I haven’t seen the movie yet, but won’t be able to watch it with a straight face after this (Wingnut, Backwash and Lug Wrench)? Thanks for the early AM laughs and insight.
Heinlein defined newsreading as "the sick need to wallow in the problems of 8 billion strangers", and I have the worse illness of wanting to comment back at journalists. This makes substack diabolical for me. Just dropped $50 so I could 'fact check' (not really) Paul.
* I rise to the defense of the rustbucket F16, and its sister-craft, our F18. The Pentagon has never allowed a direct face-off between their beloved F35 and an F16 (just like the original Top Gun play dogfights). I could accept the possibility that an F35 would win. Even possible that, say, two F35s could beat 3 F16's. I cannot accept the possibility that a billion dollars worth of F35s (6) could beat a billion dollars worth of F16s (40).
* And I must rise to the defense of my fellow government employees. Journos just say "government" forgetting that they denigrate all three levels that way. Had any cholera in the water, lately? Sewage flowing in the streets? No? My old colleagues at work.
Government got something done: it was crucial in building Calgary, which doubled in size during my waterworks career: and every bit of pavement, every pipe, every wire, every house, was built under government supervision and inspection, as is all the food you eat. (And trust me, all those private constructors would have happily built you Mogadishu, then folded the numbered companies that did so, if we'd taken our eyes of them.)
News guys follow, well, NEW things. Government doesn't do a lot of new things. We do the basic, old infrastructure like roads, utilities, schools, health. Canada has some of the best infrastructure on the planet, the highest scholastic levels, the longest lifespans. Oh, and financial systems - you know, the Canadian ones that never had to bail-out a bank, while the largest economies in the world were in near-collapse from mismanagement and under-regulation. (That government regulation they said was so limiting and oppressive.) One of the nations that caused the Global Financial Crisis then hired Mark Carney to tune them up.
I gotta say, I was surprised that the column didn't compare American movie military to real American military - the ones that were beaten by a nation of shepherds.
Maverick is how we would like to win our fights and never do. I do remember when things did get built by governments but now bureaucracy in government is like the series Yes Minister. They are there to ensure nothing gets done
Great column Paul. One quibble, Tom and the team are flying Super Hornets which are a vastly upgraded version of the old Hornets our brave souls continue to fly long after their best before dates.
Paul, this is why I am a paid subscriber. Got to love the specious horseshit in Philpot's 'mandate letter'. The fact that it has not been permanently deleted and that you are still out there, relatively free and uncensored gives me some cause for hope.Glory to Canada.
So, do you watch these types of movies because you actually enjoy watching them, or because you can't handle the fact that we must live in a maddeningly uncertain, often unfair, unjust corrupt, unchangeable world full of bullshit artists?
Yeah, so about those bad guys (in the movie). How do we know they’re the bad guys? Easy. They are the ones dressed like TIE fighter pilots. In regulation-black, of course, ‘cause everybody knows black is the color of bad guys. Except, when it comes to the brand of shoe polish Cruise laquers into his hair… then, black is good! But seriously folks, great movie, would be even better if Cruise wasn’t slowly turning into a caricature of himself. I can see him trying to continue these types of physical roles into his seventies (why not his eighties?) and never, ever accepting that aging is not only normal, but, actually, a priviledge.
I'm challenged because there is so much about the American Savior model that is detestable, but I'm a sucker for the get-'er-done, simple straightforward solution to defeating evil followed by the hormonal feel-good after-effect that I suspect I'll like this film. Btw, the winner of this week's best paragraph is you. "It is to laugh. Maverick and his young charges don’t even need modern jet fighters. The enemy has fifth-generation fighters, but that is because the enemy is decadent and soft. Tom and his trainees Wingnut, Backwash and Lug Wrench are happy to fly F-18s, rustbucket kit nearly as old as the movie’s soundtrack. Their cause is so pure they cheerfully fly into harm’s way using the sort of equipment that’s usually fit only for Canadians."
When you mention the fantasy of state capacity, I'm reminded of why I enjoy watching Star Trek: dutiful, resourceful people exploring the galaxy. It's nice to have ideals. It's also nice to know the real world is messy. I think the trick is to marry the two together, somehow. Our leaders seem not only incapable of doing so, they've stopped trying altogether.
Saw it Saturday night. Top Gun: Maverick is is meant to be viewed with low expectations and popcorn, and certainly not with analytical thought. Great column, but I'm surprised you didn't mention the football game on the beach - sand, sweat, spray-tan, and soft lighting - used to minimize the chance to actually see if Maverick's abs are comparable with those sported by his twentysomething fellow players. Playing With The Boys, indeed. As my wife said, this is Tom Cruise (who turns 60 in July) sending a cinematic love letter to every 50-somethiing male's wish to be perfectly capable to keep up with the boys, triumph over them in sport, and lead them into an ultimately successful battle (and of course, win the love of the girl by the end of the movie).
The phonies are always around but eventually in crisis, they are soon unmasked. I like the connections and hints made between the movies’ heroes and the lack of political leadership during the pandemic responses!But where is the truth in all this? who cares about truth?
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but won’t be able to watch it with a straight face after this (Wingnut, Backwash and Lug Wrench)? Thanks for the early AM laughs and insight.
Heinlein defined newsreading as "the sick need to wallow in the problems of 8 billion strangers", and I have the worse illness of wanting to comment back at journalists. This makes substack diabolical for me. Just dropped $50 so I could 'fact check' (not really) Paul.
* I rise to the defense of the rustbucket F16, and its sister-craft, our F18. The Pentagon has never allowed a direct face-off between their beloved F35 and an F16 (just like the original Top Gun play dogfights). I could accept the possibility that an F35 would win. Even possible that, say, two F35s could beat 3 F16's. I cannot accept the possibility that a billion dollars worth of F35s (6) could beat a billion dollars worth of F16s (40).
* And I must rise to the defense of my fellow government employees. Journos just say "government" forgetting that they denigrate all three levels that way. Had any cholera in the water, lately? Sewage flowing in the streets? No? My old colleagues at work.
Government got something done: it was crucial in building Calgary, which doubled in size during my waterworks career: and every bit of pavement, every pipe, every wire, every house, was built under government supervision and inspection, as is all the food you eat. (And trust me, all those private constructors would have happily built you Mogadishu, then folded the numbered companies that did so, if we'd taken our eyes of them.)
News guys follow, well, NEW things. Government doesn't do a lot of new things. We do the basic, old infrastructure like roads, utilities, schools, health. Canada has some of the best infrastructure on the planet, the highest scholastic levels, the longest lifespans. Oh, and financial systems - you know, the Canadian ones that never had to bail-out a bank, while the largest economies in the world were in near-collapse from mismanagement and under-regulation. (That government regulation they said was so limiting and oppressive.) One of the nations that caused the Global Financial Crisis then hired Mark Carney to tune them up.
I gotta say, I was surprised that the column didn't compare American movie military to real American military - the ones that were beaten by a nation of shepherds.
Alberta (and BC) exceptionalism!
Maverick is how we would like to win our fights and never do. I do remember when things did get built by governments but now bureaucracy in government is like the series Yes Minister. They are there to ensure nothing gets done
Great column Paul. One quibble, Tom and the team are flying Super Hornets which are a vastly upgraded version of the old Hornets our brave souls continue to fly long after their best before dates.
"A hammer, a shield, and a credit card." Tony Stark, wide-eyed with resentment, is working on a snappy comeback in his grave. Great piece.
Paul, this is why I am a paid subscriber. Got to love the specious horseshit in Philpot's 'mandate letter'. The fact that it has not been permanently deleted and that you are still out there, relatively free and uncensored gives me some cause for hope.Glory to Canada.
So, do you watch these types of movies because you actually enjoy watching them, or because you can't handle the fact that we must live in a maddeningly uncertain, often unfair, unjust corrupt, unchangeable world full of bullshit artists?
https://youtu.be/qOFU74YOVLs
Yeah, so about those bad guys (in the movie). How do we know they’re the bad guys? Easy. They are the ones dressed like TIE fighter pilots. In regulation-black, of course, ‘cause everybody knows black is the color of bad guys. Except, when it comes to the brand of shoe polish Cruise laquers into his hair… then, black is good! But seriously folks, great movie, would be even better if Cruise wasn’t slowly turning into a caricature of himself. I can see him trying to continue these types of physical roles into his seventies (why not his eighties?) and never, ever accepting that aging is not only normal, but, actually, a priviledge.
I'm challenged because there is so much about the American Savior model that is detestable, but I'm a sucker for the get-'er-done, simple straightforward solution to defeating evil followed by the hormonal feel-good after-effect that I suspect I'll like this film. Btw, the winner of this week's best paragraph is you. "It is to laugh. Maverick and his young charges don’t even need modern jet fighters. The enemy has fifth-generation fighters, but that is because the enemy is decadent and soft. Tom and his trainees Wingnut, Backwash and Lug Wrench are happy to fly F-18s, rustbucket kit nearly as old as the movie’s soundtrack. Their cause is so pure they cheerfully fly into harm’s way using the sort of equipment that’s usually fit only for Canadians."
When you mention the fantasy of state capacity, I'm reminded of why I enjoy watching Star Trek: dutiful, resourceful people exploring the galaxy. It's nice to have ideals. It's also nice to know the real world is messy. I think the trick is to marry the two together, somehow. Our leaders seem not only incapable of doing so, they've stopped trying altogether.
Don't forget 'Top Gun: Announceable' where a government announcement revolves around something useful that the public actually want and need.
Saw it Saturday night. Top Gun: Maverick is is meant to be viewed with low expectations and popcorn, and certainly not with analytical thought. Great column, but I'm surprised you didn't mention the football game on the beach - sand, sweat, spray-tan, and soft lighting - used to minimize the chance to actually see if Maverick's abs are comparable with those sported by his twentysomething fellow players. Playing With The Boys, indeed. As my wife said, this is Tom Cruise (who turns 60 in July) sending a cinematic love letter to every 50-somethiing male's wish to be perfectly capable to keep up with the boys, triumph over them in sport, and lead them into an ultimately successful battle (and of course, win the love of the girl by the end of the movie).
More popcorn, please.
The phonies are always around but eventually in crisis, they are soon unmasked. I like the connections and hints made between the movies’ heroes and the lack of political leadership during the pandemic responses!But where is the truth in all this? who cares about truth?