Month: September 2019

25SEP2019 – Quote of the Day

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When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British parliament was advised by an artful man [Sir William Keith], who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people. That it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them. But that they should not do it openly; but to weaken them and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia.

George Mason

 

The Twilight Zone – Complete Series Review – Season 5 Episode 29 – The Jeopardy Room

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Martin Landau plays Major Ivan Kuchenko a Soviet defector trying to leave a neutral country bordering the Soviet Union and fly to the United States.  He is staying in a cheap hotel room waiting for his flight the next morning.  The phone in his room rings and a voice calling himself “a friend” tells him to expect a visit.

Commissar Vasiloff and his hitman Boris are occupying a room in the next building over and Boris tells Vasiloff that from the window he has a clear head shot at Kuchenko.  Vasiloff explains to Boris that the difference between them is that when it comes to assassination, Boris is a butcher and Vasiloff is an artist.  Vasiloff intends to have Kuchenko killed before the next morning but he intends to do it creatively and with finesse.

Vasiloff arrives at Kuchenko’s apartment door bearing a bottle of wine (amontillado, he states).  He tells Kuchenko that he intends to stop him from escaping but tells him that they can begin with a friendly drink.  Kuchenko refuses but Vasiloff drinks some wine to show it’s not poisoned.  Satisfied as to the safety of the wine Kuchenko drinks some of it but finds himself drugged and losing consciousness.

When he awakens, he finds Vasiloff gone but in his place a tape recorder.  When he plays the tape it’s Vasiloff’s voice explaining the present situation.  Vasiloff drugged him with a compound that he himself had become immune to.  Kuchenko is under surveillance by a gunman across the way and can be shot at any time.  Vasiloff has booby trapped something in the room.  Kuchenko must locate and disarm the trap within 3 hours.  If he finds it and disarms it within 3 hours, he will be allowed to leave the room alive.  If:

  • he doesn’t find it within 3 hours he will be shot
  • he stops looking for the bomb he will be shot
  • he tries to turn out the light he will be shot.

Boris observes Kuchenko through binoculars and informs Vasiloff of his progress.  Finally, Boris begs Vasiloff to tell him where it is.  Vasiloff tells him it’s in the phone but it’s only triggered once an incoming call rings in.  After Kuchenko has been searching fruitlessly for hours he tries to cover the window with a blanket and Boris sprays the room with bullets.  Kuchenko becomes enraged and breaks out the windows and loudly demands that Vasiloff have him killed.  As the end of the three hours is close Vasiloff calls Kuchenko’s room on the phone.  Kuchenko is about to pick up the receiver when he realizes where the bomb is.  Vasiloff calls again and this time Kuchenko makes a mad dash for the door and escapes before a hail of bullets hit the wall behind him.

Next, Boris and Vasiloff are shown in Kuchenko’s room and Boris gloats that his simple way would have been best but Vasiloff claims that there is time for him to finish off Kuchenko before he can reach America.  But suddenly the phone rings and without thinking Boris reaches to answer it.  Vasiloff begins to warn him but before he can finish Boris lifts the receiver and the bomb explodes killing them both.

In the last scene we see Kuchenko in a phone booth and we hear the operator say that the line has gone dead.  Kuchenko tells her never mind, because he has gotten through to the party he was trying to reach.  He leaves the public phone smiling.

Martin Landau was well known on tv as a part of the cast of the spy series, Mission Impossible, that was later turned into a series of movies.

This episode has a very simple plot and really is more of a spy thriller than a Twilight Zone episode.  But, it’s very entertaining, I think.  All three actors do a good job with the plot and lines they are given.  A-.

22SEP2019 Update – The Dem Race Begins to Take Shape

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So, this week we’ve lost Bill DeBlasio.  As the President mentioned, New York City is in a panic because Bill’s returning there and sure to cause fresh havoc in Gotham City.

And word has come down from Spartacus that unless his backers send him $1.7 million before September 30th, he’s going to drop his shield and short sword and drop out of the race.  Kind of makes you wonder a little about why he’s in the race.  What I want to know is who will keep the white supremacists in check if Cory drops out of the race.  I mean sure, Creepy Uncle Joe and Kamala Harris are woke to the threat of rampaging gun-wielding white fascists but Spartacus was the one who made it his signature issue.  And without a doubt Beto has laid claim to the gun grabbing title with his hats, coffee mugs and other branded paraphernalia but Spartacus was so much more real.  Yes, Cory Booker will be missed by those supremacists.

Today I read that Fauxcahantas has taken a two-point lead over Creepy Joe in Iowa.  Losing Uncle Joe so early in the process would be a blow.  The whole problem of his son and the Ukraine could spell the end of my prediction for Joe to be the November victim for President Trump.  So sad, so sad.  Well if it’s to be Fauxcahantas (and I’m not admitting to it yet) then let it be Fauxcahantas and Kamala Harris.  That is a dream ticket for President Trump.  Between the shrieks of Fauxcahantas and the whining and crying of Harris there wouldn’t be a man in America with a testosterone level above zero who would vote for that nightmare.  Now the flip side of that is every cat lady and power skirt in the country will try to vote twice for them.  But somehow, I don’t see them getting much of the female black vote.

Bernie is now only ahead of Warren in New Hampshire where he is shown trailing Joe by about a point.  But nationally the Fake Indian is leading him by a couple of points.  Bernie won’t drop out soon.  He’s got a lot of money and a loyal core of Bernie Bros who won’t desert him.

Pete Butt also has a good pile of cash to keep him going and the desire to be Vice President and I see him hanging in there for a good long time.  But as to who would select him for Veep, maybe Harris?  I’m guessing nobody really wants him aboard.

So, of the candidates who still might be around in a few weeks, that leaves Beto.  I think Harris would like to have him for a Veep.  He’s so incredibly shallow and stupid that by comparison even she would look sort of intelligent.  And he’s got a skateboard you know.  He’ll definitely get the poser and hipster vote motivated.

All the rest of the losers hovering around at 3% or lower will be gone by Halloween.  It’s pretty clear that the Media wants Creepy Uncle Joe to drop out.  They’re afraid that he’s too senile and has too many skeletons in his closet to beat the President.  And they’re right but honestly, it’s not as if Bernie or Fake Indian aren’t just as looney.  It’s that old white guy just seems impossible for their narrative.

Emotionally I’m tied to the idea of Creepy Uncle Joe going into the debates.  The spastic hilarity just draws me in.  But Fake Indian is great too.  Fauxcahantas has more than one arrow in her quiver if I may be permitted to use the metaphor.  She shrieks and her eyes bulge behind her Granny Clampett glasses and she gestures and gesticulates like some demented third grade teacher.  There is greatness there.

But never let it be said that I’m a fair-weather friend.  I’m sticking with Crazy Uncle Joe to the bitter end.  The only condition I put on his candidacy is if he strokes out.  If he does, I’ll pull support.  I can’t be responsible for the death of anyone, even Creepy Uncle Joe.

So, let’s recap.  With the Media and nervous big money pushing to anoint Fauxcahantas, Creepy Uncle Joe is hoping to weather the Ukraine thing while Bernie plods along waving the Hammer and Sickle flag of Communism for the Bernie Bros to see.  The only losers who’ll hang in for the Veep sweepstakes look like Harris, Beto, Mayor Pete Butt and maybe Spartacus.  I’m holding out for Uncle Joe but the vultures are beginning to circle.  Stay tuned for more excitement in October.

 

21SEP2019 – OCF Update

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A major milestone is fast approaching.  October 9th will be the review of the final episode of the Twilight Zone Series.  It’s going to be a foot race between the last eight episodes and my will to watch them.  Season Five, with a few notable exceptions was pretty mediocre.  Once I finish I will be starting a review of the Star Trek original series.  That will be a lot of fun for me and I intend to be pretty merciless  when it comes to reviewing the skill of the acting especially of that Demigod of Bad Acting, Bill Shatner.  I intend to return to the Twilight Zone to pick my top ten and bottom ten and look at various themes and talk about the later manifestations like the revivals and the motion picture.  After a hundred and fifty six episodes I’ll need a break.  But never fear there is all kinds of worthwhile materials to review and recommend in both the sf&f genre and elsewhere in the world of entertainment.

I’m reading what so far seems like a very interesting book called White Shift.  It examines the current influx of Non-European immigrants into America and Europe and its effects on the white populations of those areas.  Regardless of the political point of view of the author it isn’t the usual “diversity is our strength” lecture.  I’ll finish it before discussing it in depth but it seems to include a relatively even handed approach to the different points of view of white Americans and for that alone it’s interesting.

Political events are starting to accelerate again.  Brexit, Kavanaugh, Creepy Uncle Joe and Fauxcahantas are all in the news and Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine are heating up.  The usual suspects (McCabe, Comey and company) are still not in jail so I’m beginning to wonder if there is an election timing aspect to this.   Or maybe, the Deep State really is untouchable.  Well, hang in there the next few weeks look like fun.