According to Wikipedia, not only did JD Salinger threaten to sue if they used his name as a character in the movie (he was already pissed about the book), the producers cast James Earl Jones *because* he was black - removing any possible implication that Terence Mann was a JD Salinger's avatar.
Field of Dreams is adapted from the novel Shoeless Joe.
In the book, Ray kidnaps JD Salinger and brings him back to Iowa.
I always wondered why they changed it to a fictional author. Was it because they wanted to cast James Earl Jones or because they were afraid of being sued by JD Salinger?
Having attended High School in the Northeast in the late 80s, there is really nothing strange here. Every suburban high school had a large click of "Bangers" who would usually be found outside the cafeteria between classes sucking down marlboros wearing denim jackets with all the usual band patches.
As for the style, I will take cinema verite over the majority of today's narrative driven pseudo documentaries that we are constantly bombarded with nowadays.
On a long enough time line, nearly everything is forgotten by the vast majority of people.
In 100 years the JFK assassination will be regarded much closer to McKinley's than Lincoln's.
Chuck Klosterman made the argument in one of his books that in 200 years, if "Rock N Roll" is even remembered, it will be associated with Elvis and/or the Beatles and basically no one else. Only a subculture of enthusiasts will be able to dive much deeper than that. Similar to how marches are synonymous with John Philip Sousa almost exclusively (and he only died in 1932!).
I'd love for someone to take a deep dive on Bruce's son and his decision to become a Jersey City fireman. A child of such absurd privilege living a life his father only pretends to represent.
I'm not against RCV in theory. As I said, I think it is something that can work really well in a party primary as a way of selecting a consensus candidate.
But I don't think the country is ready for RCV in a general election where the choices are so philosophically disparate and the stakes are so much higher. The first time a candidate leapfrogs their way from 3rd place into office, it's going to get ugly.
I think a reasonable approach is to let citizens acclimate themselves to RCV in primaries for a decade or so and see how it was all received after a variety of outcomes.
According to Wikipedia, in that NYC Mayoral Primary, 800k ballots were counted in the final round and 140k were voided.
The incentive being created is to compel people to provide a confidence vote for every single candidate regardless if you know anything about them or actually support their policies.
It resulted in Eric Adams, so while it may have worked, I'm not sure it turned out fine!
(I kid, sort of... I was hoping Kathryn Garcia would have prevailed. And she almost got there. But imagine the controversy if Adams - who was the leading vote-getter through 7 rounds lost in the 8th and final tally to a candidate who was the 3rd choice on the 1st count.)
I think RCV is ideal for primaries, but still not convinced it is something the populace will accept after a general election. At least not in the current environment.
Is that what a RCB would actually look like? You don't think that would be confusing to a material portion of the populace?
Is a ballot invalid if say you leave off a Sixth choice? Or if you vote for one candidate as your 1st thru 6th choice?
If a vote is thrown out for one of the reasons above: How is it democracy to compel someone to vote for someone they don't want to vote for under any circumstance?
Is it necessary to include a righteous denunciation of the practice of murder in a coroner's report for a homicide victim?
It sounds to me that the author is attempting to explain their primitive perspective. If you're unwilling to at least try and put down your modern lens when studying ancient history, it's probably not for you.
Anyway, I'm sufficiently intrigued enough to read it. Thanks for the recommendation!
Wait, are you complaining about businesses being conveniently open on a Sunday, Jaybird?
Give the Brits and Irish credit. They have the foresight and decency to have federal holidays when the weather is nice and the days can be fully enjoyed.
Ah, don't get it twisted. I'm just reporting what I've observed having been in NY for the run-up to special election. It took up a lot of oxygen here.
"Moderate/bipartisan" was absolutely the primary positive message.
"Mazi is another George Santos" was absolutely the primary negative message.
As people rush to conclusions about this particular race and attempt to amplify meaning to November, they should keep in mind just how embarrassing it was to be the district that gave America George Santos. It was smart of Souzzi's campaign to link the new novice pol with the last one, dubious as that link was.
And for the record, I don't think the snow storm made a difference in the outcome, despite the dems dominating Rs in early voting. Souzzi was a lock.
Apparently the district may be redrawn (again) before November, so that bears watching in the months ahead.
He ran as a moderate, known commodity and a safe pair of hands while aggressively attacking his opponent as an "ethical nightmare" and another Santos. The ads were relentless and effective.
It didn't help the GOP that they put up someone who checked a lot of attractive boxes on paper, but was a total disaster as an actual candidate.
They get to do it all again in November, so should be interesting to see who the GOP put up this time. Hard to believe Mazi Pilips is going to get another crack.
The NFL has a one gambling spot per quarter policy. Preseason through the Super Bowl, doesn't matter.
It's complete hypocrisy of course. No single sports league benefits more from gambling than the NFL, legal or otherwise. But they have a very long history of distancing themselves while embracing gambling at the same time.
From Jimmy the Greek to Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl, the common thread is pretending gambling isn't one of the pillars the league was built upon.
On “The Month in Theaters March 2024”
According to Wikipedia, not only did JD Salinger threaten to sue if they used his name as a character in the movie (he was already pissed about the book), the producers cast James Earl Jones *because* he was black - removing any possible implication that Terence Mann was a JD Salinger's avatar.
"
Field of Dreams is adapted from the novel Shoeless Joe.
In the book, Ray kidnaps JD Salinger and brings him back to Iowa.
I always wondered why they changed it to a fictional author. Was it because they wanted to cast James Earl Jones or because they were afraid of being sued by JD Salinger?
On “Trump in Trouble”
Down with the Monarchy!
Up with the Oligarchy!
On “Music Monday: The Strangest Rockumentary Ever Made”
Having attended High School in the Northeast in the late 80s, there is really nothing strange here. Every suburban high school had a large click of "Bangers" who would usually be found outside the cafeteria between classes sucking down marlboros wearing denim jackets with all the usual band patches.
As for the style, I will take cinema verite over the majority of today's narrative driven pseudo documentaries that we are constantly bombarded with nowadays.
On “Who Remembers the Fire?”
On a long enough time line, nearly everything is forgotten by the vast majority of people.
In 100 years the JFK assassination will be regarded much closer to McKinley's than Lincoln's.
Chuck Klosterman made the argument in one of his books that in 200 years, if "Rock N Roll" is even remembered, it will be associated with Elvis and/or the Beatles and basically no one else. Only a subculture of enthusiasts will be able to dive much deeper than that. Similar to how marches are synonymous with John Philip Sousa almost exclusively (and he only died in 1932!).
On “A Chance for Sanity in the House of Representatives?”
As political definitions go, a mandate just means legitimacy to govern.
Pluralities can claim a mandate and be technically correct while still sounding silly when using the term.
On “Music Monday: Is This the Greatest Rock Instrumental of All Time?”
Love the Ventures & Link Wray (The Rumble & The Swag are perfection).
Shout out to the King of Surf Guitar, Dick Dale. Everyone knows his Miserlou but I'll take Taco Wagon FTW.
On “Shopping For What You Forgot: Blue Box Store v Red Box Store”
That's not how Amazon shipping works. You may as well order the hanky.
On “Kacey Musgraves Does What Taylor Swift Hasn’t: Grow Up”
I'd love for someone to take a deep dive on Bruce's son and his decision to become a Jersey City fireman. A child of such absurd privilege living a life his father only pretends to represent.
A lot going on there.
"
Johny Cash never actually served hard time. Bruce Springsteen never worked a blue collar job in his life.
Some artists seem to get away with it.
On “Are The Oscars Becoming “Cool” Again?”
Were the Oscars ever "cool"?
This year's ratings increase to 20m viewers is probably best described as a dead cat bounce.
Only 10 years ago the broadcasts would pull in 40m+.
On “Opposing Ranked Choice Voting Is Opposing Representative Democracy”
I'm not against RCV in theory. As I said, I think it is something that can work really well in a party primary as a way of selecting a consensus candidate.
But I don't think the country is ready for RCV in a general election where the choices are so philosophically disparate and the stakes are so much higher. The first time a candidate leapfrogs their way from 3rd place into office, it's going to get ugly.
I think a reasonable approach is to let citizens acclimate themselves to RCV in primaries for a decade or so and see how it was all received after a variety of outcomes.
"
How is creating a forced or uniformed false choice a good thing, exactly?
Keep in mind, these are the votes that are putting a candidate in office. They are essentially the tie-breakers.
"
According to Wikipedia, in that NYC Mayoral Primary, 800k ballots were counted in the final round and 140k were voided.
The incentive being created is to compel people to provide a confidence vote for every single candidate regardless if you know anything about them or actually support their policies.
"
It resulted in Eric Adams, so while it may have worked, I'm not sure it turned out fine!
(I kid, sort of... I was hoping Kathryn Garcia would have prevailed. And she almost got there. But imagine the controversy if Adams - who was the leading vote-getter through 7 rounds lost in the 8th and final tally to a candidate who was the 3rd choice on the 1st count.)
I think RCV is ideal for primaries, but still not convinced it is something the populace will accept after a general election. At least not in the current environment.
"
I have questions:
Is that what a RCB would actually look like? You don't think that would be confusing to a material portion of the populace?
Is a ballot invalid if say you leave off a Sixth choice? Or if you vote for one candidate as your 1st thru 6th choice?
If a vote is thrown out for one of the reasons above: How is it democracy to compel someone to vote for someone they don't want to vote for under any circumstance?
On “I Blame Gerald Ford”
FORD TO PHILIP H:
DROP DEAD
(probably)
On “A Serious Discussion about Comedy”
I was told there would be no algebra.
"
Kudos to them for wrestling with it before ultimately being cowards?
On “Joseph and The Coat of Many Expectations”
Biden's biggest political problem is that Op Ed columnists from elite universities are not deep enough in the bag for him?
On “Open Mic for the week of 2/19/2024”
Is it necessary to include a righteous denunciation of the practice of murder in a coroner's report for a homicide victim?
It sounds to me that the author is attempting to explain their primitive perspective. If you're unwilling to at least try and put down your modern lens when studying ancient history, it's probably not for you.
Anyway, I'm sufficiently intrigued enough to read it. Thanks for the recommendation!
On “Weekend Plans Post: A Sneaky Three-Day Weekend”
Wait, are you complaining about businesses being conveniently open on a Sunday, Jaybird?
Give the Brits and Irish credit. They have the foresight and decency to have federal holidays when the weather is nice and the days can be fully enjoyed.
On “Dems Recapture NY-3, GOP House Majority Down to Two”
Ah, don't get it twisted. I'm just reporting what I've observed having been in NY for the run-up to special election. It took up a lot of oxygen here.
"Moderate/bipartisan" was absolutely the primary positive message.
"Mazi is another George Santos" was absolutely the primary negative message.
As people rush to conclusions about this particular race and attempt to amplify meaning to November, they should keep in mind just how embarrassing it was to be the district that gave America George Santos. It was smart of Souzzi's campaign to link the new novice pol with the last one, dubious as that link was.
And for the record, I don't think the snow storm made a difference in the outcome, despite the dems dominating Rs in early voting. Souzzi was a lock.
Apparently the district may be redrawn (again) before November, so that bears watching in the months ahead.
"
He ran as a moderate, known commodity and a safe pair of hands while aggressively attacking his opponent as an "ethical nightmare" and another Santos. The ads were relentless and effective.
It didn't help the GOP that they put up someone who checked a lot of attractive boxes on paper, but was a total disaster as an actual candidate.
They get to do it all again in November, so should be interesting to see who the GOP put up this time. Hard to believe Mazi Pilips is going to get another crack.
On “The Big Game Sunday”
The NFL has a one gambling spot per quarter policy. Preseason through the Super Bowl, doesn't matter.
It's complete hypocrisy of course. No single sports league benefits more from gambling than the NFL, legal or otherwise. But they have a very long history of distancing themselves while embracing gambling at the same time.
From Jimmy the Greek to Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl, the common thread is pretending gambling isn't one of the pillars the league was built upon.