AnthonyB's recent activity
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Comment on House passes bill that could ban TikTok in the US, sending it to the Senate in ~tech
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Comment on Oregon decriminalized drugs. Voters now regret it. in ~life
AnthonyB Well said. This is a problem that extends far beyond the war on drugs. Any meaningful change to policing, education, or homelessness will require stronger social welfare programs as well. There's...Well said.
What's lost in these ideas, unfortunately, is the need for strong social welfare to support the people who struggle with these drugs. It's easy to overlook this, when the war on drugs has never supported this and the countries in which decriminalization has worked all already support this, but it's an integral piece of the puzzle that's missing from this piecemeal approach.
This is a problem that extends far beyond the war on drugs. Any meaningful change to policing, education, or homelessness will require stronger social welfare programs as well. There's no easy fix for systemic issues. Unfortunately, I don't see that type of overhaul happening any time soon in this political climate.
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Comment on 'Oppenheimer' lands seven Oscars including Best Picture in ~movies
AnthonyB I think Oppenheimer is a perfect illustration of the difference between "good movies" and Academy Award winning movies. Is it rewatchable? Eh. Do you leave the theater saying, "Holy shit, what did...I think Oppenheimer is a perfect illustration of the difference between "good movies" and Academy Award winning movies. Is it rewatchable? Eh. Do you leave the theater saying, "Holy shit, what did I just see?" Kinda, but not really since you went in knowing exactly what was going to happen. Looking at it that way, I don't think it cracks my top-5 for Chris Nolan movies.
Having said that, I can see why so many people appreciate the execution of turning that story into something compelling and (more importantly) worth seeing in the theaters. Isn't that what the Academy Awards are for?
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Comment on 'Oppenheimer' lands seven Oscars including Best Picture in ~movies
AnthonyB I watched Poor Things last night and saw Killers in theaters...I don't get the decision to have Gladstone in the lead actress category since she's not very involved in the second half of the...I watched Poor Things last night and saw Killers in theaters...I don't get the decision to have Gladstone in the lead actress category since she's not very involved in the second half of the movie. I was a bit surprised to Stone win since all the buzz was around Gladstone but it made sense. Emma Stone delivered a great performance in a movie that revolved around her character and gave her more opportunities to show off her range.
As for the show, I thought it was great. I am by no means a Kimmel fan but I think he did a terrific job, the best in recent memory for sure.
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Comment on Unique things to do in Las Vegas? (and Los Angeles) in ~travel
AnthonyB A long list indeed. A great place to start is The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants. I've been working my way through the list and, yeah, they're really good. LA offers a lot of different things to...Visit and dine all the ethnic mini towns. Little Ethiopia. Thai town. Go get some dim sum in Rowland Heights. K-town. Sawtelle strip and Gardena for Japanese food. Or find a hipster bakery in Echo Park. It's a long list
A long list indeed. A great place to start is The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants. I've been working my way through the list and, yeah, they're really good.
LA offers a lot of different things to many types of people, so my broadest suggestion is to look the many different live music/comedy/sports venues and see if anyone you care about is in town, then pick a couple restaurants from the list and enjoy.
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Comment on One in four school-starters in England and Wales not toilet-trained, say teachers in ~life
AnthonyB I'm writing this during my break at a Pre-K program in the US. My site has 30 kids (aged 3-5) between two classes. Of those 30, seven are still in diapers, including a 90lb 4.5yo who shits like a...I'm writing this during my break at a Pre-K program in the US. My site has 30 kids (aged 3-5) between two classes. Of those 30, seven are still in diapers, including a 90lb 4.5yo who shits like a grown man.
Just off the top of my head, I'd say those other figures aren't far off from my site. Most can't sit still at all, attention span are low even for their age, many are behind on their ability to dress themselves. It ain't pretty. I'd elaborate more but I've got to go break up another fight...
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Comment on Join me on the path to Twilightenment in ~books
AnthonyB The patreon videos are about as close as it gets these days. I haven't enjoyed the newer videos as much but I think it's because they don't really speak to my interests as much as the older ones...The patreon videos are about as close as it gets these days.
I haven't enjoyed the newer videos as much but I think it's because they don't really speak to my interests as much as the older ones did. I think the last few have been pretty impressive feats though, but they cover things well outside my area so I have no clue if they're actually that insightful.
Personally, I think it would be better if they were cut up in 3-4 parts and released over a few months, but I get why she wouldn't want to do that. It would probably be impossible not to tinker with them between releases especially given the influence of the audience's feedback.
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American teachers are missing more school, and there are too few substitutes
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
AnthonyB My girlfriend and I have been watching Couple to Throuple as our bullshit wind down show. I'm genuinely curious what tildes would think because there seems to be a fairly sizeable and vocal...My girlfriend and I have been watching Couple to Throuple as our bullshit wind down show. I'm genuinely curious what tildes would think because there seems to be a fairly sizeable and vocal poly/ENM contingent here. As a strictly monogamous person (forget jealousy, I don't know where you find the time), I find the show to very entertaining. You get all the mess and armchair quarterbacking of a classic relationship reality show but with the added drama of a third person coming in with their needs/feelings/baggage/bullshit.
8/10 on the reality scale.
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Comment on Twisters | Official trailer in ~movies
AnthonyB I was only half watching when the trailer popped up during the Superbowl and I thought they were just showing scenes from the original movie.I was only half watching when the trailer popped up during the Superbowl and I thought they were just showing scenes from the original movie.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
AnthonyB Oh buddy, just you wait. Believe it or not it gets even better.Oh buddy, just you wait. Believe it or not it gets even better.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
AnthonyB Season two might be my favorite season of any show ever. Season three and four have some fun parts, especially as they tie the story/characters to the other seasons, but overall they are not...Season two might be my favorite season of any show ever. Season three and four have some fun parts, especially as they tie the story/characters to the other seasons, but overall they are not really worth it, in my opinion. I've only watched the first two episodes of season five, but so far it is back to the level it was in season one. I can't wait to see how they connect it to the other seasons/movie.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
AnthonyB I've been forcing my partner to watch The Wire since she had never seen it. My goodness. This is about the fourth or fifth time I've watched the series and it never ceases to impress me. One thing...I've been forcing my partner to watch The Wire since she had never seen it. My goodness. This is about the fourth or fifth time I've watched the series and it never ceases to impress me. One thing I've noticed on this rewatch is how subtly funny the show is. It's not like Succession which borders on being a comedy half the time, but there are plenty of tension-breaking comedic moments. I've also come to realize, thanks to my partner looking down at her phone more often than I'd like, that every episode is filled with silent communication that completely alters the meaning of the dialogue.
Since my last rewatch I've gone through Better Call Saul, Barry, and Succession, all of which made me reconsider The Wire in my all-time TV rankings. But after going through the first four seasons again, The Wire is still at the top for me. The show is 20 years old, but it still holds up incredibly well (save for some funny technology stuff).
[Minor spoilers below]
Season three probably ages the worst, given some of the Hamsterdam-esque containment strategies that have been employed in major cities like San Francisco. Still, the show is as depressingly relevant as ever and is a must watch for anyone who hasn't seen it.
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Comment on ‘Succession’ wins Outstanding Drama Series, 'The Bear' wins Outstanding Comedy Series, 'Beef' wins Outstanding Limited Series at the Emmy's in ~tv
AnthonyB It gets worse when you look at previous winners in the Comedy categories. Larry David has like one Emmy between all of Seinfeld and Curb. Steve Carrell never got one for his portrayal of Michael...It gets worse when you look at previous winners in the Comedy categories. Larry David has like one Emmy between all of Seinfeld and Curb. Steve Carrell never got one for his portrayal of Michael Scott but Jim Parsons and Jon Cryer have three or four between them.
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Comment on ‘Succession’ wins Outstanding Drama Series, 'The Bear' wins Outstanding Comedy Series, 'Beef' wins Outstanding Limited Series at the Emmy's in ~tv
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Comment on What was your highlight of 2023? in ~talk
AnthonyB Hey, May 11 is my birthday! So I guess in a way that makes us birthday buddies.Hey, May 11 is my birthday! So I guess in a way that makes us birthday buddies.
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Comment on NY Times 2023 Faces Quiz in ~misc
AnthonyB Pretty fun way to spend a few minutes this morning. I guess I need to brush up on my women's sports and pop music. Overall, I got 38 out of 52, but 5 or 6 of the incorrect answers were basically...Pretty fun way to spend a few minutes this morning. I guess I need to brush up on my women's sports and pop music. Overall, I got 38 out of 52, but 5 or 6 of the incorrect answers were basically correct. I had a few spelling errors that were just too much to overcome, and one of them I had to include two additional names just to see if they'd take it.
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NY Times 2023 Faces Quiz
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
AnthonyB I have been on a huge nostalgia trip after installing a PS2 emulator on my pc. For the last month or so I've been working my way through some of my favorite Madden games, specifically Madden 2002...I have been on a huge nostalgia trip after installing a PS2 emulator on my pc. For the last month or so I've been working my way through some of my favorite Madden games, specifically Madden 2002 and Madden 2005. It's kind of amazing how much better they are than the modern editions to the franchise. Madden 02 has an awesome feature where you can add an expansion team in place of the Houston Texans who joined the league the year after Madden 02 was released.
Madden 2002 is my personal favorite as it was the first version of the game that I played, but it is a little lite compared to 2005. In Madden 04 and 05 you can move your franchise (I like to move to Anchorage and play in the snow every home game), set prices for tickets/parking/merchandise, hire coaching staff, and complete a preseason training camp to improve your players. None of those features are available in the modern versions of the game. I also took a crack at NFL 2k5 which has arguably the best gameplay of any football video game ever and a really cool feature that has an abbreviated version of ESPN NFL Primetime. I really wish EA would get their act together and reintroduce some of those features, or better yet, the NFL and NFLPA should end their exclusive rights deal with EA and open up some competition for a good NFL game.
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Comment on The Curse on Showtime/Paramount+ (Nathan Fielder, Emma Stone, Bennie Safdie) in ~tv
AnthonyB My girlfriend and I are enjoying it. My biggest takeaway so far is Nathan Fielder's acting. I think he's been great through the first three episodes, especially in the final scene of last week's...My girlfriend and I are enjoying it. My biggest takeaway so far is Nathan Fielder's acting. I think he's been great through the first three episodes, especially in the final scene of last week's episode. Emma Stone and Benny Safdie are great as usual. I'm not entirely sure where the story is going, but it's very watchable and I trust this group to take it in an interesting direction.
If you haven't seen the show but are interested, I wouldn't go in expecting a comedy. Its more of a drama with comedic moments, a la Louie on FX.
So Biden's big strategy to reach out to disaffected young voters is to join the platform that he plans to kill if given the opportunity? As others have stated, I don't see ByteDance selling to a Western corp. I wonder what the political implications are if he were to sign the bill and ByteDance held out.