Category: Politics, Religion & Money

Facelift

I recently saw a shorter version of this video played as a commercial at the AMC Surprise Pointe 14 theater in Arizona. It’s the sort of public relations message that a corporation produces as damage control when it sees the potential for serious, perhaps permanent, harm to the company.

My first thought was that a lot of what’s said in the video borders on being patronizing, in particular the Data Science Manager’s chart of The World of False News. But then I decided that these people, who are undoubtedly extremely well paid, are sincerely struggling to figure out what they’re doing.

The catch is that in any company everything comes down from the top, and I do not believe that Mark Zuckerberg has a sincere interest in cleaning up his mess. The only thing that will scare him straight is a mass exodus of users.

Today it’s being reported that Facebook’s secret sharing of user data goes much further than previously revealed. Like the Haight-Ashbury Hippie Movement in San Francisco that started out optimistically with the Human Be-In, only to crash and burn during the strung-out Summer of Love, Facebook has turned into a bad trip.

The Guy on CBS

Other than Stephen Colbert’s rather weak impression of Donald, the former Comedy Central Report-er has hit his stride as one of the most effective Trump counter-punchers. The impossible President’s claim that Colbert has no talent isn’t funny, because it’s laughable, as this segment from last night’s monologue proves.

Colbert was a big booster of “Breaking Bad” from the start of the series, hence the “Say My Name” name.

The Check’s In The Mail

I have been told by the Kia dealership in Peoria, Arizona that a check for $10,700 was mailed last Wednesday, and to call them if I haven’t received it by this Wednesday. I’ll do more than that. I’ll call my lawyer in Sun City West.

When you’re buying a car they won’t let you out the door until the money has been settled. But if they’re buying your car they make you leave the sales office not only without your car, but without your money. Funny how that works.

As I continue to wait for the money — payable not to me, but to the family trust — my late father’s car is, of course, available for sale at the dealership. They’ll make a hefty profit, assuming it sells for the asking price of $15,000. Look at that low, low mileage!

Cartoonist Under Fire Fired

In the age of declining newspaper readership, there aren’t many American papers left that have their own in-house political cartoonist. So it’s distressing when an established cartoonist is fired, especially when the reason isn’t economic, but political.

A few years ago the radical cartoonist Ted Rall was pushed out of The Los Angeles Times under very strange and confusing circumstances. Until a couple of days ago The Pittsburg Post-Gazette had Rob Rogers, and there is nothing confusing about the reason for his firing.

Getting Old Gratefully

John Oliver’s show is reason enough to subscribe to HBO, which I don’t do, so I feel guilty watching his videos for free on YouTube. Having responsibly fulfilled the duties of Durable Power of Attorney for my father before he died, and since his passing being Trustee of the estate, this installment of “Last Week Tonight” is especially meaningful to me.

At the end you will see some well-aged celebrities, including 92-year-old Cloris Leachman. Here she is in her very first screen appearance, over 60 years ago. Four years ago I embedded this video of one of my all-time favorite movies, and I’m very surprised it’s still here.