As IF Times

Source: Harvey Weinstein is finding that few in Hollywood want to be on his side – LA Times

Well we’ve finally reached a level of disgust that even Hollywood can’t stomach and that’s pretty low.  As word comes out about Harvey Weinstein’s peccadillos, I am reminded of the response of French Inspector Renault in the classic ’40’s film Casablanca  when informed of illicit activity going on at Rick’s nightclub, “I’m shocked I tell  you, shocked!”

If you wanted to cast someone in a film as the villain that Weinstein is accused of being in real life, you could not find a more perfect person in central casting.  Well, other than Jabba The Hut.  Like many of the characters depicted in his produced films, the man is bigger than life obnoxious, essentially being a caricature of the prototypical Hollywood personality.

In fairness, it probably didn’t start off that way for him. But as time went on, he learned that his boorish behavior was mainly ignored by most and in fact he was universally lauded as a god like creature as the toast of the industry.  Who ya gonna believe? Harvey who makes you millions or some wanna-be actress?  For over 30 years, he had the double hammer of money to buy people and influence to destroy them.  Until the recent revelations, these provided a formidable buttress against any criticism of his personality.

Weinstein sensed that the reluctance for people to rein him in was a tacit approval of his sleaziness and arrogance and so his appetite became emboldened over the years; so much so that his lecherous behavior extended even to women over whom he had no influence such as reporters.  Of course this would explain the plethora of under talented individuals foisted upon the public in his projects, because sadly for many, fame is an allure greater than the repulsiveness of an hour with Harvey.  No wonder they thank him profusely at awards shows.  Now we have to listen to their inanities as if they were intellectual giants.

As odious as the man is, we can’t lay the blame on him entirely for a lifetime of terrorizing women.  It’s improbable to expect that an industry which employs gossip as the business lubricant, wouldn’t have  dozens and dozens of people who were fully aware of his reputation over his 30 year career.  Harvey was cunning enough to grease the campaigns of the political left, so their silence was guaranteed.  In the world of money, politics and media, Harvey was a top producer and apparently, it didn’t make sense to cut him off.  Harvey used women, women used Harvey and so did his beneficiaries.  It was a big circle jerk.

Naturally, as the tide of opinion turns against him, many of these former beneficiaries and allies will profess outrage and shock and will desert him like the public on the recent Al Gore film.   Remember, many of these feigning shock will be actors so I would watch their speeches with a big pinch of salt, some popcorn and a large drink.  But if Jimmy Kimmel cries over it during his monologue, then it must be sincere.

Source: Apple suffers embarrassing demo Face ID fail at iPhone X launch 

Without question, over the past decade, the smart phone has been the most influential product in the world eclipsing the personal computer, disposable diapers and likely the wheel for the number one spot.  An article was written years ago making light of the influence of phones, but in modern communities everywhere, smart phones and Iphones in particular, have achieved a must have status in society on the plane of Starbucks and bottled water.  Phones have attained the status of social jewelry.  Girls don’t compare rings, they compare phone versions.

From starting off as a mere convenience, smart phones have become an absolute necessity for most people.  We’ve all heard anecdotal stories of people suffering genuine panic at the thought of losing their phones and not only because they’re worth the cost of a few car payments.  These days, who doesn’t have their entire life story embedded in their phones, from pictures and videos to chat sites links, contact lists and passwords to various consumer sites?

People have undeniably become addicted to phone usage and this addiction has given rise to the popularity of social media companies that otherwise have no value.  Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram etc etc, all social equivalents of crack cocaine for the insatiable appetites of the Look At Me crowd.  You would think that having access to what everyone else is doing or thinking would be a boon to society.  I can argue that it is not.  Rather than expanding thought and knowledge, instead people have become more tribal as they divide themselves into camps of thought that align with their particular worldview and this is reinforced by others similarly opined, resulting in an echo chamber vortex.

As we’ve touched on before, anyone can create a sympathetic following for an issue, no matter how inane, just by virtue of being fleetingly famous.  Regardless of how inarticulate or erroneous a position may be, it can still draw in like-minded supporters as if they were Charles Manson devotees.  For a more comprehensive view of this phenomenon, read the classic work by Charles Mackay, “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness Of Crowds.  Make no mistake, this is all crowd behavior.

Apple Phones have been the conduit of choice (mostly) for this tribal narcissism and on almost a yearly basis, the faithful line up for hours in fervid anticipation of the release of the newest iteration of the holy tool.  Recently, for the first time ever, the newest release, labeled X, has failed to generate the must have hysteria that accompanied every other iteration.

Maybe the product fails to offer new gee whiz features.  Maybe people don’t need to have a new device with only marginally newer features.  Maybe people don’t feel the need to spend four digits on an appliance.  Or maybe people have just decided…it’s only a phone.