COVID-19

I hope this message finds everyone well as we enter ‘Lockdown’ mode. It feels to me like we are living in our very own Science Fiction movie. Certainly we haven’t lived in times comparable to the these. Perhaps psychologically you could draw connections to 9-11, but COVID 19 seems particularly more menacing not just in terms of threats to global health (physical and mental), but because the economy as we know it will be trashed. I just hope anarchy and violence isn’t a consequence of extended quarantining.

Hopefully this virus is just a dress rehearsal and Governments and Organizations can learn to prepare and prioritise (stockpile resources) for such emergencies in the future. The ‘just in time’ minimal Government neo-liberal economies are going to get a big wake up call from this. Despite Bill Gates and other tech guru’s warning about epidemics and virus’ years ago nobody heeded the warning. I know it blindsided me too. Did you see the 4 corners episode on the origin and spread of the virus? Scary stuff, but very informative.
The continual propagation of these viruses from Chinese wet markets cannot continue. How that has been allowed to persist by Chinese authorities is perplexing.

Curb Your Enthusiasm Final Episode 10 (season 10)

Regarding the Curb episode I thought there were some funny moments, but it was fairly weak and predictable finale. Overall, IMHO the story arc this season wasn’t as interesting or as strong as other seasons. There was so much potential given the ‘spite store’, sexual harassment allegations and Larry’s fling with Cheryl. In the beginning of the final episode I was wondering if they were setting up ‘Late Larry’s’ to become a viable, real-life franchise, but I suppose given what occurred that’s not going to happen. I still enjoyed watching it and I’m grateful for that.

One thing’s for certain Marty Funkhouser is a huge loss to the show. Vince Vaughn had just one good line the whole series (you got to break a couple of watches to know how to handle a big cock). Where I think earlier seasons and episodes were more effective is when Larry concentrated on fewer scenarios, but built them up to intertwine and culminate to a fantastic gotcha finale. Here there seemed an over abundance of ideas and places it could go, but didn’t amount to a hill of beans, excuse the pun. Each episode had too many plotlines and the payoff wasn’t always strong.

Overall, I enjoyed the season, but the show was beginning to parody itself and the stakes didn’t really feel authentically high like it did in other seasons. I might be being too critical given how much I found myself chuckling each episode. Larry when it’s all said and done is a comedic genius and his observational humour is nothing but enriching to a society dummed down by formulaic Hollywood storytelling, social media and PC hysterics.

I’ll probably delve into earlier seasons as we enter ‘Lockdown’. I’ve already chosen many movies from my collection to see through this quarantine period. I started last night with Casablanca. ‘Here’s looking at you, kid’.