Spitbath

lkrupp said:

I read an article about Los Angeles in which the LAPD is now recommending people leave their fancy cars and jewelry at home when they go out. This is what our society has descended into? Is lawlessness now the norm? Is this what “defund the police” means? Should we leave our iPhones and AirPods home too?

https://nypost.com/2022/07/19/lapd-warns-against-flashing-jewelry-as-robberies-rise/

So I guess the message is buy an old Datsun beater to use when you go out on the town and wear plastic beads from Walmart, ladies.

foregoneconclusion said:

Reading between the lines: the original HP wasn’t discontinued due to lack of interest but due to not delivering the profit margin Apple wanted. In other words, $299 was the sweet spot and it hadn’t been designed to sell at $299. 

sdw2001 said:

The halftime show has been a complete joke for 20 years.  Katy Perry and Lady Gaga were watchable/listenable, but each show was so over-the-top ridiculous that it's hard to even make them exceptions.  The shows feature: 

1. Insanely overproduced, seizure-inducing effects and choreography 
2. Washed-up, aged talent (e.g. Tom Petty, Rolling Stones)
3. Inappropriate genre (Bruno Mars, Black Eyed Peas) 
4. Awful lip syncing (for literally every performer) 
5. Acts no-one over the age of 30 has heard of (e.g. The Weeknd) 

Until the mid eighties, they had marching bands.  The peak of it was probably Michael Jackson, and even then I remember thinking "no one calls him The King of Pop."  

I usually watch to take pleasure in how epically awful the show is.  If Rihanna's hair is any guide (from the commercials), I shouldn't be disappointed.  

1. Have you been to a major rock concert in the last 30 years? Or do you prefer lounge singers?
2. Nothing wrong with having a career that has been long and successful, fans that revere you, and songs that stand the test of time.
3. What makes these genres "inappropriate" exactly? Not white enough for you?
4. Pretty commonplace for a one-time performance that is 13 minutes in length and needs to go off with the least amount of technical difficulties possible.
5. I'm almost 47 and there's never been a halftime performer I have never heard of. I would say the same for my peers as well.

radarthekat said:

If that were the conversation then I’d say the academy needs a long hard look in the mirror, exactly for their willful act of retribution rather than an honest take on the merits of the project Smith was involved in and his contribution.  

They either should have a rule that says, only those in the academy are qualified for awards or they should select nominees and winners based solely upon merit of the works under consideration.  Any punishment meted out for unrelated incidents such as Smith slapping Rock should be a wholly separate issue.