Posts by Jessica Gonzalez

I feel like some Eastern cultures are just conditioned to follow the herd without really thinking for themselves. For example, maybe five or six years ago, nobody in South Korea really cared about hiking—they basically viewed it as some silly hobby for white people. But then someone influential pushed it, it became a massive trend, and now every single woman isn't just climbing hills, she's decked out in the most expensive gear imaginable. We're talking boots, pants, jackets, trekking poles, hats, sunglasses... they might as well be wearing scuba fins at this point. I went there during a holiday to hike a peak that’s maybe a little steeper than something you'd find near a local park in the Midwest; you can reach the summit in two hours just by walking. There are a few narrow paths and some metal cables near the top to hold onto, but it's nothing compared to a standard trail you'd find outside of Chicago. Yet, the crowd doing this "ascent" is wearing gear worth $2,000 per person. Everyone has it; I don't think I saw a single person who looked like me, just wearing a tracksuit and sneakers. It's like these clones are all identical, carrying their sticks and posing for photos in front of every single pastry shop they pass.

boldfox88 said:So, this GQ guy has basically traveled halfway around the world 🙏🙏

Tell me, if you don't mind me asking, is most of that travel for business or just personal trips?

Both of those options seem okay, I guess. Things might settle down a bit soon, though I did end up taking out a loan. 😂 Aside from maybe Egypt, I don't really have much of a fascination with other countries anymore. I've seen just about everything and spent plenty of money to see it all, but you eventually realize it's mostly just variations on the same theme. Mass tourism has become so huge that it feels like you can hardly find anything truly original. You can find uniqueness in those remote, wild places, but then you run into a hundred other hassles there. From now on, I think I'll spend my travel budget mostly on skiing instead; that seems like the best way to go. You can head to Colorado or Utah for relatively little money and actually spend your time doing something healthy out in nature.

So, I was out in Los Angeles today, and the tourists are already starting to swarm. I actually spotted someone using one of those selfie sticks for the first time. Honestly, I can't help but wonder why anyone would bother with those. I guess I was taking selfies way before smartphones were even a thing, though back then it was more of a joke. It feels like there are so many visitors wandering around the city with these sticks just to get some mediocre phone shots. I'm not entirely sure if that's worse than seeing people try to take photos with tablets, but it’s definitely something. Maybe it's just another reason why tourism feels like it's losing its soul lately. A selfie stick really feels like the low point of the 21st century.

Peter Thompson4 said:I really can't get on board with this idea that tickets are overpriced. I mean, sure, if you're looking at it strictly through the lens of our local cost of living, maybe they seem steep, but once you compare them to what people are paying overseas, we honestly don't have much ground to stand on. For instance, I’ve heard that ticket prices in places like Phoenix are basically in the same ballpark as they are here in the States—can someone from the Southwest chime in or let me know if that's true? And don't even get me started on how much more expensive things get in countries I've traveled to, like Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, or even parts of the US where I've been. On top of that, to be totally blunt, most of the theaters I've visited abroad were actually worse than Cinemark back home. I just didn't feel comfortable in them, and they definitely weren't nearly as nice or well-maintained. It seems like they just have a lot of privately owned spots over there, which probably explains why they feel so run-down compared to what we have.

Alright, I'll stop rambling now, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that as I've gotten older, I'd much rather spend my time catching a great movie in a decent theater than just blowing my whole weekend out partying.

That’s true, Cinemark theaters are top-tier, not just in Europe but globally too. I was actually talking to a guy who worked for the company when it first started—we used to play soccer together—and he mentioned they decided to invest in premium equipment right from the jump.

I've been to theaters in America, Canada, Korea, Sweden, the UK, and more, and I haven't found many places where the auditorium quality matches Cinemark. I mean, the new multiplexes in Korea are similar, but maybe not better. You just don't find those massive seats everywhere, or that perfect seating height where you aren't bumping heads with the person in front of you.

But then again, tickets are overpriced everywhere. In the UK, a ticket for some junk movie in a suburban area is at least 11 or 12 pounds. In Sweden, you won't find a movie for less than $33, and over half the theaters there are just outdated relics. And don't even get me started on the popcorn and soda; they absolutely fleece you.

I guess there is just one thing we could try occasionally here. In California, at a theater we visited, they didn't use reserved seating. Whoever gets to the auditorium first just sits wherever they want. That way, you don't have people jumping over seats once everyone finally settles in.

Prices have gotten out of hand, and it’s not just happening here in the States. It feels like we're just getting endless sequels upon sequels, which I guess is basically just funding laziness. To be honest, I can't really think of a single movie in the last few years where ticket prices jumped because it was a massive cultural phenomenon that captured everyone's attention, not just the teenagers. The last time I remember seeing that happen here was with something like "The Passion of the Christ," and maybe the fact that I'm using that as an example shows how much things have gone downhill. Nowadays, there's plenty of supply but hardly any originality, and I suppose that applies to all kinds of entertainment. That's probably why the big investors are playing it so safe, almost like a defensive coach like José Mourinho.

The way movie theaters operate today—basically high-tech hubs packed with multiple screens under one roof—is an American concept that's gone global, mostly targeting a super young demographic. I guess it doesn't really prioritize artistry or quality; if it did, maybe they’d try to appeal to older audiences instead of just churning out a seventh Star Wars installment. Theater attendance isn't exactly at its peak right now, either. It seems like Hollywood relies heavily on international markets where people are still really captivated by big special effects.

I feel like Interstellar is kind of a letdown, much like most of what’s hitting theaters lately. I guess things only seem worthwhile during Oscar season, but everything else feels a bit lackluster. It seems like there's a lack of original ideas or even the drive to create them. Maybe anyone going to see a movie that ends up being a number 7 on the charts is just helping lazy studios line their pockets.

I think I have some half-hour summaries of the 2011 finals. I could probably upload them to Dropbox and send you the link if you want.

Dr. Richard Kimble. That scene where he's shivering in the storm drain right before facing off against the US Marshal, followed by that leap off the dam (even if it was just a dummy that looked like him falling into the water), is pure perfection. A total masterpiece.

I mean, what would you even do with a gold iPhone?

Robin Fox2 said:Went out for a run at Central Park today; it was a bit warmer than usual, but nothing changed... just wind blowing everywhere and absolutely zero women in sight ☕

On another note, I'm torn between getting the gold or the silver iPhone. Silver is the classic choice, but that gold... man, when you see it in person 🙏 it hits you like LeBron James ☕ hitting
a dunk...

Go with the scooter instead.

I think the third version of the spreadsheet looks pretty good. It might be nice to change things up a bit; I guess it doesn't always have to stay the exact same way.

electricbison21 said:🤔 I doubt it.

It’s kind of like saying they’re going to reboot LOTR—it just won't happen.

They'll probably end up rebooting both, almost like it's nothing.

Do people really reboot book series like this? I don't think so. If an art form that has existed for centuries doesn't need constant reboots, then surely an industry that employs as many people as Hollywood shouldn't either. It seems to me that rebooting is just a byproduct of laziness and greed. I imagine there are probably hundreds of original stories sitting in the desks of film executives, but maybe they just don't want to take any risks with new material if they can sell the same old junk to the same crowd over and over again.

Robin Fox2 said:That’s actually the worst part. This man has been with him from the start, including his son—who happens to be the child of our most famous undercover agent—and all his advisors are of that exact caliber. Now, suddenly, he's getting rid of him, even though he didn't mind him for the last several years despite them thinking and saying the exact same things... his advisors have been making these comments the whole time, so it's not like Johnson is just now seeing his true face.

And yes, there was an entire political party against leaving America, which is currently in power; for the sake of the youth who don't know and the older ones who have forgotten ☕ we will remind you regularly ☕

On a brighter note, I visited a Lego store in the arena for the first time today, and honestly 🙂 I am considering having kids just so I have an excuse to buy Legos, because they have everything imaginable...

No, I can't buy them, my wife won't let me 😢 and all I wanted was a simple Death Star 🙄

Well, maybe you'll be making kids once your wife finally gives you the green light; hopefully that happens soon. 👍

That was a different era entirely, and the history leading up to it was just as different. Scotland is part of a stable community of nations where you don't have the military standing by, waiting to see how a referendum turns out before deciding whether to protect national unity. Since America completely collapsed and Mexicans killed thousands of people during that whole process, I guess I don't have anything against those kinds of undemocratic referendums.

It's hard to see anything here, where is the hair?

Let's get right into it.

I guess what’s the catch, or where’s the joke?

I guess I just need to see a single professional email from someone to get a sense of whether they're sharp or maybe not quite there.