Open Thread - Thurs 05 Dec 2024 - What/Who is That?
What/Who is That?
I don't recognize a lot of today's 'culture'. I think this is because I am old. My Mom keeps telling me that she doesn't know the world she lives in anymore. And she watches TV constantly! I haven't had a TV for about 24 years so I don't see commercials, I don't see shows that tell 'us' what's new and important, or who's new and important, and perhaps even why they are important. I haven't watched new movies in, ohh, about 20 years or so. I do spend a lot of time, obviously, online, and I do watch shows online. But... these aren't shows that would be on TV. I don't think. Do they have music reaction shows on TV? Driving through the Alps, and other places, videos? Compilations of weird, strange, and sometimes scary things from dash and other kinds of cameras? Or news shows like Breaking Points? I kinda doubt they do, but I don't know, I must confess.
Who? What? Hmmm... from here.
Who are the latest TV and movie stars? I haven't a clue. In fact, I think I'm about 2 generations of those behind in knowledge. And music stars? I do listen to a lot music that is new but it's generally by older artists, some from foreign countries, in many different genres. And what kind of music is popular now? Does it have a name, like Punk or New Wave or Folk or Psychedelic or whatever did? Maybe it has several names? Maybe it's just boring and not worth paying attention to? Certainly the TV and movie stars seem that way.
The other day I was sitting in the TV room with my dementia'd Dad at his care home as he uncontrollably fell asleep after lunch. Not unusual for him and totally acceptable, especially because he was only meeting with me, not leaders of the world (like Biden!). The TV was playing a football game. And there were the usual 10 commercials to 1 minute of game play (at least that's how it seems!). And a commercial for some drug came on. I have no idea which one. I do know that after the 15 seconds or whatever of telling us what the drug is good for, there were about 1 minute of having to tell us the side-effects and precautions (times might be a bit off, I'm jaded). I would never take that drug. Do people not listen to such things?
What do you think? Does it even matter if I, we, don't know what is popular or sold via commercials in today's culture? If it does matter, what should I try to care about beyond political stuff, human rights, the climate change, happenings in other countries (all of which I already pay attention to), etc?
Thanks for reading this post. Here's the open thread - remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Happy Thursday!
Hope things are going well! We are having cold and foggy days right now. Not much is growing, but I still have celery out in the garden, and plenty of herbs,
Let us know what's up, and whatcha doing and thinking. And have a great day and great weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Pop culture
Suppose the appeal of new shiny objects
holds a fascination for younger folks
definitely lost on the likes of 'me too'
perhaps it is no more than a marketing
campaign focused on a certain demographic
of which we are not party to?
thanks for contributing Sima
question everything
Marketing campaign...
I think so. And it probably is set up to appeal to the youngers. I think it's funny, I do get ads on my phone, when I'm playing games. The ads for older people are all about diapers for adults and drugs. The ads for younger people (I won't tell the phone my birthdate, so it can't target me as easily) are all about diapers! For kids! HAHA.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hi, Sima
Am subjected to Japanese TV to some extent due to domestic considerations (and living in Japan).
Didn't own one for 20 years prior to coming here. Have owned one most of the time since, but mostly only used to watch movies or sometimes TV series on VHS then DVD. Physical video rental is still a thing here, although declining - most places combine that with something like book and magazine sales or electronics. Probably make more money on their big porno sections.
More recently have been watching old (50's-70's) noir and Westerns on YT, some old TV series like Highway Patrol (w/Clint Eastwood), M Squad (Lee Marvin), the entire 80&90's series of Mike Hammer (Stacy Keach), Amos and Andy (underrated, unfairly vilified IMHO), etc...
More on the SF side, recommended series: Dark Angel (Jessica Alba), Jericho (Skeet Ulrich)...
Music another thing - mostly have about as much a clue or interest about who is famous and for what now as I do about multi-bazillion dollar companies which I have no clue about what they even do...
Pity that in the current state of things it's almost inconceivable that something as positive and uplifting as some works from the 60's or 70's would be commercially viable or popular. Although some of those music 'reaction' videos suggest there is some appetite for alternatives to the current commercial crap...
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apropos of almost nothing in particular
.
.
an interesting life you have found in a bi-continental fashion
question everything
I have been transfering...
my movie and tv-show collection from VHS tapes to my computer. So, I guess I'm watching those, and yea, they are all old. Been doing some DVD transfers to computer as well. I think we are watching the same things, more or less.
As for music, I just, I dunno. Maybe I was too 'into' it when younger, and am all spent out. Nothing new under the sun kinda thing?
I think I might watch Japanese TV for a bit just to see what's different, if anything.
Love the music you posted and the meme!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Thomas Dolby
did a tune on his wonderful 1988 album "Aliens Ate My Buick" that really sums it up well- he called it "Pulp Culture". Viz:
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Pulp Culture
That sure hits it on the spot! Pulp Culture, the same, year upon year...
Thanks for the introduction to that song, it was great
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Mr. Dolby
was a hero of mine, as a songwriter in the 80s. He took a chance to say a few things that were still not really allowed for US songwriters (that wished to have money-making careers), and was seriously underrated- especially by the folks who judge Who Has Something To Say.
As a result, he is a footnote, as are many ‘80s artists who actually did Have Something To Say, but said the wrong things. Or, perhaps, at the Wrong Time. There are many potential pitfalls, or so I’m told.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Social Murder is acceptable in our society
Lots more tweets and coverage about the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth.
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/12/murder-and-social-murder-the-cas...
"Your claim for empathy about this situation has been denied."
United uses algorithms to deny claims and it’s well above 90%. If this was the reason why he was killed it’s surprising that it hasn’t happened more often. The police would have millions of suspects.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I highly recommend you read the thread
The tweets are brutally honest.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
It is hard to have sympathy
for the death of a man who could have been charged with capitol murder and subject to the death penalty in a just world.
The shooter was not an expert, but good enough to accomplish his "job".
I doubt the shooter will live long enough to sing. I don't expect the truth to ever surface.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
it does send a message to these HC/CEO types
people have suffered under
their system long enough
question everything
Now I just read
the name of a book about how insurance companies deny claims is entitled "Deny Defend", so maybe this murder was motivated by a person who was harmed by the insurance company. Hmmm... (shell casings had the words deny, defend, and depose scratched on them.)
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
A different motive?
When I heard of the insider trading I thought that could have been the motive for death. Ala Boeing whistleblowers? I think either one fits.
Stay tuned…
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I had read that yesterday.
2 theories thus far: Some individual who suffered due to a denied insurance claim, or a powerful shareholder who had the way to get even with the thief. Either theory, if proven true, sends a message to CEOs.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
More information on the investigation
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/class-action-lawsuit-against-unitedhealt...
Yeah lots of people are talking about the book. It’s what insurance companies do.
My worker’s compensation case was a nightmare. My doctor would suggest something, comp would deny it and off to court we went. The judge would rule in my favor and I’d get it done until the next time and off to court we went. Rinse and repeat…. Just how much extra money did that cost insurance? But they do this for people who don’t understand that they are entitled to a lawyer and they give up and suffer on.
The work comp system is badly broken. It was broken when I entered it 25 years ago and it’s much, much worse now. It was created to protect employers if someone got hurt, but it’s been allowed to be degraded by big businesses and big insurance and now if you get hurt you have to see the company doctor who says nothing is wrong.
My lawyer told me that now if your claim is denied you can’t sue in court anymore…if true…blehh!
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
More and better information
Thompson sold 31% of his shares…..
More in-depth than the other one.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
He sold at below market value.
He knew what he was doing and when to do it, except about that hotel exit thing...
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Exactly
exactly.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
The article and thread you linked to..
are really good to read. Helped me put a voice to what I've been thinking and feeling about this.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
This is a good way to look at things...
like the CEO's murder and his murdering of so many people, approved via healthcare. I hadn't thought about it like that before your post. Now, I think that's how I'll view things from now on.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
One way of murder is legal in America
United using algorithms to deny people’s claims just so it can make higher profits should have had the government over its ass long ago.
And people on advantage get denied more often. The advantage insurance companies commit so much fraud that it should have been shutdown long ago, but apparently government doesn’t care that it’s getting ripped off…must be some hella kickbacks. That is illegal too, but say-la-vee.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Good morning Sima, et. al,. It is National Repeal Day! -
Prohibition Ended on this date. Why the hell is this not a national holiday?
Sputnik has an interesting "article" entitled
at https://sputnikglobe.com/20241203/coups-assassinations-jail-and-suicide-... It consists of little capsule summaries of South KOrea's Leaders from Syngman Rhee to date; an interesting perspectiver.
Meanwhile RT brings us more on the latest US/Nato/EU orchestrated color revolution in the making, something of an open admission of ill intent and rejection of real democracy by the US:
https://www.rt.com/news/608751-blinken-sanctions-georgia-pardons/
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Not sure what the point is...
Syngman Rhee- murderer, assassinations, Bodo massacres, Jeju massacres (dictator)
Park Chung-hee, tool of the Japanese Empire, hunted his fellow Korean independence fighters, torturer, murderer (dictator)
Chun Doo-hwan- Gwangju massacre (murderer), torturer. (dictator)
Roh Tae-woo- Chun's right hand man, Gwangju massacre. He was a competent president, with a positive legacy as well, corrupt as hell.
Park Geun-hye- simply not capable of being president, Park's daughter, mother and father both assassinated. She was a tragic figure, used and victimized by the corrupt people around her. Particularly, Choi Son-sil, who was basically running the government for her and providing her with drugs. Sewol Ferry Disaster high death toll gross negligence (similar in nature to Yoon's Halloween crush episode).
No Moo-hyun- a true progressive, labor and civil rights advocate, hounded to death by vicious right wing prosecutors. His experience similar to Lee Jae-myung's and that of Cho Guk, the current opposition.
Kim Dae-jung one of the better presidents. Kim was saved from assassination at one point by US intervention.
Lee Myung-bak, super corrupt. Blacklists, journalists, authors, actors etc. Yoon hired the guy in charge of MB's blacklist program.
Yoon dictator wanna be, incompetent, corrupt. The dictatorship of prosecutors and persecution of press. labor and political opposition, now his attempt at martial law. I heard one BBC "expert" claim Yoon acted in good faith, "in the belief that martial law was needed to save the Republic." What horseshit.
Oh, gee, South Korea is so unfair to its presidents. (not) Perhaps Sputnik's characterization suggests polarity generated by a drive to sovereignty and freedom vs repression and toadyism in service of the almost 80 years of imperial US military and diplomatic presence including US interference in South Korea's internal affairs.
edit: typos, add LMB comments.
語必忠信 行必正直
I didn't see it as implying that the country was "unfair"
to its presidents, only that many of their careers had unpleasant ends. I know that some were extremely unpleasant rulers and assumed that most earned their fate and it was simply a catalogue of who went down when and how for those of us who are aware of only a very few of them
Be well and have a good one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Perhaps I was overly influenced by...
...a theme that I've heard repeated lately, that Korea is "hard on their presidents." In this one it is said that they don't treat their presidents "kindly." Not that South Korea is above criticism, but I felt that some essential context was left out.
Virtually all informed viewpoints on South Korea are essentially partisan, or imperial in nature. I'm not immune from this. The exceptions are those that leave things out inadvertently, and thereby are subject to misinterpretation.
語必忠信 行必正直
If Georgia doesn't want to be in the EU and Nato...
why the hell are we forcing it. I mean if the people don't want it, they don't want it!
As for the presidents of South Korea, after reading that summary all I can say is, why would I ever want to be president (of any country, not just South Korea)?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Wanna keep the squirrels out of the bird feeder?
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Great video, snoops!
A little humor goes a long way.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
We tried that but in the end didn't work
At first squirrels would slide down. But eventually weather conditions and constant attempts by squirrels wiped away enough of the grease so they could climb pole. But also, they would climb up nearby trees and from there jump to the top of the feeder. Trapeze artists.
Yeah I wondered about that
This guy is coated with grease, but the next one? But lol at him just sliding down. Looks like he enjoyed it.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
We hang our feeders ...
from the roofs and gutters and such, and don't have much problem with squirrels. But I wonder if it's because we've got Nikko dog (and once Jaska) who love to chase squirrels. I dunno.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Made me laugh :)
Kinda felt sorry for the squirrel, for a nano-second. The resignation at the end when they just slid down the pole!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I cut off the radio about 1980.
It is still off.
I am proud to say I have never heard a Taylor Swift song.
I also stopped watching TV about 1998, got cable for about 4 years in the 2010s, cut it off and haven't gotten it turned on since.
The last time I went to a movie was 2009. Start Trek.
The music of today that I accidentally hear is from passing cars. Rap? hip hop? "Music"? Seriously?
I see incessant headlines about big name musicians and film stars I have never heard or seen. It doesn't make me feel old and uncool, since I turned my back on pop culture in 1980, back when I was actually young.
They can't cancel me. I cancelled them.
Medicine commercials, insurance, charities. We do watch old western shows when we travel, so I do see the strange ads. I agree a few seconds of describing the newest miracle drug precedes the minute long side effects warnings should warn away customers, but it doesn't.
Thanks for the OT, sima. Always interesting, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I don't do radio either
I do listen to Pandora, but I'm subscribed, so I get no commercials and I pick the songs, or genre of music, or whatever. And there are no DJs.
The headlines are nuts. And I, as well, don't know about any of the 'stars' or whatever. Never heard a Taylor Swift song, either.
Last time I went to the movies was on a date, so a long time ago (Maybe 1998 or so?). It was an action adventure film, Armageddon, and there was this very serious part where the father was dying and saying stuff to the son... and I laughed. I just laughed. Ohh, the looks I got from people. But that section of the movie was funny, because it was so stupid! And so much for dating that guy again! Hah!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
happy birthday JJ Cale
one of the great ones
question everything
A toast to JJ!
A fave around these parts!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981