2015 Movies

Saw a lot of movies this year primarily via NetFlix. Not a firm placement but these were ones feel worth mentioning.

Wild Tales (Argentina, hilarious)
Force Majeure (Danish, philosophical on gender roles et more)
Mr. Turner (classical setting)
NightCrawler (how depraved will one become for a dollar)
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (wish every teen film was done as well as this one)
Heaven and Earth (1993, Third part of Oliver Stone's trilogy on Vietnam War)
Whiplash (how driven are you)
Ex Machina (robots)
Meru (stunning visual documentary of mountain climbing with great backstory)
La Samourai (1967 French, classic crime noire)
Sunset Boulevard (1950, Hollywood egos)
A Most Violent Year (great atmosphere, crime drama)
Far From the Madding Crowd (1967, good love story)
Rebecca (1940, Spookie)
White God (how does one evolve when subject to abuse)
The Raid 2 (Indonesian, action film better than the first)
Song of the Sea (Danish animation)
The Past (gradual healing from hopelessness to hope)
Short Term 12 (kids in trouble and people who try to help them)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Japanese animation from Studio Ghibli)
When Marnie Was There (Studio Ghibli)

Televsion
Sherlock (PBS, so glad we found this, great stuff)
Game of Thrones (HBO, a bit over the top at times on sex and violence but still worthwhile)

US Counties with largest number of Police Shooting Fatalities

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/01/the-county-kern-county-deadliest-police-killings

Economic Inequality to blame for terrorism?

Author claims economic inequality is to blame for terrorism (rise of Isis as main example).
Instead of correcting issues to do with wealth we just demonize those who are disadvantaged.
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States are the worst offenders surpassing the even the US.
The majority of citizens are dirt poor while the wealthy minority get richer and richer.
Tis no wonder they are pissed off.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/11/30/why-inequality-is-to-blame-for-the-rise-of-the-islamic-state/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_isiswonkblog-11am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

The Color of Debt Collection

Argument to place responsibility for loans more on the lenders than the borrowers.
The poor being fleeced by the out of control capitalists/opportunists.

https://www.propublica.org/article/debt-collection-lawsuits-squeeze-black-neighborhoods

Accompanying story on NPR where first heard this story.

http://www.marketplace.org/2015/10/08/business/color-debt

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89271746

Teeth

Appropriate tooth care.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/01/health-advice-teeth-dentist-checkup

T-VEC Cancer Treatment

A supposed big improvement over chemotherapy.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/02/fda-approval-imlygic-cancer-hunting-viral-treatment

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/15/cancer-extraordinary-results-t-cell-therapy-research-clinical-trials

Sweeteners

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/health/sweeteners-guide/

Causes of Cancer

Ham, bacon, and sausage head the list.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/26/bacon-ham-sausages-processed-meats-cancer-risk-smoking-says-who

Counter argument, we are all gonna die sometime. How? Could be any number of ways.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/27/bacon-carcinogen-kill-you-life-happens

117 Things that can cause cancer
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/28/116-things-that-can-give-you-cancer-list

Antioxidants

Study showing that things good for us could also be good for the bad things in us.
Antioxidants can increase spread of cancer. :(

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/10/14/antioxidants-may-give-a-boost-to-cancer-cells-making-them-spread-faster-study-suggests/

Columbus Day

Should we be celebrating Columbus Day? Do we celebrate Hitler or Pol Pot? I think not.

https://theintercept.com/2015/10/12/columbus-day-is-the-most-important-day-of-every-year/

Right to Die Law Passed in California

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the controversial bill. Not sure why is considered to be controversial since we all should have some control over our own lives.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/5/9455831/jerry-brown-physician-assisted-suicide-legislation-california

Mass Shooting Statistics in the US

Mass shooting is quantified as 4 or more people shot in single event.
In the US we have averaged one mass shooting per day over the past 3 years.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/oct/02/mass-shootings-america-gun-violence

Pictures: Solitude and 3D Pavement Art

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2015/oct/02/look-out-below-3d-pavement-art-around-the-world-in-pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2015/oct/01/readers-photo-competition-september-solitude

Hate Speech or Freedom of Speech

Criticism of Israel to be declared anti-semitic / hate speech?

https://theintercept.com/2015/09/25/dianne-feinstein-husband-threaten-univ-calif-demanding-ban-excessive-israel-criticism/?comments=1#comments

43 Missing/Murdered Mexican Students

Questions still remain as to what happened to 43 Mexican University students.
Was the government involved?

https://theintercept.com/2015/09/23/ayotzinapa-disappearances-in-mexico-one-year-later/

The Joys of Capitalism

No conscience required.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/21/entrepreneur-defends-raise-price-daraprim-drug

Reagan

Was never a fan or Reagan.

https://theintercept.com/2015/09/16/seven-things-reagan-wont-mentioned-tonight-gops-debate/

They forgot to mention Raygun's failure to accept Gorbachev's proposal to eliminate all nuclear weapons in lieu of Reagan's refusal to abandon of Star Wars (which never amounted to anything).

Journalists Imprisoned by the US

Story on the many journalists imprisoned by the US. We rarely ever hear anything about things like this in our media.

http://www.salon.com/2009/05/11/journalists_6/

https://theintercept.com/2015/09/15/great-bbc-interview-british-loyalist-saudi-regime-shows-journalists-first-duty/

Syria/Assad/Refugees

Europe is awash with refugees from Syria and Libya due to the ongoing instability in the regions. Apparently, Russia offered to have Assad step down in 2012 but the West was greedy (wanted their own dictator installed most likely) and passed. Now Russia is stepping up it's presence in the region to combat Isil. If they succeed in stemming the flow of refugees by stabilizing the region it should improve their relationship with Europe. The world view of the US continues to spiral downward due to poor stewardship. Obama/Kerry seem to be doing well. Obama/Clinton was a dismal failure much like his predecessor, the main difference being Bush was willingly ignorant while Obama blundered.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/15/west-ignored-russian-offer-in-2012-to-have-syrias-assad-step-aside

Stock Market Stability

Tom tomorrow sums up the market. Things getting a bit wild as of late, even China is being impacted. Markets may be at their peak and the well to do ready to pull their cash out.

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2015/09/12/This-Modern-World-by-Tom-Tomorrow-28/stories/201509120066

100 Greatest Novels written in English

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/17/the-100-best-novels-written-in-english-the-full-list

Another list.

Shade Balls to Conserve Water

Covering lake with polyethylene balls to limit evaporation.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2015/aug/11/shade-balls-reservoir-la-water-conservation-drought-california

The US an Oligarchy?

Jimmy Carter states Citizen United has turned the US into an Oligarchy via the Thom Hartmann show.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/30/jimmy-carter-u-s-oligarchy-unlimited-political-bribery/?comments=1#comments

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/12/jimmy-carter-reveals-cancer

Gun Control: Some Progress?

Guns and clips which can handle more than 10 rounds are banned in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Hope this spreads throughout the country.
Still, until anything automatic, including handguns, designed to kill people are banned we will not be where we should be. Single shot rifles are all people (hunters) really need, if even that.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/29/los-angeles-bans-gun-magazines-larger-than-10-rounds

WWII Pacific

View of WWII in the Pacific theater.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/26/nagasaki-man-who-walked-through-hell-jan-bras

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/11/the-last-kamikaze-two-japanese-pilots-tell-how-they-cheated-death

Gold Cup: Mexico vs Panama

Great article by someone who also watched and was disgusted by this game.
Panama deserved the win in this one.
Mexico has an excellent team but lack integrity with their fouling and flopping.
And their fans, well, they just make Mexico look worse throwing all their garbage on the field.

http://screamer.deadspin.com/mexico-advance-to-gold-cup-final-after-panama-are-conca-1719666083

http://screamer.deadspin.com/even-in-mexico-theyre-admitting-last-nights-game-was-h-1719744564

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2015/7/23/9020799/mexico-panama-2015-gold-cup-backheel-breakfast

Mexico won the Gold Cup and 2 days later the head coach was fired for punching a Mexican journalist critical of the team's Gold Cup performance.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jul/29/farewell-then-miguel-herrera-a-coach-too-exuberant-for-mexicos-big-boy-pants

Private Prisons

Half the prison population is deemed no threat to society. So why are they in prison? So that private prisons can make more money?

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/23/private-prison-lobbyists-raising-cash-hillary-clinton/

Frontline had an excellent documentary called "Prison State" which explored this issue. One woman spent a year in prison for skipping school. Her life in ruins as a result.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/locked-up-in-america/

BBC's 100 Greatest American Films

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150720-the-100-greatest-american-films

http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/critics

http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time

File Recovery

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2015/jul/09/help-ive-been-hacked-have-i-lost-all-my-files

Testdisk is program have used in past to recover files from failed hard drives.

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TestDisk

Pope Francis: Capitalism is the dung of the Devil

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/10/poor-must-change-new-colonialism-of-economic-order-says-pope-francis

The US and Collateral Damage Abroad

Glenn Greenwald on why the US and it's allies do not recognize collateral damage in the world.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/06/civilian-deaths-yemen-will-ignored/

Women's World Cup

Watched several of the matches. Was rooting for Japan. US is the favorite.
Was hoping for a better final. 2011 final was magic.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/article26558605.html

http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/y=2011/m=7/news=japan-claim-maiden-title-1476618.html

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/06/womens-world-cup-awards-of-tournament-guardian-usa

Social Media, Technology, and Capitalism

The impact social media hand in hand with capitalism are having on our lives.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/06/blame-technology-capitalism-smartphones

Criterion Collection Best Movie List/Reviews

http://www.criterion.com/library/expanded_view?b=Criterion

Obama's Failure?

Main reason for Obama's mostly failed presidency as seen by Bernie Sanders.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/06/15/bernie-sanders-obamas-biggest-mistake/

Sanders looks to be the only confirmed candidate for 2016 election I find worthwhile thus far. The rest of the field is a nightmare.
Perhaps if Jerry Brown ran he could be another viable option but appears he has his hands full in California.

The Look of Silence

Director of The Act of Killing has another documentary coming out called The Look of Silence on the genocide in 1960's Indonesia.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/07/joshua-oppenheimer-the-look-of-silence-interview-indonesia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_killings_of_1965%E2%80%9366

50 Best Restaurants in the World

Closest one is in Napa Valley.

http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners#t41-50

Breast Cancer Cure?

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/may/28/breast-cancer-scientists-enzyme-spread-bisphosphonates

Bees and Neonicotinoids

Possible cause of declining bee populations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid

Cancer and Immunotherapy

Promising treatment for cancer using patient's immune system to fight cancer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunotherapy

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/immunotherapy/immunotherapy-toc

http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/immunotherapy-and-vaccines/what-immunotherapy

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/immunotherapy/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/new-study-looks-immunotherapy-treat-common-cancers/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/experimental-therapy-trains-immune-cells-hunt-kill-blood-cancers/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/04/19/breakthrough-cancer-therapy-shows-growing-promise/?hpid=hp_no-name_immunotherapy-940am_1%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Russia Today and Liz Wahl Resignation

Former reporter for Russia Today resigned protesting Ukraine/Putin. Was the whole thing staged?

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/how_cold_war-hungry_neocons_stage_managed_liz_wahls_resignation_20140319

Ozone Layer

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/18/scientist-who-discovered-hole-in-ozone-layer-warns

Hospital Comparisons

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/HospitalQualityInits/HospitalCompare.html

Wow Insider Ends Operations

Looks like WoW is losing business. Giving away free playing time for gold and now WoW Insider ends operations.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/30/wow-insider-is-logging-off/

and new crowd funded website replacing it. See how long it lasts.

http://blizzardwatch.com/

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/12/bumble-dating-app-women-call-shots-whitney-wolfe

Solitude

Very interesting article on solitude.
Question what is wrong with being alone, article presents the pros of solitude.

http://harpers.org/archive/2015/04/going-it-alone-2/

Ban the Box

Article on criminal records and the interview/hiring process.
If you serve time and then can't find work what would you do?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/31/keeping-felons-from-earning-a-living-doesnt-make-us-safer-only-poorer

Diverticulitis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverticulitis

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/basics/definition/con-20033495

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/diverticulitis-topic-overview

http://www.medicinenet.com/diverticulosis/article.htm

Cancer and Alternative Medicines

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/03/what-do-doctors-say-to-alternative-therapists-when-a-patient-dies-nothing-we-never-talk

Reasons for High US Homicide Rate

Another view on the high US homicide rate similar to David Simon's take in The Wire.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/01/jill-leovy-reporter-put-face-to-los-angeles-murder-statistics

Homan Square

A black site in Chicago?

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/24/chicago-police-detain-americans-black-site

Miracle Foods and Fish Oil?

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/15/truth-about-miracle-foods-chia-seeds-coconut-oil

New online company which provides rankings on various pharmaceuticals.

https://labdoor.com/rankings/fish-oil

Aaron Swartz

"people can say more or less what they like online; but the moment they look like mobilizing people, then you come down on them like the ton of bricks that crushed Aaron Swartz."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/07/aaron-swartz-suicide-internets-own-boy

World Population

Size of countries skewed to population size.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/02/02/map-if-the-size-of-countries-reflected-their-populations/?hpid=z5

Anonymous on Police Shootings

Stop Lethal Force on Children

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jan/28/kristiana-coignard-longview-texas-police-killing

https://twitter.com/worldanonlegion/status/559520528172466176

“Greetings World. We are Anonymous.

It has been brought to our attention that the lethal force of firearms by police is being used on our children in America. We will no longer stand for this. In longview, Texas, Kristiana Cognard, was shot and killed on January 22nd by police for pulling a knife and threatening officers.

We ask you, Longview police department, are you happy with the choice of actions taken by your officer? We ask you, what kind of people you hire as police officers that can’t take a knife from a small 17-year-old girl? We ask you, why are your officers carrying tazors if they will only reach for their guns first?

A firefighter will endanger their life and enter a burning building for the POSSIBILITY of saving a life, a lifeguard will risk drowning for the possibility to save a life. But a COP will kill you, OR even a 10 year old child, because you POSSIBLY could have caused them harm.

To the citizens of America, it looks as if police are trained to kill and not to serve and protect us. Police are trained to not trust anyone they approach, so why do you believe we should trust the police officers? In 2014, we watched as police killed children and it started a army of angry Americans. This teen girl’s death just put fuel on that fire, and also of Anonymous around the world.

This is only the beginning of what is to come from Anonymous. If we don’t protect the children no one will. We are Anonymous. We are legion. United as one. Divided by zero. Expect us.”

Strike Debt

Born of the Occupy movement.

http://strikedebt.org/

Fish Oil

Fish Oil rankings. Throwing my Spring Valley out.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/21/fish-oil-rules-reviewed-as-study-reveals-consumers-are-being-hoodwinked

http://www.nature.com/srep/2015/150121/srep07928/full/srep07928.html

https://labdoor.com/rankings/fish-oil

Oxfam: Income Inequality Continues to Worsen

Half of global wealth held by top 1%.
Wealth of top 80 people exceeds half the world population.

http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/wealth-having-it-all-and-wanting-more-338125

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jan/19/global-wealth-oxfam-inequality-davos-economic-summit-switzerland

100 Greatest Novels

The 100 Greatest Novels (fiction and non-fiction) according to the Guardian.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/12/features.fiction

Thoughts on the Paris Attacks

Good article on impact of our wars and policies in regards to terrorism.
There will always be people who are persecuted and fringe elements who will respond to that persecution. When we wage wars expect the response to be even larger.
Reminds me of the movie Brazil, terrorist acts still occurring in future society as well as repression. As long as we are dealing with human beings making decisions don't expect things to be peaceful.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/15/paris-warning-no-insulation-wars-arab-muslim-world

Depression an Allergic Reaction?

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jan/04/depression-allergic-reaction-inflammation-immune-system

http://news.nationalgeographic.com.au/news/2014/02/140207-yoga-cancer-inflammation-stress

http://www.hdbp.org/psychiatria_danubina/pdf/dnb_vol25_no3/dnb_vol25_no3_292.pdf

Cancer: Bad Luck?

Study says 2/3 reasons for getting cancer is bad luck.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/01/two-thirds-cancer-cases-caused-bad-luck-lifestyle-genes

2014 Movies

Favorite movies watched during 2014, not necessarily released in 2014.

Take Shelter
Come and See: Brutal war film from Russian perspective
The Great Budapest Hotel: Great fun
The Act of Killing: Documentary on the genocide in Indonesia during the 1960s
The Wind Rises: Hayao Miyaki's final anime film
Arthur Christmas (2011): Excellent English animated Christmas film
Bullhead
The Great Beauty: Italian film on art scene in Rome
Whisper of the Heart (1995): More anime from Studio Ghibli
Win Win (2011)

Others:
Frances Ha
Virunga: Documentary on Gorillas in Congo
All Is Lost
The Bridge (1959): German WWII film
9 (2009): Excellent animated sci-fi
Wings of Desire (1987)
The Lego Movie
Days of Being Wild (1990)