Okay, so, I was reading the news the other day...and it was about this guy. An architect. A *famous* architect. You know, the kind where people know their *name*. Which, I don't understand that part of it - I thought architects were just, you know, *architects*. Like plumbers. Nobody knows the name of their plumber, right? Unless maybe he messes something up real bad. Anyway, this guy was apparently a big deal. He passed away, lived to be 96. 96! That's a long time to be figuring out where doors should go. I mean, I have trouble figuring out where *I* should go most days. But this architect, they were saying he was one of the first of the "star" architects. Like they have stars in *everything* now. Restaurants have stars, movies have stars...now even architects. I guess you gotta be a star in something to be considered good. Makes you wonder about like, mailmen. You ever see a five-star mailman review online? Probably not. So, what he did, this guy, and this is how they explained it, he like, "freed architecture." From what? I don't know. I guess architecture was held captive? Maybe it was stuck in like, a really square building. You know, just boxes. And this guy came along, and he was like, "Nah. Let's do curves. Let's do waves!" They said he did this Guggenheim museum in Spain, a Disney concert hall in California, and something in Paris, they couldn't pronounce so I am not going to attempt to pronounce it. All curvy and wavy. Which, I get. I mean, squares are... squares. A little boring. I'm sure you could put a TV in the corner or something, but then you're just watching TV and the architectural creativity is wasted anyway. But, curves? Those are fancy. Curves are likeā¦ advanced shapes. So, this guy, he built all these curvy buildings. Made everyone happy. And then he lived to be 96. So, I guess the moral of the story isā¦build curvy buildings if you wanna live a long time? I don't know. That's what I took from it. I'm probably wrong. But, I mean, it makes sense, right? The curves are probably easier on your back, less stress on the spinal alignment. I need to build myself a curvy house, maybe itāll help with this back pain. Anyway, yeah, that's the news. Curvy buildings, long life, and architect stars. Still trying to figure that last one out.
2025-12-05 21:04
Alright, so I heard about these guys, right? They're doing this thing with hiking. Now, I'm not a big hiker. I mean, I like walking, but only if there's, like, a chipotle at the end. A mountain? I don't know. Seems high. But these guys, they're making it a *thing*. Like, a whole society thing. They're called "The Others." Which is kind of weird, because shouldn't it be "The Hikers"? Or "The People Who Like Mountains But I Don't Really Understand Them"? But "The Others"... makes you wonder, what are they not telling us? Anyway, they started this whole thing with, like, a blog. In a living room! Remember those days? Blogs were the thing. I never started one. I couldnāt even figure out how to log in. My friend, Jim, he had a blog. He wrote about his cat. It got, like, three views. Two were him. One was his mom. But these hiking guys, they turned their blog into... stuff. Like a magazine, but only comes out twice a year. Thatās a weird schedule. You'd think hiking would be, like, a monthly thing. I mean, does hiking *stop* for six months? I don't know how mountains work. Then they made a podcast. I listen to podcasts. Itās just people talking. I could do that! Oh wait, I *am* doing that. But I'm getting paid. These guys probably are too now. And then get this ā they made a comic book. About hiking. I didnāt even know that was possible. I'm not knocking it, I just don't get it. I mean, what do they fight? Do they fight bears? Do they fight gravity? Do they fight, like, boredom? That's my biggest enemy. They even made these boxes. Like, subscription boxes. But for hiking. So, like, a compass and maybe some beef jerky? I don't know. Seems like a lot of work. So, yeah, these "Others" guys, theyāre making a whole business out of hiking. I guess thatās a thing now. Good for them. Iāll just stick to walking to Chipotle. It's flat, and they have burritos. Hard to beat that.
2025-12-05 19:34
Alright, so I was reading... well, someone told me about this thing. A story. And it was about...music. Independent music, I think. Or "indie" music, as they call it. See, apparently, back in the day, before, you know, you could just *listen* to whatever you wanted whenever you wanted on your phone... that's the "streaming" part, I guess... Anyway, before all that, there was this independent music thing happening. On the internet. Which, think about *that* for a second. Music... on the *internet*. I'm still trying to figure out how that works, but I digress. This journalist guy, wrote a book about it. Called it "Such Great Heights". I like the title. I should come up with a title like that. I usually just call my jokes "joke 1," "joke 2," you know? Not very catchy. But anyway, this guy's saying this "indie" music used to be big. Real popular. Then streaming came along, and now it's like... underground. Like it's hiding. Like it committed a crime. What crime could music commit? Playing too loud? I don't know. So, it used to be popular, on the internet. And now, it's not. That's the whole thing. I think. I'm not sure I fully understand it. I just know that it used to be up high, and now it's... low. Such great heights, indeed. Maybe it didn't wear a parachute. I don't know music is weird. I'm a comedian. I tell jokes. Which hopefully don't end up underground. That would be bad for business.
2025-12-05 17:04
Okay, so I was reading this thing the other day, and I gotta tell you, I barely understood it. It was aboutā¦movies? I think? It mentioned, like, the *founding myths of America*. Which, okay, I know a little bit about. I mean, thereās George Washington, andā¦uhā¦ Betsy Ross? She sewed the flag, right? I think so. Anyway, it said that because of these myths, and someā¦ *contemporary* problemsā¦ which I guess is justā¦today's problems? That sounds right. Because of all this, thereās been, like, a *ton* of these movies being made. An explosion, they said. Which is a strong word. Usually, if something explodes, it's bad, but I don't think it's bad when there are movies involved. So basically, what I got from it is: weāre making a lot of movies about American stuff, both old and new. Andā¦ people like it. Or at least, enough people like it that they keep making them. I guess Hollywood thinks we're interested in ourselves. I donāt know, I mainly just watch stuff with animals talking. Way less confusing. I always understand what the animals want! They just want to eat or go to sleep. Me too.
2025-12-05 16:34
Alright, so, I read this thing, right? It was about this young guy, a playwright. You know, someone who writes plays. I don't know why they call it "wright," sounds like you should be building something, not writing. Like, a playwright should be building a... stagecoach. I don't know. Anyway, this young guy, he wrote a play. And it was about, uh... well, they called it "mal-ĆŖtre." I don't know what that is, I think it's some kind of fancy cheese. Probably expensive. I don't even like cheese that much. My wife, Natalie, loves cheese. I just eat it because itās there. But no, apparently "mal-ĆŖtre" isnāt cheese. It's something to do with, like, not feeling good. People being bummed out. And it was about people in the... well, they called them "banlieues." Sounds like a type of shoe. Maybe those little ballet slipper things? I donāt know anything about shoes, Natalie buys all my clothes. I would probably wear Crocs everywhere if it was up to me. But apparently, it's not shoes either. Itās about these neighborhoods where people live, kind of on the edge of the city. And the play was about them not being happy. So, itās a sad play. Not for me, I would rather watch something happy. Like a dog playing. Dogs are always happy. And this guy, the playwright, he directed it too! Which is impressive, right? Writing a play is hard enough. Directing it too? I donāt even like to direct the kids on where to put their shoes when we come in the house, it's exhausting. He directed four actors in the play. Actors. I don't know how you become one. They have to, you know, memorize lines. I can barely remember my phone number. And get this, the whole thing was based on his own life! He said it was about things he went through. You know, growing up and stuff. Thatās brave. I could never put my life in a play. My life is mostly just, you know, driving carpool and trying to figure out how the dishwasher works. Not exactly Shakespeare, is it? So basically, to recap, young guy wrote a play about people being sad in some neighborhoods, he directed it himself, it was based on his life, and everyone thought it was good. I donāt know, maybe I will go see it. As long as Natalie can explain āmal-ĆŖtreā to me before we go. And hopefully, I can stay awake. Sometimes plays put me right to sleep. Itās the dark room. You know? Itās like a built-in nap time.
2025-12-05 16:04
Alright, so I was looking at... something. I don't even know what it was. Probably my phone. You know how it is. You pick it up and then you're just... in it. Anyway, there was a list of, like, music. Now, I don't listen to a *lot* of music, if I'm being honest. I mostly just listen to the radio in the car, and sometimes I donāt even know what station is on. I mean, music is fine, but itās not like Iām seeking it out. My wife likes music, sheās always got something going on on the speakers, and, you know, thatās fine, I donāt mind. But back to this list. It seemed like a lot of people were making new albums. And some of them sounded... interesting. So, this one guy, itās a *travel* through the work of some composer. I think thereās, like, a hammer dulcimer involved. Iām not sure what that is, is that like a small hammer you use to play music? Iām picturing someone just chasing a piano around the room with a hammer. Probably not, I don't know. There was also an accordion involved. Accordions are always fun, Iām always glad to see those. Then there was this Argentinian cellist, doing a tribute to, I think, a French cellist. Cellos are great, you can sit down while playing them, that's convenient. So thatās two cellists. So thatās good for them. Oh, and this lady, sheās a composer and a singer and a violinist. Thatās a lot of jobs! I can barely do *one* job. Iām a comedian, and most days I just tell the same jokes I told last week. Sheās doing all *that* on one album. We need to get her to teach us how to work, maybe I should ask her. And get this: a rapper made a double album, THIRTY-TWO songs, and he recorded it in twelve days. That's two and a half songs a day! I can't even come up with two and a half jokes a day! Itās impressive, but also a little bitā¦ much. You know? Like, relax, man. I get tired just thinking about it. And then there's another rapper, but this time he's...singing. He's "transforming." I don't know, I always thought rapping *was* singing, but maybe Iām behind. Maybe there is a special way to sing and he is doing that now. My wife always asks me to sing and I always say no. I donāt think I've ever transformed. Oh, and then something about an anniversary album for a record label? Theyāre celebrating ten years. Ten years. Thatāsā¦ a long time, I guess. I donāt know how old record labels usually are. Iām glad they are celebrating, they should be proud. And finally, a Swiss singer. He's releasing his eighteenth album. Eighteenth! I'm still working on number one in my career. This guyās *eighteen* albums in! I guess heās just more efficient than I am. It only has twelve songs, so, you know, at least there is that. So, yeah. A lot of music coming out. I might listen to some of it. Eventually. Probably while I'm driving around, trying to figure out what radio station Iām even listening to. I don't know how people keep track of all this stuff, I really don't. Itās too much. Itās justā¦ a lot. I need a nap.
2025-12-05 15:34
Okay, so, I was hearin' about this thing happening in... well, a city. You know the one. They got the big tower. Anyway, they're doing this... it's like a play, but with more singin'. They're callin' it an "opera-comique." Now, Iām not an opera guy. I went to one once with my wife. She likes it. I mostly stayed awake. I think. Anyway, "opera-comique" sounds fancy, right? Like they're tryin' to trick you into thinkin' it's funny. I picture clowns in togas. Probably not what it is, though. This particular one is by this guy Jacques Offenbach. Sounds like a bad guy in a cartoon. Like he's always trying to steal the jewels or something. But apparently, he's just writin' these things for people to sing really loud. So, anyway, they put this opera on, they gave it a good go, they made it real good, and they're doin' it over there until December 14th. So if you happen to beā¦ over thereā¦ and you like singin', and it's not too cold out, and you're not hungry or anythingā¦ maybe check it out. Me? I'll probably just watch the game. Less singin'. More touchdowns. I understand those better.
2025-12-05 14:34
Alright, so I was reading this thing, and they're talking about this festival. It's the 47th one they've done, which, I donāt know how festivals work, but 47 seems like a lot. Like, they must be really good at it by now. Youād think. Iāve only been to maybe one or two festivals in my life, and I mostly just got confused about where to park. Anyway, so at this festival, they have thisā¦ spot. Called "The Free Space." (Which, I guess, you can't charge people to be there, right? I mean, it's called "Free Space.") And every night, these two young artists are playing at āThe Free Spaceā. One of themā¦ she's rapping. Now, Iām not a big rapping guy, you know? I appreciate music and all, but sometimes I can't understand the words. It's probably me. I have trouble with the radio sometimes, too. My wife will be singing along to a song, and Iām just nodding, pretending I know whatās going on. Then sheāll ask me what the song's about, and I'm like, "Uhā¦ love?" But this girl, she's rapping about being angry. Like, really angry. At what she calls "the old world." Iām not sure exactly what that means, but I guess she's not happy with how things are. I can relate to that sometimes. Like, when Iām trying to figure out how to work the remote control for the TV. I get pretty angry at *that* "old world." Then thereās the other one. She's singing. About being worried. Apparently, her whole generation is worried. I guess everyoneās worried about something these days. Iām mostly worried about whether I remembered to lock the car. Or if I left the stove on. Small stuff. Important, though. So basically, you've got one girl rapping about being mad, and another girl singing about being worried. At the "Free Space" on this 47 years old festival. And Iām just sitting here wondering what it cost to get into the festival. 'Cause if itās a lot, I might be worried AND mad.
2025-12-05 09:04
Alright, so, I saw this thing. Netflix, you know, always got something new comin' out. This time, it's a movie. And it's got George Clooney in it. Now, George Clooney, he's, you know, a good-lookin' fella. Always has been. But in this movie, they're sayin' he's playin'... an *older* George Clooney. Which, I guess, is just George Clooney, now, right? I mean, time marches on. I saw him in "ER" back in the day, and now he's playin' a guy who's seein' his own expiration date on that famous Clooney charm. He's playing an aging movie star. I donāt know what that says to the rest of us, but it feels important to be reminded that everyone get older, even if you used to be George Clooney. So, this director, he's an American guy, like me, but heās 56-years-old. He made a whole movie for Netflix. And Clooney's in it, bein' old. It just seems like a lot of effort to point out something we all already know. I mean, are we supposed to be *surprised* people age? I'm confused. Iām just saying, maybe they could've cast me in the movie. I'm about to be 48, so, I'm practically halfway to old, right? I coulda played a younger version of the older George Clooney. Save 'em some money on makeup. Plus, I need the work. My daughter wants a horse, and apparently, horses are *not* cheap. Itās always something.
2025-12-05 08:34
Okay, so I saw this thing, right? This article. And it's about...books. But not just *any* books. These are the books that really stuck with the photography department at this magazineā¦ place. Itās likeā¦ *the* magazine. I think. You know, the kind your dad reads. If your dad reads magazines. Mine doesn't. He just watches TV. But anyway, these books, theyāre special. Because theyāre the favorites of the *photo* people. Which isā¦interesting, right? Like, shouldnāt they be all pictures? Why are they reading? I mean, I look at the pictures. Seems simpler. So, what were they about? One was aboutā¦impossible islands. I don't know what those are. Islands that don't exist? Islands that are really, really hard to get to? I always think Islands are impossible to get to anyway. Itās an island. Surrounded by water. You need a boat, at least. Another one was about the early days of techno music. Whichā¦ well, I like music. But I donāt know much about ātechno.ā My wife likes it. Iāll pretend I do too, so I donāt get into trouble. And the last one was about the steppes of Mongolia. Steppesā¦Mongoliaā¦I had to look it up to be honest. It's basically, a big grassy plain in Mongolia. Now, Iāve never been to Mongolia. Have you been to Mongolia? Yeah, me neither. I'm betting most people havenāt been there. But someone took pictures of a grassy field. And then someone wrote a book about that. And thatās one of the best books of the year, according to the photo guys at the magazine? I need to take more photos of my backyard. So yeah, impossible islands, techno, and grassy plains. That's what the cool kids are reading. I'll stick with the TV. Thanks.
2025-12-05 06:34
Alright, so I was reading this thing the other day, and it was talking about... cathedrals. You know, the big churches. Really, really big. Like, you could play basketball in some of them, probably. Though I'm not sure if they allow that. Probably not, right? Anyway, apparently, this cathedral, very popular, millions of people go there every year. That's a lot of people. I don't even know that many people. My Thanksgiving only has like, 15, tops. And the article was saying, and this is the confusing part, that they don't charge people to go in. Which, okay, seems nice. Free is good. I like free. I got a free pen once, and I still have it. You can never have too many pens, that's what I always say. But, here's the thing. Apparently, the government is trying to fix up all these old churches, and it costs a LOT of money. Like, more money than I have, which, granted, isn't that hard. I try to keep my finances simple, you know? Just enough to cover the essentials: rent, groceries, maybe a new DVD every now and then. So, this guy, the guy who wrote the article - a very smart guy, I'm sure, one of those "editor" guys, you know? - he's saying, "Wait a minute. Millions of people are going in this cathedral for free? Maybe...just maybe...we could charge them a little something?" And you know, I gotta say, it makes a little sense. I mean, if everyone gave like, a dollar? Think of all the stone they could buy! I'm not good with math, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot of stone. It's just one of those things. Like, I get both sides. I get wanting things to be free. I also get wanting to fix the roof of a really, really big church. I don't know the answer. I'm just a comedian. I tell jokes. Figuring out how to pay for old buildings? That's above my pay grade. Though, if they asked for my opinion, I'd probably just suggest they sell t-shirts. Everyone loves a t-shirt. Especially if it says "I visited a cathedral!" Maybe that's the answer.
2025-12-05 06:04
Alright, so I went to seeā¦ I think it was a dance thing. Itās called "Contrasts," which, right away, I'm like, "Okay, they're not hiding anything here. I can handle contrasts." I handle those every day ā like, sometimes I wear socks that don't match. It's a contrast. Anyway, this dance thingā¦ it was four different dances. Which, that seems like a lot. Like, why not just one really *good* dance? You know? I mean, four different pizzas isnāt always better than one amazing pizza. Just putting that out there. So, two of these dances were by this American lady. Don't know her name, they said it, but I wasn't writing it down. Iām there to watch the dance, you know? And then there was another one by this guy David Dawson. Just David Dawson. Sounds like a guy youād meet at a barbecue. "Hey, you gonna grill those hot dogs, David Dawson?" And then the *last* oneā¦ This is where it gets tricky. It was by aā¦ a *duo.* Imre and Marne van Opstal. Which, you know, good for them, they found someone to dance with forā¦ however long it took. Itās hard enough to find a matching pair of gloves sometimes, let alone a matching dance partner for a whole dance! So, four dances, all different styles. Apparently, it's a journey through the history of dance. Which, I guess, is supposed to make it sound important. But really, it just sounds like a long night. I mean, I love history, but I prefer it in book form. Sitting down. Maybe with a snack. Notā¦ moving aroundā¦to a beat. It was fine. Honestly, the best part was leaving the theater and going to get some ice cream. That was a good contrast to all the dancing. Now *that* I understand.
2025-12-05 06:04
Okay, so I heard about this movie, right? It's directed by this guy, Noah Baumbach. Sounds like a tree. Baumbach. Anyway, apparently he makes movies about movie stars. Which, I don't know, seems like a weird circle to be in, right? Like, you're making a movieā¦ about making movies? And this movie is about a movie star whoāsā¦ having a hard time. Which, I gotta be honest, seems like a lot of movie stars. I feel like if you're a movie star, youāre probably doing okay. Unless you'reā¦ well, you know. But this guy, he'sā¦ troubled. I guess. They said the movie is done with āhumour andā¦ sweetness.ā Humour *and* sweetness. See, thatās confusing to me. It's like, if you need humour, is it really that sweet? Or, if it's sweet, does it need humour? I don't know. I donāt think I could direct humour and sweetness at the same time. I'd probably just direct. And thatās probably not good. So, basically, it's a movie about a movie star who's sad. I don't know. Maybe I'll watch it. If it comes outā¦ on DVD. Iām still not sure about streaming. It just feelsā¦ too fast. You know?
2025-12-05 06:04
Alright, so, I was reading something the other dayā¦ about a Western. You know, cowboys, horses, dustā¦ all that. Now, Iām not a big Western guy, you know? Iām more of aā¦ indoor cat. I like air conditioning, maybe a soft chair. But this Westernā¦ it's trying to be different. It's like, the guy who made it, he made that show "Sons of Anarchy"... I never watched it, but I heard it was aboutā¦ motorcycles? I donāt know. Seems loud. Anyway, this guy, he's trying to make a Western that's not like all the other Westerns. He wants to get rid of all thoseā¦ what do you call themā¦ cliches? You know, the bad guy in the black hat, the saloon with the swinging doors, theā¦ I donāt knowā¦ the tumbleweeds? So, he's got these two actresses in it, Gillian Anderson and Lena Headeyā¦ Now Gillian Anderson, I remember her from "The X-Files." I think. My wife watched it. I mostly remember the theme song. It was catchy. And Lena Headeyā¦ I think she was in something with dragons? I donāt know. Everything has dragons now, right? So, they're trying to make this Western different, but the thing isā¦ and this is where it gets meā¦ it sounds like in trying to get rid of the *old* cliches, they might be making *new* ones. Whichā¦ I don't knowā¦ seems like a lot of work to end up in the same place. Like when you try to fold a fitted sheet. You think you're doing great, and then bam! It's just a crumpled mess. So basically, itās a Westernā¦ but *different*. But maybe not. And that's the story. I donāt know why I'm telling you this. Itās justā¦ you knowā¦ stuff I read. I gotta get better at choosing reading material. Maybe I'll stick to the backs of cereal boxes.
2025-12-04 20:04
Alright, so I was reading something the other dayā¦ Well, I *tried* to read it. It was about this job... I guess it's a job. It's called a "music supervisor," right? And I'm thinking, "Okay, supervisor... so, like, they're in charge of the music?" Makes sense so far. But then they start talking about movie soundtracks, you know, the "BO de film" part and I'm like, huh? But listen, this music supervisor, she's apparently really important. Like, you've seen those movies where the music just *fits*? Perfectly? Like, itās when the guy is really thinking about something and sad and a really deep song plays? This is their job, right? So theyāre the ones who find the right music for the movie, so the movie guy doesnāt have to. So what Iām wondering is, how many songs are we talking about to pick from? And how do you decide? Like, do you just play a bunch of songs and see what makes you cry the most? And how much is this paying because it doesn't sound easy, but then again what job really is easy besides maybe being a seal in the zoo? Anyways, this article... it said nobody really knows what they do. And I get that. I mean, I barely understand what I do sometimes. Iām just telling jokes on stage and somehow people laugh? Itās a mystery, really. But yeah, music supervisors. Turns out, they're the unsung heroes of movies, making sure the music doesnāt get so bad that the movie bombs at the box office.
2025-12-04 20:04
Alright, so I heard this story, right? And itās one of those stories where you try to understand whatās happening, but then you justā¦ donāt. So there's this guy, right? A writer. Andā¦ well, they said he was *franco-algĆ©rien*. I don't know exactly what that is. Is that like, half French, halfā¦ something else? Like a calzone? I donāt know. Anyway, this guy was in jail inā¦ Algeria? Iāve heard of it. I think. Is that nearā¦ France? I donāt know geography. My wifeās better at that. She can point to countries. I just point and say, āProbably hot there.ā So, he was in jail for a year. A whole YEAR. I canāt even imagine being in jail for a year. I mean, I complain when the hotel doesnāt have enough pillows. A YEAR? But hereās the weird thing. He got out of jailā¦ on November 12th. Which isā¦ good, right? I mean, being out of jail is generally better than being *in* jail. I would assume. And thenā¦ he gets this award. A *prestigious* award, they say. I donāt know what makes an award prestigious. Is it the font on the certificate? Is it made of real gold? I donāt know. But this award, itās calledā¦ I don't know what it's called, they didn't say. But it was in this building with a dome. A big dome, like a capitol building. You know, the kind of place where important things happen. I feel like if I were in a building with a dome, I would immediately feel underdressed. I would wonder if I needed a tie. And get thisā¦ the award came with *money*. 200,000ā¦ Euros? I don't know how much that is in dollars. Probably a lot. Probably enough to buyā¦ a lot of pillows. So basically, this guy goes from being in jail in Algeria, to winning a big award inā¦ France? Or wherever this dome building is. And he gets a bunch of money. Iām thinking, āMan, I gotta get arrested more often. Maybe they'll give *me* an award. Forā¦ being quiet? I don't know what I would get an award for. Avoiding small talk, maybe.ā
2025-12-04 19:04
Alright, so, I was reading the news the other day, you know, trying to keep up, which is a full-time job in itself. It's like, you learn something, and then five minutes later, it's already changed. How do they expect us to keep up? I donāt know. But anyway, there's this, uh, Union of European Radio-Television people. Sounds important, right? Like they control all the radio stations in Europe. I donāt know if they do, but thatās the impression I get. So, these people, they had a vote. And they voted on some new rules. Now, I don't know exactly *what* the rules are, because the article got a little wordy, and you know me, I start glazing over. But basically, it sounded like the rules were gonna let pretty much anyone participate. Which, on the surface, seems like a good thing, right? More people involved. Democracy. All that. But, hereās the thing. After they voted, a bunch of countries were like, "Nah, weāre good." They said they were gonna boycott. Just not even participate anymore. Like a toddler refusing to eat their vegetables. And Iām thinking, "Wait a minute. You voted for it, and then you're gonna boycott it?" Itās like agreeing to go to a wedding, and then on the day of, just sending a card. You're still acknowledging it, but you're not *really* acknowledging it. So, the summary is: The European radio and television people made some new rules to let everyone participate. And now a bunch of countries are like, "Weāre not playing anymore!" Which, frankly, is just confusing. You know, sometimes I think grownups are even worse at decision-making than my daughter. At least *she's* honest about wanting ice cream for dinner. These countries are like, "We want ice creamā¦ but we're gonna stand in the corner and pout about it." I just donāt understand. I really donāt.
2025-12-04 19:04
Alright, alright, so I saw this thing, right? It's a movie. A Christmas movie, which, you know, I'm generally in favor of. Christmas? Good holiday. Presents? Good. Everybody's happy, or at least pretending to be. I like pretending to be happy; it's easier than actually being happy. Anyway, this movie... They said it was a comedy. A family comedy. Which always makes me a little nervous. "Family comedy" usually means there's gonna be at least one scene where somebody accidentally gets sprayed by a skunk. Or, worse, they're all *laughing* at the skunk! Like the skunk planned to be there. Skunks have enough on their plate. And apparently, this movie, itā¦ it does something. It doesn't do the usual Christmas movie things? I'm trying to figure out what that even *means*. Like, are they *not* gonna sing carols? 'Cause I like carols. I donāt know the words, but I like the feeling of everyone being wrong together. It's comforting. So, bottom line is, itās a Christmas movie with a good cast, they said, and it does things *differently*. I donāt know what that means. Probably just means someone tries to deep-fry the turkey and the whole house burns down. Which, honestly, is relatable. Iāve come close. I stick to ham now. Ham's lessā¦ incendiary. It's safer. Just safer. So yeah. Christmas movie. Different. Probably still has lights. I'm hoping it has lights. I like lights.
2025-12-04 18:04
Alright, so I heard about this place, right? They reopened it, like, not too long ago. 2022, I think. And things were probably going good for a minute...you know, like when you open a new jar of pickles. Good for a little while. But then, I guess things got a little...tense. That's the word they used. "Tense." I don't know what that means exactly, but it sounds like nobody's having fun, which is my definition of almost everything. So, these employees, they went on strike. A strike! Now, I don't know much about strikes. I'm not good at confrontation. You know, if someone cuts me off in traffic, I just assume they have to go to the bathroom really bad and I let them go. Strike seems like a LOT. And apparently, the person in charge, this lady named Celine Koppā¦ she's leaving. She's like, "I'm outta here!" Which, you know, you gotta respect. Maybe she just really wanted to see her kids. You never know. So, yeah, basically this place reopened, people were happy, then they were mad, and now the boss is leaving. It's like a sitcom, but less funny...or maybe it IS funny, I just don't understand the joke yet. This is my life, ladies and gentlemen!
2025-12-04 15:04
Okay, so I was reading this thing, and it's aboutā¦ a guitar player. That's pretty straightforward, right? Guitar player. I get that. I played the recorder in elementary school, so I understand music on, like, a very basic level. This guy, though, he played guitar for this group called Booker T. & the MGās. Booker T. & the MGās. Sounds like a law firm, doesnāt it? Like, āNeed to sue somebody? Call Booker T. & the MGās. Weāll get you some money.ā But itās a band. Okay. And then it says he was with Stax Records. Stax Records. I always thought those were the things you put on top of a wedding cake. Like, the little bride and groom... but made of records? That seems kindaā¦heavy. Also, I'm not sure they were invented yet... Turns out Stax Records is another music thing. They have artists. Artists that this guitar player apparently played WITH. Now, this is where it gets complicated, because they start throwing names at you. Like Otis Redding. Wilson Pickett. Sam & Dave. Carla Thomas. And youāre thinking, "Are these peopleās names? Or are they ordering a sandwich at a deli?" "Yeah, I'll take an Otis Redding on rye. Hold the mayo." I'm just trying to keep up here. So, basically, this guitar player, he was a really good guitar player. Good enough that he played with all these people that other people have heard of. That's the important thing I learned. Good for him. I can barely tune a ukulele. You ever tried to tune a ukulele? Itās a nightmare. You think you got it, and then you play a chord and it sounds like a cat fight. But, you know, at least I can tell you about it on stage.
2025-12-04 12:04
Alright, so I saw this thingā¦ I donāt know where I saw it. Probably on my phone. Iām always on my phone, which is probably why I donāt understand half the things I read on it. Anyway, it was aboutā¦ theatre. You know, like plays? With the costumes and the dramatic crying? Iāve been to a few. Usually, I just go because my wife wants to go. She likes the theatre. I mostly just like the snacks. So, apparently, some people who are *really* into theatre ā and Iām talking like, super into theatre - theyāre a little worried. These aren't just regular theatre-goers, these are like *theatre people* . I'm not sure exactly what kind of people they are, but I think it's safe to say that they know way more about theatre than I do. I just know that if I'm in a theatre, I hope the seats are comfortable. They wrote somethingā¦ a thing. Probably a very long thing. I didnāt read the whole thing. Just the headline. I think it was in a newspaper or something. They were saying that the schoolsā¦ are they teaching less theatre now? Like, are kids not learning to memorize lines and wear tights as much anymore? I guess thatās what they're saying. Theyāre worried about it. Something about the money. It's always the money, right? They're not giving the schools enough money for the plays anymore. Which, I donāt know. I mean, I barely remember anything from high school anyway. I mostly remember lunch. And trying to find my classes. But I guess if you're *really* into theatre, this is a big deal. So, yeah. Theatre people are worried. And I'm just here, hoping they still have good popcorn at the concession stand. That's about all I got out of it.
2025-12-04 07:04
Okay, so I saw this thing, right? About this... singer. He's from... well, he's got a couple of places he's from. British and Nigerian, which, I gotta be honest, I didn't even know you could *be* both. I just thought you picked one. Like, are you filling out paperwork and you're like, "Uh, I'll take one of each, please?" Anyway, this guy sings, and he sings with this... this rapper, Little Simz. I don't know her music, but she sounds small, right? Like maybe she sings about... mice? I don't know. But he's on her records a lot, so that's good. So, this singer, he's going to this festival... in Brittany. You know, Brittany? In France. I didn't even realize they *had* festivals in France. I thought they were just good at bread and arguing. But apparently they have festivals. This one's in December, so I guess dress warm? And he's going to sing this... Afro-beat. Which, I'm not entirely sure what that is. I picture a drum solo, but maybe that's just me. But it's got some soul mixed in. So it's like, Afro-beat, but sadder. Which is kind of how *I* feel about Afro-beat now, 'cause I don't know what it is. So he's gonna go sing his Afro-beat-soul stuff in Brittany. On December 4th. That's the important part, I think. December 4th. Mark your calendars. I probably won't be there. I'll probably be home, trying to figure out what Afro-beat is. Maybe with some bread.
2025-12-04 06:04
Okay, so, I heard about this place in Los Angeles, right? An "artistic institution," which, already, I'm like, "What even *is* that?" Is it a museum? A school? Is it just a really fancy place where people draw stick figures? I don't know. But anyway, apparently, this place had some fires nearby earlier this year. Fires are scary. I don't like fires. Makes you think, "Maybe I should have a fire extinguisher..." Then you don't get one. Then you *almost* have a fire... and you think, "I *really* should get a fire extinguisher." It's a whole thing. So, this place survives the fires. Which is good. No one wants an artistic institution, whatever it is, to burn down. Too much paperwork, I'm sure. And now, the lady in charge, the "president," she wants to, and this is the important part, "open the place more widely to the public." Now, I'm thinking, "Widely? How widely?" Is it already open a little bit? Is it like a door that's only cracked open? Are they adding a drive-through window so you can look at the art from your car? Itās L.A., that would be a smart move. I don't know exactly *how* they're going to do it, but it sounds like they want more people to come. So, if youāre ever in Los Angeles, maybe check out this artistic institutionā¦ whatever it is. Just watch out for fires. And let me know if they have snacks. I always need snacks. I'm doing a bit on that later... it's a good bit. I think.
2025-12-04 06:04
Alright, so, you know that guy from "Friends?" The one who... well, he's not around anymore. Yeah, that one. Anyway, turns out there was a doctor involved, right? A Dr. Plasencia, I think. Now, I'm not a doctor, obviously. I struggle to remember to take my vitamins, let alone prescribe medicine. But this doctor, apparently, he wasn't the one who *gave* the guy the stuff that caused, you know... the thing. Nope. But here's the thing, and this is where I get a little confused. He *did* sell him a bunch of it. Like, twenty bottles. Over a few weeks. Now, I'm thinking, if you're selling someone twenty bottles of anything, shouldn't a little bell go off? Like, "Hey, maybe this guy's starting a bottle collection?" Or, "Maybe he's having a really bad cough?" Because even *I* know that twenty bottles of cough syrup is too much. And I'm not known for my, you know, critical thinking. I mean, I went to buy eggs the other day, and I bought eighteen. Just normal eggs. My wife was like, "Why eighteen?" I said, "They were on sale! I panicked." So, yeah, I'm not exactly the best judge of what's a normal amount of things. But twenty bottles... that just seems like a lot. The doctor is in trouble for prescribing the medicine but not the drug overdose that killed the actor. I guess I don't know why, but I guess he has to go back to school?
2025-12-04 01:04
Alright, alright, so I saw this thing, right? Iām not even sure where I saw it, probably on my phone while I was trying to figure out how to turn on the weather. You ever done that? Just stare at your phone like it's gonna tell you how to live your life? Anyway... It was about books. Which, you know, I *can* read. I mean, I *have* read. I read a book once. It was... a book. But these are like... *fancy* books. Like the kind you have to have a little tiny cup of coffee to read. So, apparently, there's this writer, lady, named Julie... Brafman? Berman? Sounds important, I don't know. She wrote about another guy. His name was Yann AndrĆ©a. See, even the names sound fancy. Like they have a silent "h" in there somewhere. Now, Yann... this is where it gets complicated. He was apparently with a lady, a *really* famous writer. Her name was Marguerite Duras. She was... a writer. I don't know what she wrote. Probably books. But apparently, Yann was her... *last* companion. Which, I guess means they were together? Or maybe he was just really good at keeping her company. Like, maybe he brought her snacks and helped her find the remote. I don't know. So this Julie... person... wrote a book *about* Yann *about* Marguerite. It's like... layers. It's like a literary lasagna. I'm not sure I'm smart enough for this. Basically, if you want to know about this Yann guy, and this Marguerite lady, and this Julie person who wrote about both of them... you should probably read a book. I know, crazy, right? But... Iām just saying, Iām not going to. Iāll just stick to watching TV. I understand that. Itās got pictures.
2025-12-04 00:34
Alright, so I heard about thisā¦ thing. In Paris. Theyāre having a whole *show* about this painter. Now, Iām not an art guy. Iāll just be honest with you. I walked through an art museum once, and I thought the fire exits were more interesting, you know? But, anyway, this painter is fromā¦ Finland. Thatās cold. Real cold. I think I saw a picture of a Finnish swimming pool in the summer, it looked like my ice machine in the winter. So, this Finnish guy, he painted. Apparently, a lot. Theyāre showing like, a hundred paintings. A hundred. Thatās a lot of painting. I wonder how many brushes you go through doing that? Iāve painted my garage once, and that was enough painting for me. I had to lie down afterwards. And it's not just the paintings, they got his stuff there. Like, documents. What kind of documents do you have in a museum about you? His grocery list? That would be interesting. Maybe he liked to eat fish. Being from Finland and all, I mean, you gotta assume they like fish. Maybe the documents are just different kinds of fish he likes? They've got his *objects* too. I donāt know what that means. Like, his keys? I can see how it would be difficult to paint without those. I also don't know why keys would be in an exhibit. Probably because I'm not smart enough to understand. But, get this, the whole thing is about how much this guy loved nature. So, heās from Finland. It's really cold, right? But he loves the *outdoors*. Now, I like being outside. But only when it's, like, 72 degrees and sunny. This guy liked it year round, I guess. He sounds like a hard worker, I don't know how he ever painted. So yeah, a hundred paintings, documents, objects, all about a Finnish guy who liked nature. Soundsā¦ educational? Probably not for me. I'll just go eat a pizza. Thatās my kind of art.
2025-12-03 20:04
Okay, so I heard about these folks, right? It was a storyā¦ I don't know how I heard about it. Probably someone told me. I don't read as much as I should. That's a whole other bit. Anyway, theseā¦ four people, see? Three guys and a lady. And they were justā¦ living somewhere. From October of last year until, like, May of *this* year. That's a good chunk of time, you know? I think I've kept milk in the fridge longer than that, which, according to my wife, is not a good idea. But they were doing their jobs. I donāt know what their jobs are. The story didnāt even say. It probably did, and I justā¦ missed it. It happens. I get distracted. You ever try reading with kids around? Forget about it. So, whatever their jobs were, they were doing them, andā¦ apparently, it was horrible. Real bad. They used the word "horror." See, I donāt like when they use words like "horror." I just want to know if they were late getting their salary. Then I understand. Horror doesn't help me. And somehow, because they were doing their jobs in this horrible situation, they took pictures. Or maybe someone else did. Itās unclear. But these pictures are supposed to be really important, because they show what was going on. So, it's not really a nice picture. It's more like something that tells a story. I like telling stories. I'm not very good at taking pictures. So, basically, four people lived through something terrible, and somebody got some pictures, and now everyone thinks we should all look at those pictures. Which I might do. Probably not tonight, though. I'm going to watch some TV. Maybe something with puppies.
2025-12-03 18:04
Alright, so, I heard about thisā¦ this fella. He'sā¦ a comedian, I guess? And heās trying to open up a theme park. Now, I don't know about you, but theme parks? They're a lot. You gotta have the rides, the food, theā¦ stuff. And this theme park is all aboutā¦ William the Conqueror. You know, from history? The guy who conquered things. So, this guy ā the comedian ā heās dressing up as like, a mix of Creole andā¦ Norman? Like a hybrid. Which, right there, Iām already confused. I didnāt know you could *be* a mix of Creole and Norman. I thought those were like, places. Like saying you're a mix of pizza andā¦ Nebraska. Which, I mean, you *could* be. You could be *eating* pizza in Nebraska. Butā¦ Anyway, he's doing all these little scenes, like short skits. And, well, I havenāt seen āem, but the way theyāre describedā¦ it sounds likeā¦ maybe not a home run. You know? Like, they're saying theyāre not the most convincing. And Iām thinking, William the Conqueror theme park? Thatās a tough sell to begin with. Like, what are the rides? āThe Battle of Hastings Log Flumeā? I don't know. Maybe I'm not the right guy to ask. I once tried to build a birdhouse, and it collapsed on a robin. I felt bad. But yeah, this comedianā¦ theme parkā¦ William the Conquerorā¦ Creole-Norman hybridā¦ It all just sounds like a *lot* of stuff happening. I hope it works out for him. I really do. Butā¦ I'm gonna go ahead and guess I'm not going to be in the first wave of customers lining up at opening. Just a hunch. You know? Just a feeling I have.
2025-12-03 12:04
Alright, so I saw this articleā¦ about a news channel. See, I donāt usually read news, Iām more of a listen-to-people-tell-me-whatās-happening kind of guy. Like a human news aggregator. Which, I guess, makes me a middleman. Not a good job. You ever meet a middleman you liked? No. Theyāre always trying to get a cut. Anyway, this news channel, they had this *agreement*. Itās like a contract, but people call it an agreement, so it sounds more friendly, right? It's still a contract. This agreement was with this, uhā¦ agency. A *press* agency. Not the people ironing shirts, by the way. I thought that at first. My wife had to explain it to me. Bless her heart. So, this press agency is like, in the town of, uhā¦ Bordeaux. Which, I hear, makes good wine. Never been. Maybe I should go. See if they got agreements about grapes. And this agency, it's connected to this *newspaper*ā¦ called āSouth Westā. So, I guess, they cover stuff that happens in the, uh, south-western part ofā¦ somewhere. Probably. And here's the kicker - This news channelā¦ they justā¦stopped paying the agency. They *broke up*. Broke the *agreement*. They said, āWeāre done!ā Like a bad marriage, but with more paperwork. So now this agency is probably thinking, "What do we do with all these camera and microphones?" I donāt know the full story. Maybe the news channel got tired of them, maybe they just wanted to save some money on wine... I guess. All I know is, one agreement is done, and someone in Bordeaux is wondering where their money is. Happens all the time. You sign up for a membership, forget about it and then a year later you're like, "Hey. Why am I still paying for this!?"
2025-12-03 11:04
Alright, so I was watching this thing the other night... it was a documentary, right? About, uh... a star. You know, one of those famous people. I don't know their names, but my wife does. So, it's about this person, and it's got all these old pictures of them. Like, really old. I was thinking, "Man, they had cameras way back then?" Itās weird. Anyway, the whole thing is showing all these different parts of their life. Like, one minute they're doing this, and the next minute they're doing that. I'm watching it, and I'm trying to keep up, but I'm also thinking, "This person is a lot busier than I am." Which, isn't saying much, 'cause I'm not that busy. I do a show, maybe two, then try and find something to eat. But here's the thing that got me: Apparently, this star... they had some opinions. You know, like everyone does. Only, their opinions... some people didn't like them. And the documentary? It kinda just... breezes right past those parts. Like, "Oh, yeah, they said this thing that everybody argued about, but let's look at this picture of them with a dog!" I'm not saying they had to spend the whole time arguing about the star's point of view, but it's kind of strange that they barely mentioned it. I felt like I was missing part of the story. It's like when my daughter tells me a story, and she leaves out the important part, then Iām trying to figure out who did what and why they are grounded. You know, "Well, she said something. And she was mad. And now they're not friends." Thanks for the details, kiddo! So basically, it was a documentary about a famous person, showing all the good parts and the weird dog-related moments. Leaving out the controversial stuff. Which, I guess, is one way to do it. I think Iād have done a better job. No, I'm kidding! It was good. Just, uh, a little incomplete. It was like a puzzle with a few pieces missing. You can still see the picture, but you can see something is definitely off.
2025-12-03 11:04
Okay, so there's this thing happening... in Poland. I don't know anything about Poland. Iāve never been. My wife, she wants to go. She's into history. I'm intoā¦ not moving. Anyway, so apparently there's this woman, Julia Kowalski. I think that's how you say it. Probably butchered it. Sorry, Julia. Anyway, she made a movie. And it's aboutā¦ exorcisms. Now, I donāt know about you, but exorcisms? Thatās just a hard pass for me. Iāve seen the movies. Heads spinning? Vomit? No thank you. Iām already overwhelmed trying to figure out the TV remote. But here's the thing. Sheās not just making stuff up, supposedly she like, watched these exorcisms. I donāt even know how you get into *that* line of work. "Hey, what do you do?" "Oh, I just hang out and watch demons get kicked out of people." That's a weird party to get invited to. So she made this movie, and people are saying it's good. Like, really good. They're calling it "fĆ©brile and splendide." I have no idea what that means, but it sounds impressive. So basically, it's about exorcisms in Poland, made by a woman who knows way more about exorcisms than I ever plan to, and apparently, itās a really good film. I guess if you're into that kind of thing. Me? Iāll stick to Disney movies. Less chance of getting possessed. Which, let's be honest, with my luck, it would probably happen to me just sitting here. Just talking about it. You know how it is.
2025-12-03 10:04
Okay, so I heard about this movie, right? It's about this actress ā who also directed it, which, already, Iām impressed. Like, I can barely direct my GPS when Iām driving. I'm just listening to it, hoping it's not taking me to a dead end. Anyway, the movie's about this actress connecting her family history withā¦ uhā¦ another person. This other lady, her name is... Clementine Autain. Yeah, Iām trying to pronounce it right. Sounds French, maybe? I donāt know. So, here's the thing, right? Both these ladies, the actress and Clementine... they both lost their moms pretty young. Which isā¦ rough. You know? You want a mom. I call my mom every once in a while. Just to make sure she's still my mom. But hereās where it gets, like, movie-interesting. Apparently, their moms, neither of them were, likeā¦ motherly. I guess. Which, you know, some people arenāt. You can't force it. Like trying to get my dog to do tricks. He just looks at me like, "Are you serious? With this treat? Get real." And, supposedly, these moms... they were struggling withā¦ stuff. Drugs. Which isā¦ not good. You know, drugs are bad. I tried caffeine once. Didnāt like it. Made me jittery. I was already pretty jittery. But the weird thing is ā and this is where the movie part comes in ā these moms, even though they had these struggles, they still, apparently, loved their daughters. Which isā¦ complicated. Right? Like, you can be messed up, but still care about your kids. It's... human. So the whole movie is about sorting all that out. Connecting these two families, seeing the similaritiesā¦ Man, it sounds like a lot. Iād probably just get confused. I still get confused trying to assemble IKEA furniture. They give you the little wrench... and then nothing.
2025-12-03 09:34
Okay, so, I saw this thing about this movie. Or maybe it was a play? I donāt know. It wasā¦ art. I know that. I saw it. So, the deal is, there are these two kids, right? And they have to, like, live with their aunt. Which, you know, thatās already a whole thing. I mean, I remember when my cousin had to stay with my Aunt Linda for a while. Aunt Linda meant well, she really did, but she only cooked with cream of mushroom soup. Everything. Chicken? Cream of mushroom. Green beans? Cream of mushroom. Cereal? I'm guessing she didn't do that but I wouldn't be surprised. Anyway, these kids and their aunt, they're trying to make a family. And the director, this guy named Nathan... Ambrosioni. Try spelling that! No, seriously, someone spell that for me because it's not possible. He's trying to make a point about motherhood. How being a mom is complicated. I think. That's the summary, yes. Iām not sure I totally got it, to be honest. I was trying to figure out where he got his name from and how I would ever be able to say it in an introduction and lost track, but I think that's what he was going for. I mean, kids living with their aunt, it's a family thing, but then you throw in the motherhood angleā¦ it's deep. I was just trying to remember if Aunt Linda ever put cream of mushroom soup in a casserole. I think she did.
2025-12-03 09:34
Okay, so I saw a review, right? And it was about this movie. Action movie. You know, explosions, probably some car chases, the whole deal. And it has this actor in it, which, good for him, he's 71 years old! I mean, 71 and you're still doing action movies? That's...that's impressive. Now, the review said he's bringing a lot of "energy" to the movie. Which I guess is good, you want energy in an action movie. But then, I start thinking, "How much energy can you *really* bring?" Like, is he running around yelling? I don't know. I picture myself trying to bring energy to a movie at 71. I'd probably just sit in a chair and say, "Alright, let's...let's get this done. I got dinner plans." And here's the kicker. The review calls the movie a "vague... succ-seed-ain-eee... you know what, I can't pronounce that word. They say it's like "Mission Impossible." Which, thatās a good movie. But I guess this oneās not as good? So basically, this older actor is bringing energy to a movie thatās kind of like āMission Impossible,ā but not really. Iām just trying to figure out why they needed a 71-year-old to bring energy to something that's a "vague succ-seed-ain-eee..." you know, one of those words. I don't know. Maybe I'll just watch "Mission Impossible" again. That one I understand.
2025-12-03 09:04
Alright, so I saw this thing about a movie... and it's about a writer. An Italian writer. Now, I don't know much about Italian writers, but I assume they write...in Italian? Makes sense, right? Anyway, this movie, it's about this writer's life, but not like, her whole life. More like...a snippet of her life. Specifically, the part where she's in jail. Yeah, jail. Apparently, she stole some jewels. Which, I gotta say, seems like a lot of work. Like, you gotta find the jewels, figure out how to steal them...I can barely find my keys in the morning. Stealing jewels? That's a whole different level of commitment. So, she's in jail for stealing these jewels. And the movie, it starts there, in 1980. Which, I'm not great with dates, but I *think* that's before I was born. So it's a period piece, is what I'm saying. A period piece about a jewel thief writer in jail. And then, the movie ends, not when she dies or anything dramatic, but when she gets *out* of jail. It follows her life for the few months after she's released. So, the whole movie is basically: "She's in jail, then she's out of jail. And she wrote some books, probably." That's the whole movie. I don't know... seems like they could have shown her *writing* the books. I mean, wouldn't that be more interesting than just the jewel thieving and the jail time? Maybe not. Maybe people just like the dramatic stuff. I don't know. I'm just a comedian. I tell jokes. I don't understand Italian writer jewel thieves.
2025-12-03 08:34
Alright, so I was listening to this radio show the other day, you know, just trying to figure out what's going on in the world... and they're talking about movies. Okay, movies. I can handle movies. I've seen... a few. And these movie critics, right? They're on there every Wednesday, and they tell you what to go see. Which is nice, because sometimes I just pick a movie based on the poster. That's how I ended up seeing "Cats." Don't do that. Just a heads up. Anyway, these critics are from some newspaper. I don't know what newspaper, it wasnāt important. What *was* important is they were really excited about this one movie. Like, *really* excited. Kept calling it a "chef-d'Åuvre." Now, I don't know what that is. It sounds fancy, and I don't do fancy. I tried fancy once, with a napkin in my lapā¦dropped my fork right on it. Messed the whole thing up. But, apparently, it means this movie is, like, *really* good. Like, the best. Like, maybe even the BEST movie. Ever. And it's by this guy, Abdellatif Kechiche. Iāve never heard of him. But hey, that doesn't mean anything. I hadn't heard of myself before I was born, soā¦ you know. So the bottom line is, these critics are saying, "Go see this movie!" And Iām thinking, maybe I will. Maybe. If it's got popcorn. And if it doesn't have too many subtitles. I'm a little slow on the reading sometimes, you know? And if I go, I'll let you know if it's actually aā¦ you knowā¦ the fancy thing. The "chef-d'Åuvre." Iāll just be happy if I can keep my popcorn off the floor. That's my main goal in a movie theater.
2025-12-03 00:34
Okay, so, I was reading this thing the other day, and it was about this guy, right? Thirty-nine years old. Which, I gotta say, thirty-nineā¦ feels like a crossroads year. You're not *really* young anymore, but you're not, like, *old* old. Youāre justā¦there. Right in the middle. Makes you wonder if you're making the right choices, you know? Like, am I buying the right groceries? Are these socks too loud? Big questions. Anyway, this thirty-nine-year-old, he was arrested. Apparently, he was at a construction site in Laval. Now, I've never been to Laval, but it soundsā¦construction-y. Which, makes sense, right? If they're building something. But he wasn't *supposed* to be there. And here's the thing: it wasn't his first time getting in trouble. This guy had sixā¦ *other* times he'd been in front of a judge. Six times! I mean, I can barely keep track of my own appointments. Six different sets of charges? Thatās impressive, in a very *un*impressive way. So they caught him, and they're saying itās for...organized gang theft. Organized! Thatās what got me. Like, he had a *meeting* about this? A whole agenda? "Alright team, letās get this heist scheduled. Bob, can you bring the doughnuts this time? And Sarah, make sure we have a backup plan for if the security guard asks us what weāre doing". And "criminal association"? I didnāt even know that was a thing. So is it like the homeowner's association, but for crime? You gotta pay dues? Do they have potlucks? Iām so confused. And *on top* of that, they added *recidivism* on top. Thatās the best part for me. Recidivism. That's a big word. A word that means, basically, "he's done this before." They're just piling it on at this point! So, to recap: Thirty-nine-year-old guy, already with six strikes, allegedly robbing a construction site as part of a well-organizedā¦criminal associationā¦ And itās not his first time? Thatās a tough day at work. For everyone, I guess. I mean, what are the chances? I bet he never thought he'd get caught. I mean, I never think I'm going to miss a flight, and I have. It's humbling.
2025-12-02 21:04
Alright, so I saw this thingā¦ or, well, someone *told* me about this thing. It was about someā¦ athletes. Famous athletes, from France. Now, I don't know French, which is probably good 'cause then I'd have to learn another language, and I'm still workin' on English, to be honest. Anyway, these French athletes, they're talkin'. On camera. Which already seems like a lot. Like, I get nervous just talkin' to *my* camera on my phone, you know? But they're talkin' aboutā¦ hard times. Tough times. Things that happened in their careers that werenāt so great. And apparently, it was about their brains gettin' a littleā¦ messed up. Mentally. Troubles. Which, I understand. I have troubles all the time. Like, tryin' to figure out how to work the remote control. Or rememberin' where I parked my car. Serious troubles. But these guys, they were talkin' aboutā¦ real stuff. Like the pressure of playin' sports and people yellin' at 'em and stuff. I guess it gets to you. I get it. Sometimes I try to fix stuff around the house and it doesnāt work. And then my wife yells. So yeah, I relate. So, this guy named Lenny, he had a camera, which is crucial to the story because without a camera, there's not much of a show. And, he filmed these athletes, talking about their feelings, their struggles, like a support group, but for the whole world to see. So that's the thing. They were being real. Talking about their struggles, even when theyāre at the top. I thought it was pretty nice. Itās nice to know that even the successful people get down sometimes. We all struggle, even those who don't have problems opening pickle jars.
2025-12-02 18:04
Alright, so I was readingā¦ well, someone was telling me aboutā¦ this building. In a place. Sounds European, maybe? I don't know. Anyway, this building, it's likeā¦ a tower. Real tall. And they wanna change it. Not knock it down. Change it. See, that's the first thing I don't get. You got four of these things, these towers, right? And they're gonna knock down three of them. Just gone. Poof. But this one? Nope. We're gonnaā¦fix it up. Now, I'm not an architect. I'm not even good at Legos. But it seems like if you're already knocking down three, why not justā¦ you knowā¦ finish the set? Then you could build whatever you *want* there. Maybe a mini golf course. That's what *I'd* build. But no, they hired thisā¦ DPA? Is that a company? Sounds important. And some other folks. Architects, I guess. Theyāre gonna "transform" it. That's the word they used. "Transform." Like it's a Transformer. Is it gonna turn into a robot? I don't know. Nobody tells me anything. So basically, there are these towers. Most of them are doomed. This one? This one's getting a makeover. They're hoping it will get a glow up. I'm just saying, I don't know how you can decide that, but if you think it's the right thing to do, good for you. I'm still trying to figure out how to use my TV remote.
2025-12-02 16:04
Alright, so I was reading the news, right? And there's this, uh, filmmaker... American filmmaker. Makes movies. Good for him. Now, here's the thing. His latest movie? Didnāt do so hot. Didn'tā¦stick. Like when youāre trying to get, like, a magnet to pick something up and it just slides right off. That kind of not sticking. A flop, they call it. Iāve never made a movie, so I donāt know what that feels like, but Iām guessing itāsā¦ not great. Like when you burn the popcorn and have to throw it all away and start over. Thatās about as close as I can get to relating. So, what does he do? He's selling his watches. He's got fancy ones, too. These aren't like the Casio I got at Walmart. Apparently, these are *brands*. F.P. Journe, Patek Philippe, Breguet... I don't know, sounds like characters from a fancy European play. I bet they cost a fortune. Heās selling them off at an auction. This is the 6th and 7th of December, for those of you who are interested in... expensive watches. And the reason heās doing this? To try and make back some of the money he lost on the movie. See, thatās how movies work, I guess. They lose money, and you gotta sellā¦ your watch collection? Man, I'm glad I just tell jokes. If my jokes don't work, I just...don't do them again. I don't have to auction anything off. Though, maybe I could auction off some of my bad jokes. Anyone? No? Yeah, that's what I thought. So, yeah, filmmaker's movie didn't do well, now his expensive watches are up for grabs. Hollywood, man. I tell ya. Very, very different world. Makes you appreciate the simple things, likeā¦ a working microwave. Or knowing the names of your cats.
2025-12-02 15:34
Okay, so, I was hearing about this thingā¦inā¦a place. You know, one of those places. And they had this big meeting, like a really big one. A āGrande Concertationā meeting. Thatās what they called it. Concertation. Sounds official, right? Like a meeting ofā¦concerts? Maybe they were deciding what key to sing in? I don't know. Probably not. Anyway, apparently, this meeting was all aboutā¦architecture. Which, you know, buildings. We got buildings everywhere. Big ones, small ones. Some are, you know, good-looking. Some you look at and you're like, āDidā¦did a toddler design that?ā I saw a building once that looked like it was trying to be a pizza. Not sure what that was about. So, these people, they all got together and they came up withā¦projects. Architecture projects. I guess they were, like, brainstorming new buildings, or new designs for buildings. Maybe they were trying to figure out how to make a building out of LEGOs that doesnāt fall over. I've tried that. Itās harder than it looks. And now, get this, theyāre *showing* all these projects. At this place. La CitĆ© de lāarchitecture et du patrimoine. You can go see them! I think. I donāt know why you would want to, but you can. I mean, I guess if you're really into architecture. Me? I'm happy if the building is standing and doesn't leak. That's my architecture standard. It's low, I know, but it works for me. So yeah, big architecture meeting happened, they made some projects, and now they're showing them off. It's just buildings. Donāt get too excited. Unless you *really* like buildings. Then, you know, go crazy. Take pictures. Just...don't build one out of pizza. Learn from my mistakes.
2025-12-02 13:04
Okay, so, I saw this thing about a bandā¦ from, uh, over there. Somewhere nearā¦ I think they said āCzech?ā Which, I gotta be honest, Iām not even sure how to spell. C-Zā¦? Okay, I'm gonna stop right there. Probably get in trouble if I try to spell it. Anyway, theyāre a string band. Like, violins and cellos and stuff. Real classy stuff. You know, the kind of music you hear in movies when someone's wearing a fancy hat. And they were playing their new album. Itās calledā¦ something with "Gypsy" in it. Which, I don't know if you can still say that, but thatās what they called it. And they were playing music fromā¦ well, from where they're from. You know, theirā¦ heritage music. Their grandmaās music. Probably a lot of polkas. I like polkas. So, yeah. Thatās it. Czech string band playing "Gypsy" music from theirā¦ uhā¦ Mitteleuropa. Yeah, I donāt know what that means either. They said it was traditional. That's the main thing. Probably something that makes you want to dance a little bit but, like, a polite dance. You know, not a mosh pit or anything. I wouldn't fit in a mosh pit, anyway. Iād just get in the way.
2025-12-02 11:34
Alright, so I saw this article, right? About a movie. Itās French, I think. I don't really know the movies. I mostly watch documentaries about, you know, like, birds. Informative stuff. But anyway, this movie is apparently the *end* of something. Itās like, a trilogy. Which meansā¦ three movies, right? Iām pretty sure thatās what it means. I mean, I took Geometry, but that was a while ago. I just remember triangles. So, this guy, the director, made these three movies. All in this one place calledā¦ SĆØte. Yeah, SĆØte. I have no idea where that is. Probably France. Or somewhere where they have good croissants. That's the only thing I know about France, pretty much. Croissants and mimes. And the movie, it's about... well, I'm gonna be honest. I don't fully get it. It's about people tricking each other, I think? Like, playing games. Not like Monopoly, butā¦ complicated games. You know, adult games. I just try to avoid those. I'm too easily tricked. Iād be terrible at poker. Probably just hand over all my chips right away, like, āHere you go! I'm happy to be part of this.ā And then there's something about "intense desires." I don't know about that either. My desires are pretty simple: clean socks, a comfortable chair, and maybe a nap. You know, the basics. But the main thing, the thing I kinda gathered, is that itās all about people getting back together. Reconciling. Which is good, I guess. Less arguing, moreā¦ I donāt know, sharing appetizers? And apparently, the characters in this movie keep surprising you. Which is probably why people like it. Me? I like predictable. Give me a dog who loves fetch, and Iām happy. I donāt need surprises. I've got enough surprises just trying to find my keys every morning. Where did I put them? Under the couch, again? So yeah, that's the movie. Itās the end of the trilogy. About people being tricky, wanting things, and then getting back together. It sounds... French.
2025-12-02 06:04
You know, I was reading this thing the other day, and it was about a former football player. Now, I'm not exactly a football expert, but I do know that when you're running into people on purpose, there's a good chance you're gonna get hurt. (pauses) But this guy, he's talking about getting hurt in a different way. He's talking about his mental health. Apparently, he had some tough times during his career, and I'm thinking, "Well, yeah, you're getting hit by 250-pound guys every week. That's gonna take a toll." (chuckles) But seriously, he's saying that a lot of football players struggle with mental health issues, and I'm like, "That makes sense." I mean, have you seen the size of those guys? They're like the human version of a freight train. (laughs) But what's crazy is that he's saying that 20 to 35 percent of professional football players might be dealing with these issues. That's a lot of guys, right? And you know what's even crazier? They don't really talk about it. It's like this secret that nobody wants to share. (pauses) I'm no expert, but it seems like if you're feeling down, it's okay to say, "Hey, I'm feeling down." (laughs) I mean, I do it all the time. My wife's always like, "What's wrong?" And I'm like, "I don't know, I just am." (laughs) But this guy, he's trying to change that. He's saying, "Hey, football, let's talk about this stuff." And I'm like, "Good for him." Because if you're a football player, and you're feeling down, you should be able to say, "Hey, I need some help." Without worrying that people are gonna think you're crazy. (pauses) Although, if you're a football player, and you're feeling down, you might be crazy. I mean, you're voluntarily running into people on purpose. (laughs) That's just not something I would do. But hey, to each their own, right?
2025-12-02 06:04
You know, I was thinking, have you ever noticed how every day of the week has its own thing? Like, Monday's got its "back to work" vibe, Wednesday's like "hump day"... and Tuesday, well, Tuesday's got... (pauses) La Matinale, apparently. (chuckles) Yeah, I just found out that every Tuesday, they do this thing where they recommend some TV shows to watch. It's like, my own personal TV guide, but without the paper and the guilt of not recycling. So, this week, they're talking about some British crime show. Now, I'm not gonna lie, I love a good crime story. I mean, who doesn't, right? It's like the ultimate puzzle. (smirks) Although, I'm pretty sure if I were a detective, I'd be the one who's always like, "I've got it! The killer was... (dramatic pause) ...the guy who left the fridge open in the break room!" (laughs) Anyway, this show they're talking about, it's about some British crime case. I don't know, maybe it's like a real-life Sherlock Holmes thing. (in a mock-British accent) "Elementary, my dear fellow, the culprit was... (pauses again) ...the one with the funny mustache!" (laughs) I don't know, I'm just guessing here. But hey, if you're into that sorta thing, tune in to La Matinale on Tuesdays. Just don't forget to set your DVR, or you'll be like me, trying to figure out how to use the remote control... (laughs)
2025-12-02 05:05