Another thing: Politics as entertainment antedates Stewart, and is a much greater cultural problem that in part we're to blame for. To use the cliched example, if people want to watch American Idol (now America's Got Talent) instead of brushing up on policy proposals, you have to find a way to reach them, and that…

Being satirical about a highly dysfunctional, broken system really isn't playing into and perpetuating that system. How else can the goodhearted, smart voter respond? Satire has always been necessary as a literary genre to express anger and outrage, under the spoonful of sugar of comedy, over terrible social problems…

"He doesn't have cancer." is a bit of a low bar for health and the presidency.

She'll teach them how to hustle like an American. Despite how David O. Russell may have treated her, she was luminous in that movie. (Also if they're requesting a translator, they might not be evil. The evil ones just start blowing up shit right away. Trailer has to trailer, but I hope this is more like Close…

I discovered the Daily Show when he was hosting (loved the Beth Littleford segments). I remember being concerned about this new fella, Jon Stewart, whom they were bringing in, and wondering how the show would change. I needn't have worried.

I've had the thought that some voters are like Scientologists.

If we're only talking athletes hotness, I surprisingly got a thing for how the girl volleyballers look.

From Last Week's Tonight recap, it's a good thing I didn't watch NBC's Opening Ceremonies coverage. Every four years they get called out on their inane commentary; every four years, they keep doing it.

Happy birthday Chrissy Seaver! Requisite "I feel old" gif.

No, I have cable. Just didn't care enough about the Olympics coverage to pay attention to what channels other than NBC they broadcast on. But good to know.

I'll watch the soccer if NBC broadcasts it.

I just posted that I don't care for the Olympics. Not a big sports guy, but will watch international soccer tournaments. Including the Olympics. Guess I spoke too soon.

Nice recap of Japanese history. As for Trump's economic speech—who was it for? Sure, the college-educated Republicans who hate him, who salivate over supply-side economics. But his trade and immigration talk was populist. And it's too little too late with white-collar Republicans, who are also reading about the 50…

Anyone else not watching the Olympics? I just don't care. Though that incredibly heroic Syrian swimmer and her refugees team is a nice story.

Having finished the run, my favorite episode of the season. It feels like a play with emotionally authentic, bruising, sad dialogue and excellent character work. It made me love Princess Caroline more than I already did. I just want to envelop her in my arms and tell her everything is going to be okay.

Last I checked, the NY Times's regular rate is around 10 bucks a week. Screw paying that. Reading a daily paper takes time; also reading other papers and news sources, I'd miss most of the stories I'd be paying dearly for. But great that others who don't mind paying that rate are keeping the paper and staff afloat.

So instead of a big cable bill for channels and shows we don't watch, we're paying the same price for a bunch of streaming services that have shows and movies we don't watch. Progress? I know subscribing to multiple streaming sites is still cheaper. For now.

Good points. I'll keep them in mind if/when watching the movie.

Right—after seeing this trailer, who would want to go into cold, inhumane science? Pop culture ought to do better than dangerously portraying science as clashing with humanity and spirituality, when it does nothing of the sort. (Read Alex von Humboldt, for example.)

I had little interest in watching the movie, but the terrible reviews, including the sexism, make me want to go. David Ayer isn't a hack. Either he totally botched this and doesn't know it, or there's a critical hive mind that misunderstood him. And that could be his fault, too, for not making his intentions clear…