Weekend Omnibus

* "China NPC: Beijing to overhaul Hong Kong electoral system:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56264117

* "Nigeria kidnapped girls: Shots fired at Zamfara reunion ceremony:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56230525?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Binforadio%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D

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* Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S.A for 3/5/21 are 28,882,000. The official death toll is 523,000. Fully Vaccinated: 8.4%.

* "Covid-19: U.S. Vaccination Pace Increases to 2 Million Doses a Day:" https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/03/04/world/covid-19-coronavirus#the-united-states-is-now-averaging-2-million-vaccine-doses-administered-per-day

* "Why the flu season this winter was virtually nonexistent :" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/why-the-flu-season-this-winter-was-virtually-nonexistent-102069317658

* I wish there were a law against public officials misappropriating funds. "Trump administration spent billions in hospital funds on Warp Speed:" https://www.statnews.com/2021/03/02/trump-administration-quietly-spent-billions-in-hospital-funds-on-operation-warp-speed/

* "DeSantis denies involvement in vaccine drive following revelation of $250,000 PAC donation from former Illinois governor:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/us/desantis-vaccine-ocean-reef-florida-keys/index.html

* "Three of Gov. Greg Abbott’s four coronavirus medical advisers say they weren’t directly consulted before he lifted mask mandate:" https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/03/abbott-mask-order-texas-advisers/

* "Detroit mayor declines Johnson & Johnson allotment, saying the other vaccines are better:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/health/detroit-mayor-johnson-and-johnson-vaccine/

* "New York Times and Wall Street Journal: Top Cuomo aides rewrote nursing home report from state health officials to hide higher death toll:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/05/politics/andrew-cuomo-nursing-homes-report/

* "Effort on to Vaccinate California's Enormous LGBTQ+ Population:" https://www.advocate.com/health/2021/3/04/effort-vaccinate-californias-enormous-lgbtq-population

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* "Tom Cotton Demands to Know if Merrick Garland Supports Equity:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/02/merrick-garland-tom-cotton.html

* "U.S. economy gains 379,000 jobs in February, in first full monthly employment report under Biden:" https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/u-s-economy-gains-379-000-jobs-february-first-full-n1259679

* Joe Manchin: Making the Bill worse for fun. Republicans: Doing everything in their power to hurt Americans by slowing things down for fun. "Senate poised to pass $1.9 trillion Covid aid bill:" https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/05/covid-aid-bill-senate-vote-amendments-473805

* "Pressure grows on Biden to end the filibuster:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-kill-the-filibuster/2021/03/05/09c0d774-7857-11eb-8115-9ad5e9c02117_story.html

* "What supporters of the filibuster get wrong about how it works:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/what-supporters-of-the-filibuster-get-wrong-about-how-it-works-102075973807

* "Chris Hayes: GOP offers no policy ideas, just obstruction and trolling:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/chris-hayes-gop-offers-no-policy-ideas-just-obstruction-and-trolling-102067781770

* Watching them drag the Republicans over this gave me life. "‘More important to them than health care’: Joy Reid says Potato Head is ‘the Republican Platform’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/-more-important-to-them-than-health-care-joy-reid-says-potato-head-is-the-republican-platform-102066757525

* "Warnock: Raising minimum wage is both smart and morally right:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/warnock-raising-minimum-wage-is-both-smart-and-morally-right-102194245931

* "Mehdi Hasan: ‘Absurd’ for GOP to claim to be a worker’s party when ‘they have no interest in workers’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/mehdi-hasan-absurd-for-gop-to-claim-to-be-a-workers-party-when-they-have-no-interest-in-workers-102192197581

* "House passes expansive policing overhaul bill named in honor of George Floyd:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-floyd-police-reform-bill-vote/2021/03/03/5ea9ba3a-7c6c-11eb-85cd-9b7fa90c8873_story.html

* "House Democrats pass sweeping elections bill as GOP legislatures push to restrict voting:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-elections-voting-pelosi-/2021/03/03/e434df58-7c22-11eb-a976-c028a4215c78_story.html

Want to tell your Republican Senator how important this is to you? Here are some options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/

* "Voting rights advocates organize against 'tsunami of anti-voter bills' from Georgia GOP:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/voting-rights-advocates-organize-against-tsunami-of-anti-voter-bills-from-georgia-gop-102199365778

* "Transphobic Voices Elevated in Media Coverage of Equality Act:" https://www.advocate.com/media/2021/3/04/transphobic-voices-elevated-media-coverage-equality-act

* "LGBTQ+ Reverend to Run Against Far-Right Rep. Madison Cawthorn:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2021/3/04/lgbtq-reverend-run-against-far-right-rep-madison-cawthorn

* "Trump’s Strategy for Returning to Power Is Already Clear:" https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/trumps-strategy-for-returning-to-power-is-already-clear

* "Trump Administration Referred a Record Number of Leaks for Criminal Investigation:" https://theintercept.com/2021/03/02/trump-leaks-criminal-investigation/

* "Trump Appointee At VOA Parent Paid Law Firm Millions To Investigate His Own Staff:" https://www.npr.org/2021/03/04/973765185/trump-appointee-at-voa-parent-paid-law-firm-millions-to-investigate-his-own-staf

* "Rudy Giuliani tried dodging getting served with $1B Dominion Voting Systems suit: source:" https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-giuliani-dominion-lawsuit-service-20210222-6ejrl7c3rva3xbvhzqijoloe3y-story.html

* The people doing the online sleuthing are heroes. "Trump appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot:" https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/04/trump-appointee-arrested-for-capitol-riot-473825

* "Trump appointee with ‘top-secret clearance’ arrested for role in Capitol riot:" https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-appointee-with-top-secret-clearance-arrested-for-role-in-capitol-riot-102194757595

* "Revealed: The Star-Spangled Trumper Filmed Attacking Cops At The Capitol:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/robert-palmer-capitol-attack-sedition-hunters_n_604231acc5b60208555e0b6a

* "Turmoil at U.S. attorneys' office in D.C. complicates January 6 investigations:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/turmoil-at-u-s-attorneys-office-in-d-c-complicates-january-6-investigations-102200389534

* "Online sleuths, media, boost FBI effort to track down Capitol rioters:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/online-sleuths-media-boost-fbi-effort-to-track-down-capitol-rioters-102199877625

* "Federal investigators are examining communications between US lawmakers and Capitol rioters:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/politics/capitol-riot-investigation-lawmakers/index.html

* "Parler v. Amazon Dies. Is Reborn!:"

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* "Texas family detention centers expected to transform into rapid-processing hubs:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/texas-family-detention-centers-changed/2021/03/04/6a0bfa8a-7b6f-11eb-b3d1-9e5aa3d5220c_story.html

* Given the high infection rate in Texas, the lack of mask mandate, and the complete opening of all businesses, isn't it more likely the other way around? "Texas Gov. Abbott stalled federal offer to test migrants then blamed them for spreading Covid:" https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/politics/abbott-migrants-covid-testing/index.html

* "Governor Abbott lifts all covid precautions, accuses migrants of bringing covid to Texas:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/-absolute-worst-gov-abbott-lifts-all-covid-precautions-and-dishes-out-anti-immigrant-xenophobia-102065733739

* "South Carolina Senate adds firing squad to execution methods:" https://apnews.com/article/columbia-bills-executions-south-carolina-prisons-d2109813b075045377aae18e25b2fef5

* CW: Suicide. "South Korean soldier found dead after she was kicked out of army for being trans:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/03/south-korea-trans-soldier-byun-hee-soo-found-dead-a-year-after-being-booted-out-of-the-army/

* "PR boss resigns after saying his firm doesn’t hire ‘Blacks, gays or Catholics’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/05/pr-scotland-resigns-doesnt-hired-blacks-gays-catholics-gordon-beattie-communications/

* "Lady Phyll rejects Ghana’s attacks on LGBT+ community: ‘It is un-African to treat people with hate’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/03/lady-phyll-ghana-lgbt-community-attack-un-african-uk-black-pride/

* "Queer kids are being offered conversion therapy, right now, in the UK. It has to stop:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/04/conversion-therapy-uk-ban-mou-psychologist-dr-igi-moon-lgbt/

* CW: Torture. "NHS doctors electrocuted woman in sinister bid to ‘cure’ her transness just 60 years ago:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/04/conversion-therapy-ban-stonewall-trauma-trans-woman-carolyn-mercer-nhs/

* "America’s leading psychiatric organisation finally accepts being trans is not a ‘mental disorder’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/04/americas-leading-psychiatric-organisation-finally-accepts-being-trans-is-not-a-mental-disorder/

* "Porn star and rapper charged with murder after ‘hunting queer men through dating apps’:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/04/indianapolis-porn-star-rapper-murder-gay-apps-diabolique-paris-johnson-chuck/

* "Trans and Nonbinary Siblings Shot to Death; Mother Charged:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/2021/3/04/trans-and-nonbinary-siblings-shot-death-mother-charged

* "Court: Principal Was Right to Ban Fourth-Grader's Pro-Trans Essay:" https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2021/3/03/court-principal-was-right-ban-fourth-graders-pro-trans-essay

* "Parents of trans kids urged to flee Alabama after ban on trans healthcare passes:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/05/alabama-trans-transgender-healthcare-bill-tiktok/

* "Laverne Cox delivers powerful, defiant message against sickening wave of anti-trans attacks:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/05/laverne-cox-trans-attacks-bills-alabama-video/

* "Activists Light Up Mormon University's Iconic Y With Rainbow Colors:" https://www.advocate.com/religion/2021/3/05/activists-light-mormon-universitys-iconic-y-rainbow-colors

* "Montana Senate Approves Two Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills, Sends to House:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2021/3/03/montana-senate-approves-two-anti-lgbtq-bills-sends-house

* "I'm a versatile gay man but I can't bottom. If I ever do, I could die:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/03/chris-moore-gut-feelings-gay-sex-top-bottom-versatile-familial-adenomatous-polyposis/

* "A Primer on HIV Drug Resistance:" https://www.hivplusmag.com/resistance/2021/3/03/primer-hiv-drug-resistance

* "America’s Mothers Are in Crisis:" https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/parenting/working-moms-mental-health-coronavirus.html?smid=url-share

* "Toad breeding success is world first:" https://www.miragenews.com/toad-breeding-success-is-world-522375/

* "NYC Woman Discovers 'Secret' Room Behind Her Bathroom Mirror:" https://people.com/home/new-york-city-woman-discovers-secret-abandoned-apartment-hidden-behind-her-bathroom-mirror/

* "Raids: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Tumblr's FAKEST Story: The Tale of Oppa Homeless Style:"

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* "Captain America: A Proper Movie Trilogy (Feat. Nando v Movies) | READUS 101:"

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* "Ron Johnson Forces Coronavirus Relief Bill Reading:" https://www.cc.com/video/x2ljv3/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-ron-johnson-forces-coronavirus-relief-bill-reading

* "If You Don't Know, Now You Know - First Ladies of the U.S.:" https://www.cc.com/video/byd4oc/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-if-you-don-t-know-now-you-know-first-ladies-of-the-u-s

* "Hate Monger Of The Week: Marjorie Taylor Greene:"

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* "Women, COVID, and the Myth of Having It All:"

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* "The Allegations Against Andrew Cuomo and Why We Hold Elected Officials Accountable:"

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* "Palm Beach To Trump: No Welcome Back Party:"

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* "Vaccine Game Show Cold Open - SNL:"

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* "Mirror Workout - SNL:"

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* "Murder Show - SNL:"

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* "Weekend Update: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Science - SNL:"

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* "Bachelor Party - SNL:"

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* Friday: I got my vaccine appointment! First shot is Monday! As a result do not expect postings on Monday after 9AM Pacific, as I have to go at an inconvenient time in my sleep cycle and I expect the shot to exhaust me. My plan is to pick up my library curbside after then go right home to bed and stay there

In other medical news my doctor won the second appeal over a higher dosage of a med Medicare hates paying for at all on Wednesday afternoon. It came late Thursday afternoon. There is already improvement.

In yet more medical news, I got test results back about fifteen minutes after the vaccine appointment scheduling. They are likely going to need to investigate my whole digestive system, a thing I dread as I remember what it was like when they did some of that in the 90's. I also am not even a little surprised in needs doing. Sigh. Trying set up appointments is next week's problem though.

Bonus? I lost hours of work I a hard crash and had to rewrite this amoung all the rest. Sigh.

* I watched Peninsula and I figured out what went wrong.

1. The obvious thing I guessed before I watched it, is a problem, but not the main one. Still, it needs saying: The Train to Busan is a perfect movie. It really is. The solid world building makes the thing compelling from the start. It's beautifully shot and acted. It has a strong thematic thread running through it. The timing is flawless, with action and quiet moments in a perfect balance designed to keep the viewer engaged. Most of all, it has heart. The viewer really cares what happens to the people, and those character stories are perfectly twined with the thematic thread. It's incredibly compelling and rewatchabe.

It is absolutely impossible to catch that kind of magic in a sequel. Viewers will want to feel that way again and you can't win no matter what you do. You can do the same thing again, which will be tired and derivative. you can do something different which will inevitably disappoint and/or piss off fans. It's why second albums are often a mess too. So they started this project with that against them.

2. But here is the real mistake: They picked the wrong protagonist. No really. If one hadn't watched Train to Busan this would have been a solid post apocalyptic action story with a really long boring start. Picture Escape from New York and Road warrior mashing up with a Korean Speculative Fiction Movie. It's the long boring bit that is the issue for this as a stand alone set in the same world as Train to Busan and Seoul station, and it isn't the actors' faults.

Why doesn't the first part of the movie work? Because they picked the wrong protagonist. Think about it. Where is the emotional heart of the movie? Where it always is the best of this kind of film coming out of Korea (For example: The Host, Snowpiercer, Train to Busan, Flu) with the family. It may be small (a parent and daughter) and/or broken and/or found but that's where the heart is. The family add and lose people along the way, but that heart carries the viewer through. When does Peninsula start getting interesting? When the girls turn up and you have the family that's the narrative center for most of the rest of the film.

I'm not saying it's all bad up to that point. There is that beautiful, haunting, Checkov's gun moment on the way in, for example, but mostly? It's filler.

So here's how to fix it. Just put the main narrative focus on the Mom and family. No really. It cuts most of the boring bits right out. Let me show you how.

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It still wouldn't be great art, but it could be a fun action movie.

* "Why Queer People Love WandaVision's Agatha:" https://www.advocate.com/television/2021/3/04/why-queer-people-love-wandavisions-agatha

* "Gore Vidal and Orson Welles Play Warhammer:" https://www.shatnerchatner.com/p/gore-vidal-and-orson-welles-play?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxNjEzMzc4LCJwb3N0X2lkIjozMzIwNjIwMywiXyI6Ikg2bGdXIiwiaWF0IjoxNjE0ODY3NDIyLCJleHAiOjE2MTQ4NzEwMjIsImlzcyI6InB1Yi01Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.CwyqPDDJvec-qCPTrpbXvO22kd98YBiGpyws7MSBMgc

* Arthur Machen and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at The Midnight Society: https://twitter.com/midnight_pals/status/1367172500879151105

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* Ways to help people in Texas: https://spockvarietyhour.tumblr.com/post/643435770019987456
https://omgthatdress.tumblr.com/post/643431809724628992

More Texas how to help links: https://omgthatdress.tumblr.com/post/643431809724628992

* "You Can Buy Girl Scout Cookies From Troop Of Girls In NYC Shelter System:" https://www.scarymommy.com/troop-6000-girl-scouts-nyc-shelters/

* More Girl Scout Troops in Particular Need: https://tuulikki.tumblr.com/post/643247412337639424/girl-scout-cookie-time

* Cat Rescue Fundraiser: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/642429918533304320/design-a-tea-where-tea-leaves-dream-custom

( Links Underneath: )