Gaul is Divided in Three Parts

In the French elections, the 'right-wing' party has won.  This is reported as the first round.  Do the votes change in the second round?  Is this like an American primary?  Whatever the case, the National Party carried 34% of the votes.  In second place is the New Popular Front with 29%.  Macron's Together Party secured 3rd place with 21% of the vote. Much like the election process, I'm not all that familiar with the political factions of France.  However, one thing did catch my eye.  The second-place party, the New Popular Front, is listed as "far-left Pro-Islam."  Can that be right?  Almost a third of France is in favor of a religion that will wipe out French culture?   Also, how far left does one have to be for France to label your party as "far-left?"  Yeah, this is the party that has the Marxists, the communists, environmentalists, socialists, and a surprising number of autonomy parties.  Apparently, Brittany, Martinique, Corsica, and others want autonomy; looking for a Frexit?

Will the National Party be able to assemble a coalition government with the Together Party, the one that appears closest to it on the right-left scale?  How far right would that move the needle? Will France be able to reverse the demographic collapse that is coming?  The French aren't having kids, but the immigrants are.  Worse, the French are paying for the immigrants to have kids.  A growing number of French citizens are seeing this impending doom and, since the Together Party hasn't solved it, they are going to try the 'far-right' party.  Exciting times ahead.

A Room with a View (1985)

It is 1908.  Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and her chaperon, Miss Charlotte Bartlett (Maggie Smith) open the window of their room in Florence, Italy to discover an alley.  They had been promised a room with a view.  At dinner that evening, the lack of a view becomes the topic of discussion among the many English visitors staying at the pensione.  Mr. Emerson (Denholm Elliott) eagerly offers to switch rooms, since he and his son, George (Julian Sands), care nothing of the view. Charlotte declines as it would place an undue obligation on them.  No, it just wouldn't do.  However, Lucy is more broadminded and wishes that the switch had been accepted.  Reverend Mr. Beebe (Simon Callow) gladly intercedes to overcome the awkwardness of the situation.  As English tourists, it is unsurprising that they go on outings together.  George and Lucy meet more than once without Charlotte, sharing a passionate kiss.  Charlotte intervenes before anything further happens, but she booked immediate passage back to England.

Back in England, Lucy accepts a proposal for marriage from Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis), an unappealing and bookish prig.  He has all the passion of a damp rag.  Still, Lucy appears happy, and her future is set.  Until!  The Emersons arrive and let a villa.  George becomes fast friends with Lucy's brother, Freddy (Rupert Graves).  Thrust together once again, Lucy cannot help but compare the cold fish of Cecil to the torrid desire of George.  What will she do?

The outcome is never in doubt though the path to that destination has its charms.  The exploration of Florence and the surrounding countryside is a highlight.  The characters are generally well-developed.  Rupert Graves as a goofball brother was fun.  He's just overflowing with charm.  Helena Bonham Carter is startlingly young.  She is generally very good though her crying scenes didn't quite ring true.  Not expecting nudity, it was quite surprising when Sands, Graves, and Callow offered the full Monty while 'bathing' at a nearby pond. Funny, sure, but maybe a bit more filming from the waist up or limiting it to butt shots.  Daniel Day-Lewis felt miscast. I am so used to him being a magnetic personality that this vapid empty suit felt all wrong.  Of course, this was early in his career, but it felt like he wasn't trying.  Maggie Smith is excellent as always.

As a romantic period piece, it is well done.  Not my usual fare, but worth a watch for fans of any of the actors.  A glimpse into the mores of Edwardian England and early 20th century Italy.

Megamind (2010)

As the story opens, Megamind (Will Ferrell) plummets toward the ground and his imminent death.  As he falls, he ponders his life.  Like Superman, he was sent to Earth as a baby during the destruction of his planet.  He was not the only one.  Metro Man was simultaneously sent to earth during the destruction of a different planet.  While Metro Man was raised by wealthy adoptive parents, Megamind was raised in the local prison. As kids, Megamind and Metro Man attended the same school for a time and became rivals.  Once he was an adult, Megamind embraced a career as a supervillain!  Of course, he had no powers beyond being a genius.  Despite his genius, Metro Man defeated him again and again, sending him back to prison for the next clash.

In his latest scheme, he has once again kidnapped Roxanne Richi (Tina Fey), a standard tactic that always lures Metro Man to certain doom. Well, ideally it would be his doom, but usually not.  Metro Man is not the only opponent for Megamind.  There is also Tighten (Jonah Hill), a hero that Megamind created with his genius. Oh, that may not have been wise.

It is easy to see the similarities of Metro Man to Superman, Roxanne to Lois Lane, and Megamind to Lex Luthor.  Metro Man is more of a showman than Superman, eagerly pumping up his fans in a display of his powers at the grand opening of his museum.  Likewise, Megamind stalks the streets of Metro City with a soundtrack playing, often dancing to the tune.

Ferrell is often hit or miss with his characters.  Megamind is a definite hit.  He is great in the role, which is several roles thanks to his disguise watch.  That Megamind has a character arc that few supervillains are ever given was quite entertaining.

Great popcorn fun.  Highly recommended.

Vanishing Act (1986)

Harry Kenyon (Mike Farrell) wanders the streets of a snowy mountain town, clearly looking for a brunette. Eventually, he makes his way to the police station.  There is only a woman playing a flute, who isn't a cop.  However, she does tell him where he might find the chief, Lt. Rudameyer (Elliot Gould).  He tells Rudameyer that his wife is missing.  They are newlyweds and had a fight.  She ran off with the car and he hasn't seen her for a worrying amount of time.  Rudameyer reassures Harry that he'll get on the case.  The following morning, Rudameyer says he hasn't found her yet but he's still looking.  Then, Harry gets a call from a local priest, Father Macklin (Fred Gwynne), who has news of the missing wife, Chris Prescott Kenyon. Harry goes to the church and Father Macklin presents Chris Kenyon (Margot Kidder). "Is this a joke?" Harry demands. "This isn't my wife."  Somehow, every situation paints Harry as a mentally troubled husband and Chris as an innocent.  Rudameyer is clearly convinced that "Chris" is the genuine article, and every witness confirms her story rather than Harry's.  Why is there a grand conspiracy to foist this impostor on Harry? Who is this woman and why is she pretending to be his wife?

An entertaining mystery that has twists and turns. The conclusion is quite good and surprised me when I saw this movie when it originally aired. Of course, watching it now, I see that all was revealed early on.

Good popcorn fun.

The Trouncing, Part 2

I have viewed Joe Biden as unqualified from the beginning.  As such, his performance wasn't a shock to me.  Most of my news sources have revealed his plentiful gaffes, his difficulties with keeping his train of thought, his spaced-out expression, and so forth.  Coming into the debate with that viewpoint, I was not at all surprised.  However, for those who have been watching the mainstream media, which has continually reported that Biden was at the top of his game, a sharp cookie behind closed doors, a man with purpose and vision, the debate came as a shock.  His diminished capacity has been intentionally hidden by the very people who are supposed to inform the public.  This was a huge blow to the trustworthiness of the media, an institution that is already at record lows for trustworthiness.

It is clear that Joe Biden is not making the decisions in the White House.  We have a repeat of President Wilson's last year in office.  Is Jill Biden the true president, as Edith Wilson was from October 1919 until March 1921?  Or are there other actors?  It sure isn't Joe Biden.

The Trouncing

A debate with no audience.  A debate that even barred other reporters.  Strict time limits.  Two moderators who have clearly been anti-Trump.  It was a debate that most candidates would refuse.  Trump accepted and the trouncing began.  Mostly, this was a debate of contrasts.  Joe Biden looks old, sounds old, and frankly is old.  He is too old.  There were plenty of accusations back and forth.  Trump repeatedly called Biden the worst president ever.  Biden called Trump a convicted felon and sexual predator.  I suspect a transcript would narrow the gap in performances, but the visuals were quite bad for President Biden.  Interestingly, though Snopes recently declared the Fine People story from Charlottesville to be false, Biden brought it up as though it were true.

As for moderators, we need to do away with them.  Not entirely, but certainly as far as the questions are concerned.  Let the candidates ask each other questions.  They will each go for the jugular and it will be a livelier debate.  Keep the moderator(s) purely for timekeeping and some organization.  For instance, "It is your question, President Biden."  Give something like 30 seconds to ask a question and a couple of minutes to answer.  Some rebuttals as needed.  However, rebuttals go against their time, so one needs to be strategic.  Have a time on their podium, so everyone knows how much time each has used.  Would need to do some tweaks to deal with talking over one another.  It is beyond exasperating that every four years, the moderators are a bunch of Democrats who can't help but favor the Democrat.  With clear time rules and candidates asking the questions, that issue goes away.

In some of the post-debate commentary, I read calls to dump Biden at the convention.  Yeah, probably a good idea.  Also, Joe Biden is the reason for the 25th Amendment, sections 3 and/or 4.  Woodrow Wilson had a debilitation stroke in 1919 and yet remained president until 1921.  Very few will willingly surrender power, which is why George Washington was such a great man and Joe Biden is not.  Of course, his party is also to blame; they prefer him over Kalama Harris, or he would have been removed already.

Capt. Samuel H. Walker, Texas Ranger

In 1882, Edmund Dana wrote a brief biography of one of the most famous Texas Rangers: Samuel Hamilton Walker.  Though born in Maryland, Walker set out south in his late teens.  He became an Indian fighter and scout in both Alabama and Florida before heading to Texas in 1842.  He was immediately involved in the ongoing conflict with Mexico.  Captured during a battle in Meir, he spent the next two years as a captive in Mexico.  It is unsurprising that he eagerly joined General Taylor at the Rio Grande in 1846.  His exploits won him national fame.  After the capture of Monterrey, he went east to recruit soldiers in Maryland.  He returned in time to join General Winfield Scott's march into Mexico.  After Mexico City was captured, Walker and his men ranged near and around Perote, hunting for guerillas and protecting supply wagons.  In October of 1847, he joined General Lane's brigade as it marched to relieve a siege at Puebla.  On the way, they learned of Santa Anna's forces in Huamantla.  As was his custom, Walker charged in the vanguard but was taken down by a sniper's bullet.

The biography is extremely brief and fails to mention Walker's meeting with Sam Colt to help design what came to be the Walker Colt, a monster of a gun.  It was nearly five pounds, over a foot long, and fired a .44 caliber ball.  This has been the official handgun of Texas since 2021.  Doubtless, Chuck Norris' Ranger Cordell Walker drew inspiration from Sam Walker.

Too short but still entertaining and educational.