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May 11, 2025
Sunrise — 5:40.
Talk about whatever you like in the comments. And please support the Althouse blog by doing your Amazon shopping going in through the Althouse Amazon link.
Posts
66 comments:
If the China and two dozen deals means better deals for the US in trade…you tariffs are bad whiners left and right are going to have to give Ann credit while you eat shyte…
Team left looks to be drafting New Pope. When he turns on their preferences re abortion will they torch Popemobiles?
Had a chance to see "My Fair Lady". Much better in a movie theater. But I don't think the audience really got a lot of the jokes. Professor Higgins has comic lack of self-awareness and the audience didnt seem to get some of the satire or irony. But Audrey Hepburn was stunning and well cast, and Rex Harrison was born to to play the part.
Tried to listen to some podcasts on the movie and just gave up in disgust. Bunch of Dumbos who cant get past "misogyny" or how "dated" the movie is. Yeah, "dated". Its set in 1912. LOL. Most people who do movie podcasts seem to do nothing but watch TV or see movies, and think the world began when they were born.
Watching Mildred Pierce...again. Love the old socal scenery and cars. I blame the movie for my mother not getting me music lessons. As if.
ironic how her own daughter turned out like Mildred's an ungrateful wretch, worse than a serpent's tooth,
Beautiful sun pillar.
Mildred Pierce has some great b/w cinemaphotography.
the problem with modern noir is that it is all black, there is no shadow, the recent one with Josh Brolin and Sean Penn, playing Mickey Cohen is instructive, also the last iteration of Perry Mason with the fellow who was in the Americans, (the less said the better)
I watched Obsession (1949) on Criterion. Somewhat contrived but nevertheless enjoyable. There’s a cute dog that’s instrumental to the plot - so that helped.
Matthew Rhys I only saw the intro chapter which was bad enough,
Speaking of feeling seen. What happens when you stare at yourself on a mirror for an hour, like this guy did.
RCOCEAN II: now watch Pygmalion, 1938 film version, available on YouTube. Same ending as MFL, i.e. Eliza does not marry Freddy. Faster pace without the songs.
I liked "Obsession" aka "The hIdden room" a lot. Mostly due to Robert newton who's completely different from his "Aarr, Avast ye, landlubber" role in "Treasure Island".
Obsession is billed as a noir, very elastic definition of noir in my opinion.
CBS: "The fraud costing the federal government hundreds of billions a year"
This is so annoying. It's like the taxpayers didn't exist.
I watched The Great St Louis Bank Robbery, a noir which starred a very young Steve McQueen. It was a wokie plot in a way - McQueen played an insider, a college football star who did something wrong, dropped a pass maybe, and now is an outsider with no future. So he wants to rob a bank to get money so he can be an insider again. But he has no superior insights as an outsider nor do the others. They just fight like rats, biting and snarling against the world and each other. That's the Fifties for you.
rehajm said...
“Team left looks to be drafting New Pope.”
I prefer Pope Classic. It’s hard to beat JP2.
...you tariffs are bad whiners left and right are going to have to give Ann credit
American consumer behavior changed so much and so fast during the pandemic, that from then on, making predictions about consumer behavior might as well be coming from reading tea leaves in a china tea cup. We are more resilient than the doom and gloom class is ready to admit.
Yes, Obsession is just a crime movie. There's not anything "Noir" about it, unless you think every B/W crime movie is Noir.
Just wanted to add about "My Fair lady" - the thing is 2 hours and 50 minutes (with intermission). Normally, this would be have going "OMG, when the hell will this end?", but the time flew by. First because Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison have tons of charisma but also because there's a great song every 10 minutes.
Probably the only time I got bored was during the Stanley Holloway numbers which went on too long. And during the "Ball scene" where the Prince of something asks to dance with her. My wife loved that. All that dancing. All those dresses! And wasn't Audrey so lovely. That's the part of the movie where I left my seat and got a chocolate bar.
Spent Mother’s Day with the family doing what we’ve done several times in the past: morning visit to the aviaries at the International Crane Foundation near Baraboo, WI, followed by dinner and Wisconsin Old Fashioneds at nearby Ishnala Supper Club. The food was great as usual, and the weather was fantastic!
According to the NY Post, Trump is offering to slash Chinese tariffs from 145% to 50% and the first words have not yet been spoken between parties in Geneva. The Art of the Deal? I don't think so. His stupidity has finally been exposed. But Chinese shipments to the U.S will have to be produced in American factories using hourly wages 10 times higher than Chinese pay - unless we offer up free trade to the world as Switzerland does. And then we will have to hope foreigners will trust us enough to participate.
I haven't seen My Fair Lady in decades, and Pygmalion in quite a few years, but the late Terry Teachout thought MFL one of the few remakes that was better than the original. The other one he mentioned was Verdi's Falstaff, a remake of Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor. Better than Shakespeare? Blasphemy! But he also thought Falstaff the greatest opera ever written by anyone, while no one thinks Merry Wives is even Top 10 Shakespeare, though it is hilarious.
The Great St Louis Bank Robbery - definitely noir. Good movie.
Regarding MFL: I’m so glad Julie Andrew’s didn’t get the part and that Marnie Nixon sang rather than Audrey Hepburn.
And I'm so glad Miss Andrews instead did Mary Poppins with her own singing and an Oscar to show for it.
Andrew’s was practically perfect in every way in MP and Sound of Music as well.
@Wiskeybum: We're taking my mother to Ishnala next week.
I was at dinner last night and we were discussing a 25 year old guy we knew who was seeing a 19 year old woman, and a 30 year old guy taking out a 24 year old. My daughter and future daughter in law, both in the millennial age group, were not just disgusted but seemed to think such relationships ought to be illegal. I had to remind my daughter that her grandfather, whom she adored, was 11 years older than her grandmother.
When did this ridiculous Puritanism about the correct age at which to start a relationship come about? It wasn't that long ago that pious liberals were informing us that it was wrong for anyone to be policing who other people loved.
The problem with the Sound of Music is this: it came to the Vista Theater in Phoenix at a time when we only had 3 movie theaters in Phoenix . . . and stayed for over 2 years. There’s only so many times you can see that movie as a kid.
Philosophical question about previous thread about "closeted bisexual": from the point of view of cisheteronormative males, what are we to make of someone claiming to be, or described as, "bisexual"?
>SWEET HOME CHICAGO. My kid brother, a corporate lawyer with his own business is creamin in the city. Home of 1st African American President(bi-racial ) and most recently elected Pope as a 1st time American Pope. He is also an avid Chicago Bulls fan with season tickets and Is also a Catholic from the old school.H e is looking forward to see the church continue in the ways of Francis and loves this new guy is a worker in the social sphere and the belief in community and active in the global arena, fluent in many languages and able to
Travel to carry Christ's message of the two greatest commandments Love God with your whole heart and mind first and then your neighbor as yourself.He is hoping Leo is not a Yankees fan and will be looking into that.Jesus just left to Chicago and heading g to New Orleans( I hear there are attachments there! Rock it Leo you the man for that organization , loosen em up !
My father died two years ago on Mother's Day. I went and pulled the weeds from his gravesite and thought about him. My mother then died last October. My dad always planned on living to over 100 years, but he missed it by a couple of months. We elected to make his gravestone read "Born 1923, died 2023. It's saying that he lived to be 100 without actually saying it. He would have approved. He was a small time actor off Broadway back in the 1940's and a hell of a man.
I saw TSOM on Broadway in the early 60s, and the movie version when it came out. Didn't really enjoy either one, but then I wasn't the target audience, and I acknowledge that they are good examples of their forms.
US weighs plan to slash China tariffs to as low as 50% — down from 145% — as soon as next week ~ NY Post
Capitulation takes so many ever changing forms for Trump. Such a winner!
Hassayamper @ 8:52pm --
Illegal? Good grief, that's Karenism on steroids! Every one of those folks that you mentioned are ... wait for it ... adults
In my own ancestry, my great grandfather was 24 years older then my great grandmother. He was 63 and she was 39 when my grandmother, their youngest, was born. (As a result, I have one fewer generation between me and the civil War generation of my ancestors than any other person I know.)
Poor Mary Martin - she never made it to the big screen
"When did this ridiculous Puritanism about the correct age at which to start a relationship come about?"
When the girlbosses who dismissed the idea of starting a family in their early 20s, figuring they'd get around to it when they were 35, realized once they reached 35 that they couldn't compete with 20-somethings when it comes to attracting high-value men and had to do *something* about it. And that *something* is attempting to shame those who don't share their viewpoint about age-appropriateness.
The new pope may speak half a dozen languages and read a couple more, but there is one extraordinary, even unprecedented, thing about his language abilities, and it's not a good thing. He's apparently the first pope ever who can't speak Latin, though he can read it.
Dr Weevil: that may be true but i expect it is equally true of all Cardinals under 70. Leo one of the last, like me, to have 1st communion under Tridentine Mass, and then briefly Latin original for the new mass, but soon the new Mass translated to English. His closest peers same for their native languages. Official written language remains Latin, documents then translated into modern languages, but the spoken language at the Vatican is Italian, not Latin and never again will be.
gadfly said...
According to the NY Post, Trump is offering to slash Chinese tariffs from 145% to 50% and the first words have not yet been spoken between parties in Geneva. The Art of the Deal? I don't think so. His stupidity has finally been exposed. But Chinese shipments to the U.S will have to be produced in American factories using hourly wages 10 times higher than Chinese pay - unless we offer up free trade to the world as Switzerland does. And then we will have to hope foreigners will trust us enough to participate.
**************
Gadfly, you fuckwit:
You don't understand how these "deals" work.
Lower-downs in the government, or in big corporations, do all the spadework first: defining the desired outcomes, probing the other party for theirs, and tackling the big issues first. It's only after they do their work do the Big Foots come in to seal the deal.
Second re Chinese labor rates. You obviously do not know that China's labor rate advantages are are decreasing every year. They now have a 4 to 5 times advantage in some high-tech sectors, but that's declining rapidly. Even now, China has sent its low-skill manufacturing to Vietnam and other countries. Trump sees thoe trends, and so do the ChiComs. Major reductions imposed on US imports will further lower China's labor advantages.
It's always a HOOT to have an anonymous dimwit simply proclaim that Trump and his administration are STOOPID. You are an example of Dunning-Kruger on amphetamines.
(unless you're Catholic and familiar with Latin this will make no sense)
I've heard the new Pope tries to fake speaking Latin or just riffs English woozy translations.
Some purported examples from the Mass:
"Benny's got all the dominos. Go frisk'im."
"Ursa Major. Squaemus epithelium"
Then there's his English rendition of the Christmas hymn Adeste Fideles, in part like this:
A dusty shillelagh, ladies tricot panties...
(chorus)
Alfredo Fettucine, Benito Mussolini,
Al Gore is such a weenie, Dom-om inos."
When people read about the fight over the Latin Mass many do not realize that the Mass is already in Latin, as at Francis's funeral. The fight is over using the 16th Century Council of Trent Mass, replaced by 1960s Vatican 2 Mass. Which the Church decreed be translated into all languages spoken by Mass going Catholics. I have attended that Mass
in Latin for one reason or another. But the times I have attended the old Mass, always an old deceased person's funeral, no one knew what was beimg said. The old ladies just silently said the rosary.
I understand there is a comeback with some congregations. But I wager more people altogether understand what is being sung every year without supertitles in opera houses.
I didn't know they were selling Krispy Kremes at McDonald's. Why is vital information being witheld while we are flooded with empty speculations about Harry, the ex-Prince, Bruce the ex-man, Joe, the ex-Joe, and the whole cast of "Ship of Fools: A Drama of DC."
Trump made a deal with Hamas 🫣
Sunday Trump lowered drug prices, announced a trade deal with China, a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and a return of a hostage from Hamas. A year ago Biden lost a struggle with a beach chair.
And now a word from the Pope's brother Lou....
Lou Prevost
November 7, 2024 ·
I tolerated 44 (Obama) for 8 years and kept quiet. Here is my issue with the whole, “let us all be a United States again” that we heard from Joe Biden. For the last 4+ years, the Democrats have gone and scorched earth. You have salted the fields and now you want to grow crops. The problem is 75 + million of us have memories longer than a hamster.
We remember the women’s march (vagina hats and all) the day after inauguration.
We remember the 4 years of attacks and impeachments
We remember “not our president” and the “Resistance…”
We remember Maxine Walters telling followers to harass us in restaurants.
We remember the Presidents spokesperson being kicked out a restaurant.
We remember hundreds of Trump supporters physically attacked.
We remember Trump supporters getting Doxed, and fired from jobs.
We remember riots, and looting.
We remember “a comedian” holding up the President’s severed head.
We remember a play in Central park paid with public funding, showing the killing of President Trump.
We remember Robert de Niro yelling “F" Trump” at the Tony’s and getting a standing ovation.
We remember Nancy Pelosi tearing up the State of the Union Address.
We remember the total in the tank move on the mainstream media.
We remember the non-stop and live fact checking on our President and his supporters.
We remember non-stop in your face lies and open cover-ups from the media.
We remember the President and his staff being spied on.
We remember five Senators shot on a ballfield.
We remember every so-called comedy show turn into nothing but Trump hate fest.
We remember 95% negative coverage in the news.
We remember the state governors asking and getting everything they ask for and then blaming Trump for their problems.
We remember a Trump top aid verbally assaulted in two DC restaurants.
We remember people banging on the Supreme Court doors.
We remember that we were called every name in the book for supporting President Trump.
We remember that Hollywood said they would leave after Trump was elected but they stayed.
We remember being called Nazis
We remember being called Deplorables
We remember being called Fascists
We remember our sitting President calling us "garbage" and Kamala (and the media) trying to tell us to "get past it because Biden doesn't matter anymore"
This list is endless, but you get the idea. My friends will be my friends, but a party that has been on the attack for 4 long years does not get a free pass with me.
Copy and pasted from a friend because it is the truth, ...especially when this election is exposing the integrity of not only this election, 🇺🇸 but also future elections to come.
Readering, ref Tridentine versus Vatican II Latin Masses:
The language is the least important issue.
Far more important are the non-verbals. Chief among them is the altar up against the wall, so that the priest offers the Mass as one of the people. The V2 Mass has the altar separating the priest from the people. Yes, the moderns will say this lets you hear him better, it makes it even more of a communal meal, etc. To which the oldies reply that it turns him into even more of a Christ-actor, and we've had enough of clergy thinking they're Jesus Christ.
Also, the Tridentine mass has more kneeling, which oldies think is better for reverencing the Body of Christ. Overall the tone is more that of a communal sacrifice and less that of a Last Supper reenactment.
But yes, unfortunately the Tridentine tradition includes mumbling at the altar. This is not required; indeed, the apse is a natural sound reflector, so if the priest enunciates with any kind of volume, his words will get projected out to the congregation.
The language itself is not a barrier, especially for a literate congregation. The V2 Latin Mass has a missal that you can follow along and participate, and if you go every week, you eventually learn what it all means. The same thing can be done with the Tridentine.
I don't really care too much for either, as I swam the Channel and became an Anglican. But I like the Anglican services that hew more toward ancient practices such as facing the altar, kneeling, etc. Combine that with a "language understanded by the people" and you have something close to what the early-medieval Church intended when it found itself suddenly dealing with so many Latin speakers.
JSM
Effinayright, ref your dog-Latin: That is beautiful.
JSM
Mason G: "realized once they reached 35 that they couldn't compete with 20-somethings when it comes to attracting high-value men"
They could compete if they acted like 35-yo's. Unfortunately most of them stay in an extended adolescence, in their private life and at the jobs where they're girl-bossing.
If you have to choose between two teenagers, one of whom still looks like a teenager, it's no contest.
Lots of men would accept some squishy bits if they came with a mature attitude.
JSM
China really wants a trade deal. So we should hear more about the outline of the deal on the table today. That took less time than I expected.
⬆️ Bill Blain of Wind Shift Capital wins for best summary of the day:
“Bully hits someone. Someone hits back. Bully stands down.
This morning’s step down will confirm the growing global realisation Trump is a dog that barks, but only bites much smaller dogs. He threatens, he postures, he steps back from the fight every time. His repeated climb downs, and his now increasingly desperate need to be seen to be doing deals, means fewer and fewer folk are scared by him.”
But at least the Trump Crime Family will end up with a shiny Jumbo 747 gift from Qatar ✈️
It's primarily for his personal use once he steps down. It will go to his Presidential Library from what I've read. This is just a mechanism to get it there.
Trump kids announce $5.5bn golf course and resort in Qatar and Trump gets gifted a $400m ‘flying palace’ a few days later.
Trump's first real estate project in Qatar to be announced by Qatari Diar, Dar Global ~ Reuters
So emboldened by a feeling of untouchability the grift is now going on in plane sight. Still the base will cheer while anyone who questions this is clearly a “radical left Marxist”.
Thanks to readering and mosby for the debate—I just learned a lot.
The only thing I’ll add is that the old ladies saying the rosary because nobody knows Latin is a post-Vatican II phenomenon. Back in the day, most observant Catholics had at least a rudimentary grasp of Latin and anyone who spent time in Catholic school was fairly fluent.
That is an unfortunate loss.
That's a lovely interpretation, John Mosby.
All you have to do, is read comments from Progressives to see how true this really is.....Read the whole article. It makes sense when you realize how much they hate you....
"A university report published last month shows that more than half of those who identify as being left of center on the political spectrum believe assassinating President Donald Trump would be justified. This didn’t come about organically. It’s the product of a vicious campaign waged by the Democratic Party-mainstream media axis."
https://issuesinsights.com/2025/05/12/whos-to-blame-for-the-lefts-assassination-culture/
Happy Inseminated Person's Day! <3
Courtesy of Tony Evers and the leftwing Collective war on women!
“ He's apparently the first pope ever who can't speak Latin, though he can read it.”
This kind of thing is apparently pretty common. My father, a first generation Italian American, could understand Italian but couldn’t speak it.
Rendering, I've seen Pygmailia - its a good movie. But I agree with Dr. W that "My fair lady" is an improvement. There's a seriousness to Shaw's play, that is absent from the musical, which accents the comedy.
Sound of Music is best seen on the big screen. Looking forward to seeing it again. Same with Music Man and the King and I.
Gkak: and what of the money wasted on the yet unbuilt Obama Library, or more to the point, the tax dollars spent on Michelle, her entourage, theirhairdressers and salon people on her eternal vacays while in office? This is a drop in the bucket compared with that, or Biden's leisure, while a large portion of America wants Trump assassinated, and this plane has real security, and the new Air Force One is years overdue? You're an idiot. Read more widely. And if you wish to refute this, use only facts, you silly troll.
Readering: don't assume what we know. A Latin mass is a ritual, not an opera. Would you criticize a Jewish congregation for not knowing much Hebrew?
Yeah, I didn't think so. Show some respect.
Do you even know the new Pope's view on the Latin mass?
JSM,
> Lots of men would accept some squishy bits
> If they came with a mature attitude.
For sure; but in terms of competition for mates that's a static analysis. Surely an improvement of attitude among 35yo women would place downward pressure on the younger adult women to act more mature.
Finally after 4 months we are only 1000 points away from market DARK BRANDON left to this administration. Dont fuk it up keep going. Lets gain not continually lose with brain dead schemes ,make it rise ,not plummet. Lets go IF Brandon CAN DO IT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALSO...(unfortunately I dont believe it though ,its a sugar high)
Trent: Thanks! But did you mean the mass or the squishy bits?
JSM
@wendybar: thanks for both comments, especially the list.
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