eightpix

This sounds like a plot point from the OA.

As captioned by Euronews:

Prison guards transfer deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Sunday, March 16, 2025. El Salvador presidential press office via AP

Photo credit emphasis is mine.

Nope, this is the quotable quote:

“When I got to know everyone else in there, and heard all of their stories and how long they were in there, I was like, ‘OK, I’m not allowed to feel sorry for myself at all, because every single person in here is in a way worse situation than me,’” she said.

Luther. If you've not seen this twisty police procedural starring Idris Elba, give it a good go. Short seasons, great pacing, some of the best British TV I've seen.

The only other show I've gone to Gem for was Schitt's Creek. I want to watch Station Eleven and Poker Face (b/c Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne).

Films currently on Gem worth the watch:

• Incendies
• Snowpiercer
• Parasite
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• Moonlight

And I hear good things about:

• Call Me By Your Name
• Captain Fantastic

Anyway, this a pretty good start for the non comedy side of Gem.

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything was a fun read. And concise. Fast review here ruins nothing.

For US history, Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States has been excellent. I'm 94% of the way through. I love that this book has spawned an entire education project.

I'm due a re-read of Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine. It's not strictly a historical account, but it certainly casts a different light on late 20th c. and early 21st c. history.

I would be remiss if I did not include the 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones. This was one of the most important reads of my last 10 years. Again, not strictly history, but a lens on history.

Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan was also excellent, about the peace conference that ended the Great War.

If you're really on about the period in Europe between 1945 and 2005, though, I have to recommend Postwar by Tony Judt.

Maybe not where you want to start, but I ended up loving David Graeber and David Wengrow's The Dawn of Everything.

Masters of the Universe (1987).

This was my first post-credits scene. It was such a surprise. And, because it was on TV in the late 80s/early 1990s, we weren't certain what we'd just seen and couldn't watch it again!

I'd add to this list:

That's too expensive! Cash price? Stop here! Speak slowly, please.

And any words you might need to relate a dietary restriction: no meat, no dairy, no shellfish, no gluten.

Waves of the ocean washing ashore.

Thunder

The violin, a muted trumpet, jazz piano, glass harmonica.

The title credits music from the Expanse - Clinton Shorter

Crustation - Purple (Ummah/J Dilla Mix)

Epic choral singing. (Arvo Part - Miserere)

I think the key to the arrest was the influence of the complainant. Police could not be seen to be "not addressing" claims of "anti-Semitism" or a "hate crime". Consequently, mere bureaucracy has taken over. He'll be released on low bail and asked to steer clear while the investigation is happening. He'll have others publish for him. Enough public pressure will have the charges dropped.

Say it with me now:

Criticism of the State of Israel is not anti-Semitism.

No matter what the Zionists say, wherever they say it.

Oh boy, do they ever! I don't think I could be a vet. Too many really sad situations.

Yeah, I admit, I'm biased against dentists. My friend's sister is a dentist. She's great. Still, they use those tools on people every day.

Maybe they do need hugs. Maybe that's how the ultrasonic scaler will be redesigned into something more humane.

Teachers - need hugs

Dentists - do not need hugs

Dads - need hugs

Corporations - do not need hugs

CEOs of Fortune 500 companies - need hugs, but only if they're exploring how to undermine extractive, exploitative, fascist-leaning capitalism. Otherwise, no hugs

Cartoonists - need hugs

Union leads - need hugs

Weapons manufacturers - need the cold embrace of obsolescence.