Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Sunday, January 8, 2017
The Ognissanti Madonna by Giotto
Art Appreciation
The Orgnissanti Madonna is a large altarpiece painted by Giotto di Bondone for the Florentine Church of Ornissanti. Giotto is credited for being the father of the Renaissance, an artistic movement that portrays humans with more physical and emotional accuracy.
Friday, January 6, 2017
Thursday, January 5, 2017
The Psychology of Trump's "Russian hacking" Tweets
Pardon the Interruption.
Donald Trump, our President-elect, is a businessman who knows how to sell a product or an idea. It obviously worked, during the election, using the most powerful instrument--social media. He continues to utilize it as a megaphone to sell his agenda.
A few days ago, I posted an entry regarding our future President's odd New Year tweet. In that entry, I dissected his tweet in an attempt to find meaning.
Similarly, I've taken his recent tweets questioning the validity of the Intelligence Community's findings of substantive evidence of Russian hacking.
Let's rewind a bit and remember that during the summer of 2016, Donald Trump, the candidate, encouraged Russia to hack into Hillary Clinton's emails, "I will tell you this, Russia: If you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing."
In a tweet, earlier this week, the soon-to-be President said, "The 'Intelligence' briefing on so-called 'Russian hacking' was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!"
If we dissect the tweet, "The 'Intelligence' briefing...," he injects doubt to the word intelligence by adding quotes. "Intelligence" as if we should doubt its trustworthiness--the Intelligence Community that is a collection of 16 separate U.S. government agencies that work separately and together to conduct intelligence activities.
He continues his tweet "...on so-called 'Russian hacking'..." as to again question the credibility of the intelligence community's findings. Remember, he took time from his New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, to criticize the assessment "...I know a lot about hacking, and hacking is a very hard thing to prove. So, it could be somebody else. And I also know things that other people don't know, so they cannot be sure of this situation."
He then ends his tweet in a conspiracy-esque way about how the briefing was delayed, "....perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!" This as if to plant the idea that the 16 independent national security agencies are working to fabricate a story and possibly undermine his presidency.
What's worrisome is that later he tweeted, "Julian Assange said 'a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta' - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!"
Aside that he credits Julian Assange in the tweet, which he later attempts to backpedal, what is of concern is that he deflects blame away from Russia to the DNC for being careless, "... why was DNC so careless?"
He then followed up with "Julian Assange on U.S. media coverage: 'It's very dishonest.' #Hannity "More dishonest than anyone knows." Okay, so although he backpedaled in a later tweet (see below), he did outright commend Assange for stating that the media is dishonest. To emphasize the praise, not only did he end the tweet, "More dishonest than anyone knows," but he included a photo of Julian Assange--a sign of admiration.
Ironically, Sean Hannity once condemned Assange and called for his arrest, and Trump, in 2010, said there should be the "death penalty or something" for WikiLeaks publishing classified documents and videos.
It took our future President a day to rephrase his tweet about Assange. Perhaps a move triggered after numerous top Republicans were troubled by Trump siding with Assange before intelligence briefings. In his tweet, he says, "The dishonest media likes saying that I am in Agreement with Julian Assange - wrong. I simply state what he states, it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against "Intelligence" when in fact I am a big fan!"
If we dissect and find meaning in his two recent tweets, we can see that he is blatantly attempting to backpedal." Perhaps this is part of his narcissism in that he can do no wrong, but he deflects the blame of his earlier tweets on the media, "The dishonest media likes saying that I..." Applying projection, he adds, "The media lies to make it look like I am against 'Intelligence'..."
Twitter is a public forum, and the president-elect has chosen this as his megaphone. Since Trump has avoided press conferences, the media has every right to report what is posted in a public forum.
To build empathy, he addresses his followers, "...it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth.," while preserving his comments regarding the Intelligence Community he ends with "...when in fact I am a big fan!"
What's troublesome is what if the Intelligence Community has something on Donald Trump, and all this rhetoric is to discredit and to project blame on others before it's released to the public?
Or perhaps, the reason he ended his last tweet "...I am a big fan!" is because he's heeding to Senator Chuck Schumer's warning, "Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back to you."
UPDATED
Then this evening, the soon-to-be President tweet's again projected doubt and blame and raised a conspiracy within three tweets: "How did NBC get 'an exclusive look into the top secret report he (Obama) was presented?' Who gave them this report and why? Politics! The Democratic National Committee would not allow the FBI to study or see its computer info after it was supposedly hacked by Russia...So how and why are they so sure about hacking if they never even requested an examination of the computer servers? What is going on?"
Remember, he stated that he knew "a lot about hacking." Well, his last tweet says differently, "So how and why are they so sure about hacking if they never even requested an examination of the computer services?" Perhaps Trump only read the headline on BuzzFeed, "The FBI Never Asked For Access to Hacked Computer Servers," and failed to further read the entire article where it indicated the FBI relied on a third party cyber security firm.
His last sentence in that tweet is of concern because it makes it sound as if he is fearing something, "What is going on?" Perhaps his fear is that the intelligence community will present a report that includes something more that he is willing to share.
Donald Trump, our President-elect, is a businessman who knows how to sell a product or an idea. It obviously worked, during the election, using the most powerful instrument--social media. He continues to utilize it as a megaphone to sell his agenda.
A few days ago, I posted an entry regarding our future President's odd New Year tweet. In that entry, I dissected his tweet in an attempt to find meaning.
Similarly, I've taken his recent tweets questioning the validity of the Intelligence Community's findings of substantive evidence of Russian hacking.
Let's rewind a bit and remember that during the summer of 2016, Donald Trump, the candidate, encouraged Russia to hack into Hillary Clinton's emails, "I will tell you this, Russia: If you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing."
In a tweet, earlier this week, the soon-to-be President said, "The 'Intelligence' briefing on so-called 'Russian hacking' was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!"
He continues his tweet "...on so-called 'Russian hacking'..." as to again question the credibility of the intelligence community's findings. Remember, he took time from his New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, to criticize the assessment "...I know a lot about hacking, and hacking is a very hard thing to prove. So, it could be somebody else. And I also know things that other people don't know, so they cannot be sure of this situation."
He then ends his tweet in a conspiracy-esque way about how the briefing was delayed, "....perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!" This as if to plant the idea that the 16 independent national security agencies are working to fabricate a story and possibly undermine his presidency.
What's worrisome is that later he tweeted, "Julian Assange said 'a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta' - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!"
Aside that he credits Julian Assange in the tweet, which he later attempts to backpedal, what is of concern is that he deflects blame away from Russia to the DNC for being careless, "... why was DNC so careless?"
He then followed up with "Julian Assange on U.S. media coverage: 'It's very dishonest.' #Hannity "More dishonest than anyone knows." Okay, so although he backpedaled in a later tweet (see below), he did outright commend Assange for stating that the media is dishonest. To emphasize the praise, not only did he end the tweet, "More dishonest than anyone knows," but he included a photo of Julian Assange--a sign of admiration.
Ironically, Sean Hannity once condemned Assange and called for his arrest, and Trump, in 2010, said there should be the "death penalty or something" for WikiLeaks publishing classified documents and videos.
It took our future President a day to rephrase his tweet about Assange. Perhaps a move triggered after numerous top Republicans were troubled by Trump siding with Assange before intelligence briefings. In his tweet, he says, "The dishonest media likes saying that I am in Agreement with Julian Assange - wrong. I simply state what he states, it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against "Intelligence" when in fact I am a big fan!"
If we dissect and find meaning in his two recent tweets, we can see that he is blatantly attempting to backpedal." Perhaps this is part of his narcissism in that he can do no wrong, but he deflects the blame of his earlier tweets on the media, "The dishonest media likes saying that I..." Applying projection, he adds, "The media lies to make it look like I am against 'Intelligence'..."
Twitter is a public forum, and the president-elect has chosen this as his megaphone. Since Trump has avoided press conferences, the media has every right to report what is posted in a public forum.
To build empathy, he addresses his followers, "...it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth.," while preserving his comments regarding the Intelligence Community he ends with "...when in fact I am a big fan!"
What's troublesome is what if the Intelligence Community has something on Donald Trump, and all this rhetoric is to discredit and to project blame on others before it's released to the public?
Or perhaps, the reason he ended his last tweet "...I am a big fan!" is because he's heeding to Senator Chuck Schumer's warning, "Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back to you."
UPDATED
Then this evening, the soon-to-be President tweet's again projected doubt and blame and raised a conspiracy within three tweets: "How did NBC get 'an exclusive look into the top secret report he (Obama) was presented?' Who gave them this report and why? Politics! The Democratic National Committee would not allow the FBI to study or see its computer info after it was supposedly hacked by Russia...So how and why are they so sure about hacking if they never even requested an examination of the computer servers? What is going on?"
NBC cited two top intelligence officials who provided information regarding what was in the report presented to President Obama. Nonetheless, the President-elect was unhappy with a news media having access to the top secret report and was quick to inject "Politics!"
Remember, he stated that he knew "a lot about hacking." Well, his last tweet says differently, "So how and why are they so sure about hacking if they never even requested an examination of the computer services?" Perhaps Trump only read the headline on BuzzFeed, "The FBI Never Asked For Access to Hacked Computer Servers," and failed to further read the entire article where it indicated the FBI relied on a third party cyber security firm.
His last sentence in that tweet is of concern because it makes it sound as if he is fearing something, "What is going on?" Perhaps his fear is that the intelligence community will present a report that includes something more that he is willing to share.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Album Cover: Van Halen - 1984
Album Cover
Album: Van Halen - 1984
Released: January 9, 1984
Graphic Artist: Margo Nahas
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_(Van_Halen_album)
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
My Choice for Golden Globe Winners
UPDATED.
The Golden Globes are this Sunday, and I thought I would give my own choices as to who should win statuettes.
33% PREDICTION ACCURACY
*WINNERS
FILM
Best Picture, Drama
Manchester by the Sea
Reason: It's has the perfect formula for a win: An Affleck and a Damon
*MOONLIGHT
Best Picture, Comedy or Musical
*LA LA LAND
Reason: Gosling and Stone... wow! Plus, it was directed by Damien Chazelle. You know... the one who directed Whiplash, which received five Academy Award nominations last year.
Best Director
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Reason: Jenkins has received a few awards and nominations for this film. Considering the current political climate, I think the HFPA will make a bold step in acknowledging a very talented director.
*DAMIEN CHAZELLE - "LA LA LAND"
Best Actor, Drama
Joel Edgerton, Loving
Reason: Although I have a feeling the HFPA will award this to Casey Affleck, I think Joel Edgerton's performance was perfect.
*CASEY AFFLECT - "MANCHESTER BY THE SEA"
Best Actress, Drama
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Reason: She is a fantastic actress and her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy Onassis is amazing.
*ISABELLE HUPPERT - "ELLE"
Best Actor, Comedy
Colin Farrell, The Lobster
Reason: This one is hard. Jonah Hill is amazing in War Dogs, Ryan Reynolds is the perfect Deadpool, and we all love Hugh Grant, but I think Colin Farrell should be awarded this statuette.
*RYAN GOSLING - "LA LA LAND"
Best Actress, Comedy
Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen
Reason: This is another one that is hard. Although chances are the HFPA will go with Emma Stone, I think Hailee Steinfeld is the better choice.
*EMMA STONE - "LA LA LAND"
Best Supporting Actor
Dev Patel, Lion
Reason: Dev Patel is an amazing actor. Google his name and you'll see all his accomplishments.
*AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON - "NOCTURNAL ANIMALS"
Best Supporting Actress
*VIOLA DAVIS, FENCES
Reason: Viola Davis has won numerous recognition for her portrayal of Rose Maxson.
Best Screenplay
*DAMIEN CHAZELLE, LA LA LAND
Reason: This one is a guess; although, I am thinking Kenneth Lonergan will be selected by the HFPA for this award.
Best Original Score
La La Land
Reason: This one is hard, but I'll go with La La Land.
*MOONLIGHT
Best Original Song
"Can't Stop the Feeling," Trolls
Reason: I have this on my playlist and haven't gotten bored yet.
*"CITY OF STARS" - "LA LA LAND"
Best Animated Feature Film
Kubo and the Two Strings
Reason: Dreamworks and Disney have dominated this category since its inception. I think the HFPA should consider this beautiful film from Laika Entertainment.
*ZOOTOPIA
Best Foreign Language Film
Toni Erdmann
Reason: This movie has received many accolades, including the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Award.
*"ELLE" - (FRANCE)
TELEVISION
Best TV Series, Drama
*THE CROWN
Reason: This award is either going to a Netflix or HBO series, and I think Netflix is overdue for recognition.
Best TV Series, Comedy/Musical
Blackish
Reason: Great show and cast. Plus, a network TV is scheduled to win one.
*ATLANTA
Best TV Miniseries or Movie
*THE PEOPLE VS. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY
Reason: Great cast.
Best Actor, Drama
*BILLY BOB THORNTON, GOLIATH
Reason: Great performance.
Best Actress, Drama
Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
Reason: She is superb in playing a restless mother looking for her missing son.
*CLAIRE FOY - "THE CROWN"
Best Actor, Comedy
Nick Nolte, Graves
Reason: Well, I think the HFPA will either go with Jeffrey Tambor or Nick Nolte. I'm going with Nick Nolte for the simple reason that we just came out of an election year.
*DONALD GLOVER - "ATLANTA"
Best Actress, Comedy
Julie Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Reason: I've been a JLD fan since Seinfeld. I'm thinking the HFPA will recognize her for her role as Selina Meyer.
*TRACEE ELLIS ROSS - "BLACK-ISH"
Best Supporting Actor
John Lithgow, The Crown
Reason: He was recently awarded the Critic's Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. Plus, Lithgow is an amazing actor who can play just about anything.
*HUGH LAURIE - "THE NIGHT MANAGER"
Best Supporting Actress
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Reason: She has received numerous recognition for her portrayal of Ceresei Lannister.
*OLIVIA COLMAN - "THE NIGHT MANAGER"
Best Actor, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Courtney B. Vance, The People vs. O.J. Simpson
Reason: This one was hard to choose, since all the other actors (especially Tom Hiddleston) are amazing in their roles.
*TOM HIDDLESTON - "THE NIGHT MANAGER"
Best Actress, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Kerry Washington
Reason: Her portrayal of Anita Hill was amazing. Awarding this to Washington, the HFPA would make a political statement against sexual assault; especially, following the election of a president who has been accused by several of such acts.
*SARAH PAULSON - "THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY"
The Golden Globes are this Sunday, and I thought I would give my own choices as to who should win statuettes.
33% PREDICTION ACCURACY
*WINNERS
FILM
Best Picture, Drama
Manchester by the Sea
Reason: It's has the perfect formula for a win: An Affleck and a Damon
*MOONLIGHT
Best Picture, Comedy or Musical
*LA LA LAND
Reason: Gosling and Stone... wow! Plus, it was directed by Damien Chazelle. You know... the one who directed Whiplash, which received five Academy Award nominations last year.
Best Director
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Reason: Jenkins has received a few awards and nominations for this film. Considering the current political climate, I think the HFPA will make a bold step in acknowledging a very talented director.
*DAMIEN CHAZELLE - "LA LA LAND"
Best Actor, Drama
Joel Edgerton, Loving
Reason: Although I have a feeling the HFPA will award this to Casey Affleck, I think Joel Edgerton's performance was perfect.
*CASEY AFFLECT - "MANCHESTER BY THE SEA"
Best Actress, Drama
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Reason: She is a fantastic actress and her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy Onassis is amazing.
*ISABELLE HUPPERT - "ELLE"
Best Actor, Comedy
Colin Farrell, The Lobster
Reason: This one is hard. Jonah Hill is amazing in War Dogs, Ryan Reynolds is the perfect Deadpool, and we all love Hugh Grant, but I think Colin Farrell should be awarded this statuette.
*RYAN GOSLING - "LA LA LAND"
Best Actress, Comedy
Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen
Reason: This is another one that is hard. Although chances are the HFPA will go with Emma Stone, I think Hailee Steinfeld is the better choice.
*EMMA STONE - "LA LA LAND"
Best Supporting Actor
Dev Patel, Lion
Reason: Dev Patel is an amazing actor. Google his name and you'll see all his accomplishments.
*AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON - "NOCTURNAL ANIMALS"
Best Supporting Actress
*VIOLA DAVIS, FENCES
Reason: Viola Davis has won numerous recognition for her portrayal of Rose Maxson.
Best Screenplay
*DAMIEN CHAZELLE, LA LA LAND
Reason: This one is a guess; although, I am thinking Kenneth Lonergan will be selected by the HFPA for this award.
Best Original Score
La La Land
Reason: This one is hard, but I'll go with La La Land.
*MOONLIGHT
Best Original Song
"Can't Stop the Feeling," Trolls
Reason: I have this on my playlist and haven't gotten bored yet.
*"CITY OF STARS" - "LA LA LAND"
Best Animated Feature Film
Kubo and the Two Strings
Reason: Dreamworks and Disney have dominated this category since its inception. I think the HFPA should consider this beautiful film from Laika Entertainment.
*ZOOTOPIA
Best Foreign Language Film
Toni Erdmann
Reason: This movie has received many accolades, including the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Award.
*"ELLE" - (FRANCE)
TELEVISION
Best TV Series, Drama
*THE CROWN
Reason: This award is either going to a Netflix or HBO series, and I think Netflix is overdue for recognition.
Best TV Series, Comedy/Musical
Blackish
Reason: Great show and cast. Plus, a network TV is scheduled to win one.
*ATLANTA
Best TV Miniseries or Movie
*THE PEOPLE VS. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY
Reason: Great cast.
Best Actor, Drama
*BILLY BOB THORNTON, GOLIATH
Reason: Great performance.
Best Actress, Drama
Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
Reason: She is superb in playing a restless mother looking for her missing son.
*CLAIRE FOY - "THE CROWN"
Best Actor, Comedy
Nick Nolte, Graves
Reason: Well, I think the HFPA will either go with Jeffrey Tambor or Nick Nolte. I'm going with Nick Nolte for the simple reason that we just came out of an election year.
*DONALD GLOVER - "ATLANTA"
Best Actress, Comedy
Julie Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Reason: I've been a JLD fan since Seinfeld. I'm thinking the HFPA will recognize her for her role as Selina Meyer.
*TRACEE ELLIS ROSS - "BLACK-ISH"
Best Supporting Actor
John Lithgow, The Crown
Reason: He was recently awarded the Critic's Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. Plus, Lithgow is an amazing actor who can play just about anything.
*HUGH LAURIE - "THE NIGHT MANAGER"
Best Supporting Actress
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Reason: She has received numerous recognition for her portrayal of Ceresei Lannister.
*OLIVIA COLMAN - "THE NIGHT MANAGER"
Best Actor, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Courtney B. Vance, The People vs. O.J. Simpson
Reason: This one was hard to choose, since all the other actors (especially Tom Hiddleston) are amazing in their roles.
*TOM HIDDLESTON - "THE NIGHT MANAGER"
Best Actress, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Kerry Washington
Reason: Her portrayal of Anita Hill was amazing. Awarding this to Washington, the HFPA would make a political statement against sexual assault; especially, following the election of a president who has been accused by several of such acts.
*SARAH PAULSON - "THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY"
Monday, January 2, 2017
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