Been a student. Been a clerk. Been a salesperson. Been a manager. Been a teacher. Been an expatriate. Am a husband, father, and chronicle.
I’ve seen a bunch of those. Enough to know of his April 1st gags and to be able to shill for his website.
Which I won’t do here.
I’m more wondering about doing it as a career. What’s the annoyance/danger factor? How much work do you need to stay afloat? What do start-up costs look like? What would cause a locksmith to walk away and get into something else?
And so on.
Any insights about locksmithing? Aside, of course, from odd hours
I’d also like to hear about the journey toward being a master carpenter.
“Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink,” Guterres said. “The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace.”
I feel like I’ve heard this before…
"It is time for restraint, reason and de-escalation.
"There is no place for actions and statements that would take this dangerous situation over the abyss.
“It is time to establish a ceasefire and return to the path of dialogue and negotiations to save the people in Ukraine and beyond from the scourge of war.”
~ Antonio Guterres, 23 February 2022.
UNSG must be one of the most frustrating jobs on Earth.
Wow. Hadn’t heard of this one. Power of Nightmares and the Century of Self are among my favourite docs.
Take a serious look at the collapse of the Soviet Union, the gutting of the Commonwealth, and the rise of Russia under Yeltsin, then Putin. I’m not sure of any fictionalized works that examine this in any detail, but the aftermath and the new reality is well-described in Nothing is True and Everything is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev. Link is a 10 year old review in the Guardian.
The falls of other empires would also be instructive. There is an excellent podcast/YouTube channel, the Fall of Civilizations(YouTube Link)(Spotify Link). In listening, I found several parallels to the first Trump presidency. I haven’t listened in years.
A paper-thin skinned hegemon leads a dying empire against his staunch allies. I fed this prompt to ChatGPT and it handed me back Dune by Frank Herbert and Foundation by Isaac Asimov.
There are 101 years in your question. So, no year zero then?
Still fighting for command of this very small hill.
Phrasing.
I mean, Com Truise defo had more than luck. He had pull even then. And, yes, he is just a person. He is dedicated to his art, which, I think, is running hard and making memorable movies.
Top Gun (1986, Dir. Tony Scott, Budget $15M),
Rain Man (1988, Dir. Barry Levinson, Budget $25M),
Days of Thunder (1990, Dir. Tony Scott, Wri. Robert Towne, Budget $60M),
A Few Good Men (1992, Dir. Rob Reiner, wri. Aaron Sorkin, Budget $40M),
the Firm (1993, Dir. Syndey Pollack, Budget $42M),
Interview with the Vampire (Dir. Neil Jordan, Wri. Anne Rice, Budget $60M),
Big directors, writers, and big hit films. Then, he became Ethan Hunt.
M:I-2 (Dir. John Woo, Wri. Robert Towne) was thoroughly forgettable. That said, I just discovered that the writers of Star Trek: DS-9 and Voyager — Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga — wrote the story. Wild. Still, no quarter given. Until, maybe, I watch it again.
The next 4 are great.
M:I-3 (Wri./Dir. J.J. Abrams with Alex Kurtzman (latter-day Star Trek writers and executive producers))
M:I-4, Ghost Protocol (Dir. Brad Bird (the Iron Giant and the Incredibles))
M:I-5, Rogue Nation (Wri./Dir. Christopher MacQuarrie (the Usual Suspects and the Way of the Gun))
M:I-6, Fallout (Wri./Dir. Christopher MacQuarrie)
Jury is still out on M:I-7, Dead Reckoning Part 1, and Final Reckoning. Full disclosure, I did not really feel Part 1.
Tron Cubes does attract/demand talent. And, his collaboration with Christopher MacQuarrie is long-standing.
No year zero. Meaning: year 2000 is in the 20th c. and year 2100 is in the 21st c.
M:I-3, 4, 5, and 6 are excellent movies. Each in their own right. I know, Tom Cruise. But, plug and play any action star, and these are still great movies. He just happened to land the role of Ethan Hunt back in '96.
Yeah, I’ve read my Asimov. Love that guy. I knownsome haven’t, so Im glad you’ve included them. It was a student of mine who got me to read Caves of Steel for the first time. I thought they were excellent.
Strangely, I’ve only seen the 2004(?) Will Smith version of I, Robot. But, I digress.
The prompt for that post moved me. To think that we could break human affairs down to just three laws is enticing. I took a swing at it. That was what I had off the top of my head. I’d read a list — years ago — of Dene Law (it’s a PDF, sorry). Those were also an inspiration.
I’m pretty happy with this answer to what the three laws would be if I made them.
It’s not my top response, but it is short, sweet, and to the point.
The moment where Picard says, “we have no law to fit your crime.”
Picard on the first duty.
That a bunch of barbarians from north and western Europe whose primary values were ownership, sequestration, exploitation, and domination set the political, economic, social, and psychological agenda for an entire planet. True, this may have been the mode of survival from Rome to the Renaissance, but why are we still locked into it now?
The next part of this comment includes crude generalizations of 1st to 18th century for every continent. Historians, feel free to clarify. Ahistorical boobs, at least be willing to ask questions before you attack.
Turtle Island sustainability and oral history, Asian cosmic coexistence, Middle Eastern knowledge preservation, African social development, East Asian detente, Australo-Pacific deep time and vast exploration, and/or panhumanistic duty to family — no. Every other culture and value system expressed by non-Europeans was summarily suppressed, violently undercut, and disregarded as backward, non-Christian drivel. This continues into today.
Gangsters, germ warfare, rapid industrialization — yes. Every means of short-term gain, power concentration, expansionism, and advantage-taking is normal. Inter- and sometimes intra-familial feuding, marriage pacts, and warmongering is normal.
Sometimes, it seems that almost ANY other system than the one we have now — centered on wealth and weapons — would be an improvement. However, ever other system can not contend with the threats of wealth and weapons.
Masters of the Universe (1987).
This was my first post-credits scene. It was such a surprise. And, because it was on TV in the late 80s/early 1990s, we weren’t certain what we’d just seen and couldn’t watch it again!
I’d add to this list:
That’s too expensive! Cash price? Stop here! Speak slowly, please.
And any words you might need to relate a dietary restriction: no meat, no dairy, no shellfish, no gluten.
Waves of the ocean washing ashore.
Thunder
The violin, a muted trumpet, jazz piano, glass harmonica.
The title credits music from the Expanse - Clinton Shorter
Crustation - Purple (Ummah/J Dilla Mix)
Epic choral singing. (Arvo Part - Miserere)
Act to honour and recognize all humans as human. This is Said’s Law.
Act to sustain human security. This is Cura’s Law.
Act to accept responsibility for each action, especially where it guides future actions. This is Sartre’s Law.
Here is the full text of the letter that Obama left 45. I’d never thought to read it.
Dear Mr. President -
Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions have placed their hopes in you, and allof us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.
This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don’t know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful. Still, let me offer a few reflections from the past 8 years.
First, we’ve both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It’s up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that’s willing to work hard.
Second, American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It’s up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that’s expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend.
Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions – like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties – that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it’s up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them.
And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They’ll get you through the inevitable rough patches.
Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can.
Good luck and Godspeed,
BO
A few notes:
Obama forecast 45s disregard for “rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties”. He KNEW 45 would fuck that up.
The role all Presidents, since Reagan, have played in “sustain[ing] the international order that’s expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend” is a warning about fomenting or courting instability. It is also a tacit admission of the Military-Industrial complex and its attendant supports in entertainment, energy, and finance that projects American values and superiority worldwide. He KNEW 45 would fuck that up, too.
Finally, and from the start of the letter, “we’ve both been blessed… Not everyone is so lucky” is a reminder that the office is meant to support the less fortunate. We all KNEW 45 would fuck that up.
The voice I used for “piece by piece” was Denzel’s from Man on Fire (2004).