The first ten on today’s playlist:

What the hell did I just watch?

One of the best monologues in cinema; Zelda Rubinstein was such a powerful actor. The below is also a favorite. And it features just exceptional writing and blocking.

Such a great scene. “….I am. I just don’t like trick answers.” What a boss. Every line of hers is iconic without being out of place or tonally jarring — that’s quite an achievement.

War with China is coming and we are not nearly ready. And aren’t even trying.

Apple reportedly has plans for a thinner iPhone, MacBook Pro and Apple Watch.

But why? I don’t want thinner. Most people don’t want thinner. I want a lot of ports, a nice screen, and a battery that lasts as long as a Dane Cook show feels like it lasts.

This quest for device thinness is ridiculous and pointless.

LOL at the memory use of my Safari and Firefox:

I think it’s fair to say that I don’t use things the same way normies do. And that’s only my main machine. There are three other VMs I regularly use too running various OSes.

Had never seen this vid before, though I’ve long liked Foxes; she writes perfect pop songs. Her eye color is really beautiful (nice close-ups there).

It was too long ago now so I cannot find it, but do you remember that one prominent economist who during the height of the Great Recession claimed that the high unemployment was caused by millions of people just deciding not to work? That was some wild shit. And all too much of the econ establishment bought that specious and absurd contention.

In a way, it reminds me of those who have recently averred that Long Covid would end civilization. Just insanely clownish crapola that too many put any sort of credence in. It is to laugh.

What is ‘communal living’ and is it right for me?

Aww hell no. This sounds like the worst torture imaginable. I’d rather live with a troupe of baboons. This would be the worst thing ever. Glad it works for others, but the unpleasantness of this to me is unimaginable.

The goal of Hamas is to have as many Palestinians die as possible to further their military and strategic imperatives. Israel is obliging them as it has little choice in the matter. After the October 7 slaughter, if I were Israel I would’ve glassed Gaza* so in my view Israel is being quite restrained. Hamas is one of the most evil organizations on the planet and Palestinian culture is incredibly demented. And nearly all of the opposition to Israel is just plan antisemitism dressed up as something noble.

Palestinians are the world’s consummate pseudo-martyrs, forever enacting a ridiculous cosplay of victimization that is backed neither by facts nor history. Yes, innocents are suffering there — but that is the way that Hamas and many Palestinian “activists” want it.

Israel’s response is tepid compared to what I would have done in their place, and what probably should be done.

*If it weren’t for, you know, the radioactive fallout and such.

A man (?) has gotta have priorities:

Someone on Reddit asked if it is possible to find someone attractive but not be attracted to them. Of course it is. I find Aella attractive and interesting, but I’m not attracted to her. If I were single and desperately horny, I still not would not want to get down with her. Like many very attractive women, she’s got tons of neuroticism, likes to “shit test” guys and her whole approach to sex and romance is just extremely unappealing to me.

So she’s attractive but very unattractive to me.

The first ten on today’s playlist: