanes and earthquakes.

This order basically says “to help receive, shelter and transport the children" over the next three months. 

Lot of journalists this morning are scratching their heads and trying to figure out what this means.  The directive given?  Provide some type of medical care, water, shelter and food.

So, here's the way that FEMA typically works.  They have people who carry credit cards and the ability to write non-compete contracts on the spot.  We aren't talking about the expenditure of a thousand or ten-thousand dollars.  They could walk out at 7 AM and spend half-a-million by lunch.  By 10 PM, as they enter the hotel room....they might have spent ten-million dollars. 

Poor oversight and misuse?  Well....yeah.

But at this point, the Biden team is desperate because of the huge number of migrant kids crossing the border.  

How will FEMA handle this?  

If the Border Patrol says they have 500 kids more than their shelter will handle....the FEMA lady will find someone who owns a hotel, and rent the entire structure.  Need child-patrol folks to supervise the kids?  The FEMA lady will find some group who will supply fifty folks around the clock to supervise and manage the kids.

If the Border Patrol needs 3,000 breakfast trays?  The FEMA guy will find a catering group to deliver the 3k trays.  A juice, an apple, a ultra-muffin, and candy bar.  

If the Border Patrol needs a on-site medical staff of fifteen folks....around the clock?  FEMA will find some clinic that hires out and sells their services (even if they exist in Idaho, and need to be in Texas in 24 hours).

Tens of millions to be spent weekly....over five to ten thousand migrant kids?  Yeah, and after three months of this....the expense report will be handed to the Biden team....to be utterly shocked over.  

If you wanted a five-star scandal for the 2022 election, this is the beginning of that effort.