Not sure exactly what dominance means here?

China seems to be ahead on battery production but

Between 2009 and 2021, the Chinese government poured more than $130 billion worth of subsidies into the EV market

Those subsidies go to companies buying EV cars to boost govt sales figures. Instead of actually using the cars to grow the market in rent/share EV, they're left abandoned and the companies return to their angel investors for more funds without any return - by far the largest being the CCP to reach their goal of EV dominance.

Surprise, surprise the sales are dodgy as fuck and manipulated by the government.

You're right to be mad.

Despite widespread homophobia and discrimination still, I do believe it has reduced and there are now laws being created e.g. to be legally married.

I absolutely know it still isn't rosy or that progress isn't quick enough or good enough but I do feel there is progress and I think it will continue and I hope it accelerates too. There will always be prejudice though.

I hope the same will happen for the trans community too and that it's faster but who knows.

Christopher Mellon, who spent nearly twenty years in the U.S. Intelligence Community [...] However, it is a delicate matter getting this potentially explosive information into the right hands for validation. This is made harder by the fact that, rightly or wrongly, a number of potential sources do not trust the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office established by Congress.

So the spook-of-20 years can't validate the claims he and someone else have seen in some secret government document(s)?

Jonathan Grey is a generational officer of the United States Intelligence Community with a Top-Secret Clearance [...] The non-human intelligence phenomenon is real. We are not alone [...] Retrievals of this kind are not limited to the United States. This is a global phenomenon, and yet a global solution continues to elude us.

So another spook this time with "top secret clearance" claims (with no proof or evidence) that alien craft are spread globally, although no other country has mentioned these before nor claimed to have "partial and up to full alien craft" in their possession.

Grusch has served as an Intelligence Officer for over fourteen years [...] he has numerous awards and decorations for his participation in covert and clandestine operations to advance American security.

But obviously not disinformation because ... err...

It's not like anyone would lie to Congress and get away with it?

Or a government agency would spread misinformation and conspiracy theories to expand their budget and cover-up their own advanced tech research that may have accidentally been detected.

Probably juuuuust co-incidence this is brought up after Chinese spy balloons (that the USAF already knew about and were tracking but didn't bother to acknowledge until they were spotted from the ground by civilians) were shot down.

Just discovered Sagor Som Leder Mot Slutet. Post rock feels like a really uncool genre so here's a taster from each of their albums.

Avsked - from Sagor Som Leder Mot Slutet

Ovisshet - from II

Eter - from III

Can only find the full album on youtube but Eter starts at 38:18 ...

They're both primed to discuss how& when if science and religion are able to able to coexist.

I might be overestimating the depth, but I'm massively impressed you're able to have conversations like that with your kids about a movie/TV show. I find it hard enough with adults (from my side and theirs).

I'm slipping a bit on these recommendations, but I'm considering (re-watching) Parasite with my daughter on our next movie.

Tuesday is the new dad + daughter movie day. She's seen the later Glass Onion but not Knives Out so that was my pick on your recommendation.

I remember being told about Cut-up technique and I had a strong feeling of it being applied to the genre of murder mystery here, while still being an actual genuine murder mystery romp. I really enjoyed how the tropes were used as misdirection and taking a humorous approach and, like any good show or film, there are obviously many clues dropped to encourage a re-watch, which I'm pretty certain I will do.

Saw RRR this weekend. I've never had a fever dream but this made me think I was watching a 3-hour superhero Bollywood Rambo during a fever dream. So over the top and brutal and then suddenly, song or dance time.

The symbolism and metaphor from a different language and culture is like running poetry through google translate. I kind of get the broad meaning but I also feel like I was missing a lot of detail and cultural cues, not least of which is Alluri Sita Ramaraju and Komaram Bheem being historical figures.

Haven't had a lot of time to watch films this week so Two Distant Strangers was my next choice.

When I was growing up it was really common to have a short film supporting the main feature when you went to the cinema and I really miss that experience. I felt sad and a bit angry when they stopped showing them in favour of fucking adverts and upcoming features.

But not as sad and angry as this little short. And what an unusual subgenre to highlight the issue. I liked the use of names as the credits were rolling and wondered if the names on the roofs towards the end were real or VFX?

Meant to post this when the thread was posted but somehow forgot.

I used to think his music was cheesy lounge music, but fell in love with Dusty after one of those beautiful, peak experiences listening to her on a Walkman walking home after a party and getting enveloped by dense, freezing fog, high as a kite.

So here's to you and RIP Burt.

A House is Not A Home

The Stranglers - Walk on By

Saw The Killing of a Sacred Deer last night (Sunday).

Absolutely stunning. Lots of food for thought here. I've never studied Greek mythology but I can spot a hint like name dropping Iphigenia. I wouldn't have connected the Deer otherwise.

Reminded me of watching movies like Irreversible or Eraserhead for the first time - not least because of the stilted conversation style which is a landmark feature of Lynch's films. I loved how the off-kilter camera angles add to the feeling of unease too.

So I watched Death of Stalin yesterday and, although I definitely enjoyed it, I ended up slightly disappointed. I think I went in with the wrong expectations though expecting it would be more vicious like In The Thick of It, In The Loop or Veep. It was a clever stomp through the changeover though and some good performances (Beria in particular) and I did like the decision to take it in the direction of a theatrical farce rather than dwelling on the historical brutality.

I decided I should post a little comment of gratitude after watching each of the recommended films.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople took me back to being a little kid, reading the likes of Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe.

Made me think of the kind of boy's own adventures that the (probably underappreciated) Ripping yarns parodied/revered.

Getting Sam Neill for this project must have been a bit of a coup before Taika Waititi really hit the big time with Marvel.

that is...quite the journey

I'm increasingly convinced that the primary purpose of this was to just flex and start shit.

I agree about the tactic but the timing is way-off for that in my opinion. I think Xi is trying to lessen tension - stalling for time to try and figure out how to counter the tech freeze. Hence the plan to meet Blinken personally. Stirring up shit like this might be effective after the diplomatic visit but not before.

I've read theories about CCP in-fighting and (anti-Xi faction) sabotage but here's an interesting and plausible alternative explanation - at least for me timestamp is 11:50 if it doesn't start in the right place.

grab every 4g communication

I expect they can glean some useful and important traffic/data, but it seems very opportunistic, temporary and infrequent.

You think their long term strategy may be to make these things ever smaller and stealthier and much more frequent in the future?

Been going through their releases. This week: 2

Run The Jewels - Close Your Eyes And Count To Fuck

I've recommended The Lobster to friends in the past, so now I'm wondering to myself why I haven't seen more of Lanthimos?

Armando Iannucci can do little wrong as far as I'm concerned. Anyone that can conjure up Malcolm Tucker is worth watching. Bonus point since both onions are on Netflix too.

Definitely open to Japanese movies - looking forward to these.

I'm surprised to learn Bo Burnham directed a movie and I'm intrigued by the idea of using documentary footage rather than being a straight documentary.

I am no movie connoisseur

I mean who cares... neither am I. I probably over-emphasised my dislike of popular/mainstream movies (which I have seen a lot of) - my preference just lies elsewhere.

I am genuine about watching whatever people recommend in this thread though so thanks for RRR - I don't think I've seen many Indian-made films - just ones about India.

oof - I watched most of the Marvel Phase 3 movies because my son was really into them. I now have zero interest in anything MCU or superheroes - TV or film. Watching stuff with your kids is rewarding regardless of the genre or quality. I'm just super indifferent about them now.