After hearing about it for weeks, I finally saw Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. A couple of weeks ago, I listened to the audiobook of Robert Fagles’ translation of Homer’s The Odyssey. It was narrated by Ian McKellen, and was an engaging 13 hours.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
The feds conduct an annual survey to find out how many people use drugs and how many people are mentally disturbed. The link goes to the highlights of the survey. The results are interesting, but because it’s a survey, I wonder how accurate it is.
This data has been collected for almost 50 years, and we learn that this year, more people use marijuana, than use cigarettes or alcohol. From context, marijuana = THC marijuana and not CBD oil. Cigarettes = tobacco products, but not tobacco-free nicotine products.
l am no expert.
Uncertainty lingers for Springfield’s Haitian community ahead of TPS expiration
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WSYX) — Worry and uncertainty is growing in Springfield as an estimated 15,000 Haitian immigrants could be affected by the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on Monday.
The Haitian community makes up roughly one-quarter of Springfield’s population, meaning the impact could be felt across the entire city.
“91% of the Haitians that are in the United States came here under the Biden era,” Moreno said. “They came here illegally filed false asylum claims and they were granted amnesty by Biden that was for five years ago. It’s temporary.”
The population of Springfield, Ohio grew by 25% in the last 4 or 5 years, by adding people from the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. In Haiti, people speak Haitian Creole and French. How could they possibly improve the lives of Springfield natives?
About a quarter of the Haitians receive federal assistance through Medicaid, TANF (welfare), SNAP (food stamps) or refugee assistance. That is federal money streaming into a small town. Recipients send some of it back to Haiti as remittances and some is spent for goods and services in Springfield. Some business owners care more about the money than about the disruption to the community.
Medicaid and food stamp fraud are ongoing issues. Governor DeWine is happy to have an influx of immigrants because it camouflages problems with his leadership.
Gov. Mike DeWine has criticized the decision to end TPS for Haitians, calling it a mistake and saying it will hurt Ohio’s economy.
Increase the population by 25% in a few years by adding low skilled, low ability people who don’t speak English, and the community and economy will be skewed. Housing prices go up because they need a place to live, wages stagnate because they will work for lower wages in poorer conditions, hospitals and government offices are swamped.
Imagine the school system. Enrollment increases by 25% by adding students who don’t speak English and are completely unfamiliar with an American education system. The average IQ in Haiti is 70. Virtually all Haitian students would need remedial education and would probably have learning disabilities.
Haitian immigrants are expensive. Even if it’s the federal government footing the bill, they are a burden on our country and the local community. I don’t blame them at all, but it’s time to go back to Haiti.
State and local law enforcement will avoid a lot of drama and tragedy by assisting immigration officials with repatriation.
Emily Wilson, the classicist whose 2017 translation of Homer’s Odyssey was cited by Christopher Nolan in early publicity for his hugely successful adaptation of the poem, has roundly criticised the film, saying “it has nothing convincing to say” and that it “lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth”.
As an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, Christopher Nolan’s movie is a disaster. As a movie, it doesn’t seem to be very good. As a money maker, it’s on track to break-even by the end of this week.
The Nolan fan club rave about all of his movies, hoping it makes them look smart.
Sparky found all these 2×12’s in the church parking lot. He wants me to steal the wood, and build a store that sells rotisserie chicken.
A couple of days ago, I stumbled upon the TV show, Ride or Die. I watched two episodes, and know it’s not for me.
The target audience seems to be middle-aged women who haven’t accomplished anything significant and don’t know how to do stuff, but wish they did.
My Tacoma is a doctrinaire prick. Or it’s being maliciously complaint because it harbors a grudge for some reason.
On our drive to Elyria, I wanted to switch to a different audiobook. The audiobook app on my phone responded with:
“The library function cannot be accessed while…”
I didn’t try to display the rest of that sentence because some attention should be given to driving, but it probably ended with “driving”.
I went out to Polen Implement in Elyria to get a new spindle for my John Deere lawn tractor. Sparky wanted me to know that he was really enjoying the car ride.
I was looking for new TV shows, and Ride or Die came up. I do some research on IMDB before trying a new show.
Here’s the premise:
Debbie discovers that her friend of 20 years, Judith, is secretly an assassin.
That seems awfully unlikely. If the premise is too outlandish, it’s difficult to suspend disbelief.