hollywood

"Forget it Jake it's Chinatown." This assessment hangs over the final episode of Perry Mason although it's obviously Los Angeles, not Chinatown where we find venality, corruption, ambition, murder and the like. We also get attorneys testifying in trial, displaying exhibits that have been presented without foundation, witnesses lying, payoffs being made, faith healers working their tricks, etc. We are also informed ironically that witnesses don't confess on the stand. (So much for many an old school Mason ending.) The door is open for a further season although the series is relatively self-contained. Blows are struck for womens' equality. Della Street emerges as a strong presence. Mason is sadder but wiser and seems to have assembled a team that could assist in further trials. Ironically, the ambitious DA is hoping to use the trial as a springboard to becoming mayor although the actual DA currently earns about $80,000 more than the mayor of LA. As for the trial's outcome, that would be a spoiler.

That used to be a thing each year when suddenly you saw the new pennies. Would they be S or D?

Jorja Smith

The coin shortage [sic]. I think this is really some diabolical Chambole plot. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/08/national-coin-shortage-everything-to-know.html?sid=582205b01e560311138b4568&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=TheSlatest&utm_campaign=traffic

"Creem: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine" sounds like it could be fun.

This was a great suggestion for the Rosita. Thanks.

These big dusty green ones grow like weeds around here. https://www.finegardening.com/article/10-outstanding-succulents

You can't be middle class in LA unless you have succulents.

During our current safe at home phase, a huge portion of locals have taken to buying starters of succulents, selling succulents, growing succulents for fun and profit. I guess that they are not challenging to grow. As you drive around, there are many yards sporting displays of full grown succulents. We have conquered the succulent gap. Other nations will be at our mercy!

theclash, thanks for reminding me I have been remiss in not watching it. A friend played Wanda Williams in one of this year's episodes.

I tended to confuse him with Euell Gibbons.

The seventh episode of Perry Mason is amazing in both a good and a bad sense. This is what we have waited for. The episode is crammed with plot, character development, mystery, revelations, violence, vintage autos, etc. Really, it's too much. But Matthew Rhys as Mason is seriously coming into his own. Tatiana Maslany actually shows some range as Sister Alice. We get Perry's back story. We get Sister Alice's back story. We get plots, gumshoe work, financial chicanery, killings, drug addiction, a casket scene worthy of Chester Himes with Lili Taylor stage managing a miracle. We get a return to the morgue. We get a return to the brothel. We get the return of Hamilton Burger (who seems to be quite the sophisticate but with major political ambitions). We get corruption a la Chinatown. And most significantly we get some Mason courtroom antics worthy of the character. Now, we are talking. Unfortunately, now that we are hitting our stride, there's only one episode remaining.

Cameron Diaz is selling wine. https://www.wine.com/list/wine/avaline/7155-124231?s=psca_google_campaign_Top+Wines+-+Alpha&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=cameron diaz wine&utm_campaign=Top+Wines+-+Alpha&showpromo=true&promo=PSNEW&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7L3o7Pb66gIV5B6tBh3KKAngEAAYASAAEgKVwfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#

One of Britain's most successful film directors. https://www.rawstory.com/2020/07/british-filmmaker-alan-parker-director-of-midnight-express-dies-at-76/

LeBron's still got it.