Lying about Money (Book by Dan Davies) — This book on financial fraud is great (assuming you want to read about that). Found this from an article on “Bits about Money.” It’s more about institutional aspects than con men (although con men make plenty of appearances). Here’s a “Today I learned” style tidbit/quote.
As far back as the early 2000s, the left-wing economist Doug Henwood coined a monetary policy rule that “any time Donald Trump is able to borrow money or build anything, interest rates are probably too low.” (in ‘Ch 3: The Long Firm1‘, p 65 in the hard back)
Men without Women — This collection of Hiraki Murakami’s short stories caught my eye at the library, so I decided to try it, as he is one of the most famous novelists in the world. Excellent. After that I started another collection of short stories (“First Person Singular“) and also like what I’ve read. I am less enamored of 1Q84, which is a doorstopper I couldn’t get into.
Sicario — Well done movie about an ugly subject. Nice cinematography. Dennis Villeneuve directs.
Ad Astra — “Direct to Streaming Inception” visually quite nice (I thought the Mars indoors cinematography particularly good), some interesting scenes; but deeply, deeply stupid about space. They did at least get the Earth-Neptune distance correct (looking at you, Prometheus).
Bohemian Rhapsody — Didn’t do anything groundbreaking … understood the assignment.
Last One Laughing (Amazon) — Funny but awkward show. 10 (UK) Comedians tasked to spend 6 hours together and make each other laugh, but since they are all trying not to laugh, it’s cringe and makes it hard (for me) to enjoy. But there seems to be on exceptionally funny moment every 30 minute episode, often from the bizarre mind of Sam Campbell.
Project Hail Mary — The first time I’ve seen a theater mostly full. Even Dune (1 and 2) weren’t as crowded. Didn’t see this opening weekend because tickets were all sold out at 11am. That being said, this movie is the epitome of “did the thing” or “understood the assignment” more than “excellent movie.” It’s just that the bar has been so low for so long that everyone is praising it to the heavens. This is like Independence Day in the 90s, a great popcorn flick. To be fair, this is the best of all the maybes. (And, a few weeks after I wrote this, I think I might have been too harsh).
Weapons — I liked this horror movie for the vibe and feeling, but honestly this felt like a good idea for a X-files episode stretched out to two hours (minus Mulder and Scully). And the reveal is not nearly as interesting as the setup (a typical problem in Horror). If you’d let Vince Gilligan punch up this script (back in the 90s), he’d have made this a Top 10 episode, probably by not trying to explain anything.
Born a Champion — An explicitly right-wing sports/fighting movie (Brazilian Ju-Jitsu). What’s weirder is that the main character is explicitly the favorite (overdog?) in every fight and the only issues are his age, injuries, and morals (in a sometimes immoral sport). I liked it, but its an odd movie.
War Machine (Netflix) — A “Direct to Streaming” Predator knockoff that I assume had significant DoD funding/help (like Top Gun did) due to the pro-US Army Ranger slant. It doesn’t understand what made Predator such a big hit (and also … its 40 years later, we’ve seen it before) so not great, but an OK popcorn flick. Checks the required boxes. A few of the touches are nice. Alan Ritchson is going full Reacher, but that works for something like this.
Sunshine — This 2007 movies cast was mostly unknown (or has been) in 2007. In 2026 it’s a murderer’s row of well know names. Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, Benedict Wong, Rose Byrne … but it’s a terrible, deeply stupid movie.
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A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!
I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects.
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A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!
I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects.
The post Learn How We Started Podcasting appeared first on Board Game Design Lab.
Anmelden
