Slide Show

HBO Max rebranded itself into Max some time in the last few days and for some reason we can’t get the app to work on our streaming system anymore. We can open it and get a few frames of a show, like a slide show almost, and then a message comes up saying there’s a problem with our device. Max the Company has been no help at all and says they are working on the issue. So we are behind on our shows — Barry, Succession, etc. and I haven’t watched too many documentaries either. I did watch a couple of them on Netflix: one called Victim/Suspect that was quite well done about an awful trend in policing where rape victims are charged with filing false reports if there isn’t enough evidence, and another called Merpeople (I think) about an alternative lifestyle some people have as mermaids and various other aquatic personae.

A lot of people involved in the Mer lifstyle (I hope I’m using that term correctly) seem like intensely creative people, and fun too, and have unfortunately been rejected by their families, either because of their Mer obsession or because of sexuality and gender issues. How terribly sad. It made me want to adopt some Merkids, or some LGBTQIA kids who may have been rejected by their families, or at least wear one of those t-shirts that says something like “If you’ve been rejected by your Mom, come get a hug from me” that you sometimes see at Pride Rallies.

Then last night we watched a drama called Black 47, set in Ireland during the Great Famine. (It’s available for free on Tubee with a few ads). It was really well done with a strong cast (Hugo Weaving, Jim Broadbent, Barry Keoghan, etc.). Another story of great injustice that made me picture myself helping people somehow, some way.

I’m always moved by tableaux of injustice but I’m not very active right now doing much of anything for the world around me. My heart’s in the right place. But I could be volunteering my time instead of watching documentaries. I could do something. Why is that so hard? I think I’m just afraid of getting hurt somehow. I’m afraid of feeling more pain rather than less. It seems easier to feel nothing right now. Even though I really enjoyed being around the kids the other day at the Field Day.