Overnight Open Thread (1-14-2016)

RIP Alan Rickman (1946-2016)

True fact: Die Hard was his first ever movie role. More here.

Bernie Sanders: No, I Won't Explain How I'll Pay For Everything For Everyone

But rumors are that it will involve 'other people' and their excess assets.

Dalrymple on Cities and Memories

His prejudice against suburbs notwithstanding it's a good read.

The first time I visited New York, between 40 and 50 years ago, it was a place of ill repute, at least among foreigners. Rumor and report made the city sound like a low-intensity war zone, and you would find yourself regaled with advice on how to stay safe there, un-mugged and un-shot. On no account wander about at night, you were told, and if you insist on going out after dark, get into and out of your taxi at your point of departure and your destination, without deviating. Do not think of going to, or even passing through, Harlem. The rules to follow in New York were like an updated version of those followed by Transylvanian peasants in Dracula.

I survived, but I doubt that that had much to do with my state of paranoia, induced by what other visitors, but also some residents, told me. My one brush with danger was on Madison Avenue near 57th Street, early on a Sunday morning. I was waiting at a bus stop with an elderly lady when a gunshot rang out, producing a ricochet and a puff of smoke in the street, about five or ten yards away. The old lady turned to me impassively, having taken no evasive action. "I'm telling you," she said, "this city is a bad place."

15 Year Old Danish Girl Who Converted to Islam Arrested For Possession of Explosives, Terrorist Propaganda

But this has nothing to do with Islam obviously.

I WON'T SAY THAT BIOETHICS IS AN ENTIRELY USELESS FIELD, BUT THE EVIDENCE LEANS THAT WAY: Standing Athwart Science, Yelling 'Whoa': I'm a bioethicist, and I am here to help slow down scientific and medical progress.

I've yet to hear any guidance from a bioethicist that a priest, a doctor, and my grandmother couldn't have come with over a Sunday discussion. Mostly bioethicists just make medical care 'complex'. Because complexity has been very, very good to them.

Al Jazeera America Shutting Down All Operations in April

Because low oil prices make it a money-losing luxury too far.

Air Force: Okay Okay We'll Stop Trying to Kill Off the A-10

For now.

FilmDrunk Reviews The Masked Saint

And gives it a thumbs-up. The concept is intriguing:

There's a whooooole lot here to analyze, but I think The Masked Saint is best understood as a love story between a man and his wrestling. He tries to push it away, but deep down he knows he can't. Wrestling tries to turn him into something he's not, but finally they accept each other as they are and live happily ever after - Pastor Chris, Christianity, and the pro wrestling. The subtext is that the world had become enamored with heels, like The Reaper, and they needed The Masked Saint to give them hope, to root for the babyface once again.

Look, The Masked Saint isn't great filmmaking. A lot of the time it isn't even competent filmmaking. But it's bold, and it's charmingly goofy, and in a world of bankrupt profiteering disguised as religion, a faith-based movie that teaches people to be nicer to each other is something that deserves to be celebrated.

How A Bouncer Defeats an Unruly Loudmouth With Just Words

Of course it helps if the bouncer is a world-champion kick boxer.

Was 1985's Live Aid a Giant Ego Jerk That Mostly Enriched Ethiopian Warlords?

The Secret Netflix Genre Codes

News That May Concern You: 3.3 Million Hello Kitty Website Accounts Leaked

The home is currently uninhabitable, there are open holes in the roof and floors as well as extensive fire and water damage.

Current listing price: $600,000

The True Tale of Buying a Knife in China

Roommate Takes Shower 'Too Early,' Things Unravel, Police Called In To Break It Up

News Half of You Can Use: Daily Orgasms Can Greatly Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer

Why take any chances guys.

Yahoo group. That is all.

Come on be a smartie and join the yahoo group party! For the children. And the future. And who hates the children of the future?

And my lo-fi Twitter spew.

Tonight's post brought to you by Bowie:

Notice: Posted by permission of AceCorp LLC. Please e-mail overnight open thread tips plus $1.10 for S&H to maetenloch at gmail. Otherwise send your scraps to the magnificent BizarroAce. Note that entering the dumpsters is done at your own risk. Do not taunt happy-fun ball. Or Buzzion who is now dead and auto-Pixy-banned.

posted by Maetenloch at 11:04 PM

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