Lord Liaden

1/3 of the jurors already selected today.  At this rate the trial might get fully underway by Monday.
 
Also, I'm getting tired of corporate media headlines burying the lede.  This isn't a "hush money" trial, it's a campaign finance violation trial.  Paying off your porn star is not a crime, but laundering the payments in violation of campaign finance law, and thereby cheating in the election, is a felony.

Well that's a big part of the issue isn't it?  They are spending so damned much on movies now that they have to make close to a half billion dollars just to break even.  That's a ridiculous ask, and lately its been a painful fail.  Yeah if you pull in a billion dollars, that 350 million dollars in delays, reshoots, and rewrites doesn't seem so bad.
 
But if you made the same movie for 50 million, then you made even more money and it doesn't need to make a half bill just to see green.  Famously now, Godzilla One cost a fraction what Hollywood movies do and made huge bank.  It cost fifteen million to make.  FifTEEN, not even 50 million.  And it made over 100 million.  When The Marvels made about that much, it was a catastrophic failure, because it costs so damned much to make.

Beta Ray Bill was the first "extra Thor," and his background was unique enough to make a compelling story. The "Thor Corps" concept was rather much, I agree. Jim Starlin even wrote a story line in Thor's own title, about how Thor's mind was starting to break down from multiple people being given his power and taking his identity.
 
But MCU Thor has already jumped the shark for me. His comic book incarnation is my favorite superhero, but after two Taika Waititi films and Avengers: Endgame, I don't recognize him in the movies any more. I doubt there's anything Marvel could do with him at this point to bring me back.

Rules for thee, not for me.

Rules for thee, not for me.

Barron turned 18 last month. It's now up to him what kind of person he becomes.

I'm not sure if you're aware that The Phantom is one of the seminal figures in the evolution of comic-book heroes, having first appeared in newspaper strips in 1936, and published almost continuously ever since. He was the first hero to wear a colorful skin-tight costume, and a mask with pupiless eyes. He had a secret jungle headquarters and animal companions. He's often considered a transitional figure between pulp-era characters like the Shadow and Tarzan, and the likes of Superman, Batman, and Captain America.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom

I'm not sure if you're aware that The Phantom is one of the seminal figures in the evolution of comic-book heroes, having first appeared in newspaper strips in 1936, and published almost continuously ever since. He was the first hero to wear a colorful skin-tight costume, and a mask with pupiless eyes. He had a secret jungle headquarters and animal companions. He's often considered a transitional figure between pulp-era characters like the Shadow and Tarzan, and the likes of Superman, Batman, and Captain America.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom

Per Beau's breakdown above, probably the best outcome we could have hoped for under the circumstances.

Last time I read that article it said that there weren't 40 women, children, and elderly for the initial exchange, but that there were still ~100 hostages left that haven't been bombed, shot, or starved to death by the Israelis.

Story being updated now.  The aerial attack did very little damage.  NYT is reporting minor damage to 1 military base, with no injuries.  CNN says Biden administration says "almost all" drones and missiles were shot down.

Iran has actually displayed remarkable restraint during this whole affair in Gaza. It's clear that the Iranian government does not want a wider conflict, just as it's clear Bibi wants to provoke one. That's why I don't think escalation is inevitable. This time Israel launched the attack, so Iran for political and military reasons must respond; but they're trying to keep any response proportional to the provocation.
 
Hamas is a big part of the problem here. They do want escalation, to radicalize more Palestinians. Unfortunately Iran does not have enough influence over Hamas' leadership to outright stop them, but I don't doubt they're putting as much pressure on Hamas to modify their actions, as the United States is putting on Israel.

I wasn't praising them. Just pointing out a fact.
 
Below is a thorough, non-partisan analysis of Iran's response to the Israeli strike, its implications and possible outcomes. If you want a clearer understanding of the dynamics involved, it's worth investing eight minutes forty seconds.
 
 

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Nobody makes Hulk twerk. It balances out.

Thing is, the trial Trump is mouthing off about now is a criminal trial, not civil. Penalties for violating those orders, and/or contempt of court, is not fines. It's jail time.

“Although it is the instinct of every district attorney to defend convictions, our job is to see that justice is done.”
 
It's refreshing to hear a prosecutor express that principle, even in Texas. It's one that should be emphasized throughout the judiciary and law enforcement.

"The University of Memphis said in a statement that due to free speech, they cannot legally prohibit the event."
 
That's garbage and they know it. The First Amendment applies to government censoring or banning speech. It doesn't require any private organization to provide a platform for speech that it doesn't approve of.

Trump is used to dragging out law suits against himself, making them so costly and time-consuming that the other party eventually drops the case, while also trying to intimidate them. He doesn't seem to understand that the "other party" in this case has far more resources than he does, and is beyond his power to intimidate.