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#41

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by garbon - Today at 08:30:59 AM

It's very misleading, though.  Just because some dude told the Jewish students to stay home doesn't mean that the dude had good reasons to do so.  And just because Columbia told all students to stay home in human usage of English doesn't mean that Columbia told Jewish students to stay home. 

Yes, technically they told Jewish students to stay home, just like they told antisemitic students to stay home, and just like they told all transgender students to stay home.  However, the common usage of English is different from how it's used in logic, and when you use a qualifying detail, it is presumed that it's not superfluous.

#42

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by DGuller - Today at 07:54:26 AM

It's very misleading, though.  Just because some dude told the Jewish students to stay home doesn't mean that the dude had good reasons to do so.  And just because Columbia told all students to stay home in human usage of English doesn't mean that Columbia told Jewish students to stay home. 

Yes, technically they told Jewish students to stay home, just like they told antisemitic students to stay home, and just like they told all transgender students to stay home.  However, the common usage of English is different from how it's used in logic, and when you use a qualifying detail, it is presumed that it's not superfluous.

#43

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by OttoVonBismarck - Today at 07:16:35 AM

Actually Jewish students were specifically warned to stay home because campus was not safe, by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi who works there. The later cancellation of all in person classes occurred after that.

The statements and actions of random individuals does not constitute university policy.  The university can cancel classes.  Random rabbi cannot.

No one said otherwise. Raz stated that Jewish students were told to stay off campus—and they were.

#44

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by garbon - Today at 06:45:56 AM

I realise now that it is old

Honestly the only one of those family ones I've watched has been some Friday Night Dinner so it may be a taste thing too. Maybe Catastrophe too? Although, to your point also very middle class.

I'll give Motherland a go.

Having said all that I just looked at the comedy section of iPlayer and realise I should leave this conversation because I basically don't recognise 90% of the shows there....

All fairly middle class but Motherland, Mum and Two Doors Down.

Oh and Here We Go.

Catastrophe was also good but I feel like had fewer and fewer relatable daily problems.

#45

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Duque de Bragança - Today at 06:19:45 AM

The Criterion Channel had a salute to the Golden Raspberries starting last month.  Some of the previous winners have gone through critical re-evaluation as time has passed; however not:

Xanadu (1980)

Olivia Newton John is a muse who escapes from a wall painting and roller skates away surrounded by some animated lines in a not-very-special effect.  She kisses unfulfilled commercial artist Michael Beck, who pursues her throughout the day leading him to run into... uhm... wait a second... isn't that... Gene Kelly?

Why yes it is, this is Kelly's last movie (aside for some made for TV ones.)  He's a former big band leader who's lead singer may have been Olivia Newton John.  The film isn't really clear about this but they do share a dance scene; which is about the only high point of the film.  In any event Kelly lost the girl, left the music industry and became a successful builder.  He longs to return to the music industry and works with Beck to open a roller-disco club called Xanadu.  Then Beck, Olivia Newton John and Kelly go shopping for some super-fly 70's era threads to replace the squaresville mid-century suits that Kelly had been wearing; in what may be the single most embarrassing scene in all of cinema.  In any event Olivia Newton John is summoned back to Olympus, Michael Beck gets all pouty, but Gene Kelly (dressed like he just escaped from the Jackson 5) gives him the go-get-her talk.  So Beck does what any reasonable person would do, he roller skates full force into mural of muses which, fortunately turns out to be a gate to Olympus which, as you probably expected is a vast empty hall lit by neon lights.  He convinces Zeus to let Olivia Newton John return to earth and they open Xanadu to an enormous roller disco party.

Not only is the story incoherent, the acting (other than Gene Kelly) is weak and they didn't really get how to shoot a dance scene.  The film, along with "Can't Stop the Music" inspired John JB Wilson to start the Golden Raspberry Awards.

The soundtrack did pretty well, both "Magic" and "Xanadu" were top 10 hits; I don't think it's ELO's best, but it was decent.

Great "so bad it's good classic".  Classic kitsch, but not for the faint of the heart. Best Roller Disco
musical comedy?   
Soundtrack is indeed one of the fortes.  Did you end up by a karaoke of the titles songs with your wife?  It's one of the boni on DVDs and Blu-rays (edition depending).

Oh, and there is a future Conan the Barbarian actress, as a Muse (not Terpsichore of course), Sandahl Bergman.
As for Michael Beck, it was far from the Warriors, but still somewhat not as bad as Megaforce. 

Let's say it's less kitsch than Village People's Can't stop the Music, with its Riefenstahlesque montage 

#46

Off the Record / Re: What does a BIDEN Presiden...

Last post by The Brain - Today at 05:58:53 AM

I recall a uni professor for Latin complaining about literal Bible translations, especially the New Testament which (he said) was written in colloquial Greek with Jewish influences. His example was something like, when the translations says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you", the original is more akin to, "Yo, listen up, here's the thing:"

Were many of the "verily verily" translations done back in olden times when that was the way people talked, meaning that the translation was fine?

#47

Gaming HQ / Re: Victoria 3

Last post by Syt - Today at 05:39:50 AM

It depends. It can undercut your industries (if CU owner can produce cheaper), and if they have a revolution you might be cut off from some or all of their trade (depending on whether you can still reach their trade capital). It certainly makes access to certain goods easier, though.

#48

Gaming HQ / Re: Victoria 3

Last post by Josephus - Today at 05:25:16 AM

Are customs unions good or bad, for a small country? I always accept when it's offered to me.

#49

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 04:50:52 AM

I realise now that it is old

Honestly the only one of those family ones I've watched has been some Friday Night Dinner so it may be a taste thing too. Maybe Catastrophe too? Although, to your point also very middle class.

I'll give Motherland a go.

Having said all that I just looked at the comedy section of iPlayer and realise I should leave this conversation because I basically don't recognise 90% of the shows there....

#50

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Josquius - Today at 04:12:10 AM

Thinking about it the examples that come to mind are all very middle class.
Which says a lot really.

I don't know that that's it. From a UK pov, there's a couple relatively recently like Things You Should Have Done (arguably Gavin and Stacey a bit).

From a UK perspective I think the shift isn't class so much as family isn't the centre of the story anymore. Instead it's friends, flatmates, workplaces far more than it used to be things like This Country or People Just Do Nothing or Stath Lets Flats.

Maybe it's downstream of there not being an audience of families sat around the TV watching the same show anymore who want to see themsleves reflected back?

I've never heard of Things You Should Have Done.
Gavin and Stacy....that's ollllld. :p
I tried to watch series 1 again a year or two back and its amazing how of a different time it is.

But thinking of families my mind went to (the great and should watch) Motherland, Outnumbered, Friday Night Dinner, Modern Family.... All pretty well off families.

But yes. Definitely less of a family focus these days. Where there is, as in Motherland, the kids are often  just a prop for the actual main characters to deal with rather than actual characters.