Monday Meadowlands

Driving to the Meadowlands yesterday we had a bit of Juju. In The Final Storm, some or all of the Australian attack will be described via Samurakami, Martinez and the Underlings listening in on the squadron radio net. Yes, we think that's it. Yes. Reminder: we are among the best there is at what we do.

[Why were you going to the Meadowlands?-Ed] 

Did we ever sellout yesterday:

It was Mrs. Stroock's corporate gig. Skybox suite with lots of side talk about REDACTED and the REDACTED industry. The Giants won, 25-3. 

My friend William Katz reports on Barry Soetoro's campaigning for Clinton bagman Terry McAuliffe in Virginia. Bill makes some apt observations with which this blog agrees. We'll believe challenger Glenn Youngkin will win the gubernatorial race in Virginia when we see it. But Barry campaigning for McAuliffe is not only a bad sign, it's a bad idea. The Dems lost over a thousand seats nationwide when Barry occupied the White House. The man has no coattails. What about 2008 you ask? Please. Hillary would have dragged all those candidates into office with her too. Hell, so would Joe.

Bill writes that he believes Barry has 'decisive influence' in the White House. This blog agrees. Joe's White House is staffed with Obama holdovers and nitwits like Pete Buttigieg. It shows the exact same inability to learn from mistakes and adapt as Barry did for eight years.  

On to Dune Week, Day-2.

Let's talk about some of the characters in Denis Villeneuve's Dune. First off, Oscar Issacs gives a wonderful performance as Duke Ledo Atreides. He's the good guy dedicated to service with honor. In no other version of Dune (we'll try to avoid comparisons but in some cases it will be impossible) is Duke Ledo's relationship with his dead father, gored by a bull, so fully realized. Ledo's scenes with Paul are inspiring and touching. 

We had our doubts about Jason Momoa as Duncan, but here he impresses. He's Paul's mentor, played more like an older brother than a distant teacher (see Patrick Stewart in the 1984 version). When Duncan kneels before Paul as Duke for the first time, well, let's just say we had that damn emotional reaction. 

Javier Bardem's Stilgar reminded us of Anthony Quinn in Lawrence of Arabia tinged with weariness and caution. Which is fine, actually. 

Watching Zendaya as Chaney, let's be thankful for the limited screen time. This is not a Disney show. Hopefully she improves in the second film.

Below, Monday Metal redux. Turns out Travelling Riverside Blues is a lot easier to play than we thought. A song at once about sex, the Mississippi and guitars. When one says one is going to Rosedale with one's Rider, one is talking about guitars.: