AnthonyB's recent activity
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Comment on Non-queer men of Tildes: PLEASE consider before commenting on ~life.women and ~lgbt without careful consideration. We are losing members over this issue. in ~tildes
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Comment on How A24 spurred a meme craze and got the many to watch ‘You Can See Everything’: documentary opens to $15m milestone in ~movies
AnthonyB LinkI'm a huge advocate for the weekday matinee, so I just got back from seeing it for the first time. I actually broke down and tried to see it over the weekend, but the sound gave out right after...I'm a huge advocate for the weekday matinee, so I just got back from seeing it for the first time. I actually broke down and tried to see it over the weekend, but the sound gave out right after the previews and I couldn't make the next showing, so I had to wait till this afternoon.
Anyway, I was shocked by how many people we at the theater, both times. I would expect a showing like that in LA or something, but not my relatively small FL suburb. There were more people in the theater today than there were on opening day for The Odyssey, and about 1.5x as many as there were for Digger, OBAA, and Disclosure Day combined. Obviously, the latter three weren't exactly box office hits, and this is just for my personal matinee experience, but I still can't believe that a three hour Nathan Fielder A24 doc outperformed the combined work of three Oscar-winning filmmakers in my little neck of the woods.
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Comment on How A24 spurred a meme craze and got the many to watch ‘You Can See Everything’: documentary opens to $15m milestone in ~movies
AnthonyB Link ParentYeah, I had a similar takeaway. When she's talking about completing the project again, there's a moment where she sounds convincing even though you can reasonably assume it's not real. The...Yeah, I had a similar takeaway. When she's talking about completing the project again, there's a moment where she sounds convincing even though you
knowcan reasonably assume it's not real. The magician analogy is very fitting. -
Comment on How Los Angeles Dodgers' three-peat hopes ended with NLCS loss to Milwaukee Brewers in ~sports.baseball
AnthonyB Link ParentGod, I love sports. I know it's not for everyone, but the way it brings us together through our shared moments of joy, pain, or hope is truly special. To say it's "just a game" is like saying your...God, I love sports.
I know it's not for everyone, but the way it brings us together through our shared moments of joy, pain, or hope is truly special. To say it's "just a game" is like saying your grandma's favorite recipe is "just a dish." There will come a time in the not too distant future where my dad finally punches his ticket, and some of my most cherished memories of him will be of us celebrating a relatively inconsequential hit, catch, or basket.
As a Dodgers fan, it's stories like yours that have allowed me to resist the natural inclination to develop a distaste for the team that just whooped my team's ass.
Congrats, and best of luck in the WS!
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Comment on Grand Theft Auto VI | Launch trailer in ~games
AnthonyB LinkI haven't been excited for a video game to come out since like 2003, but I'm actually really looking forward to this. I'm not even a huge GTA guy. I don't know if it's the two+ years of hype &...I haven't been excited for a video game to come out since like 2003, but I'm actually really looking forward to this. I'm not even a huge GTA guy. I don't know if it's the two+ years of hype & promotional material, the level of detail, some of the RDR2 things that I've seen them incorporate, or what, but at this point I think I'm going to get it at launch and lock myself indoors until Thanksgiving.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
AnthonyB Link ParentThat was basically my exact complain to a friend after seeing the movie. He's a big movie guy and was saying that she wanted to transform after Anora. I don't know how much of that is true or what...That was basically my exact complain to a friend after seeing the movie. He's a big movie guy and was saying that she wanted to transform after Anora. I don't know how much of that is true or what happened, but throughout the movie she just looks like Anora the data scientist with a Harvard MBA. Real She's All That energy.
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Comment on I deliberately bet like a problem gambler. DraftKings made me a VIP. in ~tech
AnthonyB Link ParentOne of the first jobs I had after college was working as a corporate player/banker in a California casino* and it was the same people every. single. day. And my hours were from 7pm-3am. Some...One of the first jobs I had after college was working as a corporate player/banker in a California casino* and it was the same people every. single. day. And my hours were from 7pm-3am. Some people would stay there for over 12 hours. Every day. I've had my fair share of depressing jobs and workplaces since then, but that was probably the worst. I remember one regular looked at me with tears in his eyes and told me to never gamble because he had lost everything. This was after a $10 baccarat game. Now we put that place onto our phones and constantly try to entice people like him. Nice. Might as well have Amazon sell heroin and use Alexa to alert customers when they're due for a fix.
*Totally unnecessary, but mildly interesting background info: California has (had?) laws that legalized gambling, but made it illegal to have games where there is a house advantage. So to get around those laws, there were card rooms that opened up and allowed players to take turns being the dealer. So technically, you could remove the house advantage for a game like blackjack if players took turns - or had the opportunity to take turns - being the dealer. The only problem is that there aren't many people with the kind of cash where they can go up against 4 or 5 players every few rounds. Enter the "corporation." Someone had the bright idea to pay a bunch of people to sit at every table with a fat stack of chips and play as the dealer at every possible opportunity. That was my job.
Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as just kicking back and collecting chips. The casin- er, "card room" that hosted the games was primarily interested in keeping players at the tables (every game cost like a dollar per hand), and the "corporation" didn't tip dealers shit, so the only people with a vested interest in maintaining the "integrity" of the game were people like me, and goddamn people were good at cheating. Both dealers and players would try to cheat, so we had to watch the games like a hawk to make sure no one was trying to pull a fast one.
**Even less interesting, but mildly amusing background info: I almost got fired for missing a dealer cheat right under my nose because I got distracted watching Ray Allen hit one of the greatest shots in NBA history. Apparently, a supervisor saw my visceral reaction and decided to check the tape. Worth it. Also, the overwhelming majority of players were elderly Chinese immigrants and Latino men, so there was a very unique 'Spanderin' phrase that stuck with me for years after hearing it dozens of times per hour for nearly a year. Aaayyyyoooooooo! Chinga tu madre! 10/10 reaction, fitting for this article.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
AnthonyB LinkSaw The Social Reckoning a few days ago. Oof. I feel like Aaron Sorkin is the Clayton Kershaw of movies. Outstanding career, undeniably one of the best of his era, but he'll give you a real...Saw The Social Reckoning a few days ago. Oof.
I feel like Aaron Sorkin is the Clayton Kershaw of movies. Outstanding career, undeniably one of the best of his era, but he'll give you a real stinker from time to time. And this movie was like 7 runs in 2.1 innings. For the non-sports people, The Social Network : The West Wing :: The Social Reckoning : The Newsroom. For the non-TV people, this movie was like a bad meal in a nice restaurant. It looks good, the atmosphere is nice, the service is fine, but then you take a bite and it's just....bleh. Not good. And I guess if we're going with the restaurant analogy, then Bill Burr was a surprisingly good and helpful busboy.
I was alone in the theater, and for the first time ever, I pulled out my phone to look something up because
There was so much weird and unnecessary sexual tension between the main characters, I had to see if they hooked up in real life (they didn't). -
Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
AnthonyB Link ParentI think about the shot of Olivia crouched beside the oven and yelling about the souffle all the time. That movie is so much funnier than advertised.I think about the shot of Olivia crouched beside the oven and yelling about the souffle all the time. That movie is so much funnier than advertised.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
AnthonyB Link ParentNever heard that one! It reminds me of Cloud City. I love Pond.Never heard that one! It reminds me of Cloud City. I love Pond.
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Comment on Anyone else have Inattentive ADHD? in ~health.mental
AnthonyB Link ParentHello, fellow zoner outer! I'm old enough to remember the days when the 'H' wasn't included when people talked about ADHD, so I (jokingly) like to refer to my situation as 'classic ADD - no H' or...Hello, fellow zoner outer! I'm old enough to remember the days when the 'H' wasn't included when people talked about ADHD, so I (jokingly) like to refer to my situation as 'classic ADD - no H' or (this might not be the best place for this, but it's with 100% unseriousness) "the lazy version, not the crazy version."
Like you, reading the strengths and weaknesses feels like I'm reading my own scouting report. I'd love to know the stats on how much time I've spent looking for stuff throughout my life. I'd put the over/under at about 5000 hours lol. High school wasn't the best, especially since I was already hostile to the concept busy work, but I feel like it might've helped me in college. I majored in history and always got nice feedback for my writing and analysis* which is nice because the wrong book can have me circling back to the same paragraph a dozen times and I'm an extremely slow writer. I'll think of a great sentence midway through the one I'm working on and just bounce around sections - actually, I kind of do that with tasks in my day-to-day life as well. Clean a little bit of the room, go do a few dishes, back to the room, etc. etc.
I didn't know about the emotionally attuned thinking bit. That might explain some of the positive feedback I've received from my romantic partners. I finally started taking meds for it in my early 30s and it was like I was in the movie Limitless. If I attribute the "strengths" to the diagnosis the way I do with the "weaknesses" then all in all I'd say it's a wash as far as the negative/positive aspects are concerned.
*if that comes as a surprise given my comment history, it's because I shoot from the hip 95% of the time. And I'm stupid, but that's a separate issue.
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Comment on What single episode of a show would you recommend as a standalone? in ~tv
AnthonyB LinkRemoving shows that are episodic or known for one-offs like Atlanta, I think the first few that come to mind are: True Detective - S1E4. Easy enough to follow along with what's happening in front...Removing shows that are episodic or known for one-offs like Atlanta, I think the first few that come to mind are:
True Detective - S1E4. Easy enough to follow along with what's happening in front of you, and, like, motherfuckin goddamn. (Honorable mention for season 2 episode 4 as well)
Game of Thrones - S4E8/9 or maybe S5E8. My ex forced me to watch that show and I didn't appreciate it and never knew what was going on or who was who. Then The Mountain vs The Viper happened and I locked tf in. Would it be better to know everything that's going on? Yes. But speaking from experience, it's good enough with just whatever you pick up in that hour and have going in from cultural osmosis.
Mr. Robot - S3E5 was better in the pre-1917 days but still a hell of a ride. Yes, I love a oner. No, I will not apologize. Besides, does anyone ever really know what's happening in that show? Also, shoutout S4E5. Big swing, very cool, totally works imo, and can probably be enjoyed without knowing anything that's going on beyond what you see in front of you.
Peep Show - S4E5. Feels like cheating since Peep Show isn't something you necessarily have to follow in order, but there is a main story throughout the show. This episode (Holiday) is sort of throwing you into the deep end, but it is incredible. Be warned, there's a 3.1% chance this ruins Thanksgiving for you if you're an American. Speaking of Americans...
The Americans - S1E1. Not the best episode of the series, but probably the most enjoyable if you haven't seen anything else. In a weird way, I think it works if the end of that episode is the end of the story. Kinda cheating since it's a pilot, but whatever.
Fargo - S3E8. I have personal experience with this one, having shown it to a few people who hadn't seen the third season. Season 3 is a slog, imo. And while there is an all-time "hell yeah!" moment at the end of episode 7 for those who have seen the first season, you don't need to know anything to dive into this episode and enjoy it. It gives you all the weirdness and excitement that the show delivers when it's at its best in a single episode.
Succession - S1E10. I think this actually works as a standalone. There's enough in the dialogue, setting, and storytelling for you to understand the Roy family and their fucked up dynamics, and there is a clear beginning and end to this little chapter of their story. Add 30 extra minutes to this episode and it would make a hell of a movie.
The Sopranos - S3E1. "Pine Barrens." The GOAT. You don't need to know anything about these guys going into it. Just sit back and enjoy. They'll show you everything and more.
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Comment on Keeping (longer) hair in place without it being stiff? in ~life.men
AnthonyB LinkI think I might have the perfect product for you, friend. Highland Glacial Cream (available on Amazon if that's your preference, but the website offers a money back guarantee if you don't like...I think I might have the perfect product for you, friend. Highland Glacial Cream (available on Amazon if that's your preference, but the website offers a money back guarantee if you don't like it).
It's strong enough to get the job done, but has a light hold and matte finish which makes it seem like there's nothing in your hair. It'll keep the hair out of your eyes, reduce any frizz, and allow you to run your fingers through your hair. Plus, it's (supposedly) all-natural, vegan, and cruelty free. It's a little bit on the pricier side as far as hair products go, but it'll last. They even give you this little metal key thing to squeeze every last ounce out of the tube. I've been using various putties, pomades, gels, creams, and conditioners for 20+ years and this is by far the best product I have ever come across.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
AnthonyB Link ParentIt's funny, I was really disappointed with Don't Look Up the first time I saw it. I revisited it a few months ago and developed an appreciation for it. Now I think it's the definitive satire of...It's funny, I was really disappointed with Don't Look Up the first time I saw it. I revisited it a few months ago and developed an appreciation for it. Now I think it's the definitive satire of our time, not just as it relates to climate change, but every issue we're unable to address as things fall apart. I chuckled a few times at both, but I don't find either to be very funny. Then again, that might be due to the fact that I get mad when watching Don't Look Up.
I understand drawing the comparison between the two given the subject matter, but I feel like they're very different movies with different focuses and themes. I feel like Don't Look Up is more focused on the systems that lead to how we collectively approach climate change, be it indifference, distraction, polarization, insanity, or rage. Digger doesn't have that, but I don't think that was ever the intention.
The meta-analysis is something that you're much more plugged into, and I understand why this movie will be hit and miss with viewers, but at the end of the day, I'm just glad we finally got a big swing from Cruise and a unique movie from a major studio.
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Comment on ‘Digger’ majorly bombs with $8 million opening weekend, ‘Verity’ scores $32 million debut in ~movies
AnthonyB Link ParentI suppose it probably wasn't best for the financial success of the film, but I'm glad they did what they did. So many trailers tell you the whole story and I like to go in as blind as possible.I suppose it probably wasn't best for the financial success of the film, but I'm glad they did what they did. So many trailers tell you the whole story and I like to go in as blind as possible.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
AnthonyB Link ParentI don't know how I would've received this film if I knew about the twist going into it. I think knowing the twist and then the twist within the twist that Digger's story is based on "real" events...I don't know how I would've received this film if I knew about the twist going into it. I think knowing the twist and then the twist within the twist that Digger's story is based on "real" events takes a lot out of the experience of seeing it for the first time. Realizing it's a play, only to then later realize it's based on something that happened, then finally seeing the world at the tail end of the movie was really something. A triple, if you will. I went in expecting nothing but zaniness and over the top performances and was surprised by the layers of depth, whereas it sounds like you were anticipating the depth and got more zaniness than expected.To each their own, but overall, I had a very different reaction to this movie. For starters, I enjoyed Cruise's performance. I don't necessarily think over the top = bad, but part of that might have been clouded by how excited I was to see Mr. Action Hero act weird and silly for the first time in nearly two decades.
As for the message, I didn't see it as a critique of satires as much as it's a love letter to satire. It stresses the catharsis that satire can provide, be it through laughter or rage, or in Fossil Fools's case, both. Also, I didn't take away the message that Jesse Plemons's character was not a bad guy. I saw him just as a normal guy who not only got swept up into the world that Digger created, but still benefited from it even after the supposed exile. After all, he maintained a great deal of power and wealth, enough to produce the play and locate a random person at the drop of a hat thanks to his "global security" company.
I suppose that part of his character is a critique of satires in popular culture in that those who produce them are often the same people who are responsible for our need for the catharsis that they provide. At the end of the day, he is still in charge of the story that the audience is told. Sometimes the harsh truth (or some version of it) can still be a benefit to the Rockwells of the world. A distraction might be necessary, but it's still a distraction. And while that might appear to contradict the reverence this movie has for satire, both things can be true at the same time. Having said that, I also see Plemons's character as a stand in for us. We want to experience some form of justice, catharsis, or even self-flagellation, especially in art about climate change. But at the same time, we still enjoy the benefits of the source of the problem. Like Digger said in his speech to the EU, deep down we want the comforts of our unsustainable lifestyle. That message stuck with me as I left the air-conditioned theater to my car, having just seen a sweating audience walk out of a theater to a horrifying dystopian world.
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Comment on Cornell won't, we will in ~news
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Comment on On US Democrats who cave in response to anti-trans attack ads in ~lgbt
AnthonyB Link ParentSpot on. It's incredibly frustrating. Sadly, this phenomenon extends beyond trans issues and has the potential to include any issue that is deemed 'far-left' by conservatives. A recent and...This article reflected a frustration I can't properly articulate with trans rights becoming some sort of a cudgel that gets wielded against progressive, or even US center-to-left politics. The left-wing politician doesn't get to talk about their general policy, they're forced into this absurd discussion that leaves them explaining this one small part of their policy, ditching part of their platform to avoid the conversation, alienating part of their voter base, and things not improving materially for all of the drama around it. The right winger then wins on their opposition to trans rights, wokeness, etc, and proceeds to burn their jurisdiction (see the 45 and 47th presidential terms).
Spot on. It's incredibly frustrating. Sadly, this phenomenon extends beyond trans issues and has the potential to include any issue that is deemed 'far-left' by conservatives.
A recent and unfortunate twist of fate has led me to a position where I now watch a brain-melting amount of cable news. And while cable news is generally one of the last places where one would go to learn something, I feel like it's given me a better understanding of the Democratic Party's tendency to concede to Republican framing and avoid speaking up on "controversial" issues.
Now in an ideal world, the cable news giants would inform their consumers about the issues and policies that are most impactful. However, we don't live in the ideal world, we live in dogshit world. So instead, the media focuses on the horse race and narrows in on the attacks that generate controversy, and any additional context is provided by talking heads in a debate setting that only amplifies the noise. It would be one thing if this was limited to the 24/7 catheter sellers, but their toxic discourse inevitably leaks out to local news and print media, and before you know it, it's the question that gets asked every day and a major category in the debate. It happened to Mamdani last year with regard to Israel and antisemitism allegations, and a similar thing is happening to Abdul El-Seyed this year (only it's much much dumber).
It doesn't matter what race you're in or what year it is, there's always a conservative-made landmine to step on (trans kids in sports, defund the police, CRT, being Muslim, etc. etc.), and the media will latch on to it without explaining a goddamn thing, regardless of how important or insignificant it is. Therefore, it's a much easier route for a candidate to play it safe and avoid taking any position that could ignite a culture war firestorm. This media environment rewards cowardice/capitulation and punishes those who stand firm on their principles. It doesn't matter if you're right, it doesn't matter if you're throwing vulnerable people under the bus, it's harder to win if you have to defend yourself over and over again, so don't even bother. Or at least that's what seems to be a prevailing school of thought within the Democratic party. Can't believe these guys lose all the time.
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Comment on What are the genuinely worst films of all time? in ~movies
AnthonyB Link ParentI love when I see Battlefield Earth on these lists because I somehow convinced my dad to take me to see it when I was 11 years old. I think I just selected it based off the poster in the lobby and...I love when I see Battlefield Earth on these lists because I somehow convinced my dad to take me to see it when I was 11 years old. I think I just selected it based off the poster in the lobby and he went with it knowing nothing about what was coming our way. I don't remember much about the movie apart from loving it and thinking Barry Pepper's character was really cool. I also remember my dad being noticably frustrated throughout the movie and shocked when I told him I liked it. Normally he was the type of person to let kids enjoy what they enjoy, but he spent the ride home trying to explain to me why the movie was bad.
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Comment on Ed Sheeran’s tour in trouble after opening acts drop out in solidarity with rapper Macklemore in ~music
AnthonyB Link Parent... Ladies, gentlemen, and gentle people of the world, the Anti-Defamation League. Better to be a pro-Israel Nazi than an anti-fascist who supports Palestinians.It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning.
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Ed Sheeran’s fans came for a concert, not performative, biased and hateful anti-Israel “activism” from his opener, Macklemore.
Imagine being a Jewish or Israeli fan who came with family or friends to enjoy the show, only to be confronted with this hostility from the stage. Or feeling so unwelcome by the opening act that you leave early.
This isn’t new for Macklemore. He has a record of demonizing Israel and Israelis, falsely accusing Israel of genocide and engaging in antisemitic rhetoric and behavior.
This is completely unacceptable.
Ladies, gentlemen, and gentle people of the world, the Anti-Defamation League. Better to be a pro-Israel Nazi than an anti-fascist who supports Palestinians.
Sure, but have you considered the perspective that this evergreen content basically functions as our quarterly meeting where we all get together in a massive discussion thread? Hmmm?