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Braff Zacklin

Certifiably Surly
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Everything posted by Braff Zacklin

  1. Great list. But especially these two. Genuine LoLs here, man. Thanks for sharing.
  2. At no time were the fish ever out of water for long, none of them were mishandled, and it's quite clear from the footage that they all swam away briskly. Your post was immediately after mine, so maybe use the quote feature going forward. Instead of dropping by to condescend to people willing to share their stories, maybe step up and do the same. You will almost certainly receive a better response than what you've given today. Better yet, if fish health so motivates you, put your money where your mouth is and buy every license, permit and stamp available ... and then DON'T FISH. It's the only way to support the industry while also ensuring that you 100 percent do no harm to any of them.
  3. Blade Runner 2049 is as much an homage to 1982's Blade Runner as it is a continuation of the story. This was clearly a work of love and respect, from the sound effects and visuals to the soundtrack and mood. Hell, casting a Dutch actor to play the replicant villain was no accident. Even the ending is a straight-up tribute. It shares the same music and a similar selfless sacrifice, only with snow instead of rain. That said, 2049 doesn't boast the same potency. There's nothing that quite matches Batty's "Tears in Rain" monologue or the "meet your maker" exchange between he and Tyrell. How could it, though? Ridley's effort focuses on the ultimate existential, the question not even Monty Python could answer, i.e., why the fuck do we go through all this if it just disappears the moment we die? Instead, 2049 sort of evolves into a modern day Pinocchio, but instead of a wooden doll with dreams of being real, it's an android wishing to be born. By the end, he does find his answer to that question and, within it, his purpose. Overall, I'm very happy this film was made. It makes you think, it makes you feel. Outside of a few cheap laughs, the vast majority of movies released have little chance of accomplishing either. As for runtime, I'd apply the adage of "it should be however long it can be as long as it is good." I don't think 2049 could have ended any other way, with K on those steps, in the snow, confused and heartbroken yet, somehow, at peace. Hollywood considers it a modest flop because it didn't earn back triple its budget inside of half a year, but I consider it an artistic achievement. I adore that Villeneuve et al. dared to make it.
  4. I believe Rapinoe distinguished herself as a winger, which would make her a forward, correct? So not a midfielder, but not a striker, either.
  5. All fish were returned to the water unharmed and in good condition, so you can kindly STFU. Thank you.
  6. Would you accept the bed of a truck?
  7. Fair. Consider me properly chastised. Camping/fishing trip was a blast, but we missed the bulls. Again. Buddy managed to land the smallest chinook I've ever seen our first evening. He also hooked into something huge with a massive kype but it self released before we could determine what it was. That was it for exotics. The rest of the trip consisted of small- to mid-sized Westslope cutthroats and small rainbows. What set this year apart, however, was how finicky the cutts were. In previous summers, they'd take virtually whatever you threw at them, so I typically rock a hopper/dropper rig. This year, however, they were keyed in and, despite constant rises, it took me two days to figure out on what. The only hatch I observed were skwalas, and they refused those imitations. Turns out, blue-winged olives were close enough. Things got a lot busier after that. Here's a shitty video from the trip. Most of it was shot directly below the campsite, but we actually covered many miles of water over four days, including a three-mile hike upstream in hopes of locating bulls. (No luck in that regard, but we did cross paths with a badger--a first for me. Larger and wider than imagined.) Apologies in advance for the camera angle of the solo-filmed content. I need to work out a better system. The standard chest mount interferes with my fishing, however.
  8. Completely off topic, but those were some of the best prize fights ever.
  9. Who--the motherfucker in back? He ain't real.
  10. That guy is in a class of his own. I don't see anyone else agreeing with him or expressing a similar sentiment.
  11. My argument isn't aimed at what people are saying on Twitter or other social networking sites; just here. As for the rest of your post, are you contending that, because certain elements of society outside of this site have been hateful toward members of the LGBTQIA+ community, then Surly posters who are critical of anyone from that community must explicitly disclose their reasons for doing so, lest they be labeled a bigot? If so, what's next? If Tim Weah misses a PK for the USMNT, are you going to brand anyone who makes fun of him for doing so racist? It's beyond a slippery slope. Agree that those skewering Rapinoe for her penalty miss should be consistent and extend the same "courtesy" to Smith and O'Hara. That said, as I wrote the other day, it's stupid to begrudge a player for said miss (beyond the initial disappointment) because it inevitably happens to everyone. Also 100 percent that US "fans" celebrating the women's team crashing out simply because they don't like the politics of some of its players suck. Same goes for those who slam any athlete for not participating in the national anthem in the manner in which they believe is appropriate. Those fans are placing their personal agenda above the greater good, which is, ahem, apparently all too common.
  12. It's incendiary to immediately frame their criticism as so motivated, though. Megan's contribution to women's soccer is immeasurable and undeniable. But she was also the face of a specious (and poorly rationalized) campaign to procure "equal pay" for USWNT athletes despite their choosing to participate in a sport that is inherently and unavoidably sexist and inequitable (i.e., women's soccer does not draw remotely near the viewership and therefore the dollars that the men's version does, and much of the viewership it does draw is pruriently motivated). She also selfishly held on for far too long, presumably because of her love for the game but also because of the fame and financial rewards it brought. I understand why she did those things--we're all just tryna get paid--but putting oneself out there does tend to make oneself a target. I don't know if that's why so many resent her. Like you, I'm not a mind reader. However, it's just as bigoted and ignorant to instantly dismiss anyone critical of Rapinoe or the USWNT's effort in general as being generated by misogyny or homophobia. There can be other motivations, even reasonable ones. Immediately needing to frame it in the worst and most prejudicial way is poor form and the sort of stuff one expects to find in the CR**, not here. ** I do not post in or keep up with CR threads, and I try to know as little of posters' political preferences as possible. If I did, maybe I would believe as you do that those being the most critical of Rapinoe are motivated by bigotry, but I try very hard to not see posters on this site through that lens because I'm mostly here to share and laugh, not hate and debate.
  13. Instantly labeling anyone who celebrates Rapinoe's recent World Cup failure as a bigot seems just as ignorant as those who categorize her as some sort of "all-time" loser.
  14. Rapinoe was a service savant for well over a decade, as well known for her pinpoint crosses as for her pay crusade. It is unfortunate and unfair that her career is likely to end this way, but such is the case for any athlete who overstays their welcome. And anyone who plays soccer for at least a moderate length of time will miss a critical PK in heartbreaking fashion. It's just part of the game.
  15. Well, now I feel insulted.
  16. That second one was perfect. Stunning, and yet ... did it surprise anyone?
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