#Party Buster NYC

[partybuster]

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

The FTC has Big Pharma’s number

On November 27, I'm appearing at the Toronto Metro Reference Library with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

On November 29, I'm at NYC's Strand Books with my novel The Lost Cause, a solarpunk tale of hope and danger that Rebecca Solnit called "completely delightful."

The most consistent bright spot in the dark swirl of US politics is the competence of the Biden Administration's progressive enforcers: people like Rohit Chopra, Jonathan Kanter and Lina Khan, who keep demonstrating just how far a good administrator can go. Anyone can have a vision, but knowing how to execute is the difference between hot air and real change:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/23/getting-stuff-done/#praxis

Take a minute to contrast Biden's administrators with Trump's: Trump's administrators had an ideological vision just as surely as Biden's do, and Trump himself had a much more pronounced and explicit ideology than Biden, whose governance style is much more about balancing the Democratic Party's blocs than bringing about a specific set of policies:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/06/personnel-are-policy/#janice-eberly

But whatever clarity of vision the Trump administration brought to DC was completely undermined by its incompetence (thankfully!). Apart from one gigantic tax break, Trump couldn't get stuff done. He couldn't deliver, because he'd lose his temper or speak out of turn:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/14/when-youve-lost-the-fedsoc/#anti-buster-buster

And his administrators followed his lead. Scott Pruitt was appointed to run the EPA after a career spent suing the agency. It could have been the realization of his life's dream to dismantle environmental law in America and open the floodgates for unlimited, wildly profitable corporate pollution and pillaging. But the dream died because he kept getting embroiled in absurd scandals – like the time he sent his staffers out to drive around all night looking for a good deal on a used mattress:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/epa-s-pruitt-told-aide-obtain-old-mattress-trump-hotel-n879836

Or his insistence on installing a CIA-style "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility" (SCIF) so he could play super-spy while reading memos:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/26/politics/epa-administrator-scott-pruitt-sound-proof-booth-scif/index.html

Or the time he sent his security detail to the Ritz-Carlton to demand that they supply him lots of little bottles of his favorite hand-cream:

https://www.vox.com/2018/6/7/17439044/scott-pruitt-ritz-carlton-moisturizing-lotion

There were other examples in the Trump administration, but Priutt is such a good case-study. He's like a guy who spent his whole life training to compete in the Olympics, and finally got a shot, only to be disqualified for ordering too much room-service in the Olympic Village. Priutt was wildly ambitious, but he was profoundly undisciplined – and wildly incompetent.

Compare that with Biden's progressive enforcers and agency heads, who showed up on the first day of work with an encyclopedic knowledge of their administrative powers, and detailed plans for using them to transform the lives of the American people for the better:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/18/administrative-competence/#i-know-stuff

The Biden administration's competence translates into action, getting stuff done. Maybe that shouldn't surprise us, given the difference between the stories that reactionaries and progressives tell about where change comes from.

In reactionary science fiction, we enter the realm of the "Competent Man" story. Think of a Heinlein hero, who is "able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly."

In Competent Man stories, a unitary hero steps into the breach and solves the problem – if not single-handedly, then as the leader of others, whose lesser competence is a base metal that the Competent Man hammers into a tempered blade:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/RobertAHeinlein

Contrast this with a progressive tale, like, say, Kim Stanley Robinson's Ministry For the Future, where the Competent Man is replaced by the Competent Administration, in which people of goodwill and technical competence figure out how to join forces to create population-scale architectures of participation that allow every person to contribute their skills and perspective:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/03/ministry-for-the-future/#ksr

The right's whole ideology insists that the world can only be saved by Competent Men. As Corey Robin writes in The Reactionary Mind, the unifying factor that binds together conservative factions from monarchists to racists to Christian Dominionists is the belief that a few of us are born to rule, and the rest to be ruled over:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/05/25/mafia-logic/#mafia-logic

The Reaganite insistence that governments are, by their very nature, incompetent and malign ("The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I’m from the government, and I’m here to help'"), means that conservatives deny the possibility of a Competent Administration.

When conservatives take office and proceed to bungle the most basic elements of administration, they're fulfilling their own campaign narrative, which starts with "We must dismantle the government because it is bad at everything." Conservatives who govern badly prove their own point, which explains a lot about the UK Tory Party's long run of governmental failure and electoral success:

https://apnews.com/article/uk-suella-braverman-fired-cabinet-shuffle-7ea6c89306a427cc70fba75bc386be79

There's a small mercy in the fact that so many of the most ideologically odious and extreme conservative governments are so technically incompetent in governing, and thus accomplish so little of their agendas.

But the inverse – the incredible competence of the best progressive administrators – is nothing short of a delight to witness. Here's the latest example to cross my path: the FTC has intervened in a lawsuit over generic insulin pricing, on an issue that is incredibly technically specific and also fantastically important:

https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/ftc-blasts-pharmas-abuse-fda-patent-system-sanofi-mylans-insulin-monopoly-lawsuit

The underlying case is before the FDA, and it concerns the dirty tricks that pharma giant Sanofi used to keep Mylan from making a generic version of Mylan's Lantus insulin after its patent expired.

There's an explicit bargain in patents: inventors can enlist the government to punish their rivals for copying their ideas, but in exchange, the government demands that the inventor has to describe how the invention works in a detailed patent filing, and when the patent expires, 20 years later, rivals can use the patent application as instructions for freely copying and selling the invention. In other words: you get 20 years of exclusive rights in return for facilitating your competitors' copying and selling your invention when the 20 years are up.

Pharma doesn't like this, naturally: not content with 20 years of exclusivity, they want the government to step in and punish their competitors forever. In service to that end, pharma companies have perfected a process called evergreening, where they dribble out ancillary patents after their initial filing, covering minor reformulations, delivery systems, or new uses.

Evergreening got a moment in the public eye earlier this year, with John Green's viral campaign to shame Johnson & Johnson out of using evergreening to restrict poor countries' access to TB medication:

https://armandalegshow.com/episode/john-green-part-1/

The story of pharma is that it commands gigantic profits, but it invests those profits into medicines that save our lives. The reality is that most of the key underlying pharma research is publicly funded (by Competent Administrators who apportion funding to promising scientific inquiry). Pharma companies' most inventive genius is devoted to inventing new evergreening tactics:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/19/solid-tumors/#t-cell-receptors

That's where the FTC comes in, in this Sanofi-Mylan case. To facilitate the production of generic, off-patent drugs, the FDA maintains a database called the "Orange Book," where pharma companies are asked to enumerate all the ancillary patents associated with a product whose patent is expiring. That way, generics manufacturers who make their own version of these public domain drugs and therapeutics don't accidentally stumble over one of those later patents – say, by replicating a delivery system or special coating that is still in patent.

This is where the endless, satanic inventiveness of the pharma sector comes in. You see, US law provides for triple damages for "willful patent infringement." If you are a generics manufacturer eyeing up a drug whose patent is about to expire and you are notified that some other patents might be implicated in your plans, you must ensure that you don't accidentally infringe one of those patents, or face business-destroying statutory damages.

So pharma companies stuff the Orange Book full of irrelevant patent claims they say may be implicated in a generic manufacture program. Each of these claims has to be carefully evaluated, both by a scientific team and a legal team, because patents are deliberately obfuscated in the hopes of tricking an inattentive patent examiner into granting patents for unpatentable "inventions":

https://blueironip.com/patents-that-hide-the-ball/

What's more, when a pharma giant notifies the FDA that it has ancillary patents that are relevant to the Orange Book, this triggers a 30-month delay before a generic can be marketed – adding 2.5 years to the 20 year patent term. That delay is sometimes enough to cause a manufacturer to abandon plans to market a generic drug – so the delay isn't 2.5 years, it's infinite.

This is a highly technical, highly consequential form of evergreening. It's obscure as hell, and requires a deep understanding of patent obfuscation, ancillary patent filings, generic pharma industry practice, and the FDA's administrative procedures.

Sanofi's Orange Book entry for Lantus insulin listed 50 related patent claims. Of these, 48 were invalidated through "inter partes" review (basically the Patent Office decided they shouldn't have allowed these claims to be included on a patent). Neither of the remaining two claims were found to be relevant to the manufacture of generic Lantus.

This is where the FTC's filing comes in: their amicus brief doesn't take a position whether Sanofi's Orange Book entries were fraudulent, but they do ask the FDA to intervene to prevent Orange Book stuffing because "improper listings can cause significant harm to competition and consumers."

This is the kind of boring, technical, important stuff that excellent administrators can do. The FTC's brief is notice to the FDA that it should amend its procedures to ban (and punish) Orange Book abuse. That will make it possible for you, a person who needs medicine, to get that medicine more cheaply and quickly. In America's pay-for-use privatized healthcare hellscape, this could be a life-or-death matter.

There's plenty of things the Biden administration is getting very, very badly wrong, but we shouldn't lose sight of how its progressive wing is making real, lasting change for the better. Competent Administrations are the true peoples' champions. They beat Competent Men every time.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/23/everorangeing/#taste-the-rainbow

[yaoist]

#i love you superman i love you batman i love you spider-man i love you comic books#i love you american chinese food i love you american mexican food i love you american sushi#i love you marx brothers i love you buster keaton i love you cole porter#i love you rattlesnakes i love you armadillos i love you moose i love you grizzly bears i love you roadrunners#i love you orca whales i love you salmon i love you black widow spider#i love you jewish delis and soul food and greasy spoon diners

#I love you county fairs and unhealthy fair food#I love you northeast fall forests#I love you urban food diversity#I love you skeleton in a suit man that gave me a flyer for a restaurant in chinatown in nyc that one time

#i love you ursula k le guin i love you shirley jackson i love you long stretches of interstate 80 passing by open fields and sky#i love you stephen sondheim

#i love you jazz music i love you sandwiches i love you breakfast tacos i love you pre-2001 country music

#i love you california summer nights#i love you california poppies and western fence lizards#i love you sf bay fog#i love you monterey bay cypress trees and sea critters#i love you joshua trees#and so much more

#I love you floribbean food!!#I love you cornbread served as appetizers for public dinner events!!#I love you first friday celebrations!!#I love you cornhole/bag toss games!!

#I love you apple picking and hot apple cider

#I LOVE YOU NASCAR. SPORT STARTED BY RUNNING FROM COPS THAT HAS KEPT THE SPIRIT OF THAT ORIGIN TO THIS DAY#i love you gilded age i love you roaring twenties i love you slushies and corn dogs and popcorn and chili con carne and regional variants#of all of the above. i love you regional infighting over dumb shit i love you hurricane parties i'm#i love you rock and roll and soul and jazz and dixie and soulful and true country. i love you american folk stories#i love you john henry and paul bunyan and his great blue heifer and bigfoot and mothman

#I love you grilled sweet corn and fried cheese curds and jazz music#I love you Octavia Butler and Shirley Jackson#I love you marching band

anyways (I say this as someone who is deeply critical of the united states government, military, unchecked capitalism, police, etc) I am SICK of people treating america as if it has no cultural value or positives so….. I love u 85 million acres (bigger than italy) of national parks. I love u harlem renaissance. I love u groundhogs day. I love u sweet tea and fried chicken and jambalaya. I love u apple cider donuts and maizes on crisp autumn days. I love u 95k miles of coastlines and new england fisherman and hand knitted sweaters. I love u halloween where millions of people dress up and give candy to strangers and carve jack o’lanterns. I love u small talk and small towns and potlucks and bringing over casseroles to your struggling neighbors. I love u cowboys and ranch hands and arizonian cactus. I love u appalachian trail and dirtbikes and divebars. I love u sparklers and fireflies. I love u mark twain and toni morrison and emily dickinson and henry david thoreau. I love u rock n roll i love u bluegrass and hippies i love u jimi hendrix and nirvana and CCR and janis joplin. I love u victorian houses and jonny appleseed and john henry and mothman and bigfoot. I love u foggy days in the pacific northwest and neon signs and roadside attractions. I love u baseball and 1950s diners and soft serve. I love u native american art and pop art and poptarts. I love u blue jeans and barbecues and jazz musicians 

[savagesneversleepnyc]

THE KEEP AND THE RED DRAGON

All the sky’s awaited the wings

To sing that dreadful low song

That would preview the fires

Its IRE rain down as

FROGS drip from from words

The WITCH hid and did say as

Tools of the shadow then LIGHT

Flashed so bright it took her shine

And returned it to the stars

Like a cold bowl of stew

The meager offering of the LAMB

Is hardly a token made in haste as the cripple

Boy stumbles with stilts and the rope in hand only to scream as they become STARS too that

They knew to be useless and cast

Off to hold a broken yolk in

SICK SAD FAITHFUL HOPE

SPOON FED like elixir

That was poison called TRUTH

SO cruel was the priest who didn’t.

Care as he locked himself deep in the keep to keep the watch as the EYES OF GOD

Watched on toO

and levy’d tolls on TROLLS

And GARGOYLES with metal wings and silver

Tongue rings.

The of KATHULU like a DRUM

THE battle was lost before the thread barren

Hands reached skyward to return as STARS and

TRANSFORM into the FAITHFUL left COWERING

And selfishly devouring HOPE like

HARD TACK biscuits the salt water

Reached upon the raft left

Smoldering in the mote

The town was left not worst for where it

Was left to turn like an ember to COAL

THAT rough hands pull from BOGS

That hungry mouth and onions require most

THE FIRE of the DRAGON of the KEEP

That glows and grows

Of the martyred souls departure

FOR inside the hallowed walls that remain

Tall and stout beyond the sieges

Waged by BUSTERS whose stuff was too

PITIFUL to cut the MUSTARD

The FIRE that BURNS hands holding

bloody fists full of GOLD will

TOSS and TURN

To rest up and dream up more LIES

To spit through ROTTEN TEETH and

POISON FORKED VOICES

THE keep that warms the HEART of the DRAGON

Knows only the entirety of the restless

WHITE SHARK’s infinite EMPTY BELLY

that smells a

VOID and chooses a PATH

NOT KNOWING which gills will lead to

MEALS or ILLS or FRESH KILLS

SO SACRED that SEALS

SLEEP TOO wondering where the FIN that

Breaks the waters edge will take another to the bottom

So above as below and the coral reef

Of MORAY EEL slime trails SNAILS in GARLIC and HUMAN EL PASTOR

ALA’ DONNER PARTY

FAVOR SNACK ATTACKS

THE SLEEPING METROPOLIS

AS KLAUS and the MOUSE

Bid the MS’S a fond farewell

An odd shadow looms in over

Hooves and horns and flying

Fecal JET STREAM PATTERNS that

KEEP the FIRES burning so the

PATH remains in LIGHT

As the DRAGON snores and

KEEPS THE WATCH

IN THE KEEP

OF THE NIGHT

(Listing skyward and I would be wiser to

Set one less FIRE and sleep on the DEEDS

That feeds the need for KINDNESS not FIRE HATE and BLINDNESS) 5:37am

5:31am 5.26.24.00000003 OGE

5:42. EDIT YARDIE HOD NYC 314 OGE

[dorigvbcorvis]

The Brittana/Klaine Wedding took place Glee Universe time on November 15 2014

Happy 7th Anniversary

My supporting time line

HURT LOCKER 2

(Episode S6E5)

There is a calendar in Sue's Hurt Locker Shrine to Klaine. It is opened to October 2014 and she has placed on the week of. The 12th through to The 18th the words "Klaine Gets Back together" using The "Klaine Curage" Font , Sue also says there are 6 weeks until Sectionals

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

(Episode S6E6)

Now going by Sue's calendar this episode starts on October 20 This is further backed up by Kurt saying there are now 5 weeks to sectionals

The episode begins with Sam and Rachel making plans to have diner at Bread Sticks that evening. As the opening credits role they sing "What Do You Get When You Fall In Love"

Next day Mercedes comes and tells Rachel that she has set up an audition in New York "for Friday" - The "Friday" in this case would be October 24

Brittany learns her dad isn't her biological dad and she tells her parents that she is getting married to Santana and the next day Brittany hires Artie as her Wedding Planner and tries to charm Santana's Grandma to get her to change her mind

SONGS

Baby It's You, Wishing and Hoping, The ND men sing The Moon and NYC, Santana sings Alphie, and Rachel sings Promises Promises as her audition song so this is Friday

So when we next see Mercedes and Rachel is can be no earlier than Monday October 27. Mercedes and Rachel talk about how the audition went and Sam re asks Rachel out for Dinner at Breadsticks setting date for "Thursday"

Thw episode ends with a colloage dedicated to Santana and Brittany set to the song "What The World Needs Now" which includes a house party at Will's House. The party held at night and has The New ND. was probably a shower/engagement party dinner. But since it is at night time party it is less likely it is a school night making it ether Friday October 31 or Saturday November 1 for the party

TRANSITIONING

(Episode S6E7)

In Will's Vocal Adrenaline office he recieves from a buster the gift of a stroller which per a future statement was most likely given to him on Friday October 31st. Now since it was given to him at work in order for Will's and Emma's son to use it he has to finish his day, take the stoller home and possibly do some light assembly

In other words when Will Emma and son are walking through a park and they run into Rachel and Blaine who have just been egged ...It has to be a weekday because Blaine and Rachel would only be going to work on a weekday. Working backwards it was Monday November 3 This date will be confirm by Unique and The Trans Choir

After learning what Vocal Adrenaline did to Blaine and Rachel Will hatches a two part plan with Unique to teach Vocal Adrenaline about Tolerance - We know Wil reached out to Unique on Monday November 3rd because Will will say on Monday November 10th that Unique took a while week to put the Trans Choir together

Tuesday November 4 2014 was an election day and Burt would have been up for re-election for District 4 Ohio State Rep - Burt wins reelection even while we didn't see this it is important to remember this as it become important latter

It was also Tuesday November 4 that Seldon Beiste returns to Mckinley he is wearing (blue shirt, short black tie, and khaki pants) Sam and Sue are there to greet him. (Sue in a blue track suit)

What these two are wearing becomes day markers. Sam is a little harder to figure time passage as his red shirt and tan pants seem to be his assistant coach uniform and he probably has a few pairs of khaki pants and red shirts in

Sam leaves Sue and Beiste to go find Rachel who is down in the dumps - Sam believes it is still the egging she got on Monday - Instead Sam learns it is because Rachel's family home has been sold

From here Sam and Kurt plan a party letting the New ND in on the plan.... this cuts to

Still Tuesday November 4 2014 (we know this by what Seldon is wearing the blue shirt short black tie and khaki pants) Seldon Beiste finds his car has been vandalized with offensive slurrs

Wednesday November 5 2014

Will starts phase 1 of his two part one of the two part plan happened on Wednesday November 5

Will clearly says "The other day" Which we know at minimum is two days and he has successfully reached out to Unique to get her to sing with him They sing Same Love

November 6th (Seldon is now wearing a green shirt/green and brown striped tie and Sue has on a red track suit) and Seldon lets Will know his kids are awful

Still November 6th The New ND spin a wheel to find who they will sing with Kurt cheats so he can sing with Blaine. Rachel's farewell to her House party is set for a "Friday night" so this Friday they spoke of must be Friday November 7th

Friday November 7th Will kicks Clint off Vocal Adrenaline knowing full well Clint will be reinstated

That Friday night Will is trying to fix the stroller "that broke a week after he got it"

This seems to confirm October 31 was the date when he got the stroller from the Booster

Upset about everything he tells Emma he hates his job

Cut to Rachels party which we know was a Friday

Sam's and Rachel's duet is Time after Time which includes a scene that is probably Saturday November 8th and shows The New ND helping Rachel pack up her room (they are all wearing different clothes from party and it is daylight) but the scene cuts back to party and it is night again

This same Friday night Sheldon is doing inventory and ia visited by Unique. They bond over what it means to be Trans

Monday November 10th Clint is reinstated just as Will knew he would be But Will acts like he is okay with this (because he and Unique have set up something. and so he falsely gets Vocal Adrenaline motivated to pull a prank at Mckinley

Blaine and Karofski break up

Blaine runs to find Kurt but Kurt is going on a double date with Walter and Sam and Rachel

Kurt Sam and Rachel return from dinner (they are wearing what they wore to dinner) to see Unique and The Trans Choir sing for Seldon. Will quits Vocal Adrenaline

Tuesday November 11th Rachel and Kurt welcome Will back

WEDDING

(Episode S6E8)

Week of November 10th - 15

Early in the week Monday or Tuesday

Artie, Mrs Pierse, and Mrs Lopez, Santana, and Britt check out the Barn where Brittany was born as a venue for the wedding

Tuesday and/or Wednesday Evening

The Old ND and The New ND decorate the barn

Kurt volunteers his dad or officiate the Wedding. The reason I believe Kurt volunteered his dad was his dad had just won reelection. I think had Burt lost Kurt would have never mentioned his dad.

Thursday November 13th

Brittany and Santana dress fitting

Friday November 14th

Brittany and Santana discuss uninviting Sue

Santana tells Sue to her face how she doesn't want Sue at her wedding

That evening Sue talks to Santana's Abuela

Saturday November 15

The Wedding

[librarianbusdriver]

[Text made illegible by stabbing.]

When I really wanted to go to the bar. The bar... Big surprise. You sure spent a lot of time in bars. Ted: Well, that's just we did back then. Me, marshall and lily, Barney, We all used to hang out at this one bar Called mcclaren's. But then, one night... Why don't we go to mcclaren's? Let's go to mcclaren's. You guys talking to each other? Nobody's listening? What's wrong with mcclaren's? Mcclaren's is bore-snore. Ted, tonight we're going to go out. We're going to meet some ladies. It's going to be legendary. Phone five. Ted: I had no idea why I hung out with barney. You didn't phone five, did you? I know when you don't phone five, ted. Come on. We always to go to mcclaren's. Yeah, 'cause mcclaren's is fun. Mcclaren's is this much fun. What I'm offering is the chance to have... This much fun. See, you say that. You say it's going to be this much fun, But most of the time it ends up being this much fun. This much fun is good. It's safe. It's guaranteed. This hand gesture thing Doesn't really work on the phone, does it? No, it doesn't. ( Tires squealing ) Get in the cab. Marshall, you, too. I think lily and I are just going to... I understand. Get in the cab. Why can marshall say no? Uh, because he's getting laid. Consistently. Ted, ted, ted... You keep going to the same bar. You're in a rut. And I am a rut-buster. I'm going to bust your rut. It's not a rut, okay? It's a routine, and I like it. Ted, what's the first syllable in "rut-tine"? Peace out, suckers. All right, so what's this legendary plan? First we've got to pick someone up at the airport. Okay, I'm out of here. Estaban, doors. ( Doors locking ) Okay, we just do this one little thing, And the rest of the night is ours. Why do you have those suitcases, And who are we picking up? I don't know. Maybe her. Or her. ( Chuckles ) Wait, so when you said you were going To pick someone up at the airport, You meant you were going to "pick someone up" At the airport? Scenario: A couple of girls fly into town Looking for a fun weekend in nyc, When the meet Two handsome international businessmen Just back from a lucrative trip to japan. Sample dialogue: "you have a wheelie bag? Well, I have a wheelie bag." You've got to be kidding me. False. Sidebar... Tuck in your shirt. You look sketchy. I'm sketchy? Trust me, it's going to be legendary. Don't say "legendary," okay? You're too liberal with the word "legendary." We're building an igloo in central park. It's going to be legendary. Snowsuit up! Ted, ted, ted... Right here. This is happening. Now you can either put the bags on the carousel now, Or you can listen to me give you A really long speech Convincing you to put the bags on the carousel. Your move. Ted, since the dawn of time... Mankind has struggled... That night, marshall had a ton of studying to do. So lily went out with robin... Who was new to new york and looking for a friend. I'm so glad we finally get to hang out, just the two of us. Yeah. You sure you're okay giving up your Friday night To hang with an old, almost married lady? Oh, please. I'm so sick of the meat market scene. Guys are like the subway. You miss one, another one comes along in five minutes. Unless it's the end of the night and then you get on anything. Hey-oh! Compliments of that guy. Really? Sweet. Oh, for you it's $6. Oh, yes, that's one drawback to being engaged. I'm sure that's why he didn't... [Text made illegible by stabbing.] To refine our back story first. How did we...? Ted, you klutzy great guy you. Hey, I'm barney. Hi. My god, are you okay? I am so sorry. It's fine. No, you were shaky on your landing. I give you a 9.2. Ooh. Hi. I'm ted. Look, I'm really sorry that we have to hit and run, But we've got a plane to catch. Where you headed? Philadelphia. Philly? That's where we're headed. You are? Well, then we'll see you on the plane. Yes, you will. Follow them. Ticket's on me. [Text made illegible by stabbing.]

( Phone ringing ) Whazzup, ted? Are you all right? Yeah. Hey, guess where I am. I'm on a... Ready? Plane to... Ready? Philadelphia. [Text made illegible by stabbing.]

Let's go talk to those girls. Whoa, whoa, the seat belt sign's on. Ted, you've been living your whole life in a seat belt. It's time to unclick. Sir, the seat belt light's on. Yeah. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Well, I grew up in park slope. Oh, I love park slope. When did you move to manhattan? You're from park slope? Uh, no, she is. So where are you from? Heaven? Yeah, I'm a ghost. I died 15 years ago, like that pickup line. Hey-oh! God, I'm so sorry. Oh, believe me, I've been there. I have this line that I use when guys come... Check it out. Hey... You take this one. I'll save it for the next one. ( Chuckles ) So what brings you guys to philly? We're visiting our boyfriends. I think hers is going to propose this weekend. Isn't that great? So great. So there we were: Stuck on an airplane to philadelphia With two very un-single girls, [Text made illegible by stabbing.] crowding your junk. I'm not gonna take off my ring. Wouldn't you be jealous Of guys swarming all over my beeswax? Oh, yeah, you know me... I'm the jealous type. Any goon so much as looks at you, I'll sock him in the kisser. [Text made illegible by stabbing.] Bye. Robin! Robin! Hey, I'm over here. ♪ G-g-goin' to philly! Marshall, don't come to philly. But we're on an adventure. We're on a tarmac in philadelphia. Crazy... Adventure. Fine. No! No! The night has just started. Look, airport bar. Flight attendants. They'll get your tray table in its full upright position. Say what?! Passengers mosby and stenson, please come with us, gentlemen. Keep your hands where I can see them. Barney, I am going to kill you. Don't say you're gonna kill someone In front of airport security. Not cool, not cool. This is an outrage! We are international businessmen On very important international business trip. I demand you release us immediately! You demand?! No, no, no, no, no. He does not demand. We-we-we-we have no demands. [Text made illegible by stabbing.] Okay. Yeah, I'm calm. I'm totally calm. We've got footage of you placing two bags On jfk carousel 3, [Text made illegible by stabbing.] We are international businessmen. [Text made illegible by stabbing.] Now, please let us go Before we miss our international business meeting. Can't remember the last time I saw an international businessman With an untucked shirt. In addition, we received This footage taken over the last few months. Believe it or not, that duffel bag thing worked. The truth is, my friend... He does this thing where he goes to airports With fake luggage to pick up girls, And we followed some here to philadelphia. That-that-that's it. That's all this is. [Text made illegible by stabbing.] We at least get to call our lawyer. Exactly! We have a lawyer? Listen to me... you're both american citizens. Don't let him pull any patriot act voodoo. You both retain the right To refuse to answer any questions So don't say anything until I get there, all right? Okay. Good-bye. ♪ Philly! ♪ The adventure continues ♪ destroy! It's ridiculous in here. Why don't we go somewhere else? No, this place is great. What are you doing? What? With your lips and everything? My lips are always like this. You had to play the race card. Oh, relax, ted. We didn't do anything wrong. And, b.T.W., we'd be out of here by now If you had tucked in your shirt. Go ahead, jfk. What is the baggage status? They're clean. It's just a whole bunch of condoms. And a powerbar. You're free to go. Ted: Don't come to philly. Man, I'm almost halfway there. Yeah, we just got released And we're heading back on the next flight. Uh, meet us at mcclaren's. Maybe we can still make last call. Can't we just, just... No, we can't just. We're going home. We're going to sasha's. Who the hell is sasha? Sasha. She's having friends over for drinks at her house. It's gonna be legen... Wait for it... And I hope you're not lactose-intolerant 'cause the second half of that word is... Dary! No. Legendary. Legendary. That sounds awesome. No,

marshall, we're going back. Fine. Hold on. I have another call. ( Beep) Hello? Marshall, we're going to sasha's. No, we're not. Ted, ted, ted. Right here. Yes, we are. ( Beep) Sorry, buddy... two against one. Ooh, look, a booth opened up. Really? Yeah, I thought we could Finally go talk... And you're not Listening to me, so I'm going to walk away. Yeah, yeah, booth. Hey. Hey. I'm engaged. Yeah, I'm sorry. I took my ring off. It's very, very sweet of you To come over and talk to me, but I just... Yeah, I'm gay. I just came over to let you know That you sat on a grape. Oh, damn it. Ted: So barney and I hit the town. Philadelphia, pa. Our first and only stop: Sasha's party. ( tv blaring ) So, uh... You're sasha's friends, huh? You know it. ( Whispering): You guys, keep the volume down. You're gonna wake my grandpa. Who wants hard lemonade? Philly! Shh! ( softly): Philly. Back at the bar, girls' night out Wasn't going as robin had hoped. ( cell phone ringing ) Lily's phone. Robin, uh, where's lily? She's, uh... Is she talking to some hot guy? Oh, you can tell me. It's totally cool. It was my idea. Hell, I told her she could take the ring off. Really? Well, I thought it was kind of weird, But if you're cool with it, yeah, uh, it's off, And she's talking to some guy. Do you want me to go over and... No, don't interrupt. It's awesome. So, the ring's really off, huh? It's awesome. Well, just tell her I called. And tell her that she is... Awesome. ♪ Really, really awesome ( weakly ): ♪ our relationship is built on mutual trust ♪ I can't breathe. ( Iaughing ) You hear that, ted? Dana works security at the liberty bell. I do okay. Wow, it must be really well cordoned off over there. Do you ever go behind the rope and touch it? Only all the time. You ever, like, stick your head inside it? Yeah. You ever lick it? Nope. I have never licked it. Hmm. I bet nobody in history has ever licked the liberty bell. If someone were to pull that off, I dare say it would be... What's the word? Well, this is my stop. Legendary. Ted, legendary. Barney, I'm going to the airport. Sasha, thank you, and, uh, Tell your grandpa I'm sorry I walked in on him in the bathroom. I'll get some club soda for that stain. Lily, I thought tonight was about us hanging out. Just fending off the advances of that totally hot guy. Dude, I think that guy is gay. Oh, I know that guy is gay. It's just, marshall and I have been together for nine years. I haven't been single since high school. You want to be single? You want to fight off loser guys all night? Does that seem like fun to you? I guess I just wanted to throw this net back into the ocean And see how many fish I could catch. So far, one. One gay dolphin. And marshall. Lily, all these girls here tonight Are all hoping to catch what you've already got. You're right. I know. Hey, do you want to go get coffee And have an actual conversation? If by "coffee" you mean "cheesecake," then yes. Hey, I got that club soda. Let's see that booty. Oh, thank you so much. You want to mess, pal? That's my fiancée's hot backside that you're dabbing. Marshall, no. Baby, please, don't ever take that ring off again, No matter how awesome I say that it is. It's okay, man... Back off, hombre! I'm not that afraid to fight you. You want to test This guy, be my guest, come on. Marshall, he's gay. Oh, thank god. I've never been in a fight before. You don't say. Ted: So, it turned out Uncle marshall really was the jealous type. Unfortunately, that guy's boyfriend... Also the jealous type. Hey! Could have licked the liberty bell. We're going to the airport. Bong... Bong... Bo... Why do I hang out with you? Why? All I wanted was to have a regular beer At my regular bar with my regular friends In my regular city. Ted, ted, ted. You're not even looking. No, I'm not. Look, our forefathers died for the pursuit of happiness, okay? Not for the sit around and wait of happiness. Now, if you want, You can go to

the same bar, drink the same beer, Talk to the same people every day, Or you can lick the liberty bell. You can grab life by the crack and lick the crap out of it. That was beautiful, man. Thanks, leonard. Ted, you're missing out on a valuable life lesson here. Look, I don't need you to teach me how to live, okay? I know how to live. If you want to go lick the liberty bell, Just go lick it yourself. No, it has to be the two of us. Why? Why do you need me? Because you're my best friend, all right? You don't have to tell me I'm yours, But the way I see it, we're a team. Without you, I'm... I'm just the dynamic uno. So, fine, if you want to go home, Then we'll go home. ( Sighs ) Fine. We'll go lick the liberty bell. Good 'cause we're here. I had no idea how barney Redirected the cab without me knowing, And by god, we licked the liberty bell. You know what it tastes like? What? Freedom. No, actually, it tastes like pennies. Oh, my god. Did you guys really do that? We really did. And that was when I realized why I hung out with barney. I never got where I thought I wanted to go, So, that girl you were talking to... That was mom? Kids, every story in a man's life Is like a dot in an impressionist painting... So that's a no? Yeah, that's a no. ( Kids sighing) [Text made illegible by stabbing.]

Hmm...? The manufactured world around me falls apart! A fanged smirk plays across my lips, as I know, here and now, that a kind Samaritan is granting me...

Freedom!

WHAT THE FUCK????

FREEDOM? WHAT??? HUH???????

[brkynnsbucketlist]

My Bucket List started January 5th, 2021

Visit all 50 states.

Do the Ohio Donut Trail.

Visit a different country.

Host a Thanksgiving dinner.

Move into my dream home.

Have a Twilight Movie Marathon.

Do the A-Z date challenge.

Release floating lanterns.

Leave a 100% tip at dinner.

Get married.

Watch all of the Disney Classic movies with the kids.

Get a tattoo.

Visit McGees Pub in NYC.

Reread the Twilight saga.

Go on an unplanned road trip.

Go on a nice double date.

Buy a stranger a drink.

Watch the Star Wars movies.

Start a new holiday tradition.

Read 20 new books.

Stay in a tree house cabin.

Visit a casino.

Do the 23 & Me DNA testing.

Go to a rage room.

Watch 25 new shows.

Drink only water for a month.

Go to Dave & Buster's.

Take the kids on vacation.

Go on a red eye trip.

Walk a marathon.

Have a Harry Potter movie marathon.

Go to a national park.

Go camping.

Go to a music festival.

Do 35 random acts of kindness.

Adopt a wild animal from th e WWF.

Go to a concert of a random band I've never heard of before.

Host a cookie exchange.

Watch 100 new movies.

Have a Lord of the Rings marathon.

Have a Hunger Games marathon.

Reread the Harry Potter series.

Make homemade jam.

Try 20 new mixed drinks.

Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day.

Play paintball.

Watch all of the Marvel movies in order.

Read Midnight Sun.

Try a deep fried candy bar.

Have my palm read.

Have a Tim Burton Marathon.

Achieve my ideal weight.

Go to Comic Con.

Pop champagne.

Visit all the tourist spot in my hometown.

Do a 1000 piece puzzle.

Beat a video game.

Spend a day geocaching.

Take each kid in a special date.

Walk on the beach with someone.

Explore Columbus Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Have a pair of Converse in every color.

Finish a wreck this journal.

Try 20 new restaurants.

Visit my childhood home.

Do a Boudoir photoshoot.

Throw a huge themed party.

Try hydro-dipping.

Cook all of the dishes in one cookbook.

Have a lemonade stand with homemade lemonade.

Have an adult sleepover.

Make a family tree.

Try an extreme milkshake.

Do a five mile hike.

Have a bed covered in rose petals.

Go to 27 club coffee in Cleveland.

Explore New York City.

Do at least one cosplay.

Go kayaking.

Have some type of girls night out once a month for a year.

Have $1,000 in a savings account.

Go to Disney World with the kids.

Make my own cookbook.

Plant a tree.

Keep a weekly journal for a year.

Take a real vacation.

Have a wine tasting party.

Do a 30-day challenge.

Start recycling 100%.

Make a butt painting (from tik tok).

Stick to a routine for 3 months.

Do something drastic with my hair.

Recreate 10 iconic love scenes from movies.

Run in the woods in a ball gown.

Grow the wax melt business and make $1,000.

Go to Covington, Georgia AKA Mystic Falls.

Rewatch every season of friends.

Make a scrapbook

Help someone cross something off of their bucket list.

Have my list crossed off by November 1st of 2026.

[humboldtfog]

Years of depression has prepared me very well for the current state of affairs which is weird but whatever here’s a list of my faves on netflix, if I’m missing something let me know cause now’s the time, right?

I'm kinda embarrassed by how long this list is but also kinda like fuck that, there have been very long periods of time where it was either sit and watch shows all day or lie down and stare at the wall in silence all day so I chose the former and it adds up and there's nothing wrong with that.

Glow (Badass ladies learn to wrestle, great 80s aesthetics and grrrrl power.)

Our Planet (Netflix version of Planet Earth, beautiful, cute, terrifying that we aren’t doing more to save us all.)

Bojack Horseman (Hilarious and “deep” critique of LA and celebrity culture for people who don’t care about LA or celebrity culture. Also very funny visual jokes about how if animals were also kinda humans, and lots of great jokes about cliches and tropes, puns, and weirdly rhyming and alliteration? I don’t know how to explain it just watch it.)

Father Brown (BBC, based on mystery novels about a priest who always meddles in police business and solves murders in his small English countryside town.)

Pose (The Ball scene in NY in the 80s, poc queer and trans writers and actors bringing their people’s stories to life. So much joy, so much beauty, but also NYC in the 80s so you will cry.)

Paris is Burning (Documentary made during the Ball scene Pose is based on.)

Sex Education (Such empowering representations of all walks of gender and sexuality, and actually very educational, like I would straight up show this in schools because everyone would be very entertained and would learn a lot more than they teach in a lot of schools.)

What Happened Miss Simone (Documentary about Nina Simone’s life, music and the activism the establishment/ government worked to suppress and used to blacklist her.)

Night on Earth (Low light camera technology has gotten hella good and they’re starting to learn stuff about animals’ behaviors at night that they’ve never been able to study before.)

Call the Midwife (Follows stories from the midwives that worked in the East End of London after the war, based on memoirs. Interesting look at the kind of life of poverty people led before there were many large hospitals or birth control, right as the British were implementing their universal healthcare program.)

The Great British Baking Show (Everyone’s so nice and everything looks so good!)

Atypical (Dramady about a high schooler with autism and his family, very funny and great representations of autism and how to be a good dude.)

Parks and Recreation (Just very funny and everyone knows it. Amazing ensemble cast, and they still keeps in touch through a group chat awww doesn’t that say something!)

Kim’s Convenience (Canadian comedy about family of first and second gen Korean immigrants that’s just a really solid funny modern day sitcom.)

Queer Eye (I feel like if everyone in this world could get a life makeover from these guys we just wouldn’t be here right now.)

Obvious Child (Jenny Slate accidentally gets pregnant and gets an abortion. It’s funny and it’s realistic, we’re not all Juno.)

Maria Bamford: the Special Special Special (Rad lady comedian not afraid to talk about her mental health and lack thereof and very vocal about the stigma surrounding mental health problems and I very much relate to. My favorite standup probably ever. I could make a list just for standup so message me if you’d like more suggestions.)

Monty Python (Flying Circus, movies, doc, ect. “The Beatles of comedy” is the cliche but it's true.)

Easy (Very unconventional non-narrative structure and editing, following random people in Chicago in a very real life feeling way. Different story each episode, but sometimes characters show up briefly in each other’s lives or return for a second episode.)

Everything Sucks! (High school nerds and lesbians and theater geeks in the 90s! I’m so sad this only got one season I rewatched it recently and it’s just so solid.)

She’s Gotta Have It (Revival of Spike Lee’s first movie, black girl magic, art world, gentrified New York, lots of sex.)

The Office (Classic, holds up very well, totally solid throughout, worth a rewatch. Also if you're a fan Jenna Ficher and Angela Davis are doing a rewatch podcast jsyk.)

Billy on the Street (Mindless game show for laughs, amazing gay comedian runs around New York yelling questions at them. I watch this with my dad and he can’t help but snort even when it’s “inappropriate” or “juvenile” so you know it’s good.)

Good Girls (Some lower middle class family ladies that are all about to be broke decide to rob the grocery store one of them works at, but they accidentally cross a gang that stored their cash there, so they gotta pay it back, and of course can’t help but get deeper and deeper into it. Very suspenseful like your heart rate will go up and stay up. )

Arrested Development (It’s just funny, as you've probably heard, but I'm telling you it just really is.)

The Laundromat (Tells the stories of a few of the people involved in the panama papers in different ways, explains in an entertaining way how money laundering works in a way that made it mostly make sense even to me. The rich get richer, and Meryl Streep is here to tell them to fuck off and pay their taxes.)

Russian Doll (She keeps dying and coming back to the same moment over and over and can’t figure out how to stop the cycle or why so kinda sci fi, very suspenseful, big cliff hanger ending, or rather no ending, and just found out season two filming is delayed because virus which is very annoying!!)

Dear White People (Show picking up where the movie left off, after a frat hosts a black face party and the ivy league college is forced to deal with racism.)

Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings (Stories based on Dolly songs. Very Hallmark channel, you will cry.)

Episodes (Show about two British writers making a version of their BBC show for American tv. Kind of meta, very funny, Matt LaBlanc plays himself and it's great.)

Dumplin’ (Fat girl grows up with a beauty pageant winning mom and enters one herself with the help of her late aunt’s Dolly Parton drag queen friends.)

Lunatics (Chris Lilley is the best character actor ever, all his shows are just him playing different parts and you seriously forget it’s all one actor, even when he’s playing teenage girls.)

Jane the Virgin (Prime time soap opera about a girl who is engaged and waiting until marrige and is accidentally inseminated with the only sperm sample of a man who’s had cancer so decides to keep the baby, very heavy on the soap opera cliches in a meta way but also that’s what it is. So good at first but after the first three or so seasons it gets too much tbh though.)

Zumbo’s Just Desserts (Australian Bake show but with just sweet stuff and pressure to be avant garde.)

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Jerry Sienfeld goes out with funny people to coffee and lunch in fancy cars and they have funny conversations.)

One Day at a Time (Very very cheesy laugh track sitcom, like the kind of thing my grandma would watch, but it makes me so happy it’s doing a great job eplaining really woke concepts like queer pronouns and ptsd and addiction and white privilege to people like my grandma!)

Orange is the New Black (Good stories about very diverse characters, I’d say by starting it off about a upper middle class white girl it tricks privileged white people into watching and then encountering the more realistic stories of women who go to prison and how the system treats prisoners. Ending of season two is super solid and you can stop it there, season three is a really great critique of the privatization of prisons. I admit it goes on and on to the point that it’s stressful and after watching it spread out over years I can’t remember/ keep up with all the different story lines, though they’re all good stories to tell.)

Space Jam (Just saw while scrolling for more ideas this was added! One of the greatest sports movies of all time obviously.)

Bonus amazon prime shows, I try to avoid Amazon in general but these are just too good if you know a prime member who you can't convince not to give their money to amazon so they might as well give you their login (like yer dad).

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (A 1950s New York upper class Jewish house wife gets dumped and starts doing stand up, so funny, great actors, and they seriously transform NY back into another era.)

Good Omens (Mini series based off Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s satirical novel about the biblical apocalypse, very funny, very smart, very British, does the book pretty solid justice.)

There are other decent things that aren’t included, I’d say these are solid recs for a general list of genres all over the map without letting it get to a ridiculously unhelpful length. I feel like I’d be good at the “if you like this then you’ll also like…” so let me know if some of these are your favorites too and want personal recs for what to watch next based on a brain instead of an algorithm.

If you want to have a remote date and watch things together on video chat or one of those watch party sites or just tell me what to watch next here’s some stuff on my list I’ve been curious about or not sure about or don’t want to watch alone or have been putting off, and now’s the time right?: Strangers Things, I Am Not Okay With This, Black Panther, The Betty White doc, John Mulaney Snack Lunch Bunch, Dead to Me, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, A Wrinkle in Time, The Little Prince, Maniac, Wet Hot American Summer reboots, and a bunch of different standup specials from comedians I like.

[partybuster]

Only a handful of party rental companies are dedicated to transforming your events, and Party Buster NYC is one of them. From them, you can find all the essential party equipment and a wide array of rental properties to light up your event. From tables, chairs, tents, stunning decorations, and props, you can find everything for your party here.

[punkscowardschampions]

Ava & Buster

Ava: Are you lot en-route? Buster: 'Course Buster: But we've had one foot out the door for like half an hour, honestly Ava: Good, 'cos I have presents Buster: Yeah? Buster: Pot of gold or what, like Ava: Hardly appropriate for a two-year-old Ava: None for you, soz 💔 Buster: I'd argue it's very appropriate Buster: All the shit he needs haemorrhages cash Ava: You were warned Ava: Extensively Buster: And I ain't sorry I didn't listen Buster: They can all try and sue me Ava: Enter an arena where they aren't the experts? Ava: Doesn't sound like mum and dad Buster: No such arena exists, clearly Buster: Know it all, have done it all Ava: Your degree must be a waste of time then Buster: You'd have to ask 'em what they reckon Buster: But I'd wait til they've got a few more drinks down 'em first, get closer to the truth Ava: Ugh, shut up Ava: You know they're proud of you Buster: Yeah yeah, blah blah Buster: But are you proud of me? Real MVP and everything Ava: When you get your cap and gown Ava: Funny wig, even better Ava: I still only got stuff for the kids and Ri though Ava: I'll chase a 🌈 down ASAP Buster: You're alright Buster: Already got a girlfriend, don't you? Buster: No need to get gayer just to wind me up, Nance has got that covered Ava: Ha, don't even chat to me about annoying Buster: I won't Ava: 😏 Ava: No, you're meant to ask, idiot Ava: You're so lucky you only have a son Buster: Tell me then Buster: I want a girl next Ava: Well she's not coming back, not that I'm surprised Buster: What bullshit excuse did she go with this time? She's got too much work on, girlfriend drama or she just hates fam functions SO MUCH Ava: It was column A presented but 1000% came across as column C Ava: She can be so Buster: I know Buster: Did she try and buy you off with an NYC trip that ain't gonna happen just like the last one didn't? Ava: Twin telepathy is real, yeah? Ava: 🙄 Buster: Fuck that and her Buster: I told you before, when you actually wanna go I'll take you Buster: Then you only have to see her a bearable amount Ava: I know Ava: It'd be interesting to see how long she could hold a conversation with me but yeah Ava: won't happen so Buster: Longer than she can with me or dad, probably slightly less time than she can with mum, depending what mood they are both in Buster: That'd be my bet Buster: Chin up, the good twin is finally on his fucking way Ava: Sounds about right Ava: Good time to tell you to call her yourself later or do you want a drink before you process that? Buster: Bad time to be forced to remember that I told Rio right at the start I wouldn't drink when she couldn't Ava: Honestly, I thought this kid was PLANNED Ava: She couldn't Christmas or New Year either Buster: She was planned, just not by me Ava: 'Course, you would've factored in drinking Ava: Must be their gay agenda Buster: There's loads of shit I'd have factored in Ava: That's your upbringing talking Buster: Shut up Ava: It is though Ava: Personally, I agree its better than the more the merrier approach too Buster: You'll personally be waiting a load more years before you make me play uncle then, yeah? Buster: Good Ava: Ugh Ava: Don't be making me 🤢 just because green is the colour today Buster: Gotta Buster: Who the fuck is there to be jealous of when we're us? Ava: You couldn't go the more traditional routes, no? 🍾🥂 Ava: Seeing as I'm NOT pregnant or being a very supportive partner to someone who is Buster: Come on, who am I? Buster: And you can leave me out of your rites of passage, I've cleaned up enough sick in the name of being a supportive partner Buster: Grace'll hold your hair back for you Ava: There's no need to be old AND boring 😏 Buster: Fuck off Buster: Counting down the days til I can drink you under the table Ava: Dad lets me Buster: There's nothing dad won't let you do Buster: Got him well wrapped around your finger, like Ava: It's not my fault I'm the most lovable Ava: Do better 😋 Buster: That's the one title you can keep Buster: Got all the love I need, cheers Ava: 🤢🥰 Ava: N'awh Buster: Lyla didn't wanna come and hang with the extended fam then? Ava: Wouldn't do that to someone I liked, would I? Buster: Depends how much you like her Ava: Nah Ava: That's all a bit heavy Buster: Well yeah Buster: It would be a trial by fire Ava: Then pissed on Ava: then set on fire again Ava: I like having time away when I come here, you know Ava: Not attached at the hip Buster: I know Ava: I'll send her a hilarious postcard or something Buster: You sounded like Nance there Buster: No need to miss her at all Ava: Fuck off Buster: You're right she'd never write it Buster: Half her holiday would be over before she got the words down Ava: 😂 Ava: Rude Buster: It's fuck all I wouldn't say to her face if she ever bothered to show it Ava: Can no one in this family be nice Ava: Honestly Buster: Come on Buster: I'm nice to you Buster: You ain't even bought me a present Ava: I know, I'm very lovable Ava: Have you got me one? Buster: Yeah but you ain't having it now Ava: Yeah right Ava: I know who gets last word in your house Ava: and Rio is nice to everyone Buster: She's nicest to me and she always does what I say Buster: So you might wanna think again Ava: That's entirely too much information, thank you Ava: you owe me double as compensation Buster: You ain't having two bottles Buster: Keep the first one down and then we'll talk Ava: Challenge accepted Buster: Good Buster: Don't really wanna have to disown you before the day's out Ava: Least there's enough of 'em to fall back on should you get the urge Ava: I'll survive Buster: Keep that quiet around mum, it's still them and us with her Ava: Sounds familiar 🙄 Buster: You're bound to hear it yet again by the time she's had a few Ava: Not if I have anything to do with it Buster: Sounds like you've got a plan Ava: As planned as a party should ever be Buster: Yeah Ava: 💃🎉 Ava: Hurry up Buster: Traffic's worse than London at its finest right now Buster: Everyone on the road's either already wasted or angry they ain't Ava: Stay safe Buster: 'Course Buster: Speaking of, where you staying tonight? Ava: Tipsy childcare is better than no childcare Ava: No need to beg Buster: Shut up, I'll drive you is all I'm saying Ava: Cheers 💙 Buster: I'll cash the IOU when you're sober, like Ava: Better cash it before I cash my 2nd present then Buster: Forget it for now, it's a holiday Ava: That's what I've been saying Buster: You ain't gotta tell me, even if today I can't play as hard as I work Buster: Still not a fucking amateur Ava: Still a McKenna Buster: First and best Ava: Hardly Buster: If we're going by mum's them and us viewpoint, there's hardly any competition Buster: Just you and me, kid Ava: Well I'm just saying, Granddad is gonna be fuming Buster: Everything you learned about wrapping dad round your little finger you got from watching me with him Buster: I ain't worried Ava: Pfft Ava: My baby blues are bluer and my pout is poutier Ava: I'm the new model, boy Buster: 'Cause you need 'em to fall back on Buster: I'm just that good Buster: you're the youngest model that's all Buster: Due a spectacular fuck up about now Ava: You wish Ava: On all counts Buster: Nah, I'm rooting for you Buster: 'Course I am Ava: Mhmm Ava: Dead convincing 😏 Buster: I always am Buster: Wig or no wig Ava: So soppy, you Ava: Have title of my best big brother Buster: That's a copout but whatever Ava: And fussy Ava: Alright best sibling but that isn't much more of an achievement really Buster: Don't worry about it Buster: I know how great I am Ava: Yeah yeah, blah blah Buster: Get me the least shit sounding soft drink and I'll believe you Ava: If there's anything being tragically underage has taught me Ava: 👍 Buster: Cheers Buster: See you in 5 Ava: Bring your cute kid Buster: I taught him how to say “Sláinte” earlier so you'll be able to rate my achievements for yourself Buster: He ain't just a pretty face Ava: 🥺🥰 Ava: What a face though Buster: I can't take all the credit Buster: He takes after his mother Buster: Tell her how good she looks when we get in, yeah? I'm living a nightmare Ava: 'Course Ava: I've got a girlfriend, remember Ava: I know the drill, just amp up period level love 1000% for a pregnant bitch Buster: My wife ain't a insecure teenager Buster: But I appreciate the sentiment Buster: Just don't call her a bitch ever again Ava: I say it with love Ava: from one to another Ava: but got it, I'll remind her she's old Buster: Don't Buster: It'll be your funeral Ava: 😂 I only like winding you u Ava: p Ava: Don't need anyone crying on me Buster: Good Buster: I don't need to be breaking up any girl fights Buster: Especially when I've taught you both everything I know Ava: Even if me hitting a girl is more acceptable than you, I think everyone draws the line at a pregnant one Buster: Fine, I don't wanna pick you up off the floor once she's knocked you out and do a concussion test after someone pours a pint over you to bring you round Buster: I was trying to soften the blow of how it'll play out since I'd be powerless to stop the actual Ava: And I thought you were in the festive spirit Ava: 🙄 Ava: I'll take back this virgin cocktail, like 😏 Buster: Not without any spirits in me Buster: You'll have to take what you can get Ava: Few folk songs and you'll be well into it Buster: Voice of an angel, obviously Buster: Could've been a choir boy if not for everything else Ava: You took living vicariously a wee bit hard with the name already Buster: You'd have preferred me to name him after a silent film star, yeah? Ava: That was pure wishful thinking 🙊🤐🤫 Buster: Fucked over as my boy's been by not being named Rudolph Valentino or Roscoe Arbuckle, I reckon he'll be alright Buster: Cheers though Ava: I think Fatty murdered someone Ava: so as far as aspirations go, you're in the right direction Buster: I always am Buster: Never a misstep made, no matter what mum and dad say Ava: Alright 👼 its St Paddy's not confessional Ava: and the priest would be rare pissed off if you waltzed in and said you'd never done anything wrong 😂 Buster: He'd be a fine one to talk Ava: The drama of it all Buster: Again, I don't need to be told Buster: There's a kid here asking for you, except shouting's more the word Ava: He gets it 👏 Ava: 💃 Buster: Come out before he legs it in

[partybuster5-blog]

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[splitscreen]

I HAVE TWO TOP FIVES AND YOU WILL ANSWER BOTH 1. Top five adventures we have had together 2. Top five stupidest things Dummy has ever done GOOD LUCK LIMITING BOTH TO FIVE, JERK

TOP FIVE ADVENTURES (this was hard, you were correct. also these aren’t in order they’re just a sheila’s greatest hits)

the hair fire at maggiano’s, but especially when you told me to zip my purse up because we were about to have to run when the sprinklers turned on, and also your commitment to taking the spaghetti to eat in the parking lot

experiencing british charf’s level 5 meltdown in the american pavilion at epcot

riding splash mountain while dressed as the ghostbusters. riding haunted mansion while dressed as ghost busters (basically, just being ghostbusters at magic kingdom. i was just telling someone about this today, actually!)

literally everything from the NYC trip to the hunger games exhibit. all of it. i can’t pick one thing specifically. from kevin the night manager at the waldorf, to  dragging sarah to the bowery and telling her she couldn’t ask questions, the whole thing was just an amazing 48 hours and i can’t narrow it down any more than that

the inaugural trash conference with @keep-encouraged because we discovered the true importance of dinner party that weekend

TOP FIVE STUPIDEST DUMMY THINGS

egg

being a bernie bro

egg

egg

egg

[manleycollins]

Journal Entry #67 - Celebrating Another Year Around the Sun

JOURNAL ENTRY #67 Name: Manley M Collins Social Security Number: 5 7 9 – * * – 6 5 4 1 Date of Birth: 06/21 Place of Birth: Washington, District of Columbia Country of Birth: United States of America Date: May 1, 2021

TOPIC: Celebrating Another Year Around the Sun

I am working with Amtrak and Megabus scheduling trips to New York City on the regular so it was going to be a big celebration as usual. Boston Housing Authority had my hopes up as I had my interview and sent in the paperwork for a two bedroom apartment, but since I did not meet the requirements of the two bedroom (actually having two people), I was returned to the studio and one-bedroom waiting list. Boston Housing Authority had me get three Certificate of Homelessness.

I found Walmart….thank goodness.

I stayed at HI New York City for my 2021 birthday week in New York City. I went to Dave and Buster's Times Square. I went to the Juneteenth After Party with DJ Q at TimeOut Market New York, 5th Floor, 55 Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

I kept my Harvard University Extension School profile updated every time I filed my FAFSA.

I was involved with University of Phoenix Alumni Advocacy Network or Marketing, but I had to cease working with them until I found how life was going to help me use my doctoral degree.

I shared my graduation photos to help DeVry University celebrate its 90th anniversary.

I started encountering all types of service issues with Lyft's BlueBikes from smartphone app not working to bikes not docking to overcharging.

Strava and Nike were getting the craziest GPS maps of trips on everywhere I was going across Greater Boston on foot and bikes. I did use MBTA (T) public transportation when I am too far out or the day is very late in the evening/night.

I tried Apple TV+ trial subscription, but I actually found no content that I like.

UberEats and DoorDash started sending me on grocery runs or orders.

Therapy and Psychiatrist with Arbour Counseling Services topics were (Previous Journal topics - I just was repeating them to new people verbally)

Suspension from Federal Express work New routine Monday felt gravity and maybe bloatedness Lawsuits life crazy thoughts and pushed through while doing my workout Federal Express corporate doctor for Psychiatric/Psychological Evaluation #1 Want to beat up somebody at work (Federal Express) for not listening and not caring Talked to a long time friend Housing interview Walmart errand

On New York trip, Thursday evening, I had a panic attack at the Jane Hotel, which was a closed space in total darkness and 50 square feet. Nothing in my system except medicine. Question: Maybe close to family???? Slept with light on all other nights.

Traveling all over….other people are traveling….why life thought I was crazy?

Got a message while exploring the library to rebuild my music collection…just because I got the technology parts to do it.

Answers to complaint - Justice Dept heads to District Court - spoke to federal attorney

Release of information to Partners healthcare

US Dept Transportation tries to do mail security on trying not to send them anything through the mail or website.

Preparing to Commencement in Atlanta, Georgia

Photo shoot and social media - felt good buying and putting on MAC Cosmetics and beard dye.

Saw movie Moonlight and Waves on Showtime TV.

Feeling heavy like gravity trying to pull me to the floor.

Reminiscencing over stuff and events during my 30s through YouTube

New individual met in person

Good week overall

Not watching a lot of television and movies

Civil suit results

Birthday weekend in New York City

Blog and Picture release

Southampton Lawsuit BPHC

Fitness Gym

Upcoming Doctor's appointment

Saw a Federal Express colleague yesterday while on a DoorDash or UberEats run and it was kind of awkward

Rough sleep last night assuming based on lawsuit, NYC, and picture release.

Finished Mango Languages (learning French) provided through District of Columbia Public Library. Purchased Busuu language app subscription through the Apple store to continue French language learning.

Met with Psychiatrist

Lost emails and email cleansing on all major accounts.

Picture releasing and storytelling

Hospital emergency room visit for strained muscle or lymph node or hernia.

First time seeing Boston's Fourth of July fireworks from Boston Common

Came to Boston to not be bothered, but folks are doing, "don't listen, don't care."

Colon cancer screening Responses to civil suit Laundry Walmart Unexpected income Apple unexpected transaction Federal Express Calm week Emotional in the beginning Email cleansing Doctor's Appointment

Other topics from Summer of 2021:

I had United Healthcare with Federal Express for medical care and it was accepted by Massachusetts General Hospital. However, I never understood behind the scenes what was happening with MassHealth (BMC Community Health Plan now WellSense) and United Healthcare. I got a new MGH Primary Care Physician and Psychiatrist.

I sent a physical card to my ex-girlfriend for the passing of her mother. She is happily married and her children are doing well.

I was trying to schedule professional photography session because my University of Phoenix commencement was coming up in Atlanta, Georgia. Initially, it was Joe Henson, but he closed the New York City studio so I ended up with Beaupix in Burlington, Massachusetts. During the process, I discovered hennaking . com had a plant-based beard dye and beard or moustache care. I did repurchase and got update on getting my MAC Cosmetics foundation and concealer.

For UberEats and DoorDash, I saw that I needed to purchase a powerbank for my Apple iPhone because I always had to end my day when my phone dies.

I researched Boston nightclubs by TimeOut and Google.

After Federal Express suspension, they sent me in the direction of Paid Medical Leave while on Leave of Absence. Federal Express tried to do Suspension with Pay, but that was short lived….James "Jim" McSweeney took or hold badge. Gary, another new manager, took cellphone locker key. I had to sign a document to see corporate doctor for Center of Cognitive Wellness. I was assigned to a Health Human Capital Management Federal Express person - Cynthia "Cindy" Roten. I ended up applying for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) with Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave. I got denied, then I appealed, and I got approved for a specified time period. I am still on United Healthcare.

I booked my flight with Delta Airlines, rented a car with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and lodged at Marriott Towne Suites. See photoblogs and tweets for media.

I had the opportunity to apply for Lifeline or the America Rescue Plan for my telephone and data or network plan. I got denied initially due to my address so I had to work the information through AT&T. AT&T knows I will pay whatever price for dependable, reliable, and quality service…yes, 90% of my telecommunications experience, I always purchase the highest cost plan. I believe this is due to having a professional background in telecommunications and educated through my degrees regarding telecommunications.

I sent information to TLC TV Dr. Pimple Popper / Dr. Lee for the small mole on my back for Season Two (2). I never got to audition or feedback on the information sent.

I started researching new places to eat (when I was eating every meal). I saw the Haley House. I went to Haley House, but the food was super heavy food - rice, beans, eggs, etc. for breakfast.

I attended Shakespeare in the Common supporting Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 25th Anniversary play named the The Tempest. It was good. Weather cooperated well. I even talked to a young lady from Arizona.

I was scheduling appointments to use the computer at the Boston Public Library.

I met a friend and went to J.P. Licks, then walked the park from Boston to Cambridge to Beacon Hill in circle.

I was attended virtual service with First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, DC.

I donated street money to Pine Street Inn, St. Francis House, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston Police Foundation.

[yourlocalkids123]

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[dinamicus]

Thursday’s Child https://bowiesongs.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/thursdays-child/

One summer day some ten years ago, I was helping to paint a house. On the boombox was Best of Bowie: a long, chronological march from the beachhead of “Space Oddity,” with most songs met by indifference and occasional hums. The caressing synthesizers of “Thursday’s Child” began, and as Bowie started crooning, a fellow painter stopped mid-swipe and looked over at the CD player.

“What happened to that guy?” he said.

We’d made it through “Dancing In the Street” with a few chuckles and “Under the God” without comment. But “Thursday’s Child,” on that hot afternoon, sounded awful: treacly, gaspy, wan; the limp expiration of a career. When heard as the close of a sequence that runs through “Rebel Rebel,” “Ashes to Ashes,” “Modern Love” and “The Hearts Filthy Lesson,” “Thursday’s Child” sounds like a man falling down in the street, a hasty end scene tacked onto an overlong Act V. “I’m done with the future: here’s a song for your grandmother.” Dies, borne off stage right.

Sure, any slow, fragile-sounding number could’ve gotten a raspberry that day from our collection of young and recently-young NYC snobs. It’s not as if “Thursday’s Child” is an ill-constructed or poorly-sung track: if anything, it’s one of the few Bowie compositions of the period sturdy enough to withstand being a cover, whether a trumpet solo or a busker’s guitar piece (solo electric guitar interpretation by Jake Reichbart here). Its verse melody, a dance of mild leaps and modest falls, suits a lyric crafted for common use. In the verses, an older man regrets the paths he’s taken; in the choruses, he dares to hope a new love can give his life meaning. It’s Bowie’s “September Song.”

But “Thursday’s Child” wasn’t hip; it didn’t offer any pretense that it was—it sat in a comfortable present tense and stewed on the past. It felt genteel and a bit shabby. After a few years of running across stages in his bottle imp incarnation, after his stabs at industrial and jungle, after all the interviews about Damien Hirst and body scarifications and Millennial doom and Internet-as-cultural-dynamite, Bowie suddenly turned up as the sad clown again. He’d dusted off his Buster Keaton suit and reclaimed the shadow bloodline of his “rock” one: the Bowie of “When I Live My Dream” and “As The World Falls Down,” the cabaret and mime Bowie, the “light entertainment” regional thespian, the bedsit saddo, the Mod who worshiped Judy Garland and Eartha Kitt (see below).

The singer of “Thursday’s Child” is another of the Pierrots he’d played since the Sixties: a perpetual loser at love, like the glum figure of his “Be My Wife” promo. Take the Mr. Pitiful tone of the opening verse—

All of my life I’ve tried so hard doing the best with what I had: nothing much happened all the same…

—with its most desperate emphases (“best,” “hope”) cued to gloomy B minor chords, while the verse’s circular structure strands the singer back where he started, on an augmented E major (“breaking my life in two”). You can take the song as a straight-faced lament, as a quietly over-the-top spoof of the same, or both (it is Bowie, after all).

And while the chorus offers a hope of release from the cycle, its alternation of F# majors (“falling”) and F# minors (“really got,” “my past”) suggest the hope’s rather thin. The repetitions of “throw me tomorrow” start to feel desperate; Bowie’s “everything’s falling into place!” is someone trying to hypnotize himself. It’s as if Bowie’s answering Joni Mitchell:

It’s got me hoping for the future And worrying about the past

Ours was the most exciting show that had hit London since the war…I was glad that I was born in a part of the world that had been so well protected, but I was also ashamed of my protection. I carried guilt inside for being a privileged character when the rest of the world was being destroyed.

Eartha Kitt, Thursday’s Child, 1956.

This song, I might point out, is not actually about Eartha Kitt.

Bowie, 1999.

He’d taken the song’s title from Eartha Kitt, Bowie said upon introducing “Thursday’s Child” on VH1 Storytellers. Writing the song, he’d recalled the paperback cover of her first autobiography (“it just kind of bubbled up the other month”). It had been an erotic memory of his youth (that and D.H. Lawrence, he said).* Using Kitt as a starting point suited Hours’ theme of a middle-aged assessment of lost youth, a 50-year-old flipping through a box of mold-speckled records shipped from his childhood home (Ray Charles’ “Lucky Old Sun” —a man stuck in the middle of life and envying death—also gets a nod).

The title also plays with an old prediction rhyme—“Thursday’s child has far to go” (another variant is “Thursday’s child is merry and glad”)—that had come out of the ground somewhere in medieval England. The rhyme was a popular corruption of court astrology: Thursday was considered a day of great fortune as it was under the sway of Jupiter, kingpin of gods. The Book of Knowledge, by one Erra Pater (1745), notes a “child born on Thursday shall arrive to Great Honour and Dignity” (By contrast, David Robert Jones was born on a Wednesday “full of woe”).**

So the refrain of “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday born, I was Thursday’s Child” was Bowie spading up his old occult interests, presenting them in anodyne forms: the little boxes tucked away on a newspaper’s comics page: horoscopes, birth stones, fortunes, lucky numbers (see “Seven”). It’s the “secret histories” of the Sixties reduced to syndicated copy; it’s another diminishing of unearthly power into ordinary life.

It’s also a clever way to cloud the lyric. What to make of the chorus kicker: “only for you I don’t regret/that I was Thursday’s child“? It’s at odds with the picture the singer’s painted so far: that he’s someone for whom little’s worked out, someone who’s estranged from everyday life yet firmly stuck within it (“He’s a teethgrinding, I’ll-get-this-job-done guy,” Bowie said of the narrator). (It’s also possible that, as Nicholas Pegg noted, Bowie’s referencing the VU’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties“: “For Thursday’s child is Sunday’s clown.“) But a Thursday’s child would be a lucky child: someone with pull, some who had far to go: a Kitt, or a Bowie.

Go back to Eartha Kitt for a moment. Born in South Carolina, she’d reinvented herself in the early Fifties as a nightclub goddess who’d seemingly flown in from the Continent; she played the seductress, the gold-digger with taste (“Santa Baby”) who captured men with her boxful of languages. She’d be cast in that role for the rest of her days: a life spent forever vamping. But what a role! As her biographer John L. Williams wrote of her performance of “Monotonous” in the film New Faces: Eartha is playing a character that’s almost unimaginable in reality [in 1954]: a black American woman who’s tasted all of the world’s delicacies and found them lacking…we wonder, who on earth is this woman? And how can she seem to be so indifferent to the laws and mores of her time? A question that could have been asked, with a gender change, about another performer in 1973.

So maybe the singer is someone like Kitt: not some teeth-grinding anonymous drone but a bright public figure, someone whose name everyone knows, someone to whom things seem have come easily. Doing the best with what I had becomes a modest boast; shuffling days and lonely nights are those of a stage life. Or maybe even the common life of an office drone is a stage life. Bowie had called himself “the Actor,” but in a way, we’re all actors.

Composed in Bermuda in late 1998, “Thursday’s Child” appears to have been mainly Bowie’s work, written on acoustic guitar. It was earmarked as a potential single, with a prominent role for backing singers. The question of who those should be became a bit contentious once Bowie and Gabrels were back in New York.

After toying with having Mark Plati’s six-year-old daughter sing the “Inchworm”-inspired “Monday, Tuesday..” line (she turned Bowie down! “she said she’d rather sing with her friends than with grown-ups,” Plati told David Buckley), Bowie thought of contacting the trio TLC. In 1999, they were arguably the premier female R&B vocal group of the decade. But they were tottering. Rife with personality and financial squabbles and having taken five years to cut their follow-up LP, they were about to be dethroned by Destiny’s Child.

Using TLC sat poorly with Gabrels, who thought it stunk of Bowie’s “New Jack Swing” moves in 1992: “Thursday’s Child” could be another potential Al B. Sure! fiasco. Gabrels had positioned himself as the house purist: some faint analogue in the Bowie camp to Steve Albini. He’d met Bowie during the nadir of Never Let Me Down and he saw it as his charge to keep Bowie honest and weird, to stop him from embarrassing himself by chasing trends after their sell-by date. During the making of ‘Hours’ Gabrels came to feel that his time with Bowie was over (we’ll get into this more in next week’s entry); his veto of TLC would be his last strategic win.

His alternative proposal had a touch of self-interest: he recommended a Boston friend, Holly Palmer, who Bowie auditioned via speakerphone (“let’s hear it with more vibrato now”). You could argue that Palmer’s vocals were just as time-stamped as any TLC vocals would have been: the Liz Fraser-inspired vocalese, the coffee-shop ambiance (a slightly edgier Dido). But Bowie liked what he heard and Palmer joined his touring band in 1999-2001.**

Another question was how far to take the production. David Buckley argued that the song was “crying out for strings,” and the various synthesizer fill-ins for woodwinds, strings and brass can make the song seem stuck in an embryonic state. Had Bowie held “Thursday’s Child” back for what he was calling the “Visconti album,” slated for 2000, it likely would’ve had a much grander production. Perhaps what kept “Thursday’s Child” from being a monstrous hit was that it hedged its bets too much.

The last piece was Walter Stern’s video. “Bowie,” with little makeup to mask his plus-fifty face, and his partner prepare for bed. They brush their teeth, she takes out her contacts (verrry slooowly). There’s a naturalist feel to counter the tasteful Wiliams Sonoma bedroom set: you hear Bowie cough, mumble and half-sing over the recorded track (taken from Elvis Costello’s “I Wanna Be Loved” video), and the plash of water in the sink. He looks in the mirror, transfixed by his aged but still beautiful face; he’s a veteran Narcissist. A twist of the glass and he sees younger versions of himself and his partner.

The mirror pair have the easy, arrogant confidence of youth; they stare at the older couple with the cold pity of  what Bowie once called “the coming race.” They seem like beautiful wraiths. Bowie, seemingly infatuated with his younger self, does the Marx Brothers Duck Soup mirror game with him. The double plays along for a while, then stops, bored and disgusted with his older self. We passed upon the stair, Bowie had sung long ago, upon meeting another double. He’d been on his way up then, his life still mostly potential. This is the other end of the staircase: a man realizing that time has changed him, that the majority share of his life lies behind him now, that his younger self would’ve regarded the current him like some threadbare costume. Perhaps that was the right question to ask after all: What happened to that guy? He kisses his wife in his imagination, and so to bed....

[cinefiled]

It Must Be Heaven (2019)

Elia Suleiman, following in the footsteps of Jacques Tati, reminiscent of Peter Sellers in Being There, and often compared to Buster Keaton, creates another absurdist observational comedy, venturing beyond his usual Palestinian boundaries to explore not just life in Palestine, but being Palestinian in the outside world. The scenes that make up the movie are often clever and meticulously composed. To my taste, Suleiman falls short of Tati, Sellers, and Keaton by being too expressive. He often maintains a stony demeanor a la Buster Keaton which focuses attention on what's going on around him and to him but when that breaks, he draws attention to himself and away from the situation he's observing - I think to the detriment of the character and the movie.

Letterboxd reviewer Mike Kennedy pinned down something that was nagging at the edge of consciousness for me about one aspect of the absurdism in It Must Be Heaven:

The point where the penny dropped for me is a sequence clearly shot in the lead up to the Bastille Day parade in Paris. Cinematographer Sofian El Fani shoots fighter jets screaming overhead and a line of heavy tanks rumbling across a cross-street. As an aside, the new speaker system in the Capitol came into its own with these scenes as the seats shook from the sound vibrations.

While people were laughing at the absurdist elements he was drawing on here, it occurred to me that these things were only absurdist outside of the West Bank and Gaza - there they are part of everyday life.

In the same way, we laughed at the scenes in Central Park where everyone, including babies in prams, was doing open carry and people in the supermarket had automatic weapons slung over their shoulders. But Israeli soldiers with automatic weapons are a daily sight for Palestinians and body searches and being frisked with a wand are also common occurrences.

Additionally, the tanks and fighter jets in Paris were actually present as a routine part of the annual Bastille Day celebration, while the firearms in New York were an imaginative fantasy set a couple of miles away from what may be the only shooting range in New York City where they advertise

In NYC and the five boroughs, a civilian cannot shoot/use/rent a HANDGUN or PISTOL without having a NYC Handgun License issued by NYPD License Division.

At Westiside we offer the opportunity for novices to experience the excitement of firing a .22 Caliber Rifle without the need of a NYC permit!

Requirement: 21 years of age or older, U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident with at least one (1) year residency in the United States.

Westside must perform a criminal background check on all new shooters prior to scheduling your appointment. To perform this check, you must provide the name, address, birthdate and ID (driver’s license, passport, etc…) of all the individuals in your party.

a far cry from Suleiman's cinematic imaginings (where he missed a prime opportunity for a Lone Wolf and Cub reference). As are the people smoking in a New York bar. But both are revelatory of prejudgements/prejudices his character has about Americans and not dissimilar to a movie cabbie's excitement about having a real-life honest-to-goodness Palestinian in his cab.

It Must Be Heaven (2019) Director: Elia Suleiman