Two of the West's leading countries are currently so messed up and hopelessly adrift (I could use another word, starting with "f", but this is a family friendly blog), that it is almost like living in one of my absurd SF stories. Britain, thanks to Brexit, and the USA thanks to Trump, have approached and gone way beyond the bottom of their respective barrels. Canada could soon follow, if our Conservative leader gets in and ousts Trudeau. Never have two leading countries been so divided. Yes, lots and lots of people in Britain actually support breaking away from the European Union (mostly based on lies they were told when the vote occured), and yes, lots of American people support Trump. I really can think of nothing more frightening. Stephen King is an amateur at horror compared to reality. It's times like these that make me proud not to have brought any children into the world, to see the unimaginable mess we have created.
And on a similar note, it is so sad and tragic that the biggest hurricane in a long time flattens the Bahamas, but mostly misses the USA. I'm not wishing for a major hurricane to hit America, but there are so many climate change deniers there that only several great tragedies, such as the one that hit the Bahamas, will give voice to the few who want action. Trump considers it a "niche" issue, and did not bother attending climate talks at the Paris G7 summit. Stupid is as stupid does. None of his party seem to care, either. At least Boris Johnson is getting some flak by some of his own party for his Brexit tactics. Not Trump.
Deb's movie choice last weekend was a great one. Mike Leigh has long been a favourite director, but there are many of his films we have never seen. Such was Career Girls, a great little film featuring an outstanding performance by Katrin Cartlidge as Hannah ("It's HannAH." She and Annie (Lynda Steadman) spent four years living together during college, and Annie is returning to London to spend a weekend with her old friend, after six years apart.
Highly recommended. Mostly a comedy, there is some well-inserted drama, too. Well worth a watch. Andy Serkis gets a pretty funny part, too, as he shows the girls his flat, which is coming up for lease, wearing only his bathrobe. The girls are less than impressed, but highly amused.
Annie (l) and Hannah (r) are the stars of the movie.
Today I got my vaccination for shingles. Shingrex is a two-part injection, so I will return for the next one in December. It is a newer drug, one that Deb can have (and she also has had part one). Tonight it has left me with a sore shoulder and some mild aches and pains. It is 95% effective against shingles, which one in three adults get if they have had the chicken pox. I had chicken pox when I was 8--on Halloween. I was not impressed. The older drug, which is the only one still paid for by the government (for seniors), is only about 60% effective. That's the government for you.
On the weekend we also played a card game of Middle Earth: The Wizards. Our main tournaments last for five games, each one longer and more complex, after which we play several mini-games using the same decks, games that I invented. This was the 2nd game of our mini-tournament, following the big five. We had hoped to play Teotihuacan, but it is still waiting in the box. It is a long game.
This weekend is the Shetown film festival in Detroit. Deb has a film showing there Sunday afternoon. Nice having a showing locally, with no travel required.
I think I am all caught up on news.
Mapman Mike
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