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SNL 50th Anniversary Special and Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Feb 16, 2025 at 06:48:18 PM EST
Tags: Saturday Night Live (all tags)
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NBC and Peacock tonight are airing a three-hour special Saturday Night Live Show for its 50th birthday. It starts at 8:00 pm ET and 5:00 pm PT. "Its stars are calling the "greatest reunion show" in TV history." The "red carpet" starts at 7 pm ET.

There will be a slew of SNL "alums".Paul McCartney is the musical guest, and Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and others will perform.

If you missed the “Ladies and Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music" show, it was pretty awesome. Here is a list of the musical guests it featured. It is still streaming on Peacock.

Long live SNL, with special thanks to Lorne Michaels.

This is an open thread for all things related to TV, movies, streaming and the like. (I just put up another open thread for politics).

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    SNL 50th Anniversary Special and Open Thread | 125 comments (125 topical)

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    We get another blizzard today (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Feb 18, 2025 at 09:42:41 AM EST
    And this time it won't be above freezing until next Sunday.

    I'm prepared to not be able to leave my house for a week.
    Last time it melted in a couple of days.  Not this time.

    Wed and Thurs will be the coldest days so far.

    I'm ready for spring.

    I am (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 20, 2025 at 03:06:55 PM EST
    not used to this much snow. We just got 4 or more inches after getting snow 2 weeks ago and then it also snowed in December. In GA we usually only got snow every couple of years. Hubby is getting cabin fever bad though it is supposed to be 62 on Tuesday.

    Parent
    We got off easy (none / 0) (#6)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 20, 2025 at 05:43:34 PM EST
    It's worse north and south of us.  8-12 was predicted we got maybe 2.

    They plowed my street so I could go out but I could not get up my driveway and have park on the street and walk up a big hill.

    I'm fine.  For a few more days.  I've been rewatching Ozark

    Parent

    Lots more snow than usual here too (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 03:32:09 PM EST
    Usually downtown Denver gets spared except for an inch or two. It started snowing last night and continued all night through at least 8 am. The branches of the trees all turned silvery white  and it was just beautiful. Then again, I don't have to drive in it today. I love snow, but hate ice on the roads.

    Parent
    It's been so long since I've had to do so, ... (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 25, 2025 at 12:38:35 AM EST
    ... that I've likely forgotten how to drive in snow. Our mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are currently snowcapped, having both received about 13 inches the other day, and they look awesome from down here in Hilo at sea level. But I think it's much better to view the snow from afar than to be up there in the middle of it.

    Parent
    It's been very cold (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 03:42:47 PM EST
    Minus single digits at night and teens and 20s daytime.
    Since the snow day.  
    So nothing has melted.  But that's all going to change.  This weekend we get a streak of high 60s and above freezing at night so.
    I'm not shoveling anything

    Parent
    Missed us here in Albuquerque... (none / 0) (#15)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 09:56:53 PM EST
    We're basking in record warm temperatures.  Except in the eastern part of the state where they're having record cold.  Crazy weather.

    Parent
    I see only one possible solution (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by Peter G on Sat Feb 22, 2025 at 01:51:49 PM EST
    Defund the NOAA Weather Bureau. Probable ties to leftwing terrorism; how else could you explain their coy and provocative name?

    Parent
    We got lucky in my part of PA. (none / 0) (#17)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Feb 22, 2025 at 03:04:07 PM EST
    All the snow hit around us. To the south and to the east. We had a few flurries yesterday, no accumulation.

    It's funny, my stepdaughter (in Woodstock, GA) has been texting my wife, gloating on the warm temps earlier this month. Now my wife gets to return the gloating since they just got snow down there and we got none here.
     

    Parent

    I watched the entire show last night. (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Feb 18, 2025 at 12:19:18 PM EST
    It was pretty good. I was expecting a rehash or clips of old bits. But it was a completely new show. Picking out faces in the audience was fun.

    I finally got around to watching it last night (none / 0) (#7)
    by Jack E Lope on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 10:01:30 AM EST
    They packed in a huge amount of stuff, new takes on favorites from the past, self-deprecating humor & self-criticism, and the boasting about 50 years was not overweening.

    I'll take "Things that make me feel old" for 50, Alex....

    What is:
    Paul Simon introduces a song he performed with George Harrison in 1976; Sabrina Carpenter points out that she wasn't even born...and that her parents hadn't been born, either.


    Parent

    I remember that '76 show with George Harrison. (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 25, 2025 at 01:30:57 AM EST
    The setup here is that Lorne Michaels had filmed a mock promo which had aired on SNL about a month earlier in the season, in which he offered the Beatles $5,000 if they'd reunite on the show.

    So, the show's cold open starts with the camera showing us the pro-show chaos backstage just before they go live on the air, and Michaels is shown in a hallway backstage, patiently explaining to George Harrison that no, he couldn't have $1,250 for showing up by himself, because the $5,000 offer was contingent upon all four Beatles being on SNL together.

    Anyway, Don Pardo announces that night's host, Paul Simon, who walks onstage dressed in a fat turkey costume, and he starts singing "Still Crazy After All These Years," until he gets mad and stops, telling the audience that he warned Lorne that this was stupid, before heading offstage to look for Michaels and complain about the affront to his dignity - with the camera in tow, naturally.

    SNL's humor back then was much more improvisational, tongue in cheek and subversive than what we saw on the rest of network television. That's how it built its audience of viewers who were seeking out something edgier than what was then on the primetime airwaves. It worked.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    More please (5.00 / 3) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 01, 2025 at 05:50:43 PM EST

    Said Murkowski: "I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world."
    Really (5.00 / 4) (#57)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Mar 02, 2025 at 01:21:19 PM EST
    Brave will be actually naming Trump. Currently he is he who must not be named.

    Nevertheless after that disastrous press conference I am calling my senators everyday telling them that everyday that passes and they don't move to either remove Trump or overrule him they are appeasing the Kremlin

    Parent

    I bet most of them voted for this (5.00 / 4) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 01, 2025 at 05:56:45 PM EST

    Killing USAID could be a major blow to American farmers

    Welcome to the new world order b!tches

    RIP David Johansen. (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Mar 01, 2025 at 08:48:21 PM EST
    Singer for the New York Dolls. Although more of Uriah Heep and Alice Cooper guy in the mid 70s, I bought the debut album. And liked it! He was 75.

    All the earliest punk (none / 0) (#60)
    by jondee on Sun Mar 02, 2025 at 08:16:29 PM EST
    bands were into the New York Dolls. Them and the Velvet Underground.

    Parent
    My appreciation for punk (none / 0) (#63)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Mar 03, 2025 at 03:42:57 PM EST
    came later in life. When punk was the new thing, I was listening to mostly heavy metal type stuff. Was not interested in punk.

    Now my (eclectic) music library contains The Ramones, The Clash, Go-Go's (were they considered punk?), Talking Heads, Patti Smith, etc.) And of course The Velvet Underground.

    Parent

    The Arkansas tornadoes (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 16, 2025 at 04:34:13 PM EST
    were all around me.  But I'm good.

    Nothing like goofball sized hail on a metal roof for restful nights sleep.

    It was wild and wooly.

    goofball sized (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 16, 2025 at 07:17:33 PM EST
    is really big

    Parent
    Seems (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 17, 2025 at 11:54:33 AM EST
    like there was a lot of destruction. I hope they know how to fix all this themselves.

    Parent
    Crazy (none / 0) (#115)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 17, 2025 at 05:29:19 PM EST
    Turns out one of my relatives house was hit.  Possible other relatives.  

    This morning I drove down to see. Maybe 5 miles from here. It went right though the area where my mother's house was where I'm related by blood or marriage to every other house for about a five mile stretch.
    The destruction was amazing.  Giant trees turned into sticks,  a few trailers smashed. My cousin had a serious "shop" behind his house where he did stuff.  Like maintain the school busses for the school district.  He was also a busy driver.  Retired.
    Anyway, shop completely cleaned down to the concrete slab,   it looked like a war zone.  His house only got nicked.

    The highway, this is all on a major highway, was closed for a while.

    Crazy day.

    Parent

    According to the news (none / 0) (#116)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 17, 2025 at 05:31:42 PM EST
    It was an F3.

    There were 2 F4s in AR that night.

    Parent

    Sorry (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 17, 2025 at 06:08:17 PM EST
    He was a BUS driver.  For, like, 50 years.

    Parent
    Jesse Colin Young, 1941-2025 (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by Peter G on Tue Mar 18, 2025 at 03:16:22 PM EST
    Sad to read that Jesse Colin Young, born Perry Miller in Queens, NYC (I didn't know that), died a couple of days ago at age 83. When my college classmates (class of '71) were polled in connection with our 50th reunion a few years ago and asked what their top ten songs of 1967-1971 would be, more than a hundred different titles were mentioned in all, but the Youngbloods' 1969 re-release of "Get Together" was far and away the consensus #1.

    I remember buying this album... (none / 0) (#122)
    by desertswine on Wed Mar 19, 2025 at 01:08:48 PM EST
    Soul of a City Boy, when it first came out.  I think it was '64 or '65, the Folk Era anyway. I still have it somewhere although I haven't played it in a looong time.  It was so long ago that vinyl has gone away and come back again.

    Parent
    What happened to Paul McCartney's voice.. (none / 0) (#1)
    by desertswine on Mon Feb 17, 2025 at 12:33:44 AM EST
    He didn't sound so good.  

    Well, he is sixty years older (none / 0) (#2)
    by Peter G on Mon Feb 17, 2025 at 10:51:39 AM EST
    than the "Paul, the cute Beatle" you first heard sing "Love Me, Do."  Likewise, Paul Simon, who is not only suffering an aging voice but also sadly losing his hearing.

    Parent
    Some people didn't get the Tom Hanks bit (none / 0) (#8)
    by McBain on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 11:00:40 AM EST
    on the Black Jeopardy sketch.  They thought he was playing a dumb, racist MAGA supporter.  I mostly don't blame them because the jokes weren't well executed this time.  

    Hanks played the same character, years ago on a much better version of Black Jeopardy.  The general premise of Black Jeopardy is African Americans have a different way of viewing things and a different way of communicating their thoughts.  Lots of good jokes to be had there.  However, the joke with Hanks character is that it turns out white, small town, red state people actually have a lot in common with the black population (church going, distrust of the government).

    Here's the original sketch

    Here's the 50th anniversary version...

    Hanks' character isn't dumb, he does well on the show but when the host tries to shake his hand, he's afraid.  Even though he has things in common with African Americans, his world is very white and he's reacting to the violent, black stereotype he sees on TV and the news.

    I actually agree with you. (none / 0) (#29)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Feb 25, 2025 at 03:10:15 PM EST
    "Black Jeopardy" was not a well-executed sketch. But honestly, that's been an issue with SNL since its inception. There have been sketches that simply don't play well in real time.

    There have also been sketches that may have been funny in the moment but really haven't aged well since and are not funny anymore. There's an early bit from SNL's first season in which Chevy Chase (as a psychiatrist) and Richard Pryor (as his patient) are engaged in word association, and Chase is throwing out a series of blatantly racist tropes to rile up Pryor. That may have been funny to audiences in 1975, but it's cringeworthy today.

    ;-)

    Parent

    I'm watching the new Netflix series Zero Day (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 02:47:21 PM EST
    In a normal world, ie, before Nov 2024, it would be an interesting well done political thriller.

    What it ends up being is rather sad testament to how quickly real world events can overtake popular fiction.

    Showing, as it does, a respected former president who chose not to run for reelection called to head an investigative commission by the black female president.

    FYI (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 02:56:05 PM EST
    it was written at least partially by one of our least favorite political writers. Michael Schmidt.

    I found this insightful comment on Rotten Tomatoes

    What we get instead is a pundit-brained muddle designed to exploit national anxieties while studiously avoiding any hint of a point of view, riffing on recognizable figures but ignoring the context that produced them.

    In other words, vintage Michael Schmidt.

    Still, it's goofy but watchable.

    Parent

    I bet MAGA (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 03:12:01 PM EST
    Is having watch parties.

    They are going to think it's hilarious.

    Every other line makes progressives cry and MAGA laugh.

    I'm kind of surprised they released it.  I guess it was expensive.  It will get viewers

    Parent

    I bet it was delayed (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 21, 2025 at 03:14:14 PM EST
    I could not have watched this a month or so ago.

    Parent
    Ok (none / 0) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 22, 2025 at 04:44:03 PM EST
    I finished this and it's not that well done.  Downright strange is what it was.  
    The story was absurd.  It had cutouts for Harris and Biden doing things they would never do.
    Possibly my favorite scene was when the Joe Biden character is leering menacingly over a cowering Tucker Carlson figure during enhanced interrogation.

    But the payoff was the weird story line about how a neutral weapon was being used against Biden.  Making him have multiple senior moments.
    There's even a line at the end about "was it really a weapon or just an old man losing it"

    Really.

    I'm kind of amazed all those great actors, DeNiro, Jessy Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Joan Allen --- were willing to do this.  

    I'd love to hear what others think.  It really is worth watching IMO just for the sociology implications.

    Parent

    Neural weapon (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 22, 2025 at 04:47:16 PM EST
    Not a neutral weapon.

    It tried so hard to be relevant but I can't imagine anything less relevant.  

    Parent

    IGN (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 22, 2025 at 05:00:01 PM EST
    Zero Day Review: As Enjoyable as a Cyberattack

    It would take an entire review full of spoilers to really catch all the ways in which no one involved with Zero Day seemingly understands how computers and technology work. Suffice it to say, Mr. Robot this ain't.



    Parent
    I watched the entire (none / 0) (#25)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Feb 23, 2025 at 02:48:41 PM EST
    6 episodes over Thursday and Friday. I pretty much agree with your take. I thought the ending was terrible. Very anticlimactic. The whole thing was wrapped up way too fast and too easy.

    Parent
    Who thought (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 23, 2025 at 05:46:41 PM EST
    this was a good idea?

    Actually it says in that IGN piece who thought it was good.

    Interestingly both were people who have done good stuff before, one of them was the show runner for Narcos.

    So much talent and it was just boring and dumb.

    Kind of shocking.  It must say something about the streaming world these days.   But I couldn't say what.

    Parent

    I watched the first episode and then gave up (none / 0) (#22)
    by McBain on Sun Feb 23, 2025 at 10:08:13 AM EST
    Had a made for TV movie feel about it.  I know it's a TV series but something about it seemed minor league.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 23, 2025 at 11:20:57 AM EST
    It was made for TV.

    But I agree about the quality of the writing and even things like the lighting.

    But it has all these really exceptionally good actors.  As I said, it's a strange thing, and I think it's worth watching.

    This is from the IGN link

    It's hard to see what could get De Niro signed on to the project beyond the most cynical or naive reasons. At its best, it's only boring. At its worst, it presents a nonsensical vision of bipartisan unity and makes dumb decisions about practically everything from plot motivations to the reality of a massive cyberattack




    Parent
    Shooting at UPMC York Memorial Hospital (none / 0) (#21)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Feb 22, 2025 at 05:08:09 PM EST
    this morning. One officer is dead.

    This is the hospital where I spent time in the ICU with COVID. Ended up in that hospital for 4 weeks.

     

    Why (none / 0) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 23, 2025 at 11:23:24 AM EST
    Sometimes I wish we had different way to rate comments

    Parent
    Weird (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 27, 2025 at 11:13:36 AM EST
    Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead

    I would have guessed a gas leak because.. (none / 0) (#31)
    by desertswine on Thu Feb 27, 2025 at 03:49:10 PM EST
    their dog was deceased also, but the article says no signs of a leak.  Its a mystery.

    Parent
    Also two live dogs (none / 0) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 27, 2025 at 05:57:52 PM EST
    One inside one outside

    Parent
    Mummification (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 27, 2025 at 07:23:37 PM EST
    of their hands and feet.

    eek

    Parent

    Ok (none / 0) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 27, 2025 at 07:27:04 PM EST
    The dead dog was apparently in a crate.  The two living ones were not.

    That's somewhat less mysterious

    Parent

    I read that they may have been dead .. (none / 0) (#35)
    by desertswine on Thu Feb 27, 2025 at 11:39:59 PM EST
    for weeks.

    Parent
    And the front door was open (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 07:21:25 AM EST
    I bet the other dogs, if they were dead for weeks, visiting neighbors

    Parent
    Hackman's pacemaker indicates that (none / 0) (#49)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 09:28:49 PM EST
    his last day was on the 17th.  

    Parent
    IMPORTANT QUESTION (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 01:07:03 PM EST
    do any of my TL friends get a pension check on the 1st?
    And have you checked today?

    I got a double check I know all my fellow plan members got a doubleand I've heard others pension plans may have as well.

    I spent an hour in on hold but my coworkers agreed if this happened there would be 10,000 pensioners calling to say WTF,  can I spend this?

    I only WISH I got a double check. (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 01:44:28 PM EST


    Parent
    I finally got a call back (5.00 / 3) (#39)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 02:07:40 PM EST
    it's legit.  From contract negotiations.

    Yay.

    Parent

    I'm still crossing my fingers (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 02:27:05 PM EST
    that I actually get my first SS payment in March. I don't trust this administration to not move the goalposts and change the rules even after my application was approved.


    Parent
    Keeping my fingers crossed for you. (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by vml68 on Tue Mar 04, 2025 at 12:28:20 PM EST
    O'Malley: DOGE cuts could soon trigger Social Security system `collapse'

    Parent
    Those don't come on the first (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 02:49:02 PM EST
    To simple and easy to understand

    I'm the second Wednesday 🙄

    Parent

    Yes I am aware. (none / 0) (#43)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 04:37:44 PM EST
    My check is supposed to be deposited on or about the 19th of the month. Until I see it there, I am still skeptical.

    Parent
    I have (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 01, 2025 at 12:31:56 PM EST
    been receiving mine since October and my husband since June. Never worried about it getting into the bank until this February. Now I am sitting on pins and needles until I see it in the checking account. If it doesn't come will there be anybody to call is what I wonder?

    Parent
    Probably not. (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Mar 01, 2025 at 01:01:23 PM EST
    And that's the goal.

    Parent
    Ah (none / 0) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 05:00:24 PM EST
    The third Wednesday

    Parent
    It's kind of f'ed up (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 07:03:44 PM EST
    Because it never comes on the same day of the month.

    Mine can arrive on the 8th - 14th depending on how the calendar falls.

    Just seems unnecessarily complicated,

    Parent

    I guess things got changed up (none / 0) (#50)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 10:07:07 PM EST
    somewhere along the way.

    When I was my mother's representative payee, her SS was deposited on the first of the month like clockwork. Her birthday was the 10th. But then she collected off my father's SS and his birthday was the 3rd. So who knows.

    Parent

    I think (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 10:31:02 PM EST
    survivor and disability SS are different.

    Not sure.

    Parent

    Ours are also (none / 0) (#46)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 07:16:54 PM EST
    second Wednesday. Which of course can be anywhere from the 8th to the 14th.

    Parent
    Based on birthdays (none / 0) (#47)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 07:53:24 PM EST
    but I don't know the details

    Parent
    It's hard to understand (none / 0) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 07:55:31 PM EST
    why saying you get your check on the second Wednesday of the month is any easier or simpler for anyone than saying you get your check on the 15th of the month.

    But what do I know

    Parent

    My first SS Retirement payment is in May (none / 0) (#68)
    by Jack E Lope on Wed Mar 05, 2025 at 11:20:23 AM EST
    ...and I'm worried, too.  I have not given notice at work yet, because my (loose) plan counted on some things that have now become unreliable - Social Security Retirement is one of those things.  

    At the beginning of the calendar year, my employer changed medical coverage to a high-deductible plan with a different carrier - and most of the doctors under the old plan are out-of-network with the new plan. We couldn't use their website to look for in-plan physicians until coverage had begun. Employees have been warned against discussing anything negative about this change while in the workplace. It's as if the bullies in government have encouraged employers to become bullies, too.

    There is a class action lawsuit in-the-works because my employer used to accrue a pool of "unused/leftover" non-cashable benefits over the course of employment, and use that to pay for a MediGap or Medicare Advantage plan from the carrier we had. The new insurance carrier does not offer any Medicare-supplement plan, so that benefit quietly disappeared.

    Parent

    My guess is (5.00 / 3) (#69)
    by KeysDan on Wed Mar 05, 2025 at 02:37:03 PM EST
    that current and new Social Security recipients will receive their checks on time.  However, Trump appears to be coming after Social Security in some serious way, such as cuts to benefits, means testing, or age eligibility.  Maybe, all of the above. But, there is too great an opportunity for grifting to eliminate the highly popular and successful program altogether.

    As with the roll-out for the J6 insurrection that started with a lie--the election was stolen--the Social Security plan has started with besmirchment and lies.  Musk has been calling it a Ponzi scheme and his teenage minions have been reporting that millions of dead are receiving checks and those over 125-years old are recipients---claims debunked and easily explained by an understanding of the older Cobol code used by the Social Security Administration which defaults to an earlier date in the case of incomplete information about a recipient. And, does not mean that checks are sent.

    Moreover, Trump re-played these lies in last night's speech to great laughter from Republicans. Vance and Johnson found this part of Trump's "rally and rant" to be a real knee slapper. A lot of time devoted to sullying Social Security if not part of the scheme.

    However, tampering with Social Security may be a heavy lift, even if the quest is to get their hands on the money through privatization and otherwise leave the program mainly unchanged.

    Americans, save for Trump and oligarchical billionaires, are trapped in a burning Tesla and, somehow, need to find a way out.

    Parent

    Not that they would not like to (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 05, 2025 at 04:27:14 PM EST
    but I'm not so worried about my SS check.   It could be the one thing that would bring him down.   He understands that.   I think .

    Look over here, we are threatening your fixed income, to distract from the other things you are doing seems more likely.  

    But I've been wrong before 🙁

    Parent

    COBOL Code (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by jmacWA on Thu Mar 06, 2025 at 05:15:27 AM EST
    Dan, do you have a link for this?  COBOL is an archaic language true, but it is in my opinion (50+ year IT career and taught COBOL periodically.

    I would think that the issue has nothing to do with the language the code is written in, and WAY more likely has to do with how the data is stored.  I taught some classes at SSA in Baltimore (not COBOL though) and at the time mid-80s much of the data was still being stored on tape.  What I taught there most was VSAM which was a newer (at the time) disk access method and some IBM Assembly language since some of there code was written in this..  With that much data being stored on tape I would not doubt that many dates were stored as yymmdd, as opposed to today's way more accurate method of yyyymmdd.  I have no doubt that there are some records that might show people in excess of 150 years old, but I highly doubt those records are "active".  In my opinion this is just that the TWITS hired by musk can in no way be considered computer savvy, especially when mainframes are involved.

    Parent

    There are several good (none / 0) (#72)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 06, 2025 at 12:00:45 PM EST
    references to the use of COBOL, but testimony by the Office of Inspector General to the House Ways and Means sub-committee (9/27/2018) was helpful to my understanding of its use.

    Apparently, COBOL is rarely used today and Musk's teenagers may be unfamiliar with it, hence, their error.

    Parent

    Nothing (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by jmacWA on Thu Mar 06, 2025 at 03:41:51 PM EST
    in there talks about the dates so I am going to assume this is just nonsense spouted by Musks twits.  COBOL has not been commonly used even on Mainframes this century.  There are however millions of lines still running and today's young IT hotshot probably knows nothing about the language.  COBOL had no data type of date and as I said, especially when the main storage device for the files was magnetic tape I can see that the saving of 2 bytes probably did cause them to specify dates as yymmdd instead of yyyymmdd, but as I am sure most people would be aware these issues had to be address for the year 2000.  I have been trying to get in touch with an old colleague who has worked at SSA more recently than I have to see if they can shed any more light on this for me.

    The nonsense of the dates defaulting to May 20, 1875 has been pretty thoroughly debunked.

    Parent

    Read article this morning in The New Republic (none / 0) (#73)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 06, 2025 at 02:48:12 PM EST
    predicting the orange felon will use the lies about 150 year olds collecting SS to private SS.

    Parent
    Saw this today (none / 0) (#75)
    by jmacWA on Thu Mar 06, 2025 at 03:43:29 PM EST
    that lends support to what you are saying.  Common Dreams

    Parent
    That's the same article from (none / 0) (#76)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 06, 2025 at 05:12:55 PM EST
    The New Republic by Thom Hartmann.

    Parent
    Double Check (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by BGinCA on Fri Feb 28, 2025 at 03:37:12 PM EST
    I did as well. From Motion Picture Industry Pension. Thank you IATSE. Show the importance of Unions!

    Parent
    I hope Planet of the Apes (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 02, 2025 at 04:10:16 PM EST
    finally wins an Oscar for VFX

    I hope Flow wins something (none / 0) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 02, 2025 at 04:11:48 PM EST
    But it nominated twice and Memoir of a Snail is wonderful.

    Parent
    Yay Flow (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 03, 2025 at 07:48:06 AM EST

    What Does the `Planet of the Apes' Franchise Have to Do to Win a VFX Oscar?



    Parent

    Scat-flinging maybe? (none / 0) (#62)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 03, 2025 at 02:41:36 PM EST
    I think people don't like thinking about how we're related to apes. And don't take kindly to being reminded of it.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 03, 2025 at 04:21:37 PM EST
    It's a disgrace they have never been recognized.  That reason sounds lame enough to be possible.

    The effects are unmatched.

    You forget you are watching CGI.  

    something no one ever did watching Avatar

    Parent

    I'm sure they are (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 03, 2025 at 06:46:02 PM EST
    In other news, apparently some conservatives are having an outraged culture war meltdown about Anaora winning the Oscar. Because it makes sex workers look cool or something.

    It's alright for one to marry the President, but there are limits.

    Parent

    Just wait till Anora:The Musical! (none / 0) (#66)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 03, 2025 at 06:49:23 PM EST
    comes out. Talk about un-frozen.

    Parent
    Hmmmm (none / 0) (#77)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 06, 2025 at 05:25:44 PM EST
    I find myself watching a lot of "revenge" movies lately.

    Go figure.  Feeling kind of primal.

    Just watched a new one on Netflix 'Demon City'.
    Korean I think.  They do the very best revenge movies.  If you have never seen 'Oldboy' you should.
    I rewatched it recently.

    I find it helps.

    Just watched the new Manson doc (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 08:36:32 AM EST
    on Netflix, Chaos, interesting

    youtube

    I wonder if it was influenced (none / 0) (#79)
    by jondee on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 01:30:03 PM EST
    at all by that Tom O''Neil book Chaos, which made quite a splash a few years ago.
    Talk about going down the rabbit hole.

    Parent
    The very one (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 02:27:49 PM EST
    It is an adaptation of the 2019 nonfiction book CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties, written by Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring. The film premiered at the Museum of Modern Art and was released on Netflix on March 7, 2025.

    It's by Errol Morris who knows a thing or two about documentary

    Parent

    Errol is the man (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by jondee on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 04:37:42 PM EST
    I've been an admirer of his work since The Thin Blue Line.

    Parent
    He basically says (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 02:32:01 PM EST
    and makes a pretty good case that Manson was a CIA puppet

    For example, the ranch was raided not long before the murders. They found drugs stolen cats lots of guns and underage girls.

    They were all back on the street a few days later and Manson's parole was not even violated.

    Parent

    The most interesting stuff (none / 0) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 02:46:45 PM EST
    was about this doctor Dr Jolly, love that, who was big in the CIA MKUltra program and who also ran a free clinic in Haight that Manson brought the girls to for STD treatment.

    They also recruited hippes for mind control experiments.

    The docs main point is that Manson did exactly what the CIA had been trying to do for years.  Convince people to kill without question or motive.  And not even remember it.  Using LSD and endless preaching.

    Parent

    Bugliosi seems to have wanted (none / 0) (#83)
    by jondee on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 04:34:29 PM EST
    to wrap that case up by exploiting a lurid but very circumscribed narrative that (seemingly) dotted all the Is and crossed all the Ts, but erased any bread crumb trails that might lead people to ask too many questions about what else was going on.

    Parent
    Trump is Manson mainstreamed (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 05:46:38 PM EST
    he's got half the county ready to shave their heads.

    That's what I thought about watching it.

    Parent

    And he did it (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 05:47:32 PM EST
    without LSD

    Parent
    Facebook and Faux News (none / 0) (#92)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 12:48:09 PM EST
    is the new LSD.

    Though I liked the old stuff. Never wanted to kill anybody. I just wanted to listen to music and contemplate the meaning of life. I even had an LSD playlist.

    Victims of the Fury - Robin Trower
    Strange Dreams - Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush
    Let It Flow - Dave Mason.

    I would just play those over and over and over.

    Parent

    The thought has crossed my mind (none / 0) (#88)
    by jondee on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 10:03:49 PM EST


    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 08, 2025 at 06:10:09 PM EST
    I watched and found that part extremely interesting and my mind went immediately to the Trump cult. Problem is there seemed to be no solution other than jail and separation and even that took years to manifest.

    Parent
    Can someone help me understand (none / 0) (#89)
    by Peter G on Sun Mar 09, 2025 at 11:33:16 AM EST
    how "Anora" won so many Oscar nominations, winning in most categories (including Best Picture)? We went to see it yesterday afternoon. Yes, the acting was mostly excellent (but Best Actress? Hard to fathom); in fact, we thought the best performance was by Yura Borisov as "Igor" (the goon with a heart of gold), and he was nominated but did not win as Best Supporting. (Borisov, for that matter, was not as good as Edward Norton as Pete Seeger in "A Complete Unknown," who also did not win, although I would have voted for him.) But Best Picture? Best Screenplay? I just can't see it.

    The Academy works (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 09, 2025 at 12:17:40 PM EST
    in mysterious ways.

    Parent
    That's for sure (none / 0) (#91)
    by jondee on Sun Mar 09, 2025 at 02:16:59 PM EST
    People still get into heated debates about what was going on in such-and-such year when some seemingly inferior film won Best Picture.

    Parent
    I was just contacted (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 12:51:58 PM EST
    by an old friend on messenger that was not an old friend.

    It was a little creepy.

    The whole story is too long but just be careful.  I've been reading about the scammers who just want to get you on the phone and they get you to say certainly words like "yes" that helps them in stealing your identity.

    This was that.  Pretty sure. We never talked though.

    Predictions? (none / 0) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 12:54:30 PM EST
    I expect the ban is gone

    Justices to Hear Challenge to Conversion Therapy Ban
    March 10, 2025 at 12:07 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 78 Comments

    "The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will hear a First Amendment challenge to a Colorado law banning professional counseling services engaged in conversion therapy intended to change a minor's gender identity or sexual orientation," the New York Times reports.

    "More than 20 states have similar laws, which are supported by leading medical groups. Kaley Chiles, a licensed professional counselor, challenged the constitutionality of the Colorado law in federal court, saying it violated her rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion."
    Agreed. (5.00 / 2) (#95)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 01:53:32 PM EST
    Gone (6/3). Trans-kids are in big trouble, unhelped by Democrats such as Gavin Newsom agreeing with the homophobe,  Charlie Kirk, that trans-girls should not participate in girls sports and should be discriminated against.

    Apparently,  a national crisis  exists, with about 150 trans-girls participating-combination of high school and college sports. While trans-girls may compete there is no record of run-a-way medalists.

    Importantly. trans-girls are girls.  Girls banned from girls sports.  Trans girls and women are taking hormone replacement therapy.so their bodies are run on estrogen, eliminating any advantage given by testosterone and the capability to build more muscle and strength. Of course, factors such as height could be an advantage but not an unfair one.

    Parent

    What I don't understand (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 02:02:21 PM EST
    is what is driving this? Why do the MAGAts and right wingers and whoever have this hate for people that have absolutely zero impact on their lives? Everyone on my block could be trans for all I care. Doesn't concern me or impact my life one bit. Let people be who they want to be.


    Parent
    The driving (5.00 / 3) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 02:40:57 PM EST
    force seemed to be interrelated with misogyny and homophobia.  Their ire appears to be related to trans girls and women more than to trans men.  The hysteria focuses on trans girls and women playing in girls and women's sports and using girls and women's bathrooms.  Not so much trans men using men's bathrooms or participating in men's sports.

    The bathroom `crisis", after a loud start, has faded what with unisex facilities and the sheer nonsense of it. Trans girls and women in women's sports has taken its place and has roared onward.

    Of course, it has served to keep the fascist base riled up--a needed replacement after the overthrow of Roe and the wide acceptance of a previous archenemy, same sex marriage. The new found and successful trans "crisis" keeps the Evangelicals and fascist losers as a cohesive unit.  Easy for them to understand. They need to know nothing to do so, just that there are boys and there are girls. Everyone knows that.


    Parent

    So this is being driven (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 08:03:17 PM EST
    to discriminate against, what, maybe 100 to 150 people out 340 million? What kind of vile, repugnant POS do you have to be, to be driven by those numbers?

    Parent
    Fundamentalist types (5.00 / 3) (#98)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 04:45:44 PM EST
    operate from a metaphysical war between darkness and light paradigm; a 'battle for the nation's soul' mentality. And it's continuously stoked by culture war hysteria-mongers like Charlie Kirk and Fox.

    I'm a little shocked that Newsome allowed him self to be sucked-in to discussing such a nonsensical non-issue, considering that at the moment there prominent pols like Rick Scott publicly calling for the U.S to pull out of U.N and NATo, millions living paycheck-to-paycheck, and rapacious megalomaniacs like Musk getting multi-billion $ subsidies while calling for the cutting of "spending and waste."

    Parent

    Also (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Mar 11, 2025 at 08:45:43 AM EST
    conservatives must have a boogey man or woman. I watched the documentary pray the gay away. It was enlightening. These people sat around in a group back in 2003 and thought up the gay bashing of the Bush campaign. They brainstormed "marry a toaster" and "destroy traditional marriage" because they found that most people don't care about 2 people of the same sex getting married. It's the same here.

    Parent
    I hypothesize that the anti-trans fervor (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by Peter G on Tue Mar 11, 2025 at 01:03:59 PM EST
    stands on the same foundation as creationism. Science refutes Genesis (Gen. 5:2: "He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them "mankind" on the day when they were created." Am. Stand. Trans.), which the fundies cannot accept. These laws should be struck down for the same reason as laws mandating the teaching of creationism in science class were invalidated.

    Parent
    As an avowed atheist (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Mar 11, 2025 at 01:20:02 PM EST
    I don't give a cr@p what the bible says on any subject.

    Parent
    You seem to have misunderstood (5.00 / 2) (#108)
    by Peter G on Tue Mar 11, 2025 at 01:58:38 PM EST
    my point. I am suggesting that the true (and only) basis for anti-trans laws is an attempt to legislate without a rational basis, which violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. All attempts to proffer a secular justification for these laws fail in the face of scientific (biological) facts; the genuine foundation of these laws is that the existence of transfolk contradicts the words of Genesis 5:2. And that is an invalid basis for legislation under our Constitution.

    Parent
    Created them each (none / 0) (#109)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 12, 2025 at 09:06:40 PM EST
    with an admixture of male and female maybe.

    Doesn't it also have places in Genesis where it says things like "we will do thus and such"? Implying a kind of Genesis-era polytheism?

    All kinds of difficulties crop up if you try to apply an 'originalist' approach to the imagined intent of parts of The Bible.

    Parent

    "Let's us make man (none / 0) (#111)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 12, 2025 at 10:31:54 PM EST
    in our image, after our likeness." Genesis
    1:26

    Sounds like the Lord was very 'fluid' back then. Maybe even a little dysphoric.

    Parent

    According to (none / 0) (#101)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 09:17:32 PM EST
    Charlie Kirk, Governor Newsom was "connected" to him by Kimberly Guilfoyle, Don Jr's girlfriend and the Governor's ex-wife. The Podcast interview seems like an opportunity for Governor Newsom to give his opinion on trans-girls playing in girl's sports--an opinion much criticized by many Democrats.

    Parent
    Kimberly (none / 0) (#110)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 12, 2025 at 09:10:24 PM EST
    "I have plenty of dirt" Guilfoyle

    Parent
    KOS (none / 0) (#99)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at 06:25:16 PM EST
    The Supreme Court has previously turned away challenges to conversion therapy bans, like in 2023 when it struck down a similar challenge to Washington's ban. But at the time, conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the majority opinion, writing that they would have granted a review.

    Justice Brett Kavanaugh also indicated that he would have allowed a review, writing that "this petition asks us to consider whether Washington can censor counselors who help minors accept their biological sex. Because this question has divided the courts of appeals and strikes at the heart of the First Amendment, I would grant review."

    It seems like the Supreme Court's conservative bench is finally getting what it wanted.

    Parent

    It seems clear to me that it does not (5.00 / 2) (#103)
    by Peter G on Tue Mar 11, 2025 at 12:55:01 PM EST
    violate the First Amendment freedom of speech to prohibit quackery, especially proven harmful quackery, among licensed health care professionals, even if their "care" is administered in whole or in part verbally. But under the Free Exercise Clause, the government does not and cannot license religious practitioners. Nothing prohibits (nor can prohibit) these complainants from giving the same counseling under that umbrella. Pastoral counseling in not mental health treatment. The difference is that they would then not be able to bill it to insurance.  Follow the money?

    Parent
    This would be an easy way (none / 0) (#106)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 11, 2025 at 01:48:55 PM EST
    for the court to show the country some hope.

    I agree with you as far as I understand the law and they have agreed in the past.  In normal times I would not be worried about this one.

    Not normal.

    Did you just see Trump lavishing praise on her the other day when MAGA was complaining about a ruling?

    Parent

    Very clever to (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 11, 2025 at 01:56:38 PM EST
    bring up the fact children can be counseled about choosing a gender but WE can't counsel  them about CHOOSING JESUS?

    I think part of the problem is fundamentalists view science as a kind of religion.  Something people just "believe" in.

    Of course it's not, but....

    Parent

    The geezer's (none / 0) (#118)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 18, 2025 at 11:03:22 AM EST
    paradox

    How can I talk about TV when the worlds ending? (none / 0) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 18, 2025 at 04:31:25 PM EST
    What the hell else are we going to do?

    I just saw this on Netflix.  It's something.  I don't usually do talky dramas. But this was really like watching theater.  Really good theater.
    Awards will come.  Especially for the kid. What a performance.  An almost literally live performance.

    Adolescence has a simple premise: the fallout of a 13-year-old boy charged with the murder of a classmate. But it doesn't show it simply: instead, the four-episode series is shown in four unbroken takes, limiting the action to what can be shown in real-time. These aren't takes that look unbroken, like in Birdman: these are actual single takes, a technique honed by director Philip Baranti for his previous feature film (and sequel series) Boiling Point.


    Adolescence Proves The One-Take Series Can Work
    A crime story with a devastating twist is presented in a brand-new way

    Episode 3 (I think) (none / 0) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 18, 2025 at 04:55:34 PM EST
    The one with just the kid and the therapist is something.

    It's hard to watch.

    Erin Doherty Unpacks Her One-Shot `Adolescence' Episode: "I've Never Been a Part of a Project This Intense"



    Parent

    Thanks (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by KeysDan on Wed Mar 19, 2025 at 04:20:07 PM EST
    for the review and recommendation.  Next on my list, just finished "Rough Diamonds" (Netflix)---recommended.

    Parent
    The Guardian (none / 0) (#124)
    by jmacWA on Sun Mar 23, 2025 at 06:47:45 AM EST
    Has an editorial which I agree with, on this series.  

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 23, 2025 at 07:52:25 AM EST
    It's all about the INCEL movement.

    There's a bit where one kid say, like he is reciting scripture, "80% of women are attracted to 20% of men.  What can we do?"

    Like the ratio is vastly different for men stalking women.

    Parent

    SNL 50th Anniversary Special and Open Thread | 125 comments (125 topical)

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