Mod Post! Off Topic Tuesday

[icon_uk]

In the comments to these weekly posts (and only these posts), it's your chance to go as off topic as you like. Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat amongst yourselves.

Well, POTUS 45, the Dollar Store off-brand Lex Luthor, is endearing himself even further to the world and is stepping even his game up a notch, threatening a Trade War with China on top of his other economic sanctions in place, and perhaps most grotesquely, implementing policies which separate children of undocuments immigrants from their parents and keeping them in separate facilities, in many cases before the parents are even processed by ICE. To the bemusement (an outright anger) of many, even the First Lady spoke out against this... awkward, much?

Oh, and actual quote of the week which tells us we're in the timeline where Spock has a goatee, Trump on Kim Jong Un, absolute dictator of a hellhole state “He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.” Word's LITERALLY fail me here.

Sir Christopher Chope, a Conservative British MP managed to block a Private Members Bill to make "Upskirting", the sleazy beyond words offence of taking photos, a criminal offence. The Bill was guaranteed to achieve cross-party approval, but all it takes is one dissenting voice to block a Private Members Bill and he was it. He claimed that he did this out of an objection to any proposed new law not having gone through Parliamentary discussion, and indeed he has a track record her, he also nlocked similar bills which would have posthumously pardoned Alan Turing of the "crime" of homsexuality, and one which would have given carers visiting hospitals the right to free parking. The Government has promised a full Bill will be put through Parliament shortly instead, which is making Chope happy as he says that's what he wanted all along. Sigh...

Matteo Salvini, Italy's Right Wing, Populist Interior Minister has stated that he wants a count of Italy's Roma population, with an eye to deporting Non-Italians. His excuse was the old standard "I'm doing it for the children". I leave you to draw your own conclusions

In happier news (And dear god that was a tough trawl) Voltron Season 6 dropped and it's 7 episode run was quite the roller coaster. Try to avoid spoilers in discussions, as it's not a week old yet and some may not have had a chance to watch all the way to the end.

Canada has made the first ttep to legalising cannabis for recreational use. And the UK may start down a similar road, presumably because being blissed out on a spliff is the best way to deal with Brexit news.

Will Ferrel to star in movie bsaed on Eurovision may be the weirdest movie news I've read in a while. Turns out his wife is Swedish and he's actually BEEN to a Eurovision, so he may be better prepared than most.

Comments

[commodus]

What do you lot think about Mr. Trump's plan to create a "Space Force"?

[owlbrigade1]

Someone take away his SG1 DVD boxsets and he'll forget about it in a week's time. Not to say that the US has not been ignoring treaties on the militarisation of space for decades already, but isn't there supposed to be international obligations to not do that? At least not overtly. I know that following through on their word has always been an issue with every US president, but at least previous ones tried to pay lipservice to the idea or to cover their abuses with a figleaf of some sort.

Sometimes I think that Trump is just the American national psyche incarnate and stripped naked of all pretence.

[zachbeacon]

I've been joking for a while that we know there's no alien cover-up because Trump would have tweeted about it by now. ("We're going to build a dome and make the Martians pay for it")

"Space Force" has me rethinking that.

[owlbrigade1]

If I'm being cynical, I'd say it was to help Russia. We know Russia wants to really get back in the spacerace and the other science and tech based booms, they do provide taxi-to-orbit services but that is coming to the end and is still in old Soyuz capsules, but Russia really doesn't have the cash to do the research. So dear old Uncle Vlad goes to Donnie, gets America to fund the research and do the RnD on the physical and computer technology, and then Donnie and his friends pass it on. I mean sure it is treasonous behaviour, but what isn't these days?

That or it is just a bunch of empty rhetoric which simulates the Reagan era SDI "Star Wars" stuff and boosts the base's sense of nostalgia and gung ho jingoism in order to push his ratings up a few notches and distracts from the concentration camps et al for a few days.

[zachbeacon]

Well "Trump is a secret Russian" is also something I used to say as a joke before the extent of the collusion became obvious so...

[starwolf_oakley]

If it matters, "Star Wars" was used as a pejorative term to describe the Strategic Defense Initiative. Basically, Reagan saw "Mutually Assured Destruction" as a dual suicide pact. Others saw it as something that would restart the arms race, only (announcer voice) IN SPACE!

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/president-reagan-calls-for-launching-star-wars-initiative-march-23-1983-236259

In his 1991 State of the Union address, President George H.W. Bush shifted the focus of SDI from defense of North America against large-scale strikes to a system focusing on theater missile defense — which he dubbed Global Protection Against Limited Strikes. In 1993, President Bill Clinton changed the name to the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and narrowed its thrust to regional coverage. BMDO is now called the Missile Defense Agency.

[owlbrigade1]

"And the UK may start down a similar road, presumably because being blissed out on a spliff is the best way to deal with Brexit news."

Thank goodness for my (legally prescribed) medications which have a similar effect. I never thought I'd be gratefully for needing lifelong strong painkillers until Brexit and Trump came along.

[spider_man6]

Anyone else hear that Netflix picked up Lucifer? I'm really excited for what they've got planned.

Also, apparently Stranger Things is coming to comics. Good choice!

[commodus]

I'm glad to hear about Lucifer getting picked up. I know it's probably blasphemy, but I think his whole characterization is vastly superior to the comic version. Like with Sandman, there was no reason to care about Lucifer in the comics, because he neither spoke nor acted like a real person. But the show makes him this really captivating, charismatic figure. I was so happy to see the difference when I watched the show.

[cyberghostface]

I really like Stranger Things but I'm concerned that Netflix is oversaturating it given how we're going to have novels, a Telltale game (which I'm looking forward to) and now this.

HYPE

[deh_tommy]

Wait, what? A Telltale game? When did this happen?

Re: HYPE

[cyberghostface]

Just an announcement so far.

https://news.avclub.com/telltale-is-developing-a-stranger-things-video-game-1826838227

[owlbrigade1]

This might actually be the thing that gets me to try Netflix. I was hoping Amazon would pick it up, I already have Prime for the free next day delivery benefits, but they picked up the series I don't watch instead.

[bruinsfan]

My reaction will depend on if the writers who show up for work are the ones who wrote Seasons 1 and 2 or the ones who wrote the trope-filled interminable slog of the third season. Yes, I'm aware that both are technically the same group of people.

I mean, we have evidence that they can put together a really entertaining show, but every interview with the showrunner leads me to believe that he had absolutely no clue as to what the good elements of the series were and what ones were pure, derivative crap.

[cyberghostface]

Has anyone seen Hereditary? What were your thoughts? Not as scary as I thought it would be but Toni Collette should get an Oscar.

[informationgeek]

Attorney General Jeff Sessions dismissed comparisons of the detention facilities for migrant children to Nazi concentration camps by arguing that Nazis "were keeping the Jews from leaving the country."

Trump wants to win more than he wants to lead.

There's so much to say or post about separating kids at the border that I don't even know where to start or say. So I post these two things, Stephen Colbert's coverage of the issue and the racist House Elf's defense of himself.

[kore]

That audio of the kids in camps begging for their parents was one of the most depressing/infuriating things I've ever heard.

I hope I’m not being rude

[deh_tommy]

I’m so confused. What’s going on in/with Italy (politics-wise)? Can anyone tell me, please?

Re: I hope I’m not being rude

[informationgeek]

Fascism to sum up. Here's a recent quote:

Italy Interior minister and LEAGUE leader Salvini: "I've asked for a census of the Roma community living in Italy. The irregular ones will be deported. However, we'll have to keep" in Italy "the Romas with Italian citizenship, unfortunately

Re: I hope I’m not being rude

[deh_tommy]

Wasn’t there something to do with a Government dissolution (I think?)? I remember reading something about Mr. Giuseppe’s installment as Prime Minister being confusing when mentioned here a few weeks back.

janegray, if you’re reading this, might I ask if you have anything to add or clear things up?

Re: I hope I’m not being rude

[janegray]

I wish I could help, Tommy, but honestly the political situation of my country makes me crave wine so I don't think I'm the best person to explain it -_-

Re: I hope I’m not being rude

[icon_uk]

I heard that line quoted on the news tonight and it scared the shit out of me.

Re: I hope I’m not being rude

[arilou_skiff]

Italy's political system has always been rather dysfunctional for various reasons. What happened this time was that both the right-wing and left-wing coalitions collapsed, leading to a coalition of the far-right partie (Lega, formerly Lega Nord, who started out as a fascist, as in, literally founded by fascists, separatist movement for northern italy and then have more or less rebranded themselves as just general fascists) and the Five Star Alliance (a weird pseudo-leftist populist party started by a comedian, with rules preventing anyone who knows what they are doing from actually running, and generally full of cranks) The technical reason they can cooperate despite basically hating each other is that A) They both hate the mainstream parties more and B) They have some kind of agreement on changing certain procedures (seat allocation, etc.)

Their first attempt at forming a government was blocked by the Italian president because the Five Star Alliance's candidates had lied about his credentials, run on a platform of "We shall do this thing" and then in a meeting laying out plans for doing the exact opposite, so he was replaced.

This kind of circus? Not actually that unusual for Italy.

[zachbeacon]

So you know how the Netflix Voltron series likes to set things up but tends to take it's time to resolve them?

The new season they added last week does not have that issue. Damn.

Also the D&D episode was great. "Why would I want to be something other than a paladin?"

[kamino_neko]

Shiro cracked me up in that episode. Hunk and Pidge just wandering out during his exposition was hilarious.

[janegray]

I don't think I can keep watching Voltron. The final minutes of the final episode were physically painful for me. I should have been overjoyed, instead I felt like shit. That ending affected me in the worst possible way. I was angry and upset and appalled and overall as if I had been punched in the gut.

[icon_uk]

I can understand and sympathise with that reaction.

I think my own decision will be based on how they handle the NEXT episodes, because the aftermath is going to involve a LOT of explaining.

[dewinged]

Why? I remember the last few minutes being bittersweet.

[janegray]

Look, I've been feeling like crap about this for two days, so I don't feel like talking about this anymore. If you are curious, I posted a comment about it on another site here: https://io9.gizmodo.com/1826930108. But I'm not going to continue the discussion.

[long_silence]

For what it's worth I agree with you, especially after the DnD episode

[bolindbergh]

A Space Eurovision film obviously beats any terrestrial version.

[icon_uk]

The Big Finish audio "Doctor Who: Bang-Bang-A-Boom!" also has a lot going for it...

Not least being the recitation of the Earth National Anthem, which is "I Will Survive", but sung in the dull, tired tones of anyone singing their national anthem, ever (Well, apart from some Americans, they seem to treat it terribly seriously)

[philippos42]

Your national anthem is tedious & indefensibly awful all around. Of course everyone hates it.

Our national anthem is a stupid poem set to a ridiculous old drinking song. It's a challenge. So maybe only 85% of us hate it. ;P

[icon_uk]

I think we can all agree that the best Anthem, is the anthem of Ank-Morpork, which was deliberately written to accommodate the fact that no one ever remebers the words of the second verse of their National Anthem, and anyone who does should be considered highly suspect

We Can Rule You Wholesale"

And for those wanting to sing along

When dragons belch and hippos flee
My thoughts, Ankh-Morpork, are of thee
Let others boast of martial dash
For we have boldly fought with cash
We own all your helmets, we own all your shoes
We own all your generals - touch us and you'll lose.
Morporkia! Morporkia! Morporkia owns the day!
We can rule you wholesale Touch us and you'll pay.

We bankrupt all invaders, we sell them souvenirs
We ner ner ner ner ner, hner ner hner by the ears
Er hner we ner ner ner ner ner
Ner ner her ner ner ner hner the ner
Er ner ner hner ner, nher hner ner ner (etc.)
Ner hner ner, your gleaming swords
We mortgaged to the hilt

Morporkia! Morporkia!
Hner ner ner ner ner ner
We can rule you wholesale
Credit where it's due."


Though Molvania might have a chance, if it's anthem could actually sung without committing international copyright infringment and breaching EU law on racial viliification

[kamino_neko]

Voltron was definitely excellent...I was initially disappointed with where they went with...well, spoiler, but I think you can guess who I mean if you've seen it...but they handled it a lot better than I feared.

I also watched The Hollow last week (after finishing Trollhunters, which I had to wait on finishing because I'm not the one who pays the Netflix bill), and that was a hell of a ride... That ending. I honestly had no inkling they'd go there even after Adam figured out what was going on. Can't decide if I liked it or not - on the one hand, it's...kinda copouty, and Weird Guy going from fvavfgre zlfgrel gb pynffvp tnzr fubj ubfg just kind of felt like a waste. On the other, though, it recontextualizes the World's Most Obvious Villains in a way that makes them less, you know, dumb, and way less evil, if you assume that they, unlike our heroes, knew all along what was going on. (Also, even given the context, I have to call bullshit on Mira's part in defeating the big bad. That was NOT a logical extension of the powers she'd shown up to that point.)

[icon_uk]

The Hollow was... yes, odd. Fun, but odd.

Ubj qvq gur bgure grnz xabj fb zhpu zber nobhg gur ehyrf? Jnf gur tnzr npghnyyl tyvgpuvat, be jnf gung cneg bs gur tnzr?

Zven naq Xnv unq gjb cbjref rnpu (Navzny fcrrpu/Nzcuvovbhf naq Svkvg/Sver), ohg Nqnz bayl unq Fgeratgu NSNVX, fb jul jnf gung?

Nyfb, abg n sna bs gur ynfg fprar, fvapr guvf frevrf qvqa'g yraq vgfrys gb n frdhry.

You should try Pratchett's take on the Four Horsemen, which did seem to inform this series' take on them a little. (In an early Discworld appearance they become baffled when someone tries to teach them Bridge)

[kamino_neko]

Jnf gur tnzr npghnyyl tyvgpuvat, be jnf gung cneg bs gur tnzr?

Yeah, that part's been bugging me. I'm generally OK with unanswered questions, but with the reveal, that part I think kind of needed answering. I think the latter is more likely, because of the lack of effect it had on TWMOV. (Weird Guy's reaction, I could see pointing to either.)

And I had the same thought regarding Mira, but it never occurred to me that it applied to Kai, too.

In fact, thinking about it, I don't think it does - Xnv'f nssvavgl sbe znpuvarf frrzf zber yvxr Nqnz'f svtugvat fxvyyf guna rvgure bs Zven'f cbjref - gurl rnpu bar fxvyy, bar cbjre. Zven'f novyvgl gb gnyx gb navznyf pbhyq nyfb pbhag, urer, ohg vg'f n ovg bs n fgergpu. V guvax V'yy fgvyy gnxr vg nf gur pnfr, fvapr gung fgvyy tvirf gurz nyy bar-naq-bar.

You should try Pratchett's take on the Four Horsemen

I am afraid I've never been able to get into Pratchett. The only Discworld book I've managed to finish is Wyrd Sisters, and the only other one I've gotten a significant ways into was Last Continent.

[scorntx]

If it turned out that Theresa May actually had just gone fucking nuts, would anyone actually be able to tell?

Heard a bit on the radio this morning about the House of Lords bickering over the latest piece of insanity fae The Nonsense.
... there was a bit when one of them was trying to speak in defence of May's latest brainfart, and someone just bellowed "you idiot!", and someone else made a rude gesture.
For a moment, some of the Lords almost seemed sympathetic.


Managed to get a job, digging up fields for money.
Which is naturally the exact moment the temperature shoots up to the mid-twenties and stays there.
(And exasperatingly, after some finagling about finding a place to stay with family nearer the job site, it turns out that if I need to get up in order to get to work for eight in the morning, I need to get up the exact same time as I would if I'd stayed at home, about a hundred miles away.
Possibly even earlier, actually.)

[owlbrigade1]

If she completely lost it, would it even matter? Survey says: Nobody has done anything about it so far.

The UK Tory party has the same problem as the US GOP. They don't believe they are there to govern, but there to rule. Anything that gets in the way of that is to be ignored or crushed. Nobody can have any alternate legitimate form of power, as far as their ideology goes. They have an ideological duty to be in charge and have their agenda enacted, and any mistakes, errors, or outright crimes, they commit in pursuit of that MUST be overlooked.

And that is a problem, if you believe in any form of democracy.

[icon_uk]

They'd notice, but they'd survey Rees-Mogg and the Cabinet and think "Oh shit, you mean one of THESE flatulent crapsacks might be in charge instead?" and quickly change the subject.

[owlbrigade1]

Evil but incompetent beats competent evil any day of the week. If only we could have benign and competent, even benign incompetence would be a step up at this point.

[skjam]

I am now told that Blue Cross will be making a formal hire offer to me. Cautious huzzah!

Over at my blog, I review the first full book about manga in English: http://www.skjam.com/2018/06/18/book-review-manga-manga-the-world-of-japanese-comics/

[philippos42]

Cool, Schodt!

[tripodeca113]

It's been ten years since Avatar: The Last Airbender ended.

[tripodeca113]

Also the Steven Universe season four DVD came out today,where I live. I'm not buying it because it's too expensive in my opinion. $34 for 26 ten minute episodes? I'll wait for the release of the boxset and then wait for a sale on boxsets thank you very much.

[silverhammerman]

I've gotten into graduate school for September and am now on a long overdue vacation. I'm hoping to use the time to get back up to speed with my reading and writing, so doing a lot of reading, some blogging, editing some things I've written, and getting back to some projects which I abandoned during a decidedly sub-optimal period in my life. Also I'll hope to be more active in the community here!

[starwolf_oakley]

IT: Chapter 2 has started filming, with Jessica Chasten cutting her hair and James McAvoy taking a picture of a cheese wedge.

Oddly, still nothing on the casting of other characters in IT. Some fans have speculated Audra Denbrough and Tom Rogan won't appear at all.

https://www.instagram.com/jessicachastain/?utm_source=ig_embed

http://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3505451/jessica-chastain-shows-off-beverly-marsh-hairdo-chapter-2/

https://lrmonline.com/news/it-chapter-2-begins-production-star-james-mcavoy-shares-photo/