We Are AYA

Barista and Freelance Actor, Age 24

"The Association of Young Americans represents you. It’s time we take a seat at the decision table."

The Baby Boomers were young once. They marched in the streets...for an end to the war, for civil rights, for women's rights, for the environment. They're old now and no longer marching (mostly). Sigh. But reportedly, young Americans still exist.

Apparently, they now start lobbying groups for baristas and freelance actors with slogans like, "Fight for your future and save money." You see, when AYA isn't lobbying, it's saving you money. "Because we know that life is expensive for young people, we’ve negotiated exclusive discounts on products and services that might make things a little easier."

I double checked. This is not from The Onion.

POTD: Selfie with the Tourist

From 2019 08 23 Puno

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Lake Titicaca, Peru. It shows two local children demonstrating excellent selfie-taking proficiency with an unidentified tourist.

POTD: Reed Boats of Lake Titicaca

From 2019 08 23 Puno

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Lake Titicaca. The indigenous people of the Uros islands get around the lake on totora reed boats. Or they used to. They certainly ferry the tourists around on them today. I can't say how much of their own travel is still by reed boat as opposed to the aluminum rowboat, some with outboard motors.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Sewing on the Uros Islands

From 2019 08 23 Puno

Today's photo-of-the-day is from a floating Uros island on Lake Titicaca, Peru. Besides showing off the handicrafts that the islanders sell to tourists, the photo also shows off some more mighty fan hats worn by the women in Peru.

Bonus photos after the jump.

The Souvenir (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Souvenir (2019): Student filmmaker and her sketchy boyfriend. He exploits her and she apologizes too much. Instead, run away! Movie has an arty look and feel. Lots of long takes with mirrors and windows and reflections. See the movie poster. It all feels pretentious. C-

POTD: Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca

From 2019 08 23 Puno

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Lake Titicaca, Peru, the 120 mile long lake at an altitude of 12,500 feet. Specifically, the floating Uros Islands on that lake. For reasons that are lost to history, the people of Uros cut the tatora reeds that grow in the lake and bind them into bales that they lash together into huge mats that form the floating islands that they live on.

Bonus photo after the jump.

Random Thoughts: Parasite's Oscar is Deserved

Tweets from February, 2020:

• 2020-02-10: Parasite's Oscar is deserved, but it's going to set a lot of people up for disappointment. People who now go see it for first time and come away thinking, "OK it's good, but it doesn't live up to the hype." It's rare for any movie to live up to the hype of winning "Best Picture."
• 2020-02-12: Expect Trump to lose interest in Hunter Biden after New Hampshire results.
• 2020-02-14: Men Without Women: Stories: Collection by magical realism author Haruki Murakami. Only this collection, with one exception, is mostly based in realism. Tales of men and women, men with women, and in a deeper way, the impact on men being without women. B-
• 2020-02-15: Richardson Eagles knock off #1 Duncanville in overtime. #txhshoops

After the jump, more random thoughts.