Saturday, October 31, 2020

Fargo 4.05

The Birthplace of Civilization

The police start cracking down on the Cannon gang's operations, legal and illegal. They shut down one of their nightclubs and then hit the Cannon gang's headquarters. Cannon just finished making a deal with a gang from up north. They handed over most of the guns they took from the Fadda gang in return for a pledge to help out when they need it. The police, led by Detective Weff, don't arrive until after the guns are gone. Weff takes the money that Thurman Smutney gave to Loy.

Friday, October 30, 2020

The Last Dance 1.02

Episode II

The series continues to focus mostly on the past with glimpses here and there on the 1997-98 NBA season.

Scottie Pippen gets the spotlight first. The focus is on his early years and why his relationship with Chicago Bulls management got so contentious over time. 

The spotlight then shifts to Michael's early life including his relationships with his brothers, his father and his high school career.

The episode then shifts forward several years to 1986. Michael injured his foot and had to sit out for a weeks. He got impatient and started practicing secretly back in North Carolina. The Bulls let him return to playing but limited his playing time. The Bulls made the playoffs that year and faced the Boston Celtics in the opening round. The Celtics won the series but Jordan put on a show. He scored 49 points in the first game, which the Bulls lost by 19 points. The next game went to double overtime but the Bulls lost again, this time by just 4 points. Jordan scored 63 points in game 2.

There was no mention of game 3 which was played in Chicago. The Bulls lost that one too. Jordan fouled out of that game after scoring just 19 points in 39 minutes of game time.

The episode ends in 1997 by focusing on the feud between Scottie Pippen and GM Jerry Krause. Pippen was still recovering from an injury and had yet to play in any games. He wanted to be traded and was very public about his interest in leaving the Bulls and his dislike for Jerry Krause.

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Justice League 2.04.B

Maid of Honor - Part 2

Batman and Wonder Woman invade Kasnia. The Kasnian military proves to be a little too much for them. Wonder Woman is captured and the Batplane is shot out of the sky. Princess Audrey and Vandal are exchanging vows while the the Kasnian military is suppressing Wonder Woman and Batman. Wonder Woman makes it to the ceremony before she is captured. She tries talking Audrey out of marrying Vandal Savage but he silences Wonder Woman with a powerful blast from a small high tech weapon.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

She's Gotta Have It 1.10

#NolasChoice (3 DA HARD WAY)

Nola prepares Thanksgiving dinner for 4 and invites Jamie, Greer, and Mars over to share the meal. They each are a bit put out by the presence of the other two men but all three of them stick around. Each expresses himself in his own way. Nola shows them her latest creation, a painting that she calls three-headed monster. They are the three headed monster as depicted in her artwork.

The evening ends with all four of them dancing to Raspberry Beret by Prince after which they collapse on her bed and sleep. The men each get up and leave in their own time. Nola is left alone, until the buzzer rings. It's Opal. She's by herself for Thanksgiving and has brought over a bottle of champagne. Nola hesitates before deciding to buzz Opal in.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Captain Harlock (1978) 1.03

A Woman Who Burns Like Paper

Almost no one pays any attention to the giant black sphere that crash landed on Earth. Most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to pay it any attention. There are just four people who suspect that it might be dangerous: Dr. Daiba, his son Tadashi, Professor Kusko, and Captain Harlock. Tadashi spots someone spying on his father's lab while he and his father are analyzing the great sphere. He tries chasing them but they get away. Dr. Daiba tries talking the Prime Minister into doing something about the giant black sphere but the PM lacks the desire to do anything.

Monday, October 26, 2020

1990 Duke at Clemson Men's Basketball

Littlejohn Coliseum
Clemson, SC
Feb 28, 1990

Duke Blue Devils at Clemson Tigers

These two teams were in some respects very evenly matched. They were tied for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference and had almost identical win loss records. Both teams were ranked nationally.

Duke came into this game with a record of 23-5 (9-3 ACC) and ranked 12th nationally. The two non-conference losses were to nationally ranked teams, Syracuse and Michigan. The three conference losses were all road games. They lost at North Carolina by a point, at Virginia by three points, and at North Carolina State by 5 points.

Clemson came into this game with a record of 22-5 (9-3 ACC) and ranked 20th nationally. The two non-conference losses were to Alabama and Villanova. The three conference losses were all road games. They lost at North Carolina State by two points, at North Carolina by 23 points, and at Duke by 14 points.

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Fargo 4.04


The Pretend War

Ethelrida takes a job cleaning Nurse Mayflower's apartment. She arrives just at Nurse Mayflower's place just as Josto is leaving. Josto runs into Rabbi Milligan as he is leaving the building where Orieta Mayglower lives. Milligan tells him about what happened, the attempt on Loy Cannon's eldest son, and what he learned from Calamita. Josto tells him to keep his eyes open and report back to him.

Friday, October 23, 2020

Sorry to Bother You (2018)


starring LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson
directed by Boots Riley

Cassius Green (Stanfield) discovers he is a better than average telemarketer. He gets a promotion just as his coworkers are launching a strike and attempting to start a union. He takes the promotion and discovers that the company is considerably more sinister than he imagined. Detroit (Thompson), his girlfriend, is very disappointed and dumps him when he refuses to join his coworkers and strike.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Mr. Inbetween 2.07

Watch Out for Snakes

Ray takes Bruce to see an old friend. Ray stays in the car but then Bruce's friend has to get Ray to help him because Bruce is stuck in the easy chair and can't get up.

Freddy wants Ray to talk to Kate, the daughter of a friend of his. She's a writer and she's working on a true crime book. Ray says no but he eventually meets with her. She agrees not to publish anything that he doesn't want in print. He doesn't seem very reassured by that.

Ray and Gary go to a department store and then head out of town, into the woods. They hang out and talk for a while, until it gets dark. Ray gets dressed in a ghillie suit and heads off into the dark. Gary stays behind with the car. Ray stops when he gets near a house. He stays there all night.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Justice League 2.04.A


Maid of Honor - Part 1

Wonder Woman goes to a party in Paris by herself. She dances with Bruce Wayne but they get interrupted by an attempt to kidnap one of the other guests, Princess Audrey of Kasnia. Wonder Woman foils the attempted kidnapping by herself. She spends the rest of the night partying with Princess Audrey all over Paris.

Monday, October 19, 2020

She's Gotta Have It 1.09

#ChangeGonCome (GENTRIFICATION)

Bianca, Nola's next door neighbor, is angry about graffiti on her stoop. She blames Papo, the artist who wanders the neighborhood with a cart full of art. Papo denies the charge. Other people at the neighborhood meeting try to step in and suggest that there are bigger problems in the neighborhood than graffiti.

Nola has a therapy session with Dr. Jamison who tries to talk her into coming clean with her three lovers. Nola has her doubts about doing that. She thinks that she has the situation under control. 

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Captain Harlock (1978) 1.02

A Message from the Unknown

Galactic Transport Fleet No. 7 is attacked and destroyed by a large ship of unknown origin. Captain Harlock learns about the attack and goes after the large ship. It is headed for Earth. Commander Kiruta, the leader of the Earth's defense forces, suspects that Captain Harlock is responsible for the destruction of the destroyed fleet.

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Fargo 4.03


Raddoppiarlo

The episode opens by taking back a step as it introduces U.S. Marshall Deafy Wickware who is looking for two fugitives, Zelmare and Swanee. He turns to the Kansas City Police for a bit of help. Detective Weff is assigned to help him out. Marshall Wickware, Detective Weff, and a bunch of police officers break into the Smutney home. They look for but are unable to find the fugitives. Smith doesn't seem satisfied but he leaves anyway, empty handed.

The Last Dance 1.01

Episode I

This 10-episode series focuses on the Bulls last run at the NBA championship while Michael Jordan was still on the team. This episode sets up the premise of the series. It includes a spotlight of Jerry Krause, who was the General Manager of the Bulls from 1985 to 2003. There is brief look at a preseason exhibition event in Paris, France before the 1997-98 season began. The episode also flashes back for a look at Michael Jordan's college basketball career at North Carolina and his first year with the Bulls.

This is a highlight reel. It is not an in depth story. There is too many things going on and the focus is too scattered for this to be a comprehensive study. It was interesting to watch, I will very likely continue to watch but honestly I prefer to watch a single game or a more focused look at a single person, whether that be the star of the team or one of the supporting cast.

The Phil Silvers Show 1.11

Bivouac

Col. Hall knows that Sgt. Bilko will do something to get out of going to the field on bivouac. He warns Captain Curtis about Bilko's past, how he has evaded going into the field in the past. Captain Curtis is ready for almost anything but he's not ready for Bilko, who fools him into believing he that he's developed Wilkinson's disease. Bilko gets his way until Captain Curtis realizes he's been fooled. The Captain turns the tables on Bilko at that point by diagnosing him as being terminally ill.

Friday, October 16, 2020

Mr. Inbetween 2.06

Let Me Stop You There

Ray deals with losing Ally. He throws away pictures of her and the stuff she left at his place. He goes to one of his anger management meetings. He tells the group about punching Trent. The group leader tries to tell him the violence never solved anything. Ray suggests that it solved World War II. The group leader doesn't concede. The meeting ends. Ray is still bummed.

Ray agrees to a meeting that Freddy lines up. Simon, the client, is having trouble with a girl he was seeing on the side. Simon is married and somebody important. The girl wants money. Ray is reluctant to take the case. He says he needs a few days to think about it.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Young Justice 2.20


Endgame

Superboy, Miss Martian, and Adam Strange arrive on Rimbor with evidence that the League is innocent and that the Light and the Reach are the real culprits. They arrive just a little too late. Judgement has already been rendered and the League are no longer in the courtroom.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

1984 Duke at North Carolina Men's Basketball

Carmichael Auditorium
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Mar 3, 1984

Duke Blue Devils at North Carolina Tarheels

North Carolina came into this game with a record of 25-1 (13-0 ACC). Their only loss was to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Feb 12. They were way ahead of Maryland, the second ranked team in the ACC, which had a conference record of 8-5.

Duke came into this game with a record of 22-7 (7-6 ACC). The conference losses were spread around with one loss to all the other ACC teams with the exception of Virginia. They were in sole possession of 3rd place but just half a game ahead of Wake Forest which had a conference record of 7-7. The Blue Devils, under head coach Mike Kryziewski, were just 1-6 against the Tarheels coming into this game. Duke, oddly enough had a better record on the road in conference games (5-1) than they did at home but the Blue Devils had not won a game at North Carolina since 1966.

This video was good enough to watch on a regular sized monitor but it probably isn't clear enough to watch blown up on a large TV screen. One thing that unfortunately was not clear enough was the clock in the lower right corner of the screen. They actually used two different clocks in the lower right corner of the screen. The first one didn't look very slick but it was easy enough to read. The second one was too fuzzy to read.

The video is divided into two parts. The first is about 90 minutes and the second about 60 minutes. It includes all the commercials and the half-time feature which included interview with some of the coaches of ACC women's basketball teams.

My biggest complaint about the camera work is that they sometimes would switch to the camera that was underneath the basket for too long. It's a great angle when there is a big play under the basket or in the paint but it isn't so great if the ball is moving all over the place.

Monday, October 12, 2020

She's Gotta Have It 1.08

#LoveDontPayDaRent (IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW)

The episode opens with the day after the 2016 election. Everyone is down in the dumps. No one is pleased with the results. The moment passes. Life goes on.

Greer calls up Nola and then follows that up with a visit. She meets him on the stairs to her building. She is in a good mood over the sale of of one of her paintings. She isn't eager for Greer's company but this time he is able to work some magic. Part of the spell he casts involves a plastic phallus that he is wearing when he shows up. She finally invites him in but she accidentally calls out Jamie's last name, Overstreet, in the middle of sex.

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Championship - 1984 Big East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

Madison Square Gardens
New York, NY
Mar 11, 1984

Syracuse Orange(men) vs Georgetown Hoyas

The Georgetown Hoyas came into this game with a record of 25-3 (14-2 Big East) during the regular season. Their two conference losses were both at home against Villanova and St. John's. Their only non-conference loss was against DePaul. They finished the regular season ranked 2nd nationally.

The Syracuse Orangemen came into the Big East Conference Tournament with a record of 19-7 (12-4 Big East) during the regular season. Two of their four conference losses were to Georgetown. Their other two conference losses were to Boston College and Villanova. They finished the regular season ranked 16th nationally.

Georgetown made it to the conference final by beating Providence in the quarter-finals and St. John's in the semi-finals by an average of 15.5 points. Syracuse made it to the conference final by beating Connecticut in the quarter finals (by 15 points) and Villanova in the semi-finals (by 1 point). 

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Mother (2009)

starring Hye-ja Kim, Won Bin
directed by Bong Joon Ho

The main character is a single mother whose adult son is still living with her. Yoon Do-joon can't make it in life with out his mother's help. Jin-tae, Do-joon's irresponsible friend, gets him into trouble sometimes but Do-joon also manages to get himself into trouble sometimes.

Do-joon gets arrested for murder. There is circumstantial evidence that links him to the crime. He was in the area. He saw Moon Ah-jeong, the murdered high school age girl, not long before she was killed. There is also some physical evidence that places him at the scene of the crime. His mother hires a lawyer who turns out not to be very helpful.

Friday, October 9, 2020

Fargo 4.02


The Land of Taking and Killing

Dibrell's sister and a friend break out of prison. They steal some clothes, clean themselves up, and then make their way to the Smutney household. Dibrell tells her daughter to stay in her room but Ethelrida can't help herself. Dibrell is reluctant to let her sister and her friend stay but Thurman, her husband, insists that they can't turn them away.

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Star Blazers 2199 1.20

Under a Rainbow Sun

The battle begins. The Yamato looks hopelessly outnumbered. The enemy has five carriers. The Gamilans launch a fleet of fighters which the fighters from the Yamato engage. The Gamilans launch a second wave of fighters while the fighters from the Yamato are busy dealing with the first wave. The Gamilans also send a small team to infiltrate the Yamato, with the mission of abducting Yuki.

Things seem to mostly go in the Gamilans favor at first but eventually the tide starts to shift. The fighters from the Yamato take down a couple of the Gamilan carriers. The Yamato is badly damaged but it improbably continues to fight on and win. The Gamilans score a victory when the last surviving member of the small team escapes with Yuki.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Young Justice 2.19

Summit

The Reach ambassador, scientist, Black Beetle, and numerous Reach soldiers arrive on the island of Santa Prisca for a summit with the Light. Most of the Light is present. They are led by Vandal Savage, but their numbers also include Ra's Al Ghul, Black Manta, the Brain, M. Mallah, Deathstroke, Kaldur'ahm, and Tigress. Both sides have grievances. The Reach are angry that the Light didn't prevent the young heroes from using the temple in Bialya to free the Blue and Green Beetles from the Reach's control. The Light blames the Reach for not being more open with their knowledge.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Mr. Inbetween 2.05

Can't Save You

Ray, Ally, and Bruce take Brittany to a forest to see a unicorn. Brittany loves it, totally believes that what she's seeing is a unicorn. Ray takes Brittany bowling later. Jacinta, Ray's ex and Brittany's mother, gives him a hard time about giving Brittany the sex talk (see 2.03). He has to explain why he had to do it.

Ray takes Brittany on a play date. Her friend's father seems to be someone who is in the same line of work as Ray or at least was. Brittany catches Ray smoking and makes him promise to quit. He tries explaining to her about addiction but she just wants him to stop. He promises to try.

Monday, October 5, 2020

She's Gotta Have It 1.07

#HowToMakeLoveToANegroWithoutGettingTired

Greer decides in the wake of his visit to the gallery on night of Nola's debut that he wants more from his relationship with her. He tries calling and texting but she doesn't respond. She is down in the dumps over a review she got from Julies Kemper, a critic who was also at the show. He's the one who approached her and asked her about her work. She didn't know how to respond. Nola hides in her brownstone and ignores everyone who reaches out to her.

Jamie thinks about Nola and tries to reconcile with Cheryl, his wife. He remembers the day they met. He tries reaching out to Nola but she doesn't respond. 

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Captain Harlock (1978) 1.01

The Jolly Roger that Flutters Through Space

Captain Harlock returns from space in 2977. The Earth is in bad shape. People no longer work but spend most of their time watching TV. Captain Harlock infuriates Earth's military forces by robbing transport ships from other planets that produce food for Earth. He is also blamed for the destruction of many of Earth's observatories but at least one scientist doesn't believe that he is responsible for destroying the observatories. 

Saturday, October 3, 2020

Fargo 4.01


Welcome to the Alternate Economy

Two crime families have reached a truce in Kansas City. It isn't the first truce between crime families in Kansas City. The Moskowitz family made peace with the Milligan family. The truce lasted for a couple years before the Milligans broke the truce and slaughtered the Moskowitz family. The Milligans made peace with the next crime family to come along, the Fadda family. The Fadda family did as the Milligan family did before them and broke the truce. The Milligan family was murdered by the Fadda family.

Lakers at Warriors - 1987 Western Conference Semifinals - G4

Game 4 Western Conference Semifinals
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Oakland, CA
May 10, 1987

L.A. Lakers at Golden State Warriors

The Lakers led the series 3-0 and were looking to close out and advance to the next round. The Lakers won the first game by 9, the second game by 15, and the third game by 25. They were the top seed in the West and finished the regular season with a record of 65-17. They defeated the Denver Nuggets 3 games to none to advance to this round. The Lakers made it all the way to the NBA Finals 5 of the previous 7 years and won the title 3 of those times. Lakers head coach Pat Riley was in his 6th season in that position and 9th season overall with the team.

The Warriors were the 3rd seed in the West and finished the regular season 42-40. Two of those wins were against the Lakers but they also lost 4 games against the Lakers during the regular season. They defeated the Utah Jazz 3 games to 2 to advance to semifinals. The Warriors were in the playoffs for the first time since 1977. The Warriors head coach was George Karl. This was his first season coaching the Warriors and third season as an NBA head coach. It was also his first winning season as a head coach.

Friday, October 2, 2020

Star Blazers 2199 1.19

They're Coming!

General Dommel is given another chance to prove himself. Dessler gives him a small force with the mission to sink the Yamato. He is promised that his wife's sentence will be reduced if he is successful. He reviews the troops before they leave there is a bit of quibbling between troops of different origins. 

Commander Okita is confronted by Yurisha over the use of the Wave Motion Gun. She explains that Wave Motion tech is not a weapon and should not be used as such. He hopes that humanity can prove themselves to the Iskandarians.

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Young Justice 2.18


Intervention

Black Beetle ends his fight with Mongul with some help from Green Beetle. They lock Mongul back in a stasis chamber. The crystal key to War World is gone. The Justice League is still guarding the chamber where the locking mechanism is housed. Black Beetle has orders not to engage the League but to maintain a safe distance and observe.