jaywalker2

I agree that having intimate knowledge of Thailand creates another dimension to the viewing experience. I don't know how much time Mike White in Thailand but I think he's done a very good job of displaying the contradictions in this culture. I thought expisode 7 was particularly good, the way he juxtaposed the Buddhist imagery with the images of violence and desire. We have the violence of Muay Thai. Saxon is incapable of understanding what Chelsea is tryiing to tell him as all he can think about is sleeping with her. Even as the Buddhist monk is warning his acolytes that violence always turns back on itself, we see Rick determined to pursue his obsession with revenge. And it's not just the foreigners. We have Gaitok, the security guard, plaintively confessing his reluctance to hurt people only to have Mook (Lalisa) respond that violence is natural and he has to be strong if he wants to succeed. It's these subtlties and conflicts that have taken the White Lotus in a direction it hasn't gone before. I guess some people don't like that, especially because most of the comedy is lacking, but I find it thought-provoking. The big question is whether they'll be able to bring all these loose threads together in the finale.

I don't know why all the hate for White Lotus. Everybody says it's boring -- what is boring exactly? You've got the sleazy Russians,the corrupt investment manager and his tone deaf wife and incestuous sons. You've got Walton Goggins finally able to confront the man who killed his father -- and turns away from violence even as the monk at the meditation center is warning that violence turns back on itself. You've got the gentle and kind Gaitok, whom Lisa, who's probably in league with the Russians, is trying to turn into a killer. You've got Gary, who is planning nothing good I'm sure, and his slut girlfriend and finally you've got Belinda who wants to make the moral decision to have nothing to do with a murderer like Gary while everybody around her is telling her to shut up and take the money. Because that's all we care about in today's society -- money. What's boring about any of that. The show isn't perfect by any means but it's much much better than junk like Black Doves, 1923 (is this show going to be the death of Taylor Sheriden?), the new version of Presumed Innocence, which was laughable, or Jack Reacher and it's lazy writing and lame acting. At least it has depth, a valid social critique, and a complex plot.

Novocaine - great movie. Jack Quaid plays a guy incapable of feeling pain, which comes in handy when he sets out to rescue the woman he thinks he loves after she's been taken hostage in a bank heist. Action! Comedy! Romance! Amber Midthunder is gorgeous.

Season 3, you mean? I agree Alan Richter can't act but they managed to mangle all the other elements of the show as well. The series has been a big disappointment.

The Great San Franciso of 1906 and the Tokyo earthquake of 1923 both measured 7.9. The Japanese earthquake of 2011 measured an incredible 9.0 but it occurred relatively deep in the ocean so the major effect was the devastating tsunami.

Earthquake measured at 4.9, which isn't that big. It felt a lot bigger though. The corridor wall in my building

White Lotus finally ramps up in episode 5. The main complaint about the White Lotus in general is that it tends to be really slow in the beginning episodes as all the pieces are being put into place and the backstories of the ensemble cast are slowly revealed. But the first two seasons really packed a punch at the end and I'm expecting the same thing from this season. As an aside, even those who don't like it might want to take a look at episode 5. Sam Rockwell makes a special guest appearance and goes into a long monologue about his fixation with Asian women that leads to some pretty sordid actiivties with the ladyboys, which just goes to show what Thailand can do to you. Walter Goggins expression as he listens is priceless.

It was your ex-wife, Bob. Didn’t you recognise her?

Under the Bridge. About the killing of a 14 year old girl of Indian heritage by a group of her peers in a small town in Victoria canada. It takes about 3 episodes to really get going but ends up incredibly painful to watch. The sheer brutality and despair is overwhelming.

what speeds were you getting?

That's fine for you. Other people travel around, they stay in hotels. Many digital nomads rely on WiFI. If you're a peripatetic, I don't see how you can avoid using public WiFi.

How safe do you think your phone is then when you're walking around town, inputting your bank information, or whatever. There's no ideal solution, especially when you're traveling.

It's okay if you use a VPN and only go to HTTPS sites.

Can't afford therapy, is that it? You need to get a hobby.

And don't forget he also has 14 kids to raise