Satire?

[merh]

What $20 gets at a fancy restaurant


It was in Italian
Apparently it is a lesson in ask before ordering

[merh]

[abbey1227]

Dec 5, 2022 22:41:40 GMT merh said:

What $20 gets at a fancy restaurant


It was in Italian
Apparently it is a lesson in ask before ordering

I got an 8 piece chicken tender at the nearby Kwik Trip today...........I had seen it in the cold before for around $11.

When they rang me up it was $17          Luckily my Rewards was giving me $5 off the pu8rchase or I'd have been pretty miffed

[merh]

Dec 6, 2022 2:19:01 GMT abbey1227 said:

Dec 5, 2022 22:41:40 GMT merh said:

What $20 gets at a fancy restaurant


It was in Italian
Apparently it is a lesson in ask before ordering

I got an 8 piece chicken tender at the nearby Kwik Trip today...........I had seen it in the cold before for around $11.

When they rang me up it was $17          Luckily my Rewards was giving me $5 off the pu8rchase or I'd have been pretty miffed

Restaurants have really gone crazy

Smashburger.
Went there first time.
Yeah, it's a $10 burger joint.
2 bacon double smash cheeseburgers with 2 smash tots (rosemary & garlic seasoned) $27 with a $5 off coupon.

The burgers were very good as were the tots, but damn...
Thank goodness it was technically $5 more bucks off because I got the gift card for $5 off a $25 gift card.

[abbey1227]

Dec 6, 2022 3:33:29 GMT merh said:

Dec 6, 2022 2:19:01 GMT abbey1227 said:

I got an 8 piece chicken tender at the nearby Kwik Trip today...........I had seen it in the cold before for around $11.

When they rang me up it was $17          Luckily my Rewards was giving me $5 off the pu8rchase or I'd have been pretty miffed

Restaurants have really gone crazy

Smashburger.
Went there first time.
Yeah, it's a $10 burger joint.
2 bacon double smash cheeseburgers with 2 smash tots (rosemary & garlic seasoned) $27 with a $5 off coupon.

The burgers were very good as were the tots, but damn...
Thank goodness it was technically $5 more bucks off because I got the gift card for $5 off a $25 gift card.

yeah, $15 per person seems to be their minimum goal now

[merh]

Charlize Theron says she used to 'make fun of' people she knew who were Marvel fans prior to her 'Doctor Strange 2' cameo: 'I was ignorant'
Olivia Singh
Wed, December 7, 2022

Charlize Theron spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about her appearance in "Doctor Strange 2."

Theron said she was "ignorant" and used to "make fun of" Marvel fans in what she called her "adopted family."

The star said her opinion changed once she watched all the films and realized "they're so fucking good."

Charlize Theron spoke about her honest feelings about Marvel movies prior to her debut as Clea in the end-credits scene of "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," and revealed that she used to make fun of people she knew who were fans

"If I can find the anchor, then I'm never going to be a snob about, like, 'Oh, does this make me less of a powerful actor,'" Theron said when asked how her cameo as Clea materialized in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, released on Wednesday.

The Oscar-winning actor went on to say: "I was ignorant, I didn't know those [Marvel] movies well enough until a family who I consider, like, my adopted family had me watch them. They're crazy Marvel fans, and I always used to make fun of them. Like, 'Oh my God, you guys are such fucking nerds.'"

Theron said that her opinion changed during one spring break when, after the insistence of the kids in the family, she watched "all the movies."



"I was like, 'Oh my God, they're so fucking good,'" she recalled. "And the kids got in on it, too, and it was such an enjoyable ride."

Theron showed up as the mysterious Clea in the first end-credits scene of Sam Raimi's "Doctor Strange" sequel, released in May and starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character.

In the scene, Clea — with long, platinum blonde hair, purple eye makeup, a purple costume, and a dagger — stopped Strange while he was walking along a street.

"You caused an incursion and we're going to fix it... unless you're afraid," she said, using the blade to cut open a portal.

As the third eye appeared on Strange's forehead, indicating that the consequences of his use of the Darkhold were manifesting, he replied, "Not in the least," and jumped through the portal with Clea.



The ending paves the way for a third "Doctor Strange" film, though Marvel Studios has yet to announce any plans for a follow-up project.

In her interview with THR, Theron spoke about the significance of her character, who's a sorceress from the Dark Dimension and love interest to Doctor Strange in the comics.

"There's a mythology around it and it's been thought out over decades with Clea, and I'm challenged by that," she said. "Like, how do you reinvent that? So, I'm excited, but I honestly don't know what the fuck it's going to be."

[abbey1227]

Dec 7, 2022 23:19:11 GMT merh said:

Charlize Theron says she used to 'make fun of' people she knew who were Marvel fans prior to her 'Doctor Strange 2' cameo: 'I was ignorant'Olivia Singh
Wed, December 7, 2022

so all it took was a stream of money headed her way to change her mind? Cool

I just saw another piece griping about the conditions she had to endure during Mad Max

[merh]

[merh]

Dec 8, 2022 2:28:52 GMT abbey1227 said:

Dec 7, 2022 23:19:11 GMT merh said:

so all it took was a stream of money headed her way to change her mind? Cool

I just saw another piece griping about the conditions she had to endure during Mad Max

She said her kids made her watch them so her kids are to blame

 Plus her age.

Charlize Theron ( born 7 August 1975) is a South African and American actress and producer. One of the world's highest-paid actresses, she is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2016, Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

She's 47. 
Past the love interest age.

[abbey1227]

Dec 8, 2022 7:51:12 GMT merh said:

Dec 8, 2022 2:28:52 GMT abbey1227 said:

so all it took was a stream of money headed her way to change her mind? Cool

I just saw another piece griping about the conditions she had to endure during Mad Max

She said her kids made her watch them so her kids are to blame

 Plus her age.

Charlize Theron ( born 7 August 1975) is a South African and American actress and producer. One of the world's highest-paid actresses, she is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2016, Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

She's 47. 
Past the love interest age.

She's younger than me and I love most of the Marvel films and Mad Max.    And I'm not being paid $Millions to be a part of any of them.

No, I'd disagree. For her age? She's still pretty fine........even for a blonde.

imo, she looks even better as a brunette like in Aeon Flux or the more recent The Old Guard

[merh]

[merh]

Dec 8, 2022 13:00:57 GMT abbey1227 said:

Dec 8, 2022 7:51:12 GMT merh said:

She said her kids made her watch them so her kids are to blame

 Plus her age.

She's 47. 
Past the love interest age.

She's younger than me and I love most of the Marvel films and Mad Max.    And I'm not being paid $Millions to be a part of any of them.

No, I'd disagree. For her age? She's still pretty fine........even for a blonde.

imo, she looks even better as a brunette like in Aeon Flux or the more recent The Old Guard

It's how you see male stars get paired with younger & younger female stars in films.

Hollywood cares.

Cybill Shepherd (born 1950) played romantic lead to Bruce Willis (born 1955) in 1985. She said in the 00s were they paired up again at that time, she would be cast as his mother.

You know that's true.

What was the spread in Red?
Mary-Louise Parker (born 1964)

In 2015 he made Extraction
Love interest Gina Joy Carano (born 1982)

As I said, the female character has to be of a certain age range no matter how old the male lead.

[abbey1227]

Dec 8, 2022 19:20:25 GMT merh said:

It's how you see male stars get paired with younger & younger female stars in films.

Hollywood cares.

Cybill Shepherd (born 1950) played romantic lead to Bruce Willis (born 1955) in 1985. She said in the 00s were they paired up again at that time, she would be cast as his mother.

You know that's true.

What was the spread in Red?
Mary-Louise Parker (born 1964)

In 2015 he made Extraction
Love interest Gina Joy Carano (born 1982)

As I said, the female character has to be of a certain age range no matter how old the male lead.

Just as you know it's true many females look to be with as old a male as they can get away with from their start swimming in the dating pool.

Although, I do think it's very apparent and a bit uncomfortable for all of us to see vast and wide age differences. That's why I always felt Roger Moore was such a poor fit for the role of Bond. 10-20 years earlier? Sure.

Let's ask Amber Heard what attracted her to Johnny Depp  

[merh]

Dec 9, 2022 2:24:57 GMT abbey1227 said:

Dec 8, 2022 19:20:25 GMT merh said:

It's how you see male stars get paired with younger & younger female stars in films.

Hollywood cares.

Cybill Shepherd (born 1950) played romantic lead to Bruce Willis (born 1955) in 1985. She said in the 00s were they paired up again at that time, she would be cast as his mother.

You know that's true.

What was the spread in Red?
Mary-Louise Parker (born 1964)

In 2015 he made Extraction
Love interest Gina Joy Carano (born 1982)

As I said, the female character has to be of a certain age range no matter how old the male lead.

Just as you know it's true many females look to be with as old a male as they can get away with from their start swimming in the dating pool.

Although, I do think it's very apparent and a bit uncomfortable for all of us to see vast and wide age differences. That's why I always felt Roger Moore was such a poor fit for the role of Bond. 10-20 years earlier? Sure.

Let's ask Amber Heard what attracted her to Johnny Depp  

Bringing Amber Heard into the mix?

The gal who was a lesbian to cash in on the whole Brokeback Mountain LGBTQ wave? Accused of domestic violence against her?

[abbey1227]

Dec 9, 2022 6:42:04 GMT merh said:

Dec 9, 2022 2:24:57 GMT abbey1227 said:

Just as you know it's true many females look to be with as old a male as they can get away with from their start swimming in the dating pool.

Although, I do think it's very apparent and a bit uncomfortable for all of us to see vast and wide age differences. That's why I always felt Roger Moore was such a poor fit for the role of Bond. 10-20 years earlier? Sure.

Let's ask Amber Heard what attracted her to Johnny Depp  

Bringing Amber Heard into the mix?

The gal who was a lesbian to cash in on the whole Brokeback Mountain LGBTQ wave? Accused of domestic violence against her?

I'm sure the list of younger females to hook up with older males in the celebrity world is practically endless  

And that's not even counting all of the casting couch activities

[merh]

[merh]

[merh]

HOT TAKES
Pokémon Has Broken My Heart: Ash and Pikachu Are Finally Retiring
THE REAL TEST

Allegra Frank
Deputy Entertainment Editor
Updated Dec. 16, 2022 1:30PM ET Published Dec. 16, 2022 12:52PM ET

I never expected that this day would come: Ash Ketchum and Pikachu are retiring. In an episode of Pokémon set to air in Japan early next year, the iconic duo will conclude their decades-long quest to become the very best Pokémon team in history. (There’s no word yet on when it will air in the U.S.) Two new young heroes will take their place—the first time that Pokémon has changed hands in the entire history of the original series.

For the last 25 years, the perpetual 10-year-old has traveled across the land with a single mission: to become a Pokémon master. To catch them was his real test; to train them was his cause. Joined by his trusty Pikachu, Ash made friends human and creature alike, in every region known to man and Pokémon. Indeed, friendship was his priority—which is why it took 25 years for Ash to complete his initial quest.

But complete it, he finally has. Before this week’s shocking revelation that Ash would be retiring, the news broke earlier this year that the Pokémon anime would air the episode we’ve waited decades for. Ash Ketchum would accomplish his goal of earning the title of best Pokémon trainer in the world. He would defeat the reigning World Champion in a tough battle. No one was stronger than him; the Pokémon training powers-that-be said so.

Where does one go from there? The average Pokémon fan would point out that Ash is far from completing his Pokédex—catching every single Pokémon in existence—but the boy never invested time into that anyway. Researchers have now discovered 1,008 unique Pokémon. Ash, in his 25-year journey, has never cracked 100 Pokémon. But when you have an extremely overpowered Pikachu in your stable, you don’t really need other options.

Even if Ash does deserve to hang up his hat and take a good, long nap after all this time, I’m still shocked by the news that he is doing that for good. For both fans of the series and the greater public, Ash and Pikachu practically are Pokémon. There is nothing special about Pikachu as a creature outside of being very cute and Ash’s partner Pokémon, a decision made in the first episode of the show. (Pikachu, you may recall, is not a standard choice of first Pokémon, but Ash was never a standard trainer.)

But Pikachu’s little mug adorns every kind of merch ever made and has helped boost the franchise into one of the biggest in history. More than 1,200 episodes of TV and 10-dozen games will do that. That’s what legendary looks like.

While it’s nice to see that one of the budding trainers leading the next Pokémon anime is a young girl, it’s impossible not to feel a little heartbroken. I’m loath to whine about how my childhood is dead, because being an adult is way better than being a kid. (No homework! Oreos for dinner! I can lie on the couch in pajamas and watch anime all day long!)

But Ash and Pikachu were defining figures of my childhood—and indeed, much of my life. I spent every Saturday morning from ages 4 to 12 watching Pokémon. I have played nearly every Pokémon game ever released. I have an obscene amount of Pokémon items in my very adult apartment. I once waited in line in the cold for six hours outside of Nintendo New York—a store I’ve been going to since it was the Pokémon Center, back in 2001—to buy a special shirt for the franchise’s 20th anniversary.

I love Pokémon as much as I love my family. They know this. It’s okay. They understand.

Ash and Pikachu meant so much to me growing up, as they were the avatars of the thing I came to love: the idea of having a single-minded quest that encouraged me, a literal child, to go out on my own and catch tons of cute monsters. Even as an adult, I am eager to assume that childish role and relive that dream over and over again.

That dream is not dead; I’m happy for the little girl who gets to embark upon her own journey, for a new generation of kids to follow along and get excited about. But with Ash and Pikachu quitting the game while they’re ahead, should I do that too?

Of course not! Those video games are too fun, and those creatures are too cute. But I’ll miss my favorite trainer and partner nonetheless

[merh]

[merh]