(no subject)
Jun. 14th, 2020 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Trying not to stress about doctor's appointment next week - that's a level 4 risk level according to a chart. Granted I was doing far more than that at the height of the virus - which my mother recently reminded me - and I didn't get sick.
Uncle has shared accurate Florida Dashboard with Florida relatives on FB. Apparently Florida's Department of Health is playing with the numbers - honestly I'm beginning to wonder if the Republicans are trying to kill their party.
2. Saw this in the NY Times this morning...about the number of protests around the US - found it to be rather moving. It basically demonstrates how every county in the US and every city, regardless of racial makeup, density of population or location has mounted protests in support of Black Lives Matter. Including areas that are 95% white. And including people over the age of 70.
The Times compliled data and photos from every protest around the country, including ones in small areas in the midwest such as Wichita, Lawrence and Topeka, Kanasas, Sioux Falls, Idaho, Great Falls,Mountana, etc. Also right now the protests in Seattle, Washington are getting out of control - with the police using tear gas. New York is among the few states that has positively addressed the situation, and legislated police reform, San Franscisco, Minnesota, and Colorado have done so as well.
The Governor in his live briefing today spelled out the specifics in what needed to be down to push through the reform. He also stated that when it came to government it was important to be "precise" and "provide specifics", generalities will get you nowhere. He's correct. Demonstrate, Legislate, Enforce.
He stated explain what you want in the police budget, what demilitarization looks like - what is being removed (guns? tanks? phasers?), what do you want the police to do? What should the complain structure look like? I highly recommend the governor's live briefings to anyone who is interested in how government works and is structured. The policy wonk/administrative lawyer in me sat up and cheered.
This folks is what a true leader does. He doesn't make pretty speeches or hold rallies or do photo ops. Or promise you vague things with no clear plan on how to get there. He provides clear facts, information, and a plan on how to make it work based on that information. And tells you how you can help make it work.
I'm kind of infatuated with my governor at the moment. Help! Help!
3. They've renewed Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist for a second season! That's the good news. The bad news is I have to deal with a love triangle between Simon/Zoey and Max, and I hate Max. Can Max just get hit with truck in the first episode? Oh well, at least I won't have to watch any love scenes - due to COVID-19.
4. Eh...I'm still trying not to think about the 800 boat parade for the EVIL Troll's Birthday in Michigan shared by petz in her news feed. I could have done without that. Now, I'm wishing for a natural disaster that will take out all 800 boats, which I'm guessing goes against my new year's resolution to be a kinder, gentler me. Seriously, who'd have thought 2020 would make that resolution so challenging?
5. Everyone is posting films and books and television series, folks should watch for Black Lives Matter. And I do agree that there are a few I'd skip over - don't watch "The Help" for example - not a good film, it kind of romanticizes slavery, and it was written and filmed from a white privilege perspective. Instead, watch The Secret Life of Bees, also Hidden Figures. Also, do not watch "Green Book" or "Driving Miss Daisy", which show it from the white perspective, instead watch "In the Heat of the Night", "If Beale Street Could Talk", and "Raisin in the Son".
Others?
"Do the Right Thing" and "Blackkklansman"
"Selma" - the fight to get the Voting Rights Act passed
"Harriet" - about Harriet Tubman, based on her life
Horror?
Get Out - watch it instead of US, it's clearer. Also The Skeleton Key is a rather disturbing and haunting film about racism and its consequences. Although Get Out is better.
Superhero?
Black Panther - it subverts various tropes, and exposes stereotypes.
Also, Luke Cage - television miniseries.
Procedural Television Series
There are two by David Simon. The Wire - which may well be the best procedural ever made. It is a six part series that is at times a detailed satirical analysis of the systematic racism that exists within the police force, government, educational system and press in an urban environment and how that effects the entire city and everyone in it - in an increasingly detrimental fashion, regardless of race. It's written by some greats in the field. It also has a heavy black cast, who you've most likely seen pop up elsewhere including Idris Elba, and possibly the most diverse cast of any procedural out there.
The other is Homicide - Life on the Streets, which starred Andre Brauger, and gets into the heads of a group of Homicide Cops. It's not as good as The Wire though.
There's a lot of stuff out there, and a lot of different writers. Some write in dialect, some don't. I've read across the field. There's a couple of really good Nigerian writers out there - the writer of Americandha, comes to mind - while I didn't like the book that much, she's a good writer. Also, the Young Adult Fantasy novel - "Children of Blood and Bone".
Romance? You can't go wrong with Alyssa Cole.
Mystery? Walter Mosely.
Modern essayist and comic book writer and novelist? Ta-nehisi Coates - "Between the World and I" and has done runs on Black Panther and Captain America. He also recently wrote "The Water Dancer".
Documetaries?
The Central Park Five by Ken Burns
13 by Ava DuVernay
Comedies
Blackish
Trevor Noah's Son of Patricia and Afraid of the Dark
Bob Hearts Abishola is interesting, and I've mixed feelings regarding it, but it does nail a few things, rather well.
A lot of the films are free right now "on demand" and on Amazon. The WIRE is currently streaming for free on Amazon or so I've been told.
Uncle has shared accurate Florida Dashboard with Florida relatives on FB. Apparently Florida's Department of Health is playing with the numbers - honestly I'm beginning to wonder if the Republicans are trying to kill their party.
2. Saw this in the NY Times this morning...about the number of protests around the US - found it to be rather moving. It basically demonstrates how every county in the US and every city, regardless of racial makeup, density of population or location has mounted protests in support of Black Lives Matter. Including areas that are 95% white. And including people over the age of 70.
The Times compliled data and photos from every protest around the country, including ones in small areas in the midwest such as Wichita, Lawrence and Topeka, Kanasas, Sioux Falls, Idaho, Great Falls,Mountana, etc. Also right now the protests in Seattle, Washington are getting out of control - with the police using tear gas. New York is among the few states that has positively addressed the situation, and legislated police reform, San Franscisco, Minnesota, and Colorado have done so as well.
The Governor in his live briefing today spelled out the specifics in what needed to be down to push through the reform. He also stated that when it came to government it was important to be "precise" and "provide specifics", generalities will get you nowhere. He's correct. Demonstrate, Legislate, Enforce.
He stated explain what you want in the police budget, what demilitarization looks like - what is being removed (guns? tanks? phasers?), what do you want the police to do? What should the complain structure look like? I highly recommend the governor's live briefings to anyone who is interested in how government works and is structured. The policy wonk/administrative lawyer in me sat up and cheered.
This folks is what a true leader does. He doesn't make pretty speeches or hold rallies or do photo ops. Or promise you vague things with no clear plan on how to get there. He provides clear facts, information, and a plan on how to make it work based on that information. And tells you how you can help make it work.
I'm kind of infatuated with my governor at the moment. Help! Help!
3. They've renewed Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist for a second season! That's the good news. The bad news is I have to deal with a love triangle between Simon/Zoey and Max, and I hate Max. Can Max just get hit with truck in the first episode? Oh well, at least I won't have to watch any love scenes - due to COVID-19.
4. Eh...I'm still trying not to think about the 800 boat parade for the EVIL Troll's Birthday in Michigan shared by petz in her news feed. I could have done without that. Now, I'm wishing for a natural disaster that will take out all 800 boats, which I'm guessing goes against my new year's resolution to be a kinder, gentler me. Seriously, who'd have thought 2020 would make that resolution so challenging?
5. Everyone is posting films and books and television series, folks should watch for Black Lives Matter. And I do agree that there are a few I'd skip over - don't watch "The Help" for example - not a good film, it kind of romanticizes slavery, and it was written and filmed from a white privilege perspective. Instead, watch The Secret Life of Bees, also Hidden Figures. Also, do not watch "Green Book" or "Driving Miss Daisy", which show it from the white perspective, instead watch "In the Heat of the Night", "If Beale Street Could Talk", and "Raisin in the Son".
Others?
"Do the Right Thing" and "Blackkklansman"
"Selma" - the fight to get the Voting Rights Act passed
"Harriet" - about Harriet Tubman, based on her life
Horror?
Get Out - watch it instead of US, it's clearer. Also The Skeleton Key is a rather disturbing and haunting film about racism and its consequences. Although Get Out is better.
Superhero?
Black Panther - it subverts various tropes, and exposes stereotypes.
Also, Luke Cage - television miniseries.
Procedural Television Series
There are two by David Simon. The Wire - which may well be the best procedural ever made. It is a six part series that is at times a detailed satirical analysis of the systematic racism that exists within the police force, government, educational system and press in an urban environment and how that effects the entire city and everyone in it - in an increasingly detrimental fashion, regardless of race. It's written by some greats in the field. It also has a heavy black cast, who you've most likely seen pop up elsewhere including Idris Elba, and possibly the most diverse cast of any procedural out there.
The other is Homicide - Life on the Streets, which starred Andre Brauger, and gets into the heads of a group of Homicide Cops. It's not as good as The Wire though.
There's a lot of stuff out there, and a lot of different writers. Some write in dialect, some don't. I've read across the field. There's a couple of really good Nigerian writers out there - the writer of Americandha, comes to mind - while I didn't like the book that much, she's a good writer. Also, the Young Adult Fantasy novel - "Children of Blood and Bone".
Romance? You can't go wrong with Alyssa Cole.
Mystery? Walter Mosely.
Modern essayist and comic book writer and novelist? Ta-nehisi Coates - "Between the World and I" and has done runs on Black Panther and Captain America. He also recently wrote "The Water Dancer".
Documetaries?
The Central Park Five by Ken Burns
13 by Ava DuVernay
Comedies
Blackish
Trevor Noah's Son of Patricia and Afraid of the Dark
Bob Hearts Abishola is interesting, and I've mixed feelings regarding it, but it does nail a few things, rather well.
A lot of the films are free right now "on demand" and on Amazon. The WIRE is currently streaming for free on Amazon or so I've been told.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-15 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-15 06:23 pm (UTC)The book is apparently much better. It is however a better film in some respects than The Help, and far more accurate.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-16 09:17 pm (UTC)I love Skylar Astin so I can't hate his character. I do hate romantic triangles, however, so instead of Max being hit by a truck, I'll be rooting for Zooey to...I don't know? Discover she wants to enter a convent? "Zoey's Extraordinary Religious Vocation"? Dump them both and travel the world? "Zoey's Extraordinary Vacation." Decide she wants to go back to school to become a doctor so she can find a cure for PSP? "Zoey's Extraordinary Career Change." Anything but the eternal triangle, please.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-17 02:59 am (UTC)I like Skylar's signing voice, but his character just doesn't work for me.
And I did like the actor well enough on Crazy Ex - he had a better written role on that one. So much of it is how the character is written.