The First Debate

Quick thoughts.

Trump was boorish and overbearing.  He barely let Biden speak with his constant interruptions.  What is funny is that it reminded me of how Biden debated Ryan in 2012.  Well, Biden wasn't rude and overbearing but he constantly interrupted.  Trump had a hard time staying on topic but he was dogged about answering Biden's accusations.  Though he clearly dominated, it didn't come across well.  Seemed almost like bullying.

Biden was rather passive.  Where was that Biden who schooled Ryan?  Though I thought Ryan won that debate on substance, Biden won it on optics.  Here, he was getting steamrolled and waited for Wallace to tame Trump.  If Biden can't handle Trump, what is he going to do when facing Putin and Xi? 

Wallace was clearly on Biden's side, especially as the debate continued.  Trump even asked if he was debating Wallace, which he often was.  To an extent, perhaps Wallace was trying to balance the scales since Trump was bulldozing Biden.  When it came to climate change, Wallace was debating Trump and Biden was just a bystander.  Has this become a hostile interview?

Overall, I'd say it was a draw.  Biden exceeded expectations in that he didn't say something truly bizarre (e.g. "dog-faced pony soldier") and managed to remain coherent.  Despite his verbosity, Trump lacked focus.  Sometimes, he was on point but other times he rambled.  Browbeating a senior citizen (I know they are both senior citizens but Joe looks it) is not commendable.  Wallace was a failure as a moderator.  He couldn't maintain control and let his bias show.  He grilled Trump about the recent tax story but then pretended that the ballot harvesting story from Minneapolis (released the same day as the tax story) never happened when they discussed ballot integrity.  He demanded Trump denounce white supremacists but didn't make a similar demand for Biden to denounce Antifa/BLM.

The Nest (2020)

Rory O'Hara (Jude Law) lives in New York with his wife Alison (Carrie Coons) and two kids, Samantha - Alison's daughter from a previous marriage - and Benjamin. It is the early 1980s and Rory's professional career is not what he wants so he suggests a move to London. Alison is not so keen but nonetheless the family moves. Rory is greeted as a prodigal son at his old firm, a genius trader who moved to America for the American Dream. At first, all seems amazing. They moved from a nice suburban home into a huge country estate. Rory is the toast of the town while Sam and Ben are enrolled in fine schools. It's all a facade. Soon, the family is crumbling, emotionally and financially.

This is mostly a difficult movie to watch because it is one long slide into oblivion. There is nothing really to like about the characters. The acting is fine but the story is about failure.

Hard pass.

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land

3 million years ago, Dave Lister (Craig Charles) brought a pregnant cat aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf. The captain demanded that he hand over the cat so it could be terminated. Dave refused and was placed in stasis. Thus, he was spared from the radiation leak that killed the crew. His cat also survived and spawned a race of Felis Sapiens. Eventually, the cat folk departed the Red Dwarf with the exception of Cat (Danny John-Jules). Today, three cat priests have been sentenced to death for adhering to the worship of Cloister (i.e. Lister). They escape only to have a chance meeting with Cloister himself.

The Red Dwarf crew return for another comic sci-fi adventure. Lister, Cat, Rimmer (Chris Barrie), and Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) find themselves ejected from Red Dwarf thanks to having reinstalled Holly (Norman Lovett), who now has no recollection of these stowaways. While seeking a new ship, they come upon the trio of priests and soon find themselves pitted against Rodon (Ray Fearon) the leader of the feral cats and self-proclaimed living god.

Though funny throughout, this is more sentimental than the standard Dwarf fare. The series has been going for more than 30 years and its hard not to be sentimental.

Highly recommended.

Supreme Court Emergency

With the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court is down to 8 members.  It went a whole year with only 8 members in 2016/7 so this should be no big deal.  No urgency.  Or is there?  Obviously, the Republicans have an incentive to move as quickly as possible lest they lose either the Presidency or the Senate - possibly both - in the election.  That's a politics question and politicians love to play politics.  However, there is another thing to consider.  The coming election may be contested.  Hillary Clinton has advised Joe Biden not to concede under any circumstances.  The push for unsolicited mail-in ballots - if enacted - is litigation waiting to happen.  Unless someone landslides - and maybe not even then - this election is already looking to replay the Bush v. Gore Fiasco of 2000.  Who decided that one?  The Supreme Court.  If we go to the court and it has only 8 members, a 4-4 decision could happen.  Then what?  The decision of a lower court stands?  Some regional court has final say on a national crisis?  I don't think that will be satisfying to the losers of that ruling.  Of course, the losers of a Supreme Court ruling won't be happy either.

2020 has been such a crazy year that a confirmation hearing during the election season is just what the country needs.  Trump can nominate a woman and let's see if the Democrats give her the Kavanaugh treatment.  Heck, Joe Biden should welcome the topic during the debates.  Although, there is some doubt about Joe doing debates.

Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Younger Sister

Enola Holmes is set for release later this month.  Huh, what is this about?  Clicking over to the description on IMDb, I see the following introduction:

When Enola Holmes-Sherlock's teen sister-discovers her mother missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord.

His younger sister 'outwits' him.  The most famous sleuth in fiction is outwitted by a teenaged girl.  Gee, yet another movie that elevates a female character by diminishing an established male character (e.g. Rey and Luke Skywalker).  That sounds like a great way to turn away fans of the established character.

It happens that this is based on a novel series by author Nancy Springer who has written half a dozen such mysteries.  Are they good?  I don't know and I'm unlikely to find out.  Go create an original character without borrowing the fame of an established one.  I don't want to read about Hercule Poirot's smarter younger sister, Philip Marlowe's wittier sister, or Sam Spade's more intelligent sister.  How about creating a unique, new female sleuth like Veronica Mars, Miss Marple, or Nancy Drew.  Eidos didn't create Indiana Jones more adventurous younger sister, Florida Jones.  No, they made Lara Croft!  That is how it's done.  This is akin to fan fiction that rides on the shoulders of established characters while simultaneously belittling them.  However, it is clearly a successful strategy.  I somehow doubt that there would have been a book six for Enola Smith and her less intelligent brother Walter Smith.