Good morning all. It’s Saturday October 19th. I’m sorry I wasn’t posting this week. I was looking over what I had written and thinking it was fairly boring and not worth putting into the blogosphere, so I decided not to bother publishing. It was nice getting a few texts asking why I hadn’t blogged this week, though it was mostly my political wonk friends asking if I had seen the “interview.”
Graham Hancock is a British author, journalist, and public speaker, best known for his unconventional and often controversial theories on ancient civilizations, archaeology, and human history. He has written numerous best-selling books, including Fingerprints of the Gods and Magicians of the Gods, in which he presents alternative views on ancient structures and cultures, often challenging the mainstream academic understanding of history.
Hancock’s theories about the Egyptian Pyramids, particularly the Great Pyramid of Giza, suggest that these structures are far older than traditionally believed and may have been influenced by a lost advanced civilization. According to him, mainstream archaeology underestimates the technological capabilities of ancient peoples. He proposes that the pyramids and other ancient monuments were not simply built as tombs or ceremonial sites but may encode astronomical, mathematical, and geodetic knowledge. Hancock also posits that the layout of the pyramids corresponds to the constellation Orion, supporting his idea that these structures were aligned with celestial bodies in ways that modern science has yet to fully comprehend.
In essence, Hancock’s work questions the standard narrative of human history, suggesting that we have lost knowledge from a pre-Ice Age civilization that may have been responsible for many of the world’s ancient wonders. His theories remain contentious, drawing interest from alternative history enthusiasts while facing skepticism from many academic scholars.
He’s been making the rounds with Lex Friedman and appearing on Joe Rogan again.
The Interview
People made a big deal out of the interview. It was perhaps a bigger deal if you were a Fox News viewer. I didn’t find the interview interesting and thought it was conducted poorly. If you take the time to look up Brett’s interview with Donald Trump from years ago, you will see that he’s letting him finish sentences and not talking over one another. He is not asking questions that he knows are set up ‘Gotcha’ moments. Not taking partially edited clips out of context. Do not start questions with ‘Do you know the number of …….” It’s a gotcha setup question. For me, that’s not the makeup of a good interviewer. People often confuse the difference between a debate and an interview.
Your mileage may vary. I’m just giving my take.
Brett Baier employed several setup or “gotcha” moments during his interview with Kamala Harris:
- Immigration and Border Control: Baier started by intensely questioning Harris about the influx of undocumented immigrants during the Biden administration, frequently interrupting her responses and attempting to corner her on the issue.
- Trump’s Support: Baier asked Harris why half the country supports Trump if he is as terrible as she claims, aiming to provoke a response that could be used against her. Harris countered by stating that elections are not designed to be easy and that she would never label the American people in a derogatory manner.
- Biden’s Mental Fitness: Baier asked Harris when she first noticed Biden’s “mental facilities appeared diminished,” trying to get her to admit to concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities. Harris defended Biden by emphasizing his judgment and experience, and then shifted the focus to Trump’s fitness for office.
- “Enemy Within” Remarks: Baier played a clip from a Trump town hall where Trump said, “I’m not threatening anybody,” in an attempt to downplay Trump’s previous remarks about using the military against American citizens. Harris pointed out that the clip was misleading and that Trump has repeatedly made such threats. The video is above.
- Loaded Questions: Throughout the interview, Baier posed loaded questions, such as asking Harris if she felt remorse for the Biden administration’s reversal of the Trump-era ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, aiming to elicit a response that could be used to criticize her stance on immigration.
Did you later watch the Telemundo Trump Townhall, also broadcast on Fox News? I kept waiting for some accountability. Did that happen? But voters who also wanted accountability asked some very good questions.
The Substance
The Substance: Because Aging is a Real Horror Show
Imagine waking up one morning to find that your body has declared war on you. Your joints creak, your skin sags, and your metabolism has decided to take a permanent vacation. Welcome to the world of Elisabeth Sparkle, played by Demi Moore, in the body horror movie The Substance. This film is not just a terrifying tale of aging gone wrong; it’s a brutally honest commentary on the societal pressures that women face as they navigate the treacherous waters of getting older.
Directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance asks some uncomfortable but necessary questions:
- What happens when society’s beauty standards collide with the natural process of aging? The film explores the dark consequences of a culture that equates youth with value and beauty.
- How far would you go to regain your youthful vitality? Elisabeth’s desperation leads her to a mysterious and dangerous drug that promises to restore her youth, but at what cost?
- What does it mean to be beautiful, and who gets to decide? The Substance challenges the conventional beauty standards that women are expected to adhere to, revealing the violence and chaos that can ensue when these expectations clash with reality.
- Can you truly escape the societal pressures that define your worth? The film delves into the internal and external battles that women face in their quest for relevance and beauty, questioning whether it’s possible to break free from these constraints.
With its bold and visceral approach, The Substance is not just a horror movie but a thought-provoking commentary on the human condition. It’s a reminder that aging is a natural part of life, but the societal expectations that come with it can be truly terrifying. So, buckle up and get ready to confront the horrors of aging in The Substance.
My friend Nicole highly enjoyed it. I highly enjoyed it as well. Give it a watch.
Have a good Saturday, everyone! Try and take some time and remember to laugh. Coming on the blog soon is ‘How I Voted,’ and it’s not what you’d think based on reading this. Also, I discuss my neighbor’s fun with my toilet.