Carrying the Fire

Here you will find the best I can do ... This is my attempt at long form commentary on issues as broad ranging as sports, politics, movies, and society in general.

[tsabonis-blog]

Stranger Things - A Review

Stranger Things

TV Show - Netflix

Verdict - You MUST watch it.

"... in Greek, nostalgia literally means the pain from an old wound.  It's a twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone.”

Don Draper

This show is amazing.  From the opening scene to the final scene.  The setting is a midwest town in the mid 80’s  Times are different and if you grew up then you have that twinge, that feeling of what it was like to be a kid.  The atmosphere of the time frame soaks into undercurrent of each moment.  

But on with the show.  In the cold open we have four friends playing Dungeons and Dragons and having a great time.  Its getting late and they head home.  As the group dwindles Will Byers is left alone.  He takes a tumble and then realizes something is chasing him.  He frantically tries to make it home, to defend himself and then he’s gone.

After that we have a show that wonderfully balances drama, sci-fi, shady government agencies, superpowers, young romance, humor, despair, horror, hope, triumph and loss.  Thru the eight episodes you are sent on a wild ride.  The actors, child and adult, do a wonderful job of bringing you into their world.  

Yes, you must watch this, you will not be disappointed.

[tsabonis-blog]

Luther - A Review

Luther

TV Show - BBC available on Netflix

Verdict - You MUST watch it.

Oh, I know. In order to get to the next level, you need a lot more points. And correct me if I'm wrong, but you need a... a boss. You need to kill a boss. Well, I'm the man at the end of that level, aren't I? I'm the man that's chasing you. I'm that boss. If you beat me, you get to play on.

John Luther

Luther is one of the many great shows produced by the BBC.  This is more than just a police procedural.  We have a flawed detective in the form of John Luther who colors outside the lines while hunting evil and evading police bureaucracy.  Unlike American cop shows things are not tied up in a neat little bow after 44 minutes.  John can take an entire season to catch his mark.  It's a taut drama with filled with wonderful performances.  The BBC works very hard on the look and feel of the show.  Just from the quality of filming you get the sense that you are watching a movie instead of a TV show.

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Man in the High Castle - A review

Man in the High Castle TV Show - Amazon Prime Video Verdict - Yes you should watch it.

This was a fantastic, if uneven show. The basic premise is "What would have happened if Germany and Japan won World War 2?"

Season one is ten episodes that expand on that idea. How would a Nazi government had oppressed the people? How would the Japanese have governed the west coast of America? What would the resistance look like? What strains would be on the governments of Japan and Germany as they split America in two in an un-easy alliance?

These thoughts and more are expanded on over the 10 episodes. We meet the characters that drive the show. We have Frank and Juliana a couple trying to live in the Japanese Pacific States. Their sisters come into the show and send these characters down a path that neither ever envisioned Joe Blake is a resistance fighter from the East Coast sent on a courier run in the first episode. He eventually meets up with Juliana and their fates become intertwined. Obergruppenfuher Smith, a Nazi leader in New York. He is a pure principled Nazi never questioning the Reich. He is ruthless, calculating and dedicated.

Also we see the Japanese Trade Minister, Chief Inspector Kido, Colonel Wegener, and the underground members of the resistance. The characters and their arcs are entertaining.

As for the title. The Man in the High Castle is the one the resistance is working for. There are film reels that show an alternate outcome of WWII, the Resistance is fighting to get these films to him in hopes that somehow it can rescue America and the world from the thousand year Reich. This is the plot point that rests under the show simmering in its ties to science fiction. If you are not a fan of sci-fi, don't worry its so tangential to that action that at times you forget about it. The show is based on the book of the same name written by Phillip K Dick who also wrote the source material for Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, The Adjustment Bureau, among others. The sci fi will come, but for now its resting the corner while you enjoy a 1960s period spy thriller.

This series was created by Amazon, and they have a different way of doing things. First they air the pilot, then if the show is well received they order the series. This is different than most networks who tend to order the series all at once. The pilot was released in January of 2015, and the remaining episodes dropped 9 months later. There is a different feel from episode 2 - 10 that shows the show is growing into itself. While the pilot is a bit off its main goal is to set the era, situation, mood and introduce the characters. I recommend watching the first two episodes before rendering a verdict on the continuing, the first one might not hook you, but after 2 you will know if this is right for you. But be warned, we are dealing with Nazi's and their vision of what America should be, there are some disturbing scenes.

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Blood and Thunder

I have a great title for my podcast Blood and Thunder. It is going to be a lively, loud, fight with friends about policies, sports and entertainment

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$15 of bullsh$#

Many popular screamers on the left love to shout 

“WE NEED A LIVING WAGE!” 

“$15!!”

OK

Have they, or you, ever stopped to realize that people working minimum wage have absolutely no skills, work ethic, or actual value to an employer.  Not all minimum workers, just some or maybe most?  

But these useless people exist.

I don’t have a debit card, but I have Android Pay.  McDonalds and Fareway are leaders in payment technology and accept tap and pay from both Android and Apple.  Its slick and easy.  Open the app on your phone, tap it to the credit card thing and voila!  Transaction achieved.

This morning I went to McDonalds.  I made my order and tapped to pay.  The idiot across from me just stared at me.  Literally, just stared.  I said “The screen says Waiting for Transaction to Process”  She continued staring.  “Do you have a button to push on your screen?”  “She looked shrugged and said no.

At this point a employee worthy of the CURRENT minimum wage would ask for help from the shift supervisor.  But no.  This gem just stared at me some more.  I just told her I was going to leave and I did.  

I ended up going to another McDonalds (I was out of food this morning at home and I had no cash today and no debit card so I am stuck with McDonalds). Did the same thing and the cashier at this one looked slightly puzzled, i replied”It says waiting for tranaction to process”  She looks at the screen and says “OK it went thru.”  I ask if she had to do anything and she said “No.  I just pushed the credit card button.” I’ll let her slide on the contradictory answer, but it is apparent that the idiot from McDonalds 1 could not find the Credit card button.  And these are the people that screamers on the left want to have $15 an hour.

[tsabonis-blog]

A Song of Ice and Fire

May 8th 2014 to September 13th 2015 ...thats how long it took me to consume this epic ... i took my time because I didnt want it to end, but it did now i have to wait like the rest of society for book 6 

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Ex-tennis star James Blake: Fire NYC officer who tackled me I agree After watching the video. Blake was standing still leaning against the wall and out of no where this a-hole cop attacks him. Even if Blake was the suspect, that kind of take down is unacceptable.

[fargofx]

Heed Malvo’s Warning …

[fargogifs]

[fargofx]

How ‘bout a little family trip to Vegas? 

[tsabonis-blog]

Went to Sioux City once, back in my scandalous days.

Lorne Malvo - Fargo

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Fargo season 1

Fargo is now on hulu plus ... sweet

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People need cable TV to watch most debates. Is that a modern-day poll tax? Do I want to watch the debates? Yes. Will I pay a dime to cable or satellite to do so? No.

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Rogue social worker targeted neighbors with fake calls to child protective services As a parent, dhs is one of the most terrifying organizations. With them you are guilty upon accusation.

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Could a socialist actually be elected president? Yes, because too many Americans want free stuff and don't care who is forced to pay for it.

[tsabonis-blog]

Could a socialist actually be elected president? Yes, because too many Americans want free stuff and don't care who is forced to pay for it.

[tsabonis-blog]

The ‘only town’ in America where cops grant amnesty to drug addicts seeking help Legalize any drug, whose overdose can't kill you, the others I'm undecided on, but it's obvious that the war was an utter failure and has done more harm than good.