Reacher- Season 1

SERIES REVIEW

Finally we have Jack Reacher on the screen looking and acting like the Jack Reacher we pictured in the novels.  Plus he’s fun to watch.  A lot of fun.  I am salivating at the prospect of more seasons.

For those who haven’t read the books, think of someone with the build of Schwarzenegger, the wit of the characters he played back in the 80s and 90s, the smartness of Sherlock, and violent when he needs to be.  Brutally violent. To quote one reviewer, “for those of you who take immense pleasure in cathartic violence, well, Reacher is just what the doctor would order”. 

Link to trailer

‘Not a Complete Clown’

As reported by The Guardian:

Boris Johnson is “not a complete clown”, his new communications director has said, as he revealed that the prime minister initiated a defiant rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive when the pair met last week.

On Physical Exhaustion and Discomfort

Excerpt from the 1938 book, Lhasa: The Holy City, by F. Spencer Chapman.

It is curious what vicarious pleasure one derives from physical exhaustion and discomfort. It is a strange paradox that the more intolerable a journey is at the time, the more satisfactory does it become in retrospect. Our sensibilities and characters were made to be sharpened against the hard forces of Nature.  But how few people nowadays get any chance to test their physical endurance to breaking-point, to feel cold fear gnawing at their hearts, or to have to make decisions that hold life and death in the balance? That is why men flock so easily to war; to test a manhood that is perverted by the present state of civilization. Rugby football, mountaineering, ski-ing, even motoring, are but makeshifts for this vanished birthright; narcotics to alleviate the monotony of existence that has become too safe and easy.

h/t: Alpha Ideas

Hard Times for Super Thieves

A wonderfully visualised spot for Dutch bike maker VanMoof, studded with top-notch animation and delightful character work.

Link to video

Link to the behind-the-scenes video

The Fisherman

From Denmark: ahead of Valentine’s Day, a beautifully crafted spot for Interflora tells a heartwarming tale of  love.

Link to video

Liquid Death- Betting on Witchcraft

The latest promotion from Liquid Death is quite the sort of initiative that one has come to expect from the canned water brand.  It has announced that it’s putting money on the underdog team winning the forthcoming Super Bowl final, and that it has hired a witch to make sure it wins.

Link to video

‘Embarrassed’ burglar pays homeowners after breaking in

From a news report out of New Mexico:

A contrite Santa Fe burglar, caught in the act Sunday afternoon, apologized to the homeowners and gave them $200 for the window he broke to gain entry before walking off. Jewelry left on a counter was untouched.

The suspect apparently slept in the home, bathed, ate food and drank beer before the owners returned to their Vereda Serena residence and found the man in a back room, according to a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office report.

A duffel bag and an AR-15 scoped rifle was next to the suspect, but he did not threaten the homeowners. He picked up the items and left, dropping $200 on a living room chair on his way out, saying it was “reimbursement for the window he broke,” the report said.

The owner said “the male was extremely embarrassed and apologetic about the situation,” the report states.

Waitographers

That’s how Hilton is designating its waiters who have been formally “upskilled” and certified as mobile photographers.  And it has a new campaign that encourages guests to avail of their lensing services.

Link to video

Funeral Attraction

From  Russia: a funeral services firm is in the news for a video posted on its Instagram page that appears to show behind-the-scenes clips from a promotional shoot, with scantily-clad females posing next to coffins.  Accompanying the video is this text (machine translated):

Horonim.ru organizes the funeral of the dead and provides preferential funeral services for all categories of citizens.

We have our own staff of qualified agents who control the organization of the funeral at every stage - from paperwork to the funeral ritual.

Get paid to go vegan… alongside your dog

Plant-based dog food company, Omni, is offering to pay one “lucky” UK dog owner for going vegan alongside their dog.  Excerpts from the campaign website:

Do you and your dog fancy earning some money and free food? Well, look no further as we may have a dream job for you.

As we hope to introduce plant-based food to more pups across the UK this year, we are looking to pay one lucky dog owner and their dog to become vegan for three months.

In a society with a lack of education around diets for dogs we understand there is a pre-existing and negative misconception about feeding your dog a plant-based diet. We hope that by hiring someone to change both their dog’s and their own diet, we can communicate the benefits it can have on both dogs and humans.

For the role to be successful we will ask the owner to record their experience of introducing a plant-based diet for them and their dog, monitoring their health, energy levels, behaviour, bowel movements, sleep pattern and physical attributes, such as weight, skin, and hair/fur condition.

In return for the diet change and their work, we will pay the successful candidate a pro rata salary of £30,000, for an initial three-month role (£2,500 per month) and will cover all food expenses for the person plus a supply of dog food to cover the job duration.

No qualifications or vegan experience is required for the job role, just a pre-existing non-vegan diet and a dog you are happy to experience the new diet with.

Squinty Cowboys

It doesn’t carry its famous tagline (at least not visibly) but this delightful new spot for Specsavers is very much in the same mould.

Link to video

West Virginia Governor: ‘Kiss my dog’s backside’

Okay, so that was a bit of paraphrasing but that was, in effect, what Governor Jim Justice had to say to detractors of his state in general, and Bette Midler in particular.  His remarks came at the end of his State of the State speech in the House chambers.  What’s more, he actually had his dog brought over, and he then lifted her and showed everyone what exactly he meant. 

Link to AP video with added context

Like I Said

A superbly visualised 6 minute short, with a couple of splendid performances and a darkly funny twist.

Link to video

PR as Defence for Visiting a Cabaret

Excerpts from  a Reuters report of the opening day of the trial of Pierin Vincenz, former CEO of Raiffeisen Switzerland:

While most cabaret visits had followed business dinners or events, some were made spontaneously on his own in the interest of meeting entrepreneurs and business managers, Vincenz said, adding that he had been tasked by Raiffeisen with developing the bank's presence and public profile.

"Do I understand your claim correctly that, when you went alone to a cabaret, there were invariably business people present and every invitation was made in Raifeissen's business interest?" one judge asked him.

For those who need more context (along with a dash of wit), I’d suggest reading this piece.

Paris Police 1900 (2021)

SERIES REVIEW

This is a gritty crime drama set against the racial tensions that marked the socio-political landscape of France at the turn of the 20th century.  It is a murder mystery meshed with political intrigue, blackmail, backstabbing, and brutal violence. 

It is striking in the way it fashions a fictional narrative around real-life events and characters.  More than that, though, it stands out for its portrayal of that time and place, and the way it immerses you into that.  Through the dark streets of Paris and the murky corridors of power, it transports you into a squalid world in which moral considerations are frequently trampled by the need to survive at any cost. 

A few things to bear in mind.  One, it would help to be familiar with the historical context (or look it up, if required).  Two, it features a lot many characters and getting a hang of them and their motivations may take some time or require some pausing and rewinding.  Three, it pulls no punches in its depiction of filth, gore, and depravity.

Link to trailer

An ‘Adorable’ Piglet named Bacon

From an AP report out of California:

Pleasanton police want to know if anyone is missing an “adorable” piglet.

The little porker was found wandering the East Bay suburb on Thursday, the department said in social media posts.

The owner couldn’t be immediately located so the piglet they’ve named Bacon was turned over to Alameda County’s East County Animal Shelter.

Police hope someone will bring Bacon home.

For Sale- House with Communal Bathroom

Excerpts from a news report out of Wisconsin:

One South Milwaukee home is popping up all over social media due to the uniqueness of one of its 3 bathrooms.

The home, which was built in 1851 by the Fowle family, features a bathroom that has not one toilet, but 4. That's right, the home has a communal bathroom.

What makes the bathroom even more strange is the lack of partitions. The toilets are simply sitting there next to each other, with nothing separating them. So, while multiple people can use the bathroom at once, they all have to look at each other while they do it.

It is a farmhouse that was built in 1851 and eventually was donated to the Girl Scouts of America, who made additions including the unique bathroom.

The previous owner owned the home for 40 years, and the current owner purchased it two years ago with plans of making it into an Airbnb. All that time, there were never partitions between the toilets.

‘Escape’ of a Vacuum Cleaner

As reported by the BBC:

A robot vacuum cleaner made a break for freedom after giving staff the slip at a Travelodge hotel.

As reported by The Independent:

A robot vacuum cleaner made an escape from a Travelodge hotel after it wandered off the premises.

As also reported by The Independent:

A robot vacuum cleaner managed to avoid its regular duties at Travelodge hotel after dashing for the exit door and going on loose in Cambridge.

As reported by The Mirror:

An autonomous robot vacuum cleaner has become an internet hero after running away from work in a Travelodge hotel.

As reported on Reddit, by an employee of the hotel where the vacuum cleaner was in service:

Hey. So I work at Travelodge and today we had one of our new robot vacuums run for it's life! They normally sense the lip at the entrance and turn around, but this one decided to make a run for it. It was 15 minutes before I noticed and by that time it could have made it anywhere. If you happen to see it, there is a drink at the bar for you upon it's return. They aren't compatible with any other charger or docking station so they are useless once drained. I'm thinking someone probably took it at this point but here is hoping. I miss my lil buddy. Thanks.

RIP Meat Loaf

Alongside the music, some other stuff to remember the man for:

Ad for St1

Ad for Frankie and Benny’s

Explaining “that” on a blackboard

No Djoking

Meat and Livestock Australia unveiled its summer campaign and its billboards are especially striking.

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