🎞 Step Up Revolution (Summit Entertainment, 2012)

Watched Step Up Revolution from Summit Entertainment
Directed by Scott Speer. With Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman, Cleopatra Coleman, Misha Gabriel Hamilton. Emily arrives in Miami with aspirations to become a professional dancer. She sparks with Sean, the leader of a dance crew whose neighborhood is threatened by Emily's father's development plans.
I caught the tail end of Napoleon Dynamite and then found myself getting sucked into the next movie in the VH1 rotation.

This didn’t have the heart of the original, but had a cheesy enough plot to keep me engaged. And somehow they got Peter Gallagher to show up for it as well.  It was a bit reminiscent of the schmarminess of Breakin’ 2: Electric Bugaloo.

I also managed to write about 2,000 words while watching it too, so at least I was productive.

Step Up Revolution movie poster

📺 Linguist and Cognitive Scientist George Lakoff on Tavis Smiley (PBS)

Watched Linguist and Cognitive Scientist George Lakoff from PBS
The esteemed academic discusses Trump supporters who stay faithful to him even when he works against their material best interests and well-being.

Dr. Lakoff does a solid job of dissecting Trump’s communication style and providing some relatively solid advice to journalists and media outlets who aim to disrupt what Trump is attempting to accomplish. The discussion of morality and its role in our political system, albeit brief, was incredibly interesting.

In the last third of the interview, Lakoff provides an interesting reframing of much of the public/private case that Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson make in their recent book American Amnesia.

Apparently there is another interview Smiley’s done with Dr. Lakoff. I can’t wait to watch it. I certainly would have appreciated an extended hour or two of their conversation.

I can see people like Jay Rosen and Keith Olbermann appreciating these interviews if they haven’t seen them.

This was so solid that I actually watched it a second time. It may also be time to dig into some of Lakoff’s other writings and research as well. Some of it I’ve read and seen before in general terms, but it’s probably worth delving into more directly.

📺 The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: July 25, 2017 – Rola Hallam

Watched The Daily Show: July 25, 2017 - Rola Hallam, S2 E135 from Comedy Central
The Senate votes to begin a debate on health care, Democrats unveil a new slogan aimed at working-class voters, and Rola Hallam explains how her company CanDo is aiding Syria.
Not as solid as most episodes. The interview with Dr. Rola Hallam on Syria was the solid piece of work here.

The Daily Show S2 E135

📺 The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: July 24, 2017 – French Montana

Watched The Daily Show: July 24, 2017 - French Montana, S2 E134 from Comedy Central
Anthony Scaramucci joins the Trump administration, Trevor bids farewell to former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, and French Montana discusses "Jungle Rules."
Loved the Profiles in Tremendousness! Sad that I’m so far behind on episodes that when I’m watching the episode introducing “The Mooch” is the same day that he’s fired from The Apprentice: White House Edition.

The Daily Show S2, E 134