Trump Held the Bible Upside Down on Purpose

People criticized the President for having held the Bible upside down for a photo-op. Do not underestimate Trump. He does not do things by accident.

Possible motives:

The nation has grown to be too fundamentalist, with rigorous standards of dress and behavior, which ultimately undermine personal liberty. Thus, holding the Bible upside down was therefor a symbolic gesture to religious leaders and a cryptic warning. Ok, ya, he is a Freemason, and he is right.

Another possibility, along similar lines, is that he has a job to do, which is to protect the American people. So yet another implication is that it is necessary for the nation to set aside complacency regarding the status quo and be ready to stop being “so nice”. After all, it is nice to love your neighbor and so forth (by in large the US loves its neighboring countries), but when you consider the aggressive policies of not so neighborly China and Iran (not to mention NK), there comes a time to set aside the current complacency and non-resolve.

In short, Trump wants people to challenge the current state of things.

He is showing that people need to be less complacent and more willing to accept change. The Constitution is based Biblical principles. Sometimes it must all be turned upside down, in order for realist pragmatic action/thought. Everything is a yin-yang. Trump is trying to balance things. His job is difficult.

Things have to be balanced mentally before they can be balanced physically – most of the time. There is a balance of power in the world. For too many years the US tried to “make friends” with our enemies, while over trusting their motives. I blame the elites for this as NAFTA was stupid, and the non-industrial/non-farm elites were financially motivated to pass NAFTA /GATT and to grant most favored nation’s status to China (and let them into the WTO). So the first thing is to get our heads on straight as a public before we do anything aggressive internationally. Vietnam taught us that any major engagement necessitates correlation between the public opinion (Lippman) and the military, though the military shouldn’t be doing long engagements anyways…

Enough leaders hold the Bible up the right way already. Trump has been willing to make great personal sacrifice to lead us. And he has offered himself up as a scapegoat in order to allow people to vent. Noted is that he sacrificed his own personal security to do so, such as the assassination attempt during his initial run.

That is the weirdest thing. That Trump has offered himself up as a scapegoat – think of the Christian parallels. Yet at the same time, he is telling the country to not be altruistic scapegoats, nor complacent fatcats. Instead, rather he wants the public to reevaluate their thoughts on the balance of power, including Love Thy Neighbor. How far across an Ocean can a nation be, and still be considered our neighbor or even strategically vital? Not very far, I’m afraid. And it doesn’t really pay that well to be hegemon. OK, ya it doe$.

I did a lot of bad stuff with Bibles for work when I worked in pornography. Ultimately I understand all too well. Respect your Bible. But do what you have to do. Jesus didn’t go to church anyways, though he went to the Jewish Temple for some of his early years.

What to Do Re Iran

There is obviously a tough situation in Iran/Iraq also in regards to the USA with the current attacks against American troops at bases in Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave American troops who are stationed there. One problem is that much of the Iranian fervor emanates from their religious institutions, which are not allowed to be hit in retaliation.

Sanctions and naval blockade are obvious options, which have been tried before. There are not many options but to cut and run or to stand and fight. The president of Iran and Iranian leadership should be targeted in retaliation. More creative solutions would be to target Iranian oilfields and other economic targets. Personal meetings between the leadership of the US and Iran, along with deeper economic ties would have been a normal path towards having better relation prior to this attack. That does not seem to have worked in this instance.

Iran is currently underestimating the United States’ stomach for war and is underestimating the resolve of the United States. At the same time, Iran has a strong ability to carry out assymetrical attacks, from small speedy boats with explosives, to domestic terrorism. Also, Iran is a nuclear power, with a religious leadership which is stronger perhaps than its secular leadership. Iran used chemical weapons against Iraq in the 1980s , in a war that resulted in the death of millions.

The good thing is that Iran is relatively isolated. China and a few other great powers do have their back economically, but no other nation will build a physical coalition with them, as history shows, except perhaps Lebanon or other smaller less relevant nations. This attack today seems to be similar in effort to the attack on US troops in Lebanon in the 80s (if I remember correctly) which resulted in US casualties and American withdrawal. In the 1970’s Saudi Arabia backed Iran with OPEC oil cuts. Saudi Arabia has a strong air force capability these days thanks to Lockheed Martin. The newer king there seems to have goo relations with President Trump, so Saudi Arabia will likely not be as big of a problem this time around.

So what should the US do? A limited air war is in order. The US should keep a light footprint in targtable areas while relying primarily on air power. Special Forces should be dropped in to key targets, also in order to keep an element of surprise with the enemy. What should be targeted? The best thing would be to capture the Ayatollah. Ultimately, Iran wants to destabilize and take over a weakened Iraq. This will be a long war. The US will have to start recruiting more troops to our ranks. At the same time, we need to highlight our peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts in the rest of the world, in order to keep a good image of the US.

Ultimately, the carrot and stick approach would be best to use, but its possible Iran is acting irrationally, thinking she is stronger than really is. Iran is a difficult country to invade geographically (very mountainness). A limited war will likely lead to a broader war. The problem is that if the United States launched a D-Day style invasion Iran would be nearly impossible to occupy. A cyber-war and freezing their international assets would be prudent. Ultimately, there will be a big war. USA will win via air power and some instances of Special Forces. The US Navy is vulnerable in the Gulf. That is where we will most likely suffer casualties. President Trump did a good job of limiting/screening the number of immigrants from countries which have animosity to the US. Personally, I tend to like Iranian people, and am saddened to see that relations have soured. This attack by Iran was ill-advised. They will sorely regret it.

Silencio & Suspiria : Dark Foreign Thrills

“Silencio” is a Mexican-made thriller (partially in English) based on true events.  The true events are the setting of the Zone of Silence in Mexico, an area that was accidentally nuked by the U.S. and has numerous conspiracy theories and dark rumors surrounding it.  Basically, it is akin to the Bermuda Triangle.  In this film, a magical stone is found there that has the ability to alter time and past events.  You can go back to any specific event and change one thing that happens.  The catch is that you can’t change anything else and that whatever you do change will impact the world in unforeseeable ways.  Basically, this fascinating premise is attached to a multigenerational family thriller and a deadly hit-and-run.  While some critics are upset that this premise was used for a family thriller, I think anchoring the premise to a tense family drama is an interesting choice that works well.  Indeed, I was on the edge of my sea t for much of “Silencio” because I honestly didn’t know how it was going to turn out.

“Suspiria” is a remake of the classic 1977 thriller by Dario Argento. It takes place in Berlin 1977, where the world is a dark and evil place.  While catastrophic real-world events are playing out, the smaller but much scarier conflict is going on at the local dance school.  The school is in fact run by and populated by witches who use the school to give new meaning to the term “killer dance moves.” After the school’s top dancer (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) has a nervous breakdown and becomes expendable, a replacement dancer (Dakota Johnson) is  brought in who is inexperienced but brilliantly talented.  Through her, the head-mistresses (both played by Tilda Swinton) hope to spread Wicca and conquer Berlin.  The only thing standing in their way is a very strange elderly psychiatrist who is investigating claims of witchcraft.  Will he succeed in vanquishing evil or will the demonic, sexually outrageous coven conquer all?

If you’re a fan of Argento’s classic grindhouse film, this remake is a must-see.  It’s a little hard to follow and perhaps overly feminist but it has the terrifying lucidity of a real nightmare.  It has a cameo by Jessica Harper, star of the original.  With excellent cinematography and a score by Thom Yorke of Radiohead, this movie can both withstand comparisons to the original and stand on its own two feet.  Guaranteed to freak out all but the most seasoned horror movie fan, this is the rare bloody horror film that is critically respected yet also good for gorehounds.  It’s an American film directed by an Italian (“Call Me by Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino) that is partially in German.  At 151 minutes, it is one of the longest exploitation films ever made.

“Silencio” and “Suspiria” are both in limited release right now.  If you’re looking for foreign thrills, run (don’t walk!) and check them out.

Wendy’s Automates Line-Skipping

I went to Wendy’s the other day, and I didn’t like what I saw. Instead of one line leading to order at the front counter, there are numerous automated lines behind the main line. This means that if you come in and there is a long line that you can simply skip ahead of the rest of the line by going to the automated burger teller, and still get your order in ahead of everyone else. The couple of times I have gone into that place lately it has made ordering into a SLOG. Technology shouldn’t be used to help people line jump. Jumping ahead in line is unethical and annoying. You already have the fact that these establishments cater to the drive through more than to the dine in customers, even though dine in customers pay a huge extra tax just to eat  there ( in California).

I say death to the automated teller machines at Wendy’s (this is a joke, don’t do anything rash!). I hope some evil hacker short circuits those machines, and makes them hand out diapers and condoms instead, since if you cut in line that is about all you deserve. If you want to order with a machine over a human, I have no problem with that, but by placing the machines at the end of the line, that is not unlike how Obama and other leftists run immigration policy – cut in line and get ahead first. I thought Wendy’s was a good ‘old fashioned’ place, not a leftist utopia for people who slack and cheat in line. They should have put those machines at the front of the line, which would still have helped speed things up. By assisting those automatically who were last in line, Wendy’s is catering to the least common denominator. I bet the majority of people who use those machines are the same people who are bankrupting Venezuela. They probably are using EBT to pay for it, and then soaking the taxpayer for free healthcare when their clogged arteries cause heart problems.

There should simply be a trap door by these machines. If you skip the line and order from them you should fall into a pit, where you are digested by alligators, stomped on by donkeys, and then fed to elephants. Founder Dave Thomas is probably rolling over in his grave. Meanwhile the red image of Wendy is increasingly looking like some icon from a horror movie where the ghost of some innocent girl is haunting everyone, and where if you see her icon in your sleep, some evil entity follows you to your doom.

Oso Polar is a Decent Thriller!

At the Hola a Mexico film festival in Salinas, California, I came across an unexpected gem called “Oso Polar” (Polar bear).  This film was shot on cell phones and is about a man who was picked on by his class during high school who nevertheless offers to chauffer several of his classmates to their high school reunion,  The reunited students think good times are about to ensue, but the often-slighted driver has other ideas.  The film starts out rather mundanely introducing the characters.  However, it soon turns into a low-budget cross between  “Donnie Darko” and “The Gift.”  The director builds up intrigue here and sets up apocalyptic events,  Because of the budget, the payoff is muted.  However, “Oso Polar” remains a very effective, well-acted thriller that could definitely give you nightmares!  This little film is definitely worth seeking out.

Mom & Dad : Gonzo Nicholas Cage Cage

I saw this cool horror comedy which had a limited release earlier this year. There is a scene in where Cage destroys a pool table while singing ‘The Hokey Pokey Song’, that I really enjoyed. This oddball little film was able to use its indie status to be more experimental.  It is about a strange TV and cell phone signal that causes parents to turn against their children.  Everyone who is a parent is impacted when they are with their children, and the film shows in some detail the impact this would have on society.  Cage’s character makes Jack Nicholson’s character in the Shining look a bit wimpy. Many people often incorrectly assume Cage will just take any B movie he is offered, since he owes so much money on those Egyptian pyramids he purchased in Michael Jackson bankruptcy styled fashion. The truth is that Cage is given opportunities to play quirky characters who are not corporate inspired, characters close to his original Raising Arizona success. Other examples of good low-budget Cage include Paul Schrader’s “Dog Eat Dog” with Willem Dafoe (available on Netflix) and the new cult horror hit “Mandy.”

The director, Brian Taylor, did the Jason Statham film Crank, and he knows how to keep the plot moving, and the action flowing.   He directs the film in a “grind house” style that is appropriate. Selma Blair, as Mom, proves that she is an underused actress with a good performance that shows a lot of range.  GROIN Hall of Famer Lance Henriksen makes a surprise cameo appearance and steals some scenes in a funny role.  The film ultimately doesn’t lead anywhere that surprising or revelatory, but it works well enough to register as the best horror satire since “Get Out.” Without using much gore, the director generates scenes that are both nightmarish and rather hilarious.  If you’re looking for good cult horror, don’t miss “Mom and Dad” on DVD, Blu-ray, and Amazon Instant Video.

Tigers Are Not Afraid (Mexican Horror)

I went to a Mexican film festival in Salinas this week. I saw a bunch of pretty good flicks. So far I saw 5 movies for $25. The one I saw tonight, Tigers Are Not Afraid was the first horror one of the bunch, and I must say it was muy espanto (very scary)! The plot involves a little girl, whose mother has been killed by a Mexican drug lord. She has a big imagination and she teams up with a bunch of other kids whose families have also been killed. Yes, this is a big downer! It is pretty realistic , though full of horror and fantasy imagery. It has good special effects and a pretty big budget. Some of her hallucinations involved the tigers. She sees herself as being a kin to a tiger, She thinks she sees a tiger which has escaped from the zoo. Seeing the tiger gives her strength. Basically these kids try to take on the Mexican drug lords. This doesn’t turn out well for them (as you may imagine), It is a weird mixture of stark realism and fantasy imagery, even whimsical imagery at times. The images are somewhat visionary. If the female director would use this style to direct something less depressing, then she would honestly be a big deal.

 

Halloween 2018 : Jamie Lee Curtis Magnum Force

There is nothing I love more than a hot GILF with 20 shotguns. If Michael Meyer’s had chased me through numerous films, and already killed me in a forgotten role, I would be ready for the apocalypse too. This much hyped sequel, which has already raked in 90 million dollars since Thursday, was needed to give a shot in the arm to the viewers, who haven’t had quite enough scary films out lately (we can never have enough). David Gordon Green, of Pineapple Express fame, does a decent job of directing. He had kind of a Hitchcock-like flair to it, where you presume to know what will happen next, online to be deceived.

Oh boy, this film had a very high body count. Though I did not get an exact count. It was pretty gory too. I was impressed that the whole feminist angle actually works, and is not shoe horned in. It seems appropriate what happens. Jamie Lee Curtis gives a good performance, mostly physically. She is able to tell us through body language and facial expressions, rather than through written dialogue. The score was a little bit overhyped, in that it was overly similar to the ones from the first two films. Somehow Michael Myers seemed like a deranged left wing example of how the left fears the right, as he slays journalists and people who are generally PC. He is played by the same actor who played him in the first movie. Myers has aged in the film clearly, along with his sister (Curtis). I like the fact that Michael has aged. there are nuances like this that make the film above average.

Curtis has a billion guns in her basement. Her house is booby trapped. Her family is prepped to kill any intruder. It is basically a prepper version of Halloween. By the end of the movie I was expecting the killer to hold a 911 Truther symposium or something. I am still waiting for him to kill a couple of Hari Krishnas too. And no, unfortunately Tom Atkins was not cast in the film. Still waiting to hear on the Night of the Creeps 2 sequel. There is a really great ending where you are left completely uncertain as to whether Myers is dead or not. Don’t go to this movie expecting something as great as a John Carpenter classic. But if you want something scary, entertaining, and timely, check this out.

Finally! Phantasm 3 & 4 Individual Blu Rays

If you are a hardcore fan of the “Phantasm” series but were unable to pick up the 5-film Blu-ray box set when it was briefly available, good news! “Phantasm 3” and “Phantasm 4: Oblivion” have finally been released individually on Blu-ray.  You can now thrill to the saga of Mike (A. Michael Baldwin), brother Jody (Bill Thornbury), Reggie (the great Reggie Bannister) and of course the Tall Man (the late Angus Scrimm) all in the privacy of your own home in high definition.  How are these two films and their transfers?

Part 3 starts where the underrated “Phantasm II” left off, with the love interest from that one being quickly dispatched with and Mike now being a captive of The Tall Man.  This leaves Reggie all by his lonesome hunting the Tall Man, attempting to rid the world of his evil.  He is eventually joined by a tough little boy (Kevin Connors) and a tough black lady sidekick/love interest named  Rocky (played by Gloria Lynne Henry).  Will this unconventional yet badass group succeed?  Tune in to find out!

“Phantasm 3” is one of the greatest direct-to-video movies ever made.  It is scary, funny, sexy, and totally off-the-wall.  Writer-director Don Coscarelli takes a $2 million budget and makes it seem like $30 million.  The cast is clearly having a ball, which is appropriate since the Ball is back (again!).  This Blu-ray transfer is very well-done, too, with good use of detail and excellent picture and sound.  It comes with an audio commentary and behind-the-scenes footage.

Since “Phantasm 3” was supposed to play in theatres but didn’t, “Phantasm IV: Oblivion” was made on a much lower budget of about $400,000.  So you’d think it wouldn’t be any good, right?  You’d be wrong!  Part 4 finds our titular characters Reggie and Mike (minus Connors and Henry) still battling The Tall Man.    In the process of dodging  his killer spheres and trying not to fall prey to his mind games, Reggie  (and a mostly offscreen Mike) discover the Tall Man’s true origin.  Using previously unused footage from Part 1, director Coscarelli is able to show us sides of the characters that we’ve never seen before.  Despite the low-budget, the film seems epic and impressive.  Once again, the Blu-ray transfer is great and another audio commentary and behind the scenes documentary is included.

So if you love the “Phantasm” series but don’t own the Blu-ray box set, you should run out and buy the “Phantasm 3” and “Phantasm 4” Blu-rays, which are available new for about $15 new.  Angus Scrimm may be dead but the “Phantasm” series will never die!

 

Fahrenheit 451 (2018): An Underrated Gem

A lot of critics really didn’t care for this updated version of Ray Bradberry’s masterpiece. They felt it didn’t stick close enough to the original material. On the other hand,  I thought this updated take on the suppression of knowledge by an advance technological fascist state to be very timely. Michael Shannon’s character, the lead book burner, knows a bunch of Shakespeare. So why does he want to burn all the copies? I find this very intriguing.  It has to do with controlling the masses, and keeping the population dumbed down. It has to do with not questioning anything…

Of course, the idea of street bums dying to protect great pieces of literature is somewhat laughable, since the homeless have seemed to care more about rioting against liquor stores in recent years. But lets get past that.

On the internet it has become harder and harder to get information, especially for free. Try and get sheet music for any song to print up and you cannot find it anymore. Just a few years ago you could. Technological information is becoming scarce. Meanwhile libraries have not always that great an inventory anymore, from my experience, unless you count rich Asian areas like Cupertino. People are becoming less well rounded. As a result , all the inventions we get are along the same lines. For instance just a cell phone with a bigger screen, or just a faster wireless connection. Meanwhile, stuff like blockchain and Bitcoin has gone nowhere lately, since the banking and investment community got involved. Society basically is stagnating , much in the same way that this film illustrates. Thus, this film is very timely.

Some of the updates which have been made to the story include a super virus the rebel book savers have created in order to insert the encyclopedia of all books into nature, via a bird virus. Michael B. Jordan, from Black Panther and Creed, plays the conflicted book-burner worker. Shannon plays his boss and father figure. There is genuine feeling of them as comrades torn apart by time and circumstance.

So basically the filmmakers decided that since Francois Truffaut already made a faithful movie of the book in 1969, this new adaptation should focus on how the novel came true.   The movie shows how we have become an angry mob happy to destroy art in the name of political correctness.  We pat ourselves on the back for not reading while the world burns. The movie manages to follow the basic plot of the book while portraying this message.  It also manages to be action-packed with great special effects.  The decision not to follow every part of the book slavishly allows for greater suspense and the ending is a surprise of sorts.

So no, this is not your father’s (or grandfather’s) “Fahrenheit 451” but it is a very entertaining and relevant film that deserves to be seen and discussed.  Catch it on HBO, Blu-ray, and DVD.