Month: July 2021

Income and wealth inequality update 7/11/21

Owning stocks ‘a privilege of the few’: Betterment CEO (yahoo.com)

The Friends of Eddie Coyle

The Friends of Eddie Coyle is an excellent 19673 film based on a fine 1970 novel by George V. Higgins. It was shown recently on TCM and is on disc as part of the Criterion Collection. The book is largely dialogue and Higgins, a former prosecutor, really understands how his small-time criminals talk and act.

Higgins was a big influence on Elmore Leonard. Remenber Jackie Brown, the Tarantino film based on Leonard’s Rum Punch? Jackie Brown is the name of a character in Eddie Coyle.

His novel Cogan’s Trade was filmed as Killing Them Softly and revived interest in Higgins.

Robert Mitchum: The Last Celluloid Desperado

I like the Byrds more now than I did in the 1060s

In general, if I liked something in the 1960s or 1970s, I like it now. Same for things I didn’t like. I have really elevated my opinion of the Byrds. Their contribution to country rock, psychedelic rock and country rock is large. This is a good documentary. I assume it has been shown on Axstv which airs programs with the same participants. I think part of the reason I was not a big fan is that I didn’t (then and now) like their first big hits “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn! Turn! Turn”.

Biden was right to fire the Social Security Administration Commissioner

Hypocritical Republicans have complained about Trump firing Andrew Saul. The media makes it sound unusual, too. Saul is emulating Trump by not accepting that he is gone. Biden is right to want someone who agrees with his policies. Trump and the Republicans have politicized everything.

Originally, the SSA commissioner was not such a political position. Several served for 10 years. Here’s a full list. You will see that several left around the time of the inauguration of a new president.

Here’s the recent history:

Astrue, appointed by Bush, served the fill six year term which extended into Obama’s second term.

Senate Republicans prevented Obama from appointing a commissioner who would serve a six-year term. His appointees were all temporary.

Trump appointed a GOP donor to the position.

Social Security waits anxiously for Trump to nominate commissioner (2017)

Film: Giants and Toys

I just watched Giants and Toys (1958) an excellent film that shows the dangers of capitalism run amok. Arrow Video has recently released it on Blu-ray.

Independent Blu-ray/DVD labels

Independent labels are a main force in keeping physical media alive as the major studios focus on streaming. Some of the independent labels have streaming platforms, too. These labels are a great source of films that would not be popular enough for the major labels to produce them. Many focus on horror films. They have also done a great job on foreign films and old films.

The Criterion Collection is the gold standard for independent labels. They also have a streaming channel. Criterion editions are expensive but worth it since they have great restorations and extensive extras on the discs. This July, Barnes and Noble has their discs for 50% off. They announce new discs every month on the 15th.

Kino Lorber has a wide variety of current and older films. They have frequent sales.

Shout Factory focuses on 1960s and later films such John Carpenter films and Hammer horror films.

Arrow Video is an English label. Some of their discs are not designed to play in the US. They have a wide variety of films from all over the world including a lot of horror.

Severin Films

Second Run DVD in an English label that does a great job of releasing discs of films from central Europe.

Oscilliscope Films – I love We Are Little Zombies

Vinegar Syndrome has done a great job on Rudy Ray Moore discs

Synapse Films releases a variety of independent films

Flicker Alley has released some great silent films

Well Go USA does a great job of releasing discs of Asian films

Powerhouse Indicator Films is a UK label. Many of their discs are not for the US market. They’ve done extensive fine Hammer reissues.

Funimation releases Asian films

Classic Flix specializes in old American films

Grindhouse Releasing has mostly horror films such as those directed by Lucio Fulci

Scorpion Releasing

Code Red DVD

SRS Cinema – underground movies

88 Films UK label

eBay has discs from Asia for Asian films that have not been released in the US. Be careful to make sure they play in the US.

Diabolik has a big selection of horror and other cult discs

The 3-D Film Archive has restored 3-D films. Some are Kickstarter projects before they are released on independent labels.

I’ll add to this list as I think of more labels.

More on the blue-red vaccine split

Republican hesitancy to get the vaccine results in more virus and death in their states.

https://twitter.com/chriscillizza/status/1412130796455055360?s=11

Would the Supreme Court undermine new voting legislation?

This is an excellent point. Based on what the court decided on Arizona, it’s reasonable to think the court would rule against any new laws that tried to restore voting rights. This is a bad situation and I am not optimistic that voting rights will ever be protected with the current court balance..

Many Republican states receive more federal funding than they pay