Month: April 2018

Trump lies about rape of Central American women

Trump claimed that women in Central America are raped at unprecedented levels.

This is baseless nonsense and he supplied no supporting evidence.  He’s just trying to rile up the bigoted part of his base.  Of course, cowardly Republican leaders will say nothing and Democrats have no power.

Apparently, he was referring to the caravan but there is no truth to what he said.

Trump has fanned fear of undocumented immigrant crime since he began running but in fact, according to a 2015 study  “undocumented immigrants commit less crimes than the native born.”

It’s frightening.  Either Trump is a pathological liar or doesn’t know the difference between fact and fiction.  Sad!

Lewandowski told Democrats he wasn’t answering their “fucking” questions

Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager told congressional Democrats that he wasn’t answering their “fucking” questions. Now, isn’t that a great way to treat members of Congress.  He doesn’t respect people who don’t agree with him – just like Trump.  The Republican-led House investigation which they terminated was obviously partisan and incomplete.  Sad!

Covers: 4th of July

Dave Alvin wrote “4th of July” which was recorded when he was briefly in the band X on 1987’s See How We Are.  The lead vocals are by X’s John Doe. He has continued to perform it during his solo career.  The last link below is to a live performance which included David Hildalgo on backing vocals and guitar and the great Flaco Jimemez on accordion.

Original X recording (1987)

X at Farm Aid (7/4/86)

Dave Alvin Live from Austin TX (1/29/99)

Dave Alvin, David Hidalgo, Flaco Jiminez, Los Cenzontles (2/16/17)

 

Tariffs would have bad consequences

A roundup of articles on the potential negative effects of the US and Chinese tariffs on American businesses and workers.

Winemakers who sell to China will be hurt. China is the fifth biggest market for exported wines.

China’s retaliatory tariffs will affect agricultural areas that voted for Trump.

China’s tariffs will affect luxury cars made in the US (though the auto companies are mostly foreign).

Tariffs against companies such as soybean producers could hurt Republicans in the 2018 elections.

Another article on soybeans

On the other hand, people in Minnesota’s mining country approve of the tariffs.

Tariffs on machinery imported from China could affect the manufacturing of goods in the US that use those machines.

The potential impact on the price of large TVs

The tariffs will raise prices for consumers who depend on the big-box stores for cheap goods.  According to the column, “You think we have anger and resentment now in parts of the country where the factories have shuttered and the banks are closing and families are coming unglued? Try raising prices on imported toys and cellphones and barbecues, just enough so that American families living on the edge of solvency can’t make the numbers work anymore.”

Why tariffs on China won’t work.

Trump advisers have connections to steel companies that will benefit from tariffs.

Trump lies again about voter fraud

Trump again said today there was massive voter fraud in the 2016 election.  This is a baseless lie.  I’m sure he is doing this to rally his base because nobody else believes this nonsense.  This is a serious effort to undermine the credibility of our elections but I doubt Republican leaders will say anything.

As of December 2016 (and I doubt it has changed), 52% of Republicans think Trump won the popular vote.  We have a president and many of his voters who don’t accept the facts.

This was supposed to be a roundtable discussion about his tax plan but as usual Trump turned it into a political event.  Taxpayers should not have to pay for his travel and events when he doesn’t stick to official business and goes into political rants instead.

Trump targeted Democratic Senator Manchin who is up for reelection and two Republicans, one of who may be his opponent were there.  The Republican Party should pay for this event since it was used as a 2018 rally.

Sad!

Laura Ingraham learns there are consequences for vindictive tweets

Good for David Hogg for fighting back against Laura Ingraham’s cheap insults by listing  her advertisersand advising his followers to contact them.  At least 15 companies have pulled their ads from her show.

Ingraham has apologized but Hogg rejected it.

It’s not surprising that Russian bots are supporting Ingraham on Twitter.

Sad!

updates: The right’s sliming of David Hogg

Sinclair TV host resigns after vulgar comment about David Hogg

26 sponsors have pulled ads

Update 10/16/18:

Big advertisers still shunning Ingraham’s Fox News

Ideas for Criterion Blu-ray/DVD discs

The Criterion Collection has done an outstanding job of creating Blu-ray/DVD discs of films from all time periods and countries.  Their discs are expensive but worth it – great transfers and extensive supplements.  They go on sale once or twice a year at Barnes & Noble; Criterion’s online site has occasional 50% off flash sales too.

Here are some ideas for discs they could make.

  • Films directed by Miklos Jancso such as Red Psalm
  • The Magnificent Ambersons directed by Orson Welles
  • Silent films – Greed, The Wind, The Crowd
  • Viva Riva! (2010), a great Congolese crime thriller film directed by Djo Tunda Wa Munga
  • Luis Bunuel’s Mexican films prior to The Exterminating Angel. I recommend Nazarin and El.
  • Dawn of the Dead directed by George Romero. I don’t think this is in print in the US.  Criterion just released the original Night of the Living Dead.
  • More films by Robert Bresson such as Une Femme Douce and Quatre Nuits d’un Reveur.
  • Wanda directed by Barbara Loden

Update:  The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek directed by Preston Sturges.  A great 1940s comedy that has been released twice on DVD but is out of print now.  Criterion has already released two Sturges films on Blu-ray but I think this is best one.

British Film Institute (BFI) lists

The British Film Institute (BFI) is an excellent source of information about films from all eras and countries.

Every decade, they conduct a poll on the top films of all time.  Here’s a link to their latest poll (2012) which named Vertigo as the greatest film of all time.

They also have lists on specific people, countries, and subjects.  I recommend the lists of 10 great South Korean action films and 10 great silent romances.  There are many other fine lists to pick from.