text:
Riding on MilkShake to Kitengela
As the matatu guys, we got the pleasant company of representatives of The Shell Foundation to take them on a matatu ride. It was their first time aboard a matatu and we guided them to our very own creation of a Wamasaa Sacco graffiti-laden matatu, with a large screen playing local music, wifi connectivity and comfy seats as we cruised the highway from Town to Kitengela.
To say they enjoyed the ride is an understatement. They were wowed. They also got first-hand information about matatus and how class and appearance is the new wave to get more waves on the MyRide app.
We also went to the matatu 'incubator' and saw first hand as the Samurai matatu underwent a complete makeover to pimp future rides. The makeover encompassed the body, alignment, seats, sound system and the interior. Impressed by the talent and the matatu culture, we called it a day!
Below are the snaps of the Samurai matatu 'before' and we can't keep calm to see the 'after' snaps!
Download MyRide Africa at https://t.co/5MD7nfVy3P. Check out our new booking feature with Ubabi Vanpooling and book your direct "flight" from Ruaka to Westlands and other routes!!
#MatwanaMatatuCulture #LongLiveTheMatatuCulture #Mobility
MyRide's Date with Mobility Movers and Shakers
As the rains came and the traffic situation on the Nairobi roads tightened on Monday morning, MyRide Africa was engaged in the discussions themed "Growing towards Smart Cities" at the 2019 Urban Mobility Summit at Nairobi Serena Hotel.
The day revolved around panel discussions and speeches from the government, international and non-governmental institutions' mobility champions. We also saw and interacted with mind-blowing innovations around green energy, sustainable transport and the role of big data in shifting the dynamics of mobility. But that data is being used to address middle-class problems with middle-class solutions showed the sidelining of the poor population. But that MyRide Africa is serving the middle and low class is a pointer to our future prospects as we work with more data.
With the insightful discussions in the room the whole day, there is hope that we will stop dancing around the elephant and take the lead in delivering our city transport wise.
Smart Solutions = Smart Cities.
The climax of the day was the pitching of startups to stakeholders and investors as the 8 startups graduated from the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) Startup Accelerator. MyRide Africa was one of the graduates and we're happy to have learned, networked and are now confidently riding past the limits.
Cheers to new beginnings, literally!
Download MyRide Africa at https://t.co/5MD7nfVy3P today!
All Nairobi Matatu Routes at your fingertips!
Have you ever found yourself in town with no idea how to get to a certain destination using Public Transport and you end up calling friends or asking strangers where a certain Matatu stage is? You are not alone!! Thousands of Nairobians go through this daily!
So us cool peeps at MyRide Africa thought to ring this to an end so that you never get lost in Nairobi again! We have the all new Matatu Map on the App that can help you to find any route in Nairobi in 3 easy steps…
Below is a detailed map and table from Digital Matatus also available live as the Matatu Map feature on MyRide Africa App.
Table with Routes & Destinations:
|Matatu Route Number
|Destination/ Bus-Stops
|Where to the Pick Matatu in Nairobi.
|Matatu Route Number 1
|Ngong Road, Citam/NPC Valley road, The Junction Mall, Dagoretti
|General Post Office/ GPO
|Matatu Route Number 2
|Ngong Road, Citam/NPC Valley Rd, The junction Mall, Dagoretti Kikuyu
|GPO or KBS stage
|Matatu Route Number 3
|Ngong Road, Adam;s Arcade, Dagoretti corner
|Matatu Route Number 4
|Ngong Road, Adams, Dagoretti
|Kencom or GPO
|Matatu Route Number 6
|Eastleigh Area/ Pangani Girls/ Pangani Shopping Centre.Kariokor Market
|Board the Matatu from Accra Rd or Along Tom Mboya Street. They are usually mini-buses and they use the kariokor market route.
|Matatu Route Number 7C
|Community, Upper hill Area, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, Doctors Plaza Silver Springs hotel
|Board the Citi Hoppa or KBS buses at Kencom House opp Hilton Hotel along Moi avenue
|Matatu Route Number 8
|Ngong road, Kibera Slums/Kibra, Adams Arcade, Toi Market
|Board the matatu from Railways bus station.
|Matatu Route Number 9
|Eastleigh Area.Ngara Civil Servants Housing Scheme, K.I.E,
Pangani Roundabout.
Fig Tree Trade Center Ngara
|Board the matatu at Tom Mboya Street or near the Tuskys beba beba Supermarket.These matatus use the Ngara Route
|Matatu Route Number 11
|South B, Bellevue
|Board the matatu from Railways Bus station
|Matatu Route Number 15
|Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi west &Madaraka (near the road), Tuskys T-mall, Wilson Airport, Carnivore Simba Sallon, Uhuru Gardens, Langata Shopping Centre, Otiende, Barracks, Langata Cemetry (on the lower side), Nairobi Safari walk and Nairobi National Park, Nairobi Animal Orphanage
|Board the matatu from Bus Station main stage or further from the main stage at waiting matatus opp afya center. (the 2nd option is not always available and depends on absence of county askaris)
|Matatu Route Number 14
|Langata road upto T-Mall, Strathmore University, Nairobi West,
|Board Matatu at BS behind Afya Centre
|Matatu Route Number 17B
|Thika road, Thika super highway, Roysambu, Kasarani, Santon, Mwiki, St Francis Hospital,
|Board the matatu from inside Kenya Bus Station or from outside BS near the St Peter Claviers Catholic Church
|Matatu Route Number 23
|Kangemi, Westlands, Uhuru Highway, Kangemi, ABC place, Safaricom House and Uhuru highway.
|Board the Matatu at Odeon cinema / Latema Road off tom Mboya street
|Matatu Route Number 24
|Karen Shopping Centre, Hardy, all Langata road routes, Bogani, Bomas of Kenya, Galleria Shopping Mall, Catholic University, Kenya School of Law, Nairobi Academy, Hill Crest International School, Animal protection, Co-op bank training centre, Giraffe Center, Karen C school.
|Kenya Bus Station /BS, Mfangano street or main buses at Kencom House Moi Avenue
|Matatu Route Number 25
|Baba Ndogo, Thika Road upto GSU flyover,
|Board the matau from Timboroa Lane
|Matatu Route Number 33
|Ngumo Estate, KNH, Mbagathi, Masai Market
|Board the matatu from opp St Peter Claviers Catholic church or near OTC /Salvation Army areas
|Matatu Route Number 33
|Embakasi route, through joggo road, donholm, City Stadium, Pipeline, Tumaini Estate and Fedha Estate, Avenue Estate
|Board the matatu at Muthurwa market or along tom mboya street opp National Archives
|Matatu Route Number 34
|Langata Area through Mbagathi road, KNH, T-mall, Wilson Airport, Carnivore, Langata shopping Centre.
|Board the Matatu from behind St Peters Clavers Church or Opposite OTC
|Matatu Route Number 34 (buses)
|JKIA, Jogoo Road, Embakasi, Fedha, Donholm, Pipeline, Utawala, (Sometimes Mombasa Road)
|Board the bus from Kencom or Ambassador stage
|Matatu Routes Number 35/60
|Umoja Innercore, Umoja I and Umoja II
|Board bus at Ronald Ngala Street Mfangano street intersect opp Naivas Supermarket
|Matatu Route Number 44
|Kahawa West, Kamiti Maximum Prison, Zimmerman, Githurai 44 Roysambu, USIU, Farmers Choice, Northern Bypass
|Board bus from Nakumatt Ronald Ngala Street or matatus from Tuskys Beba beba
|Matatu Route Number 45
|Thika Road, Thika Super highway, Githurai 45
|Board the buses from Nakumatt Ronald Ngala street opp Posta R/ngala
|Matatu Route Number 58
|Buru buru
|Board at Tom Mboya Street opp National Archives
|Matatu Number 100
|Kiambu town, kiambu road, Sharks Palace Kiambu road, CID center, Ridgeways, Rock city kiambu road, Muthaiga roundabout
|Pick the matatu along Ronald Ngala Street all the way to Ring-road Ngara or opp St. peters Claviers Catholic Church
|Matatu Number 102
|Kikuyu Township, Dagoretii, Ngong road, The junction mall etc
|Board from BS or Kencom
|Matatu Number 105
|Kikuyu via Uhuru highway, Westlands, Kangemi, Uthiru, Kinoo
|Board the matatu along tom Mboya Street near National Archives or from Railways bus station
|Matatu Number 106
|Banana, Muchatha, village Market
|Koja Mosque stage
|Matatu Number 110
|Kitengela, mlolongo, Athi river
|Board from Railways station at the entrance of near the railways station
|Matatu Number 111
|Ngong, Ngong road, Dagaoretti corner, (sometimes kiserian,)
|Board from Kencom or Railways bus station.
|Matatu Number 125/126
|Ongata Rongai, Kiserian, Bomas of Kenya, Nazarene University, Catholic University, Multimedia University, Nairobi National Park/ orphanage, Safari walk, Langata Barracks, Galleria, Brookhouse International School, Langata hospital, Langata Police Station, Langata Cemetry
|Board from Railways bus station
|Matatu Number 146
|Ruiru, Thika Road, Kahawa Wendani, Kahawa Barracks, Kahawa Sukari, Kenyatta University/ KU, Ruiru Bypass
|Board from Mumbi Lane off Ronald Ngala Street
|Matatu Number 237
|Thika town, all routes on Thika Road, Kahawa Ruiru
As per my previous post, I mentioned that I will be breaking down into the different things I experienced and observations I made during my brief trip to China. We were hosted in Hangzhou but got a day to tour Shanghai as well.
I will start with what caught my interest the most which is urban mobility. Being a Startup in this space it goes without saying that I had to see what these guys are doing right in Hangzhou that we could possibly borrow or adapt to improve our situation here in Nairobi and Africa as a whole.
First of all I have to give it to them..their infrastructure is top tier! The roads are all smooth, well labeled, sufficiently manned… everything just seems perfect. They have incorporated a lot of technology into this to enable better services. They have a number of tall collection points in the main highways. They have double decker highways…in layman's language and to bring it closer home, Its like a Thika Super Highway with 2 floors!! I did not experience any traffic! This is in comparison to Nairobi standards of course.
There are no round-abouts!! All junctions are controlled by perfectly working traffic lights! Everyone seems to know what to do on the road..I did not see any traffic incident at all!! Clearly they are well disciplined and probably there are heavy fines for breaking traffic rules methinks.
I did my best to try out all the public transportation options available. They have Regular metered Taxis, Didi Global (Uber For China), Shared Bikes, Shared E-Scooters, Trams, Metro, Bullet train, Regular Buses, Tourist Buses, Ferries, Boats etc.
Below is my review for at least what I managed to sample:
This was our first mode from the Airport to our Hotel. The Airport Taxis are saloon cars branded Green and grey. Interesting thing is that they have a meter for calculating your fare so there is no negotiation and you are at the mercy of the driver's route and speed to your destination. They are comfortable and drivers are friendly despite the language barrier. They accept cash or payments via Alipay.
We also got to ride on Didi Cabs, Uber's equivalent in China courtesy of one of our friends and staff at Didi. Didi is very effective and covers a wider range of transport services. Got to reach out to them for some mentor ship and potential partnership.
City Buses, Tourist Buses & BRT
I only managed to get a bus ride to the airport although I really wanted to experience the other rides as well. I was especially looking forward to trying out the BRT since we are getting it in Nairobi hopefully this year. We are anticipating how it will work with our Matatus and it has been quite a debate so far.
The tourist buses are double deckered and are available in specific stations for touring various parts of the city.
The regular city buses are very comfortable and are also well planned. There is a route map for all places in the different bus stations.
Ferries & Boats
We boarded a ferry to cross over to a different side of the city where we could view the World Financial Centre building. The ferry ride was about 1 Yuan each ie KES 15 since it was a really short distance. You take the whole ride standing just like our veru own Mtongwe ferry in Mombasa. It is however very modern. There seemed to be several ferry service providers going by the different designs/options that were there.
There were also water buses and boats also navigating the river in the market side of the town in one of the Traditional villages as well as doing cruises like The West Lake tour in Hangzhou.
Two-Wheelers: Shared Bicycles, Public E-Scooters & Motorbikes
There is an encouraged cycling culture in China. This is popular in the smaller quieter towns where there isn't much traffic. Cities have set up shared cycling stations where you can hire a bike to cycle for an hour to a whole day. There are several public bike stations where you can just pick up one and use it as required. The charges are very friendly ranging from free to the first hour to about 60 Yuan / KES 900 for 24 hours.
There are also public E-Scooters which were a thrill for me. You just get one at a parking station, pay for it electronically, pay for it and leave it at your destination. There are various charging points and they are actually checked and maintained by the city. We met some of their local officers or "kanjo" at around 2 AM checking them out and arranging them. Some( Don't ask what we were doing out at that time, story for another day 🙂 )
I actually saw very few private bikes, and the ones I saw were high end superbikes and monsters. Spotted a Honda CBR 1000 and a Kawasaki Ninja somewhere.
Trains: Metro & Bullet Train
We took a bullet train from Puyong Airport in Shanghai to the CBD. It was a fast experience. Went from 0 to a max speed of 431 KPH in about 5 minutes. There was a sonic boom of some sorts when we passed the othe train going opposite direction. There were No seat belts in this train. The one way ticket was 50 Yuan which is about KES 750 or about $7.
After landing in CBD we took the underground metro to a different part of town. The experience was typical metro style where you could sit or stand holding your self up or lean on a pillar or the wall. The metro is way cheaper and we got to pay 6 Yuan or KES 90 or less than $1 all the way back to the airport!
We got to experience road trams in Shanghai. They are basically carriages pulled by an engine but are not following a specific pathway since they were on the pavements and ferrying people around short distances across streets.
Private Cars
Quite a number of private cars but got to see them mostly over the weekend. People rely on their different modes of public transport since it is very convenient. This is what we are aspiring to eventually get to in Kenya and eventually Africa as a whole. Many of the private cars are new and high end. Also saw several Chinese brands and electronic models.
So this is what I got to experience so far in terms of public transportation. It will be great if Nairobi could adapt in one way or another some of these innovative ways to encourage use of public transportation and curb traffic for better mobility.
As a Startup, we are doing our best to improve people's experience in matatus through innovation and technology. We are making good progress and will eventually curb some of these issues in the long run with the help of relevant partners and the local authorities.
My next post will be on technology… stay tuned!
Oh and you can Download MyRide Africa and check out our new booking feature that we are testing with Ubabi Vanpooling to book your direct "flight" from Ruaka to Westlands and back!!
MyRide Africa in CHINA.
I was privileged to be one of the selected youth to participate in The 2050 Migratory Bird Program 2019 in China last month courtesy of The iHub Nairobi. It was a 3 – Day Event that well represented with participants from several countries as well as the host Chinese coming to over 2000 people in attendance.
Africa was represented by 4 Tanzanians and 2 Kenyans, Martin Kasomo of LIPISHA and myself representing MyRide Africa. Two other Kenyan representatives could not make it due to various reasons.
It was a great Tech Expo with a great set up. It involved a lot of breakout sessions, innovative talks, technology demos and mini events. This took place at The Alibaba Cloud Town Headquarters in Hangzhou City. The City is clean, well planned and serene being surrounded by hills and forests. We were not able to tour around as much due to the tight program though but made the best of what was available.
I have numerous stories to talk about from my experience and will break them down into bits and pieces over the next few days. I had great adventures, talked to business leaders, visited cool places, got lost in the city, tried out different restaurants & local cuisine, played 7-aside football, sang karaoke, played some live music, tried out different modes of transport, flew drones, recorded a Robot Live Band (Couldn't jam with them though) and made so many international friends.
Attached are some pictures of what went down. I did not have a pro camera with me so I just used my phones.
Enjoy and stay tuned for the next piece…
Meanwhile Download MyRide Africa and check out our new booking feature that we are testing with Ubabi Vanpooling to book your direct "flight" from Ruaka to Westlands and back!!
MATATU INDUSTRY HEROES! – George Kariuki
Every once in a while we get to see the humane side of our fellow humans of Nairobi putting in mind the hectic nature of thee Matatu Industry in Nairobi. There are many undocumented acts of kindness that we at MyRide Africa would like to highlight and acknowledge. Feel free to forward them to us in case you have a recent one you remember and we will feature it here on our blog and App feed!
Here is one that happened yesterday:
My hero of the day is George Kariuki. George is a bus driver dedicated to his work in matatu industry along Thika road. Earlier today one of his passengers Philomena Mbithi went into labor in the bus. The conductor and other passengers, ladies included, took off.
Perhaps with minimal options, George gathered strength, guided the helpless mother in delivery and as soon as the baby's head popped out he rushed mother and baby Raymond to Neema Hospital along Thika Road. The two are safe and excited to be together.
He says.. "When the head popped I helped the lady push the baby, I told her to hold the baby, closed the door and rushed her and baby boy to Neema hospital. I also called her husband Benjamin Mbithi who was in Narok and later followed up to ensure baby and mum are okay".
George later resumed his duties happy that he saved two lives.
Please help me congratulate this Good Samaritan. Isn't he an angel?
George can be reached via his mobile phone number 0725470942
Here is a video of his encounter.
MATATU CHRONICLES – Tout of my dreams!
Vibe… Viiiiibbbbeee my people's viiiiiiibbbbbeeee!
Okay, calming down… * inhale exhale*
So there is this guy! He swept me off my feet. No really he did!… I remember like it was yesterday… But when I think about it it was yesterday ( technically the day before I first put this down)
So I'm waiting for a matatu at one of those make shift bus stops and after about an hour of waiting for an empty javv this one shows up.
Super relieved though I was super late for a meeting in town! * if you're reading this and I told you I was stuck in traffic on this day … My sincere apologies!* so I brace myself for that mini battle with other passengers to get into the javv. My matatu people I bet y'all understand the hustle …my Ngong road people eh?
So where was I …. Hmmmh… Yeah… The matatu arrives and oooooh my people there he was! Not your average tout!
This one …heaven sent I tell you heaven sent!!
He was in a black suit ,black tie and a white shirt! Not some boujee suit but compared to the usual funny looking ones *not all some* he was an 11 on my scale of 10… Hus dreadlocks tied neatly in a man bun and the Cologne …. Oh … It just blessed the dusty atmosphere!
So I suited up for battle … Elbows out ! Backpack now being carried on the front for safety purposes! Time for the test of strength!!
Baaaam! This excruciating pain in my eyes! Then I sort of couldn't see for a while. Before I could get a grip of the door handle I felt my feet leave the ground… A strong set of hands clenching my arms.
All I could think of was … The theme song from a series I loved watching when I was younger…. Something like … Somebody saaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvvveeeeee meeee! * smallvile – idk if that's the spelling*
And alas! I was now in the matatu…. The tout asking me questions… I reached out for my specs that were supposed to be on me …but now he was holding them. Right eye lens shuttered… My right eye sore and red! * yes that's what happen to my spectacles …Velma moments*
But for sure this guy has changed my perspective of touts… I didn't get to know his name… But just in case you ever read this Mr. Goodman Sir thank you for not being oblivious of the distress I was in!
I got medical attention BTW….I'm feeling much better!
MATATU CHRONICLES II – ( Dog days!!!)
*wave emoji*
So … Last week … Was one of those weeks with dog days!
Six thirty in the morning and I'm stepping out … It's a really cold morning and today I decide to put super effort on my dressing.
Then, as I'm walking to the bus stop the heavens opened… A little too wide though. Yaaaaani the rain that poured was on another level! Like have you ever been rained on you decide to close your little umbrella and just strut it tgrough paddles. Well that happened and I'm like "That's it!" * read as – daaaaaaz it*
Then baaam! It stops raining , and I look like I just fell into a pool and for sure I'm not showing up for class like that.
With no way out ,I rush back to the house and change. Without a forethought * learned joke – evil laugh* I get into Jeans and my Friday tee #Note- this is on Monday morning# its actually written Friday so yes my Friday tee.
This time , I rush to the nduber stop * Nduber (noun) [nduthi- motorbike + Uber]* and set off "cause all the mini buses are full.
So the Nduber experience is one of a kind!!My face is going numb already cause of the wind that's hitting me smack on the face .Then kicks in the awkward moment when you just agree to whatever the driver is saying because you can barely hear him.
Something like;
Driver: kwbsysvvjaishbsvahan … Eh?
Me: Eeh , that's true!
Definitely the longest three minutes of the Nduber experience!
So I get of the bike and jet into a matatu and this tout is like " mmoja tuende ,beba beba fifty fifty tuende" so I get in and guess what? …. Like ….really… *serious face emoji* I said guess!!
Okay… Well we were only two people in a fourteen seated . In uttermost frustration, I just sat there as he used the same line to get more people in.I'm certain my face looked something like this *see image below*
More like the one on the right cause it was one of those glasses days
Then finally we set off *happy dance*
As usual I'm seated right at the front and I unleash this new, clean two hundred shillings note. Fingers crossed that the person behind me doesn't do the… Aaaargh! They did it! That irritating poke/ tap on the shoulder of the person in front of them people do to let you know that the conductor is collecting fare.
So I hand out my money and the note I get back is a very sad crumpled one. Jommo Kenyatta was lying prostrate on that note aki * ignore this bad joke*
……..Moving on swiftly …….
He ,the tout, gives me back one hundred shillings and I'm like " eeeh two hundred minus fifty ni one hundred and fifty boss!" Then as usual my people have to wait for that one person to complain so they can follow through. The whole matatu goes up in an uproar asking for change
Then the tout insists he said "fifty fifty " and two fifties is one hundred. The driver on the other hand starts to drive even faster as passengers are now demanding that they're let to get off.
Passengers; "Tushukishe!!!" (Let us get off)
100km/hr….. My little people are loosing it and are now huddled in one corner *little people – see next post*
120km/hr …. Now I'm just seated there in silence … We're going downhill pretty fast…if you've been with me in a speeding car I'm certain you understand the scared to the point of silence anxiety I was having there.
Then… We all heard the clanking of the door and the grazing of metal on the road.
In utter most disbelief… There was pin drop silence * allow me to use this composition phrases – its been a minute*
The door fell off * now I'm not to sure if this was scary or hilarious*
The driver stops finally and everyone gets off laughing hysterically!
So trying not to look like a chicken… I join in the laughing. The tout on the other hand runs off and everyone is too tickled to even bother chasing him.
Halfway freaked out halfway tickled I walk away… Praying my next ride is nothing like this!
Adapted from:
by Nikki Nyona.
Enjoy Your Ride…and Read!
MATATU CHRONICLES …..I can't even!!!
Hi People!
We at MyRide Africa are glad to announce that in the next few days / weeks we will be sharing posts from this young amazing blogger Nikki Nyona! She puts her experiences in Matatus in a creative way you almost feel as if you were actually seated next to her on that particular ride.
You can get the original posts from her blog:
Enjoy Your Ride…and Read!!
Hello hello!!!
*Current situation … My little people are screaming* ( little people – see next post)
And I couldn't wait to put it on paper ( laughing emoji )
So I'm heading out and I'm at a bus stop… As much as I don't fancy matatus , footsubishi is not an option cause I'm super tired
People always talk of how public transport is boring and a hustle . I'll not really say its the opposite rather… There is Joy in all situations
I have found entertainment here
So ….
Back to the story…
So yes I get into one of those buses enroute Ngong road. For once the traffic is not as bad and I'm estimating 10 minutes tops for me to get home. Its getting pretty stuffy in the bus and there is this one nagging kid who's screaming afew sits ahead of me.
Just before I plug in my ear phones cause I can't take it anymore , the baby goes like " Mama I need to go!" So I'm like …. Go????
Then now he's screaming " I need to nini ! " so his mother let's him know they are about to alight. Feeling fed up I plug in my earphones and pump up the volume.
*Running through my mind* (aaaah look at Nairobi … Where are all these people coming from?…. Who's home though?…. Gosh I'm so hungry!)
Then … There it was!! It hit me!!!
That smell!
( you know that moment when someone let's it go ( sing it like Elsa ) and everyone is suspicious)
Yes it smelt like a super fart !!!
But then the baby wasn't crying anymore!
In fact he was outside the matatu with a little smirk on his face something I've only seen on telly where the villain is about to escape then gives the HaHa! ( okay maybe not a real smirk he just looked calm ….)
Then I saw it ( laughs ….laughs….laughs … Rolls over….laughs)
It was so small yet it made the place stink so bad .
Okay!!! Just in case you have not joined the dots… The baby had pooped in the bus. Not by mistake … The mommy pulled his pants down and there the child let it gooooo ( sing it) Then, they got off .
Now the tout is complaining and one lady points at it . He breaks into laughter and now everyone is talking and giving comments. Those at the back are trying to get a view the perpetuator of the stench and thaaaaat was it !!
The driver stopped the bus and we all have to get off luckily that was a stop away from mine!
Really that has been my highlight of my matatu trip !!!
I can't even !! ( laughing… laughing ….laughing!!)


text:
Slowly, but surely, our night-time TV hosts are making their way home from vacation and back to their shows to give us new comedy content in late night. This week, while the others are still recharging their batteries, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Conan and Jim Jefferies all have new shows this week. So, while some may say the late night schedule is half-empty, we prefer to call it half-full.
Here's some highlights from this week's new late night shows. Also, be sure to check the full listings below to see if there's some comedy you missed the first time around that's living on in late night repeats this week.
Monday, Team Coco starts us off with a brand new stand up comedy performance from Nick Hart who hails from South Carolina. That's where he developed his southern storytelling style that's been a hit at comedy festivals all over the country. According to his bio, Nick Hart is loved by "grandmas and anarchists alike", so this is feels like a must-see episode of Conan on Monday night.
The brilliant Bobcat Goldthwait will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday to talk about the premiere of his new anthology series "Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters" which debuts Wednesday night at 10pm on truTV. We know how dark Bobcat's comedy can be from his films like "World's Greatest Dad", "God Bless America" and "Sleeping Dogs Lie", and in "Misfits & Monsters", he really lets his macabre sense of humor fly. The horror comedy series features plenty of great guest stars too including Michael Ian Black, Dave Foley, Seth Green, Joel Murray, David Koechner, Danny Pudi and Bridget Everett who guest stars as a mermaid, which alone should have you tuning in this Wednesday on truTV and Tuesday night to see Bobcat explain all of this on JKL. To see more for yourself right now, check out the IBang's first look at "Misfits & Monsters."
Wednesday night, Conan has an all comedy lineup planned on a new show featuring appearances from master comedian Howie Mandel and one of the hottest comics working today who seems to be everywhere, Lil Rey Howery whose hit comedy "Uncle Drew" is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
We don't usually suggest something to not watch here, but here's a warning to any Trump supporters for Thursday night. If you love Trump and have strong feelings about him, you might want to avoid Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday. Jimmy K's guests will be Kathy Griffin and we all know how easily her comedy can transform right-wingers into pure snowflakes, plus JKL also welcomes Jim Jefferies on Thursday night. Jefferies, who always gives Trump and his fan-base a pain down under, will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live to talk about his new Netflix special, "Jim Jefferies: This Is Me Now" which debuts on the streaming giant on Friday, July 13th. Of course, if politically, you lean way to the left of the President, then by all means, set your DVR to record Kimmel on Thursday. You should love it. You can read more about Jim Jefferies' brand new Netflix special on the Interrobang.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
(Note: This post is not specifically directed at anyone, but rather at a huge group of people, I used the link because it was available and because it gave me this topic to talk about)
Once in a while, this kind of thing pops up.
Arguing for animal rights via sick videos.
Ok, lets see what's sick about this.
The gore?
Have you ever cooked before? Have you ever chopped a head or gutted something?
With your bare hands. Does the videos show anything more gross than that?
Some people go further to eat brains. My mom isn't that extreme, she only eats the eyeballs of fish and opens up the head to eat the meat.
Or, what's sick in the video is the treatment of the animals, how they were killed or left to die?
Ever been to Jurong fishery port? And looked at the fishes lying on the floor trying hard to breath? Occasionally you see a fish flop, amazing how high they can jump. But those are the lucky ones, the ones at the bottom of the pile are not so lucky.
Go to any meat farm, what you see there will not be any better than what you see in the above videos.
Because of this, I don't consider killing Chinchilla for fur any more brutal than killing animals for meat. Some people may care, because of preferential treatment - Chinchilla are cute, cows are not. And these people are hypocrites. I find chickens and ducks cute, as well as most other species of birds. But I still eat chicken. Well's that's their job. Better than let them extinct.
If you're a vegetarian because of this, than it's ok, because you're walking the talk.
What about household pests then. I find mice cute, though women (and some men/'men') may not. Does being a pest mean I can use rat poison and see them curl up, shiver and die? That's like what happened to the Chinchilla in the video. Chinchillas are also rodents btw.
How about a more extreme example - contact of a cockroach means immediate action of an overdose of neurotoxin sprayed directly in the face - I don't think there are many people opposed to that. Then you see the cockroach run a little, flip over, shake its legs like crazy, gets sprayed with more neurotoxin-in-yer'-face, stops moving.
Oh, so, that's not wrong. It's only wrong when you do it on something other than cockroaches and rats.
See, preferential treatment.
There are people who keep cockroaches as pets.
And rats are cute too.
I don't like dogs, does that mean I can shoot them?
Then all the world's dog lovers will turn against me. And there are probably more of them than animal rightists.
So, if you're not supposed to kill animals, you're not supposed to kill animals. Doesn't matter which and what way they're killed.
No point trying to discourage people with sick videos. After all, humans have done more sick things than that.
And does that mean it's okay if we don't see the sickness? Then why bother showing these videos in the first place?
This page is full of non-facts and bullsh!t, (just like the internet and especially forums and other blogs), please do not believe entirely without exercising your intellect. Any resemblance to real things in reality is purely coincidental. You are free to interpret/misinterpret the content however you like, most likely for entertainment, but in no case is the text written on this blog the absolute truth. The blog owner and Blogger are not responsible for any misunderstanding of ASCII characters as facts. *cough* As I was saying, you are free to interpret however you like. *cough*
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Hypocrisy: Animal rights
Posted by wwenze at 1:57 PM
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Wade Gooden offers free estimates and consultations for all types projects, re-models, additions, contemporary modern or custom timber work. The Gooden team will walk you through every step of the process of building your new home or your remodel. Commitment to quality and service is just one of the many attributes you can expect from Gooden Construction.
Wade works directly with all architects, interior designers and subcontractors. Working directly with all aspects of your new project ensures that you will have nothing short of the best quality and service.
Working directly with all his clients, Wade is available 24 / 7 / 365 to all his clients. Day or night you can count on Wade to answer your call, text or question as soon as he can. From paint to floors, Wade works with all his clients on every aspect of your new home, remodel, contemporary model or addition making sure you, the client is comfortable with every decision made.
Call today for a free consultation and see the Gooden Experience for yourself. Providing quality products, beautiful homes and excellent customer service is what Gooden Construction has been built on. You can always rest assured knowing that with Gooden Construction you will have the true Montana Values working directly for you. With a full staff and excellent reputation working with all our contractors we set the standard for excellence.


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SOB (Small of Back) Leather Belt Holster
It. 143
Brand: Falco Holster
Reinforced opening and palm-in design provide the full grip accessibility for a swift draw and retention screw adjustment provides an optimal security.
The holster is designed for the S.O.B carry. It is made of quality leather, hand molded directly on the gun for the perfect holster fit. The holster contains an open muzzle design and reinforced belt slot and holster opening for easy re-holstering. It features a tension screw to customize the retention of the gun and provide the additional security. It is available in right and left-handed design and in black and brown color. For revolvers with shorter barrel than 4" is holster producing with thumb safety. The holster is designed for a 1.5'' belt. If you wish to have it made for a different belt size please specify it in the details.
- Traditional (Palm in) SOB belt carry
- Entire barrel is covered, open muzzle design
- Available in black or mahogany leather
- Lacquered leather finish
- Reinforced belt slot and holster opening for easy re-holstering
- Double stitching
- Available in left and right-handed design
- 2 year limited warranty


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A State of Un-Peace: the EU's Response to Asymmetric Threats
A conversation between the Hon. Jane Harman and Sir Julian King on the transatlantic response to asymmetric threats.
Science and Technology
Show More
Former East European Studies Scholar Jacqueline McAllister draws lessons for the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Public Policy Fellow, and former U.S. Executive Director on the International Monetary Fund Executive Board, provides insight into the Eurozone crisis.
The Istanbul Policy Center-Wilson Center Turkey Papers Series, co-edited by Global Europe Program Director Christian Ostermann and Global Fellow Bulent Aras, explores issues of importance in Turkey's relationships with its neighbors and allies in Europe and the U.S.


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Everytime we attempt any kind of activity resembling home improvement, we inevitably feel dumber in the end than we did when we started.
Today's task was to hang a shelf in Lexi's room. This shelf has two slots in the back where nail or screw heads fit to secure the shelf to the wall. We didn't have screws that would work, so we went to Lowe's. This sounds like an innocent enough shopping list, doesn't it? All we needed was screws.
As we entered the store, we found ourselves in front of a 12′ x 40′ wall of assorted screws. Wood screws, brass screws, metal screws, self drilling screws, all coming in at least 100 different kinds. All we naively knew was that we needed screws.
Elian and I both have college degrees. We looked at this gigantic wall of screws for at least 15 minutes trying to discern which kind we needed. We read the signs and narrowed it down to wood screws. But there were at least 100 different types of wood screws to choose from. Some had round heads, others flat heads; some were smooth and then grooved, others were completely grooved. Which did we need? How would we know? Then there was the confusion over sizes. How long did we need? What diameter did we need? How would we know? There was a measuring device painted on the display, and we estimated that we needed screws that were 5/16 in diameter. The only problem was there were no screws labeled 5/16. Packages said things like 12 x 1-1/4. What does that mean? There were more than 12 screws in the package… At one point, Elian looked at me and said, "We're fairly educated people, aren't we?" We finally just guessed, bought some screws and took them home. Luckily, they worked.
What I want to know is, how can such a simple task of buying screws be so complicated? Is there a Screws 101 class out there the rest of the world has taken in order to navigate the variety of screws before them? No. I know we are not the only ones who have stood bewildered in the screw aisle. In fact, there was at least one person in every aisle of the store scratching their heads, trying to figure out what they needed for their "simple" Saturday project.
So, why do the screw companies assume we know what all their labeling figures mean? We don't! We are inept handy people that are too embarrassed to ask the Lowe's associates to help us to figure out how to buy screws.


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Deciding to end one's marriage is often a difficult decision made by Texas residents. But, once the decision is made, many find themselves in a rush to finally finish their legal bond with one another and move on with their lives. This is why many Texas men and women end up agreeing to terms in the divorce agreement that are most likely detrimental to them in the long run. However, by shortchanging oneself in either the divorce agreement or spousal agreement, one can end up facing a number of challenging years ahead.
What should women do to get ready for divorce?
Divorce is a complex process that can greatly alter your future and your long-term goals. Women who are expecting to divorce in the near future will find it beneficial to consider how they can take steps now to prepare for what is ahead and shield their finances for the future. Even if you are not quite ready to move forward with this process, there are things you can do now that will help you down the road.


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Faculty Advisor or Committee Member
Neil T. Heffernan, Advisor
Faculty Advisor or Committee Member
Erin R. Ottmar, Committee Member
Faculty Advisor or Committee Member
Joseph E. Beck, Committee Member
Faculty Advisor or Committee Member
Ryan S.J.d. Baker, Committee Member
The complexities of how people learn have plagued researchers for centuries. A range of experimental and non-experimental methodologies have been used to isolate and implement positive interventions for students' cognitive, meta-cognitive, behavioral, and socio-emotional successes in learning. But the face of learning is changing in the digital age. The value of accrued knowledge, popular throughout the industrial age, is being overpowered by the value of curiosity and the ability to ask critical questions. Most students can access the largest free collection of human knowledge (and cat videos) with ease using their phones or laptops and omnipresent cellular and Wi-Fi networks. Viewing this new-age capacity for connection as an opportunity, educational stakeholders have delegated many traditional learning tasks to online environments. With this influx of online learning, student errors can be corrected with immediacy, student data is more prevalent and actionable, and teachers can intervene with efficiency and efficacy. As such, endeavors in educational data mining, learning analytics, and authentic educational research at scale have grown popular in recent years; fields afforded by the luxuries of technology and driven by the age-old goal of understanding how people learn.
This dissertation explores the evolution and application of ASSISTments Research, an approach to authentic educational research at scale that leverages ASSISTments, a popular online learning platform, to better understand how people learn. Part I details the evolution and advocacy of two tools that form the research arm of ASSISTments: the ASSISTments TestBed and the Assessment of Learning Infrastructure (ALI). An NSF funded Data Infrastructure Building Blocks grant (#1724889, $494,644 2017-2020), outlines goals for the new age of ASSISTments Research as a result of lessons learned in recent years. Part II details a personal application of these research tools with a focus on the framework of Self Determination Theory. The primary facets of this theory, thought to positively affect learning and intrinsic motivation, are investigated in depth through randomized controlled trials targeting Autonomy, Belonging, and Competence. Finally, a synthesis chapter highlights important connections between Parts I & II, offering lessons learned regarding ASSISTments Research and suggesting additional guidance for its future development, while broadly defining contributions to the Learning Sciences community.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Degree Name
Learning Sciences and Technologies
Project Type
Date Accepted
Copyright Statement
All authors have granted to WPI a nonexclusive royalty-free license to distribute copies of the work. Copyright is held by the author or authors, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
Repository Citation
Ostrow, K. S. (2018). A Foundation For Educational Research at Scale: Evolution and Application. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/etd-dissertations/163
Randomized Controlled Trials, Assessment of Learning Infrastructure, Learning Sciences, Online Learning Environment, ASSISTments, ASSISTments TestBed, Self-Determination Theory, Educational Research


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Tonkon Torp has again been recognized as one of Oregon's most admired professional services firms in The Portland Business Journal's 2013 "Most Admired Companies" survey.
The Business Journal's annual poll of Oregon CEOs asks them to identify the very best Oregon companies based on measures including product/service quality, supportive and inspiring work environments, and outstanding corporate citizenship. Since 2005, Tonkon Torp has consistently been among the top 10 in the "Most Admired" category of professional services.
The firm and other recipients were honored at an awards luncheon hosted by the Business Journal on December 5th.


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Oh we had fun, nothing but net on the 9th Annual Emerald City Comic Con set the bar for what a comic book convention should be like. There are more pictures coming, and you can go right to day 1 and day 2 photo galleries here and day 2 photo gallery is at the end of this article. I will post day three pictures tomorrow for your enjoyment.
Seriously good show all the way around, Shatner was icing on the cake, but what make this all the more fun was that everyone who came was determined to have an awesome time. Comics Forge and it's sister companies, Dead Tree Comics and Alternating Reality were all over talking to people, talking to vendors, talking to retail, and talking to artists.
On the retail side – things are picking up this year for some comic book stores. Sales are already up above what they were this time last year. Some of the retail stores at the con had an awesome convention brining in a couple of extra months of income from the three day show alone. Some vendors of the more high priced items did not do so well, it seemed like a $40.00 and under convention. It was also a huge show for Square; many merchants were using Square as a credit card processing system which really sped up people being able to buy things. Many of the higher end sales were processed that way much to everyone's delight, as a payment processor Square won the entire con for vendors.
On the vendor side, DC, Diamond, Slave Labor Graphics, ONI, Image and other publishers were there with some awesome deals being made. It was great to see some of the new titles coming out and if retailers were paying attention, to see what drew the crowds to those booths. There are some hot new titles coming out that really caught the meme of the day at the show. Of course Scott Pilgrim was there, Image has Hack Slash now, and a lot of other news, especially Boom Studios new line up of Kaboom comics for kids. Some people poked their heads in at the Diamond Booth, but not as many as I would have expected.
On the artist's side, I have a pile of new comic books to review. The artists were more willing this year to push out reading copies of their comics in ways they have not been over the last two years. Some of the new stuff that is being funded by Kick Starter is looking very promising. It is good to see the artist's back in action again passing out copies of their comic books to retailers so that they can get a good feel for what is available. If you are interested in LBGT comic books Prisim comics a non-profit publishing company has gotten the rights to a lot of stuff that used to be Fantagraphics/Eros comics meaning that there will be a steady supply of artist owned works for the LBGT community hitting the market.
Everyone seemed very upbeat about the economy, and given how well we did at the show people have started opening up their wallets again, so maybe the great comic book store apocalypse will not happen this year as the economy slowly improves.
For those who think we are not raising the next generation of comic book readers, all you had to do was go to the show. There were so many kids there, so many families and teenagers who were celebrating comic book culture that in my opinion this argument is now moot. It is not that they don't want it, it is not that they don't want to read it, but we have to be where they are, on the internet to get their attention. Remember they have a lot of other systems competing for time, most of that is the Internet.
Enjoy the pictures, and as soon as I get room to breath I'll post the final day pictures of the show.
Related articles
- Prism Comics Expands Presence at Emerald City ComiCon (graphicpolicy.com)
- Emerald City Comicon: Comics fan nirvana in Seattle (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Seattle comic artists and authors, plus William Shatner and Rainn Wilson, descend on Emerald City Comicon (seattletimes.nwsource.com)


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This photo sequence is taken from a throw in excess of 79m by Breaux Greer at the 2000 Florida Relays on March 25th. On that day, Breaux walked 4 strides into a 5 step throwing pattern and had 2 throws over 79m that day. This throw represents a great improvement in technical movements for Breaux, who set his career best of 79.98m at the 1996 Olympic Trials. He has always had an incredible throwing action from his chest/shoulder/arm and he demonstrates it on this effort. Moving to Athens, Ga to train with Don Babbitt, the change in routine has worked well for him. Don has developed some very solid improvements in Breaux's technique, the most obvious being how well he now holds his left shoulder during delivery. He also uses his left leg to stabilize his hips and create a great elastic reflex in his chest and
Fig 1 - 3 show him on his final right/left takeoff prior to his crossover and plant. Even off just 4 strides he shows a very explosive final left ( Fig 4) along with an aggressive right leg, and shows good "waiting" for the right to land ( Fig 4-6 ); he doesn't place the foot down hard. His active left takeoff has recovered his plant very quickly (Fig 6-8), and he maintains an excellent line with his shoulders and javelin as he plants the left leg from low and behind (Fig 9 - 12) as a result of a quick drop and roll of the right knee and foot. He passes over his right quickly and his body weight is completely on his left as he begins the upper body strike on the javelin. Fig.8 - 13 show good use of the left shoulder anchor; his right side covers a great range as it delivers the javelin while the left shoulder stays fixed over the left hip. More speed from alonger run up would make the hips shift from right leg to left as they rotate ahead of the shoulders ( Fig 10 - 12 ), the hips are very well anchored behind the left to provide a stable base for the upper body to strike from (Fig 11 - 16 ), however, his throwing stride is a bit too long. As a result his waist breaks a bit early (Fig 10) and it cost him a bit of abdominal stretch that would have given ore power to the chest. During this delivery Breaux shows his incredible throwing shoulder- not many throwers on this planet can do what he shows here ! There is a very powerful follow thru after the delivery( Fig 15 - 18 ), an indication of an effort without tension or fear and his ability to control himself in one stride after release ( Fig 18 - 20) show
that most of the energy he generated went into the javelin.
Breaux has made some real strides in his throwing technique, and if he continues to improve as he has the last 3 months he will become a force to consider on the world scene sooner than we thought....way to go, Don and Breaux !!
Breaux Greer - Javelin Photo Sequence Analysis
By: Jeff Gorski
Founder, Klub Keihas
USATF Master Throws Coach
NOTE: This article was written June 2000 while Breaux was training in Athens, GA with Don Babbitt
Fig. 1 2 3 4 5
Fig. 6 7 8 9 10
Fig. 11 12 13 14 15
Fig. 16 17 18 19 20
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Let me tell you something. It feels good knowing that I watched all of the Best Picture nominations. I could be mean and say I'm better than you because I'm "in the know" and you're not. I could belittle you by saying there's no point in you watching the Oscars when you've never seen any of the important movies. I could emphasize that you'll be out of the loop on just about everything other than Jimmy Kimmel's low hanging fruit jabs at Harvey Weinstein. I could say that my opinions on Oscars Sunday mean more than yours. But I won't say that because that would be mean and hurtful.
This will be a lengthy read because, again, unlike you (most likely), I watched all of the Best Picture noms plus more. I'll break down the major categories, the nominees, who I think should win what, and everything in between. Think of this as a crash course on the Academy Awards. If you read this, you may be able to impress someone else by dropping a tidbit while you watch. There's not much like flexing your pretentiousness on the inferior. It'll feel like you did watch the movies because of my insight and initiative. No thanks necessary. Wow, we've already come so far from being talking smack about you. Consider it a Cliffnotes version, albeit an extended one.
As tradition, the most prestigious awards are towards the end. Unlike the Academy Awards, however, you can easily scroll through this blog and skip right to Best Picture, pay half attention as you skim through it, and be on your way. But out of respect for the almighty "Academy", I ask that you stick it out word by word, line by line, and endure the mundaneness all the way through. On Sunday night, we'll have to sit through a many boring acceptance speeches from uppity old folks and self righteous "artists". Consider the majority of this blog all of those acceptance speeches that make you want to rip yours eyes and ears out. Just playing, I'll fast forward right to the good stuff AKA the awards people actually care about. If you know anything about these awards shows, it's understood that there's a "path" to victory based on the recipients of other awards (Director, Screenplay, Cinematography). But for the sake of (a sliver of) brevity, fuck that noise. Bare with me please.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Lesley Manville – Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalf – Lady Bird
Allison Janney – I, Tonya
Mary J. Blige – Mudbound (did not see)
Octavia Spencer – The Shape of Water
Phantom Thread is the most fresh in my mind so I feel comfortable saying that Lesley Manville was forgettable. She played Daniel Day Lewis's sister, but her nomination belongs to Vicky Krieps if anyone. Strange choice for the nominee, and I don't want to make assumptions but she has virtually no chance at winning this prestigious award. Laurie Metcalf was strong in her role as Lady Bird's mother. The two had a back and forth relationship as so many moms and adolescent girls do. From what I've read, she's getting a lot of praise and recognition for this award; personally, I thought she was somewhere between fine and good. You can read my thoughts below on the movie itself, but based on the buzz surrounding Lady Bird, I'm not surprised people are so high on Metcalf. All signs point to Allison Janney winning this Oscar. As of when this blog is published, I haven't yet seen I, Tonya. I should be able to get to it within the week, but I wanted to get this out with ample time for others to read and hopefully catch up on some of the movies. Mudbound is one of the few movies I was sure I wasn't going to get to. The hype around the movie was minimal at best, so it was not much of a priority. Also, it doesn't sound like Mary J. Blige has a real shot here, despite her undeniable, raw talent. The Shape of Water should be a name you'll hear repeatedly on Sunday, though I don't think it'll be said following Octavia Spencer's name. I don't love her as an actress, but she's in a ton of movies and was actually very good in this one. If the main character and the movie itself weren't so good, I don't know if Octavia Spencer would have even earned the nomination. She should be happy to be on the ballot. I'll trust the experts on this one; prepare to see Allison Janney make an acceptance speech next Sunday. And if it's not her, it'll surely be Laurie Metcalf.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Christopher Plummer – All The Money In The World (did not see)
Woody Harrelson – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Sam Rockwell – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Willem Dafoe – The Florida Project
Richard Jenkins – The Shape of Water
Haven't seen All The Money In The World yet, but I'd like to get to it. I can't say for sure it'll be pre-Oscars, but I've heard it's very good. I hear Christopher Plummer was good; take that with a grain of salt. I think Woody Harrelson is awesome. I find him funny, talented, kind of goofy, but ultimately super talented. He was all of those things in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, but his role was minor especially to his counterpart, Sam Rockwell. He was not the main character by any means (see: very next award below). He was, however, a key role in a compelling story. More than any other actor/actress mentioned here, Sam Rockwell saw the biggest evolvement in his character throughout the movie. And, simply put, without him the movie would be different entirely. It's on my short to-do list to make time for The Florida Project. The trailer this week. looked great, and Willem Dafoe supposedly put on the performance of a lifetime, though I could argue he did that when he killed it as the Green Goblin in Spiderman. It's hard to look at Richard Jenkins as anything other than the dad from Step Brothers. With that said, I liked his mild-mannered supplementary part in The Shape of Water. Similar to Octavia Spencer, I think the acclaim surround the movie as a whole has earned him this nomination, but that shouldn't take away from his performance. The pick: let's go with Sam Rockwell. It wouldn't shock me if Willem Dafoe gets it done based on what I know, but Rockwell was a beast in Three Billboards.
Actress in a Leading Role
Meryl Streep – The Post
Sally Hawkins – The Shape of Water
Margot Robbie – I, Tonya
Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird
This is probably the second most coveted award behind Best Picture. Out of respect for her long, illustrious career, I won't bad mouth Meryl Streep. She's not my favorite actress and at times I find her hoity toity and snobby. However, she delivered as lead role of The Post. If you're a Meryl stan, she does not disappoint here. Until The Shape of Water, I had never heard Sally Hawkins's name. And now I won't ever forget. Maybe that's because the movie was as unique as any I've seen, or maybe it's because she was superb in her difficult role as a mute. Either way, Sally Hawkins deserves all of her admiration and then some. Again, I haven't seen I, Tonya yet, partially because I'm struggling to accept the fact that Margot Robbie isn't a bonafide knockout in it; I guess we could blame the real Tonya Harding for that. She may be the hottest actress in Hollywood, but it's my understanding that her acting steals the show. Frances McDormand is another name I did not know but will never forget. She singled handedly made Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri everything it is, and no woman could have done a better job than her. If there's one individual "must see" performance, this is it. Funny enough, Saorise Ronan's name was a new one for me as well; apparently I'm not as big a movie fan as I once thought. Nevertheless, I thought she was really good in her role as Lady Bird. In real life, her Irish accent is mesmerizing, and her character in the movie was just as enchanting. Unfortunately for her, she's pit up against two monsters in Sally Hawkins and Frances McDormand (no disrespect to Meryl Streep or Margot Robbie of course). This is an easy one for me. It's Frances McDormand, and frankly it ain't even close. Sally Hawkins could pull off the "upset", and I'd be a little upset but not astounded.
Actor in a Leading Role
Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out
Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name
Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
Daniel Day Lewis – Phantom Thread
Denzel Washington – Roman J. Israel, Esq. (did not see)
Obviously this is one of the awards people anxiously wait months to see handed out. Typically it's one of the more exciting moments of the entire Oscars ceremony, but this year it appears that everyone already knows what's to come on Sunday. I'll make my case for all of them anyway. Daniel Kaluuya put himself firmly on the map after starring in hit thrilled Get Out. It's hard to explain the character and the movie because it's beyond any one genre. You really have to see it to understand, but you'll most likely root for him like you rooted for Mufasa to defeat Scar (RIP). Timothée Chalamet was charming and lovable in Call Me By Your Name. His role is relatable as a young man, searching for answers internally and in life; highly recommended that you set aside two hours to understand. The most talked about candidate, and for good reason, is Gary Oldman for his brilliant depiction of Winston Churchill. Darkest Hour is nothing without him, but he alone makes it worth watching. Gary Oldman was impressive as hell in a seemingly daunting role. In general, Daniel Day Lewis creeps me out. Some people love him, but I'm skeptical on him. His character in Phantom Thread is a stubborn, renowned dressmaker who you'll love and hate at the same time. I love Denzel as much as the next guy, but not enough to sit through Roman J. Israel, Esq. I hear the movie was nothing special, and I have no plans to watch it. I'm sure Denzel was great though as he so often is. The Oscar for Best Actor in a Lead Role all but belongs to Gary Oldman. I'm incredibly impressed whenever an actor or actress can immerse themselves in the role of a prominent historical figure, and Gary Oldman came through in spades.
Best Picture
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
Get Out
The Post
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The Shape of Water
Lady Bird
Call Me By Your Name
We've finally arrived at the dance. We got all dolled up, took some silly pictures for the press, took a few swigs of our flasks in the bathroom, and went through the motions so that we can finally get to moving and shaking that ass. This is what the Oscars are all about. The other awards are cute, but it's all about Best Picture. Who's taking home the hardware? Let's run through the nominees.
Get Out – I can confidently say that Get Out is unlike any movie I've ever seen before. It's a pseudo-scary movie that leans more towards the "thriller" label. It was front page news almost when it came out in theaters in late February and remained so for quite some time. It tackled racial barriers head on with a unique approach, but not in a way that you'd typically expect in movies. Daniel Kaluuya (see: Actor in a Leading Role) plays the role of a boyfriend going to meet his white girlfriend's family for the first time. But he quickly realizes that something's off with them as well as everyone else he meets. This is a movie you should make the time to watch. Whereas many of the Best Picture noms are stranger movies that you won't watch more than once, Get Out is a legitimately entertaining movie that kept me on the edge of my seat; I watched it twice.
The Post – I didn't like The Post. If it wasn't directed by Spielberg and star studded with Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, I can't imagine it would be getting any real publicity. It was a fine movie, but nowhere near the level of some of its co-nominees. Meryl Streep plays the head publisher of the Washington Post, a young, smaller publication at the time. A massive government cover-up is about to be exposed, but the people on the front lines aren't all comfortable with risking their careers to bring three decades-worth of conspiracy to light. Good story (based on a true story) but I won't ever watch again.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – The title is a mouthful, but it's one to remember. The mother (Frances McDormand, see: above) of a girl who was raped and murdered is still seeking justice months after the fact with the feeling that the police have stopped trying to crack the case. She's bitter and angry, but kind of a badass, and takes it out on the police with a message (on three consecutive billboards) calling out the police chief (Woody Harrelson), all while fighting a personal vendetta with another jaded, overcompensating officer (Sam Rockwell). I'll be honest in that the plot doesn't progress all that much in two hours, but the amazing character development is why it has rightfully earned all of its accolades up to this point. It quickly becomes evident that the movie you thought you'd get is in fact not what you're in store for; I loved that unexpectedness. Expect the hot streak to continue on Sunday night. Also, Peter Dinklage has a minor role (I was going to say small role but that seemed rude).
The Shape of Water – Full disclosure, this was a weird movie and it's not for everyone. When you can put aside the unrealistic story line of a mute woman (Sally Hawkins) bonding and communicating with a highly-classified aquatic creature in the lab she works at, then you should have no problem enjoying the movie. It was odd and uncomfortable at times, but I thought the movie was really good. Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, and Richard Jenkins (the dad in Step Brothers) help round out a strong cast and a fairy tale-esque story. The Shape of Water has more nominations than any other movie at the Oscars and will undoubtedly win a ton of awards on Sunday. Again, it's not for everyone and I understand the rejections of this movie, but I personally thought it was well worth my time.
Lady Bird – I was more disappointed with Lady Bird than any other movie on the Best Picture docket. It has 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, and although I have my gripes with that website, I was expecting a product far better than what I got. It's revered as a coming-of-age story of a high school girl, but I didn't feel that her "journey" was so different from other alike movies. A teenage girl has a volatile relationship with her mother, experiences the struggles that any high school adolescent does, etc., etc. Saorise Ronan is up for Best Actress; she was easily lovable in Lady Bird but she won't win. The movie was fine, and there were some nice moments, but it was far from unique.
Call Me By Your Name – I've liked this movie more and more since I finished watching it. After taking the time to process its message, it's continued to rise in my personal rankings. Ironically, that same feeling was prevalent as the movie progressed; the first hour was painfully slow, but the back half of the movie was compelling and fantastic. Armie Hammer (great name) and Timothée Chalamet were both awesome, with Chalamet specifically putting himself on the map with his performance. It's a nice, easy-to-follow tale of a friendship that blossoms into a romantic relationship. The movie tackles themes that we all deal with in our lives: Do we give up what's convenient and comfortable in order to take a risk in pursuing real passion? Why do we let fear impact our actions? And how do those choices shape our lives? It's an artsy movie, maybe too artsy for some, but it's as relevant and as topical as ever. For what it's worth, I'd watch this movie again, which I cannot say for most of the Best Picture nominees. If you don't have time to watch all of the noms, make Call Me By Your Name a priority.
Dunkirk – This is the only Best Picture nominee I saw in theaters. When it came out in July, it was immediately esteemed as an Oscar-favorite. I remember after having seen it the first time, I was very much bought into the notoriety around it, but wasn't quite sure if it was actually Best Picture material. I re-watched it so that I was as familiar with Dunkirk as I was the other nominees. It tells the true story of the attempted evacuation of English, French, and allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk during WWII; it wasn't focused on the war itself but rather hundreds of thousands of men essentially stranded and awaiting a way out of the war. It was so difficult to get rescue boats there that the only plan put in place would allow for the rescue of at most 40k troops (of the 400k "sitting ducks" awaiting refuge). What I particularly enjoyed about Dunkirk was how different it was from most military movies. There wasn't one central, main character that was idolized but rather we were given multiple perspectives from different characters. My key knock is that at times it was a little confusing the way the story jumped from scene to scene, back and forth between days, in a way to intertwine the characters but doing so without enough clarity. That said, I really really liked it. Even if you don't like war movies, this unique, powerful story could be an exception. Cillian Murphy was fantastic, Tom Hardy was stoic and badass, and Harry Styles (yes, that one) was surprisingly strong in his role.
Darkest Hour – Let me first say that Gary Oldman was incredible in his role as newly-appointed British Prime Minster, Winston Churchill. As said above, he's all but a lock to take home the hardware for Actor in a Leading Role. I won't go into the plot too much as I don't want to create double spoilers; the events from Dunkirk are actually a major focal point in this movie. Churchill was unorthodox in his methods at a delicate time when Europe was at the precipice of WWII. His poor reputation led to struggles of converting skeptics to buy into his power, but he felt strongly that fighting back against the Germans was the best plan of action, instead of the popular choice of negotiating for peace. It's got no shot to win Best Picture, but I didn't dislike the movie one bit. Admittedly it was a bit dry at times, but the story was super interesting, and, again, Gary Oldman was unbelievable.
Phantom Thread – This was the last of the nine that I watched to complete the list. Perfect timing that I was able to watch to as I wanted to publish this blog a week in advance. I tried watching in order of expectation, and in that regard I was very pleased with this movie. It wasn't great, but I didn't hate it whatsoever. The storyline was simple and relaxed yet very interesting. Daniel Day Lewis is a distinguished, successful fashion designer who's enjoyed his life as a bachelor who doesn't stray from routine. He meets a girl who he likes very much until she starts to unknowingly disrupt his methods. She becomes spiteful, but it's clear they both love each other. Good movie, nothing to write home about.
MY PICK: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It's in a league of it's own in my opinion. I've told many if there's one Oscar nom to watch then this is it. And I stand by that. The latest odds list it as a slight favorite with The Shape of Water right there as well. But because there's no runaway favorite, anything could happen. Last year, La La Land was a heavy favorite and (controversially) lost to Moonlight; Manchester by the Sea was better than both of them but we don't have to have that conversation here. My point is that nobody really knows what's going to happen. Could be Three Billboards, could be The Shape of Water. I loved Dunkirk and would be thrilled if it won. Some people are saying to keep an eye on Get Out as a dark horse contender; it's consistently been in the conversation for months and is a great movie. I doubt it'll be anything else because I don't understand the hype around Lady Bird, but there's not telling what's to happen Sunday night. I'm all in on Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as it was my favorite of the movies by far. But if the movie experts can't predict the Best Picture, I surely cannot. And if I were to rank all of the Best Picture nominees, here they are in order:
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
- Dunkirk
- The Shape of Water
- Call Me By Your Name
- Get Out
- Phantom Thread
- Lady Bird
- Darkest Hour
- The Post
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