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I got to see it.

It got a little dim here for 10 minutes. I bookmarked soooo many idiot IG reels by conspiracy theorists saying this was going to be some big world-ending event and now I get to spend my day going back and making fun of them like it's nightly in 2002.

Well shit. We have commercials for phones that advertise all these amazing photo editing features included, which to me is just faking reality. If you can change the weather, backgrounds, eliminate people, move things around on the photo, you’re not just making your picture cleaner, you’re faking shit. It’s no longer a photo of a moment in time. With the way memory works it won’t be long before we take that edited photo and convince ourselves that’s what really happened. Really is meaningless and AI isn’t helping.

He can definitely rest easy knowing his wife’s killer is finally dead

My dad drove to Fredericksburg, Texas to watch it. He doesn't think he will be alive in 20 years for the next one. The 2017 one was total in his hometown and it was going good and then clouds rolled in at the last second. He was so disappointed. This time he got the view, barely. When he sends pictures I will share them. As for Seattle, we only had 20% totality, and clouds anyway. I didn't notice a thing.

The separation plan was between her and another girl. This one was definitely one of the biggest antagonists in January and the one that has made up lies about Q to others. I actually think she's the worst person out of all of them. But after the bullying report, she laid low. But there's 36 days of school left, so I've noticed the 6th graders are amping it up because they think they're done. She saw an opportunity and took it. Q won 1st place at the Science Fair tonight. Suck it, Mean Girls.

So what did we do? Well we stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations on the Las Vegas Strip. Realistically, it's at the northern edge of the strip next to Circus Circus. The good thing was it was a smoke free hotel. But the food options were pathetic and slow. They did have a surprisingly nice spa that I got to use for a few hours. The pool was good for kids. There was also a Deuce Bus stop right in front of the hotel so that was useful. Dinners at a Brazilian steakhouse, Noodle Bar (chinese) at Sahara, pizza at Happy Camper, and a few meals at the new Fontainebleau food court since it was across the street. We also did Mexican one night but I can't remember the restaurant. Cirque du Soleil Mystere at Treasure Island Easter Brunch at the Wynn La Cave Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Fun Dungeon arcade at Excalibur (crap prizes) NY NY arcade - good prizes but not that great of an arcade and the Rollercoaster was down that day because it was raining Coke Store - my son walked in and said I need some merch! He cracks me up. Got him a Tervis tumbler. The fancy drinks were broken, so it was kind of worthless. Hershey's Store - not that great, overpriced bulk Hershey's kisses and nothing too unique. The best part is getting a milkshake. Pool time - E is skinny and got cold easily. It was not that warm of a week. Adventuredome at Circus Circus. We did this the last day since we had to check out of the hotel at 11 and our flight wasn't until 9. This was probably my kids favorite activity. E is getting braver at riding Circus type rides, Q is a Rollercoaster junky but ate too much crap so she didn't feel that great. The buffet at Circus Circus is cheap but not that impressive (but my kids essentially got a home-cooked meal so that was a good thing). The arcade was also better than Fun Dungeon or NYNY, so it was a win. I pumped $40 into the stupid Minecraft Dungeons arcade game and E walked away happy. We got to watch a juggler and a clown during one of their hourly shows, so that was kind of fun too. Overall it was a good trip, and everyone had fun.

I guess it stands to reason. You can hear Star Wars in E.T. You can hear Edward Scissorhands in Beetlejuice. And definitely hear H3 in Christine. When you think about it, Carpenter is the man. He created some major classics as a writer, director AND composer. Not saying he’s better than John Williams or anything, but I doubt Williams or Danny Elfman could write or direct iconic films.

I follow this account on IG where a guy does a whole “AI fooling boomers” rating scale. He’ll find obvious AI stuff then quote the boomers responding to it thinking it is real.

Not to derail an entertainment thread, but my neighbour just used chat GPT to draft a business to business legal contract, with some particular a nieche clauses and such that his regular lawyers were going to charge him £400 to do. Just to copy paste his name onto a document that they'd have pre prepared minus a few particulars. First we were worried for the arts , but I think we're safe for a variety of reasons. But maaaaaan there is an ai storm coming for legal and beaurocatic institutions and jobs. White collar upper middle class gonna be stressing

And then there is...this?

yes and no. do I like the idea of being able to make a movie on my own at home? kinda. Do I like the idea of a hundred million bros making R-rated versions of Star Wars and jamming the internets up with endless terrible content? no. Am I a film classist? Probably. I'm with Hobbes in that I don't truly thing AI will ever be able to make anything GOOD on its own. It will always require human input for true creativity because it isn't true AI, it's machine learning collation based upon available models, meaning it's always going to be stealing from something a human made. Last year's writer's strike had as fighting the studios about not being allowed to replace writers with AI. We had a victory there, but the studios are doing it anyway. The problem is when the studios and the masses stop caring about innovation and originality and just want Star Wars for the billionth time, (but now as Steampunk!) it leaves working class people in the film industry out of a job. I can likely see myself using these tools to make a proof of concept for a movie to then present to others, but nothing will beat making an actual movies with real actors and artisans.

Maybe now that AAA games have better writing, and we have adaptions that are actually good, Hollywood execs will stop thinking they need to completely rework games to adapt them. Last of Us was a 1:1 (ish) remake while Fallout was original but as true to game lore and design as possible. That's the way to go. Now lets manifest me getting to do Mass Effect.

Something I never asked for, but it might be interesting. I liked the Tales of the Jedi shorts well enough.

It's straight up genocide, and was right from the beginning. There are Israeli property development companies already selling beachfront property shortlists, for the redevelopment of an Israeli Gaza. Netanyahu needs a bullet to the back of the skull, and every member of his regime should be tried for war crimes. But unfortunately there is no justice in the world. So who knows how this ends.. a two state solution hopefully

Dude-- Carpenter is the GOAT The guy wrote and directed a movie every 1-2 years for 25 years straight. Half of those movies became cult hits. Even the bad ones are fun in their own way. Of those, two of them are considered to be among the most influential and classic horror films ever made. One of them, Halloween, literally started the slasher sub-genre. Then, after getting sick of studio interference, he says fuck it, retires early, and proudly plays video games for the next 20 years. Then what happens? Well all those movies he made he also did the music for, and retro synth music loves basically built the entire subgenre of dark wave/dark electro inspired by his music. So in his 70s, Carpenter comes out of retirement to tour as a rock star and score other people's movies. On top of all of that, he's curmudgeon that tells reporters to fuck off if they ask stupid questions. The guy is my hero.

It was Captain Panaka who mentioned sitting ducks in TPM. Incidentally, there is a line in the original 1977 Star Wars novelization where Kenobi mentions that "Even a duck has to be taught to swim" to Luke Skywalker.

I don't even know where to start. First, an apology should never be a consequence. Second, if the apology is supposed to be restorative, restorative practices should NEVER be used for habitual bullying. Third, even if it was an accident, there was still harm caused and does not get you out of a consequence. Fourth, I hate the "talk to the whole class" without a clear (clear is kind) progressive discipline plan. Just following the fucking plan. If you haven't been following, just tell students and parents you will begin enforcing it (it is unfair to just randomly start enforcing a rule at the end of April that was never enforced all year). Fourth, if you followed the fucking plan, even if it is just smoke and not fire, you should escalate the consequence if the smoke doesn't stop (which is why it is called progressive discipline). Why is there not a separation contract with a clear progressive discipline plan? That clarity would make everyone's life so much easier for everyone. If Q goes to bully, bully tells staff ASAP and Q is in trouble. If bully goes to Q, Q tells staff and bully is in trouble. This also protects BOTH students from accusations from the other. I put a bully on a separation contract earlier this year for way less than this. The student broke it and was suspended. The next step was expulsion. The parent pulled him because she was worried "he would be under a microscope". I said, "that's the point". The #1 role of a principal is to keep kids safe.

Okay! Thank you for saying that. I appreciate it! (The preceding nine words from me were not sarcastic or an attempt at wit or some kind of online argument standard-for-the-Lyceum posturing. I do thank you for telling me that and I do appreciate you telling me it.)

Worf almost looks like the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz.

I would definitely get shot anywhere else other than Seattle. I keep my middle finger to myself, but I yell WTF asshole a lot.

In Arizona, yelling at people who cut you off can get you shot, usually by a gun-toating conservative with Trump political bumperstickers (and possibly Confederate flag stickers) on their pickup!

I have a couple of (non-political) car stickers and I yell at people while driving lol.

This question has always fascinated me. During the 2016 I became obsessed with this question and I remember one specific research paper that stuck out. First, this is a MASSIVE generalization and does not apply to everyone that chooses to or not to put a bumper sticker on their car. People who put bumper stickers on their car are, regardless of the bumper sticker's message, more likely to view their car as an extension of themselves, their personal identity, and personal space. This is why people with bumper stickers are way more likely to be involved in road rage regardless of political orientation or bumper sticker message. Conservatives are more likely to have this perspective. I do have confirmation bias on this hypothesis. As an American liberal, I do not see my car as an extension of myself, am too polite on the road to a fault, and I get annoyed when people cut me off, but my feelings usually end there (before I sound like I am saying I am some holier than thou liberal, I want to put it out there I get irrationally angry when people touch or move my shit, even if they are trying to help me). Obviously there are other reasons. Regardless of political ideology, people are more likely to put bumper stickers on their car if the sticker is more aligned to the views of the majority of the local population. For example, you are less likely to see a Trump sticker in an urban area or a Biden sticker in rural area even though those candidates may still receive 45% of the local vote. I couldn't find that journal entry, but I did find this one with some interesting findings about political bumper stickers.

Isn't this the real Turing test? An AI creating a piece of good, original art (that isn't dependent on another artists song or voice or movie script or whatever) that fools 99% of the population it was made by a human?

I love The Thing. I put it right up there with Alien. The special effects, the characters and the music war absolutely great. The theme song for Halloween is very iconic. It's simple, yet brilliant!

I guess we can tell Walt isn't lurking anymore since he hasn't showed up to suck Michael Giacchino's wang excessively whilst calling us all stupid for not mentioning him.

Right? That said... then there's this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdsVRegEJTA

I guess things have died down a bit, probably thanks to the separation plan, but Q has still been down. I want this year over with. The control freak mom's daughter has also not been back at school, since spring break, so we are going on 2 weeks now. I have a feeling she is not coming back. I am clearing my calendar to attend their field trip to the Kangaroo Farm because I feel like I need to go so no one can accuse Q of something ridiculous. We signer up for a club's soccer tryouts kind of as a warmup/get out the nerves, but they ended up having such an overwhelming turnout that they are going to form 2 teams and now I have to take it seriously. She tried out for this club last year and I was convinced this was the right place for her because of what I've heard about the club culture (all good things, and they were moving to a new league that is less about the good old boys clubs and more about just letting any team play where they belong eithout their weird alliances). And then at tryouts the coach was weird. He walked up to Q because she was juggling very well and asked her what club she was from. She told him. It was apparently the wrong answer and he ignored her after that. I couldn't understand why this coach was completely ignoring her, despite playing pretty well and going all out. She had one rough moment when they paired them up for 3v3 and she got put with these girls who were absolutely terrible, but she did well otherwise. I was so proud of her. And then, no offer. We heard through the grapevine that they tried to poach as many girls as possible from a certain club, and now that club was unable to form a team because of it. Girls who played at that club and knew Q said that Q got screwed because she was a better player than some of the girls who got picked up. So we changed plans and went elsewhere. It really hurt Q and she was pretty embarrassed by being cut, she's never been straight cut by a club before. So I saw they were having tryouts and they are free, so I suggested what the heck let's just go so you can get the nerves out. The other tryouts aren't for another 2 weeks. However, now I am pretty sure she is going to get an offer this time. I actually sat in the car both nights and didn't watch because I'm tired of getting mad about adults ruining soccer for kids, but from the little I did see, Q held her own in the scrimmages and was working hard, which I was worried about because she's been so defeated lately. I encouraged her to play anywhere but defense, because she's small and honestly, defense just seems to be a crutch for her and doesn't use her best skills, so she doesnt really shine there (nor is she big, so she has to rely on all skill and not size). Personally I think she'd make a great defensive center mid because she's good at disruption and stopping counter attacks if her team doesn't hang her out to dry on 2v1 or 3v1 situations like her last team did. But she tried center mid, which I think is a good spot for her in general because of her first touch and passing skills, but its going to require more fitness if she stays there. I doubt she will make the first team because I was told that this club really emphasizes keeping teams together and protecting returning players, and it looked like most returned. The A team did really well last fall and played in the top division in the spring, which took them all over the state to play other top teams. Honestly, I'm not sure we want that anyway. I think she'd rather have shorter drives to games and a but of a break in the winter to ski. I'm good with that, too. I'm getting to the point where I'm getting a little more vocal about how none of these girls are going to play D1 soccer, and we all need to chill. As I used to say at my indoor soccer teams, D league is for Day Job. No one is going pro, so let's just have fun. If she doesn't make it, she's found out one of her former teammates is moving off her old A team because it's too much travel and just too much soccer. They are still figuring out coaches for next year over there for both A and B team. So she may want to play with them, but I'm waiting to see who the B team coach is first. Q wants to play with the A team girls because she likes them (and they are super nice girls), but the current coach is a no go, and I think it would be too much travel for her.

Watched the first 4 last night and enjoyed them a lot! They have nailed the world of the games so well. Looking forward to watching the rest!

Tonally it’s all over the map and def silly— but it won me over as a fan of the games. They stayed true to game lore even more than Last of Us did.

I'll have to check it out. I absolutely loved playing Fallout 3, New Vegas and Fallout 4.

Tidal wave came by, in Indiana, and wiped us all out. Jedigoat = killed by the eclipse. Haha, kidding ya frigging idiots! I didn't die from a tidal wave. We had almost 4 minutes of totality. Pretty cool. The geese didn't know what the fuck was going on. But then again, yeah, they're geese.

Indeed, it's very hard to argue for continuing to supply weapons and money to the Israelis on the basis of "saving" lives, after Gaza has literally been flattened and 32,000+ Palestinians are dead, especially when about 13,000 were children. By contrast, Israel lost 1200 people on OCT 7, so their response is beyond disproportionate. Also, how many of the 250 hostages has Israel rescued? Something like 112 were released, I believe, which is less than half, but only 3 were rescued by the IDF. Gaza, Hamas or no, has no way of defending itself, let alone invading anyone. What Netan-Yahoo is doing is nothing less than genocide. It is one thing if Israel had took out only Hamas command centers and other Hamas sites and equipment, but bombing civilians and aide workers is inexcusable. Not to mention the nonsense going on in the West bank, and let's not forget the Damascus bombings that threaten to wided the war with Iran possibly jumping in, too. I WAS in Israel's corner at first when the OCT 7 attacks occured, but since then, Israel has long since crossed a red line for me. I can't support them getting more arms and funds from the US, if this is how they want to fight a war.

You're missing the point. Hezbollah doesn't want war with Israel. But if Israel continually makes further incursions into Lebanon then Israel will force the hand of Hezbollah to retaliate. Ergo, any Hezbollah invasion would be a direct consequence of Israel's actions. They're bringing it on themselves. Ideally, the world should be applying crippling economic sanctions to Israel and enormous diplomatic pressure to force Netanyahu to end the conflict, and they should bring the case of a two state solution to the international courts. Will this happen? I doubt it. Netanyahu seems content to do whatever he wants, international community be damned. So what is your solution? So far it seems to be continue arming the Zionists and resume the status quo. Sorry, but the status quo is genocide, and they won't stop with Gaza as we are seeing already.

Wrong. And that is quite a leap of logic. Cutting off Israel doesn't mean they are weaponless. They can produce weapons themselves. The thing is, if Israel is going to wage war in a manner inconsistant with US policy and human rights, they don't deserve US backing.

Three weeks have passed. It looks like they either posted bond, or the wife didn’t get arrested. The family pretty much rented a U-Haul and hauled their ars somewhere .They even left the pimp couch sitting on the lawn.

Somebody doesn't have a clue about the bird season in Texas. It's not the bird feeders that are bringing birds into the area. I have a white noise fan in my bedroom, to drown out their mating calls in the mornings. And don't get me started on all of the Grackles that hang around the Walmart parking lot.

As far as I know, all the major leagues here in America (NBA, NFL, NHL, etc) annd the NCAA are open to everyone. Manon Rheaume played in an exhibition game in the NHL. and I remember a woman tried out for the NFL in 2013. I think teams were also interested in Carli Lloyd a few years back. Olivia Pichardo played NCAA D1 baseball and plays in the minors.

No one watches Godzilla for a plot. Fuck yeah I’m excited

Looks good, if not original. I'd like to know if they will connect it to Prometheus and Covenant. I know it isn't a popular sentiment, but I enjoyed those films, and hope they do connect the films to Romulus. The only thing is the title reminds me more of Star Trek than Alien.

Looks good, but I like to think of Aliens as Tank said--sci fi with horror elements. This looks like a horror film with sci fi elements. Am I the only person that enjoyed Prometheus? Regarding it being Ripley's daughter, if it serves a logical purpose, sure. But I am so tired of franchises being so desperate to make as many connections between movies as possible--this character is so and so's best friends college roommate or that dude was in the background of the Cantina giving Greedo a handy or whatever. Regardless, as a pretty big fan of this franchise, I will see it in theaters.

I hadn't heard the Ripley's daughter rumor. The movie primarily takes place on an abandoned Weyland-Yutani space station called Romulus, where W-Y found the original Alien from the first movie, and reverse engineered it, and guess what, something goes wrong. The cast comes across the space station by way of escaping a colony.

I'm amped that it it looks and feels like a horror movie, like the original... in a way that Prometheus and Covenant did not. Those movies had decent stories, but they weren't horror movies. They were sci-fi action movies with a couple horror scenes put in. I actually love Alvarez's Evil Dead remake, so I am pretty amped for this one.

It is. I garden in it already. I also bought a purple one that’s like shorts. All cotton!

There's frogs and snakes and iguanas seen on Dagobah, too. Real world animals and concepts have existed in Star Wars since the beginning.

I’ll see your wager of Star Trek 3 and raise with the Star Wars Trilogy. Actually, I might check out that Soundtrack. It looks like it could be very good.

Don't forget your glow-in-the-dark stars to stick to your ceiling, kitty pictures on the wall, and your velvet Elvis painting!

You need a dangly chandelier. I fully admit my bedroom is minimalist. I need to change up the comforter but I can never find anything I like. It's white and teal chevron currently which I'm pretty sure screams 2015.

Like, if I was a bachelor...Christmas lights year round...everywhere. Not like the LED light strips with app...I mean old school Christmas lights that flash and have midi versions of Christmas songs.