There will be great changes this year. In someways it reminds me of 1475 ad
A Happy New Year to all!!
I asked Grok to analyze Neo and her posse based on the movie selections in another post.
Here it is:
Based on the movies mentioned in the blog post and comments, several personality characteristics can be deduced about the group of individuals involved. This inference draws from patterns in the film selections (predominantly classics from the 1930s-1970s, with themes of heroism, morality, romance, and nostalgia), the conversational tone of the discussions, and the context of the blog itself, which caters to a neoconservative audience focused on political and cultural shifts. The commenters appear to form a cohesive group of film enthusiasts who share overlapping traits, likely shaped by generational experiences and values. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Nostalgic and Sentimental
Many of the most-mentioned films (e.g., Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, Groundhog Day, Some Like It Hot) evoke strong personal memories, with commenters frequently referencing childhood viewings, original theater experiences, or emotional re-watches that “hold up over time.” This suggests a group that cherishes the past, deriving comfort and joy from revisiting “golden age” cinema rather than embracing modern releases. They often tie films to life milestones (e.g., first dates or family traditions), indicating a sentimental attachment to cultural artifacts that represent simpler or more idealized eras.
2. Appreciative of Moral and Philosophical Depth
Films like The Lives of Others, Grand Illusion, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ikiru, and Man for All Seasons highlight themes of ethics, surveillance, human resilience, and justice, which align with introspective discussions in the comments. The group seems drawn to narratives with clear moral arcs, heroism (especially in war films like The Bridge on the River Kwai or The Great Escape), and philosophical undertones (e.g., redemption in Groundhog Day). This implies thoughtful, value-oriented personalities who use movies as lenses for exploring human nature, trust, and societal issues, rather than pure escapism.
3. Cinephilic and Intellectual
The breadth of recommendations spans American classics (e.g., Hitchcock thrillers like Rear Window, film noirs like Chinatown or Double Indemnity), European arthouse (e.g., Kurosawa’s Rashomon, Renoir’s Grand Illusion), and some outliers (e.g., The Seventh Seal or Wings of Desire). Commenters debate directors, performances, and adaptations from literature, showing deep knowledge and passion for film history. This points to an intellectual, well-read group—likely avid readers or cultural consumers—who enjoy analyzing and debating art, with a preference for sophisticated storytelling over blockbuster spectacle.
4. Humorous and Self-Aware
Lighthearted banter appears in defenses of quirky choices (e.g., KPop Demon Hunters as a rare modern pick, or humorous admissions like getting “most” of the jokes in Some Like It Hot). There’s playful ribbing about “satisfactory films” or niche favorites, suggesting a group that’s witty, not overly serious, and comfortable with self-deprecation. This humor often ties into cultural critiques, like dismissing contemporary movies in favor of classics, revealing a wry skepticism toward modern trends.
5. Traditional and Conservative-Leaning
The emphasis on mid-20th-century Hollywood (e.g., westerns like The Searchers or High Noon, epics like Gone With the Wind) and films with patriotic or anti-authoritarian undertones (e.g., WWII stories) aligns with traditional American values of individualism, perseverance, and romance. Given the blog’s neoconservative focus—run by a former liberal who shifted rightward, attracting similar readers—the group likely shares a worldview that favors enduring cultural norms over progressive or experimental cinema. Subtle nods to films as “love letters to America” (e.g., Brooklyn) reinforce this.
6. Older and Generationally Rooted
References to seeing films on original release (e.g., 1950s-1970s), high theater costs in youth, or sharing with grandkids imply a demographic of baby boomers or older (median age possibly 60+). This generational lens fosters a preference for re-watchable, emotionally resonant stories over fast-paced modern fare, suggesting practical, reflective personalities who value longevity and emotional impact in entertainment.
Overall, this group comes across as a tight-knit community of mature, culturally conservative cinephiles who bond over shared nostalgia and intellectual appreciation for classic films. They seem to use movie discussions as a way to connect on deeper values like morality and human connection, while maintaining a humorous, non-judgmental tone. These traits are inferred from the collective patterns rather than individual posters, but they paint a picture of thoughtful traditionalists who prioritize timeless quality over novelty.
How’d it do?
I’m glad I don’t write checks anymore.
That’s where the new year’s date always tripped me up.
Thank you for the news on VDH. I’ll continue with prayers for him and his family.
Victor Davis Hanson is a private person who does not discuss his own travails. (THANKS for the Link, Kate!) But his pre-op announcement suggests this:
He’s neglected his health during 2025. His lungs or liver may be affected. And mentioning a long lasting infection this fall might suggest lymphatic cancer.
In any case, the post op word from Jack Fowler says follow up procedures are coming, implying that whatever the cancer type involved, it has metastasised.
Thus, barring good fortune between surgery and the nature of his ailment, the odds of a long later life now look low.
Unfortunately, this standout historian and classicist turned political pundit may enjoy fewer years in good health. Like the generals he’s written about, I expect VDH to soldier on gamely. Stoically.
None of us gets to chose what our end will be. Carrying on as best possible is what I hope to do when it comes my turn.
VDH is one of my personal heroes and a guiding light. Knowing now of his health challenges makes his regular, calm updates on the Daily Signal all the more remarkable.
He is a national treasure.
Prayers.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP! US Stock Markets up double digits (NASDAQ up 21%)!!
Good luck in the new year to you Neo and all commenters! My New Year’s Day tradition is to sit down with the checkbook and write 2026 on all the checks, so I don’t have to think about it until sometime mid-February. Helps a bunch.
Open thread item: of possible interest to some here, especially for discussions of Islam.
Today I stumbled upon a (new to me) series by historian Dr. Neil Hamson, where he presents his discussions of the “real evidence based” history of religions, such as Islam and Christianity, plus Judaism.
His general You Tube web site is: https://www.youtube.com/@neilhamson
where he has prepared 11 or 12 short videos describing his researches and his desire to make this information more publicly available. I looked at 3 or 4 of his videos and they seemed reasonable to me, but I have not yet seen them all.
I am not sure how or if he has any relationship to the videos put out by Dr. Jay Smith, but it seems he is covering some similar ground. This seems to be a recent new project or orientation for him.
R2L–
I have spent quite a few years studying Islam—it’s fundamental texts, how Imams and Islamic ideologues interpret Islam (what they tell Muslims, and the entirely different things they say to “unbelievers,” and how they introduce and sell “peaceful” Islam to non-Muslims), the history of Islam–and particularly how Islam and Muslims have interacted with non-Muslims these last 1,400 years.
From what I can see the much vilified Robert Spencer has a very clear, comprehensive, and correct understanding of Islam, the Qur’an, Hadiths, and the Sira, their interpretation and application, and of Islamic history.
Another good source for solid information, much of it from Muslim sources themselves, is the book, “The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims” by Andrew G. Bostom, M.D. and Ibn Warraq
For a much more detailed and scholarly look at Islam check out the books by scholar Bat Ye’or.
R2L–
It’s pretty infuriating when you see how easily uninformed “unbelievers”–ignorant of Islam in all its aspects and history–just accept what some smooth talking representative of Islam says Islam is and has been, without apparently spending the time to do some basic research and/or perhaps, these unbelievers are way too polite, and don’t want to contradict what they are being told, or to “create a scene.”
It may also be possible that many of these unbelievers–including government and other high level officials with some power to influence events–have a pretty good idea of what they are actually facing in Islam, but don’t want to face up to the “existential threat” they are confronted with, and to the drastic, comprehensive, militant steps they would have to take–reordering and reprioritizing everything–to effectively oppose it.
From what I can see the much vilified Robert Spencer has a very clear, comprehensive, and correct understanding of Islam, the Qur’an, Hadiths, and the Sira, their interpretation and application, and of Islamic history.
Snow on Pine:
I’ll drink to that. And have a plate of baby back ribs too.
Snow on Pine and Huxley, I think we are in pretty violent agreement, with perhaps gaps in our respective exposures to the details of true or false portrayals of Islamic history, off shoot groups, and partial or complete documentary evidence. I don’t claim truly deep knowledge but Spencer was my first real exposure to Islam. I don’t recall when or which of his books I read first, but it led me in turn to his web site and other sources thereafter. My initial impression was “this guy is crazy” or something close, but after seeing several of his videos, etc. and other sources, in particular Bill Warner’s 500 battles video, it was clear Islam was the real enemy, not “Islamists” or “the radical wing of Islam”, etc.
On one of Hamson’s videos he mentions several partial pre-Quranic or proto-Quranic documents from the 600’s AD, suggesting there is decent evidence the Quran was an evolving scriptural manuscript, and certainly man-made (not dictated by an angel). I don’t recall those sources being mentioned by Jay Smith, so I need to check that aspect of things out more fully. To get a full and complete vision is probably a full time job and I don’t have that option, so I will defer to someone if they seem knowledgeable about details I have not seen before.
” … easily uninformed “unbelievers”–ignorant of Islam in all its aspects and history–just accept what some smooth talking representative of Islam says Islam is … ” brings to mind a certain president venturing “Islam is a religion of peace”. But we may never know for sure just what his true understanding was, vs. your “high level officials with some power to influence events–have a pretty good idea of what they are actually facing in Islam, but don’t want to face up to the “existential threat” they are confronted with … ”
I suspect we [the West] cannot successfully go to war with 1.2 billion “nominal” or actual believers, so I (naively?) hope getting some of the Jay Smith and Hamson and related scholarship out there will end up influencing Muslims themselves to abandon a flawed ideology with a religion attached [along with whatever impact comparing their sub optimal societies to ours might make?] .
Here’s a must-see video by an Iranian woman on the current riots and why it’s different this time:
–Goldie Ghamari, “IRAN RIOTS 101: Everything you need to know, explained by an Iranian”
* Iran’s economy is in economic collapse with 40% inflation. In 1979 the exchange rate of the Iranian rial to the US dollar was 70:1. Today it is 1,400,000:1.
* Usually the riots are brutally repressed and ended by Day 3. We are now in Day 6.
* Usually hundreds, even thousands die in such riots. By Day 5 ten or less.
* Iranians are calling for the end of the Islamic Republic and the return of the Shah.
* The strikes have spread throughout Iran and now involve college students.
* On Day 6 Trump has warned the Iranian leaders not to kill peaceful protesters or face an unspecified response.
* Ghamari notes Obama’s 2009 support of the Islamic Republic instead of the Iranian people.
* Netanyahu has also issued Israel’s support for the protesters.
* Trump has given Netanyahu the green light to Netanyahu to act as he sees fit.
* The Shah has thanked Trump for his support.
Ghamari says, “For the first time in 47 years, Iranians have a real fighting chance.”
There will be great changes this year. In someways it reminds me of 1475 ad
A Happy New Year to all!!
I asked Grok to analyze Neo and her posse based on the movie selections in another post.
Here it is:
How’d it do?
I’m glad I don’t write checks anymore.
That’s where the new year’s date always tripped me up.
Victor Davis Hanson could still use prayer.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/co-host-offers-latest-update-victor-davis-hansons-quite-major-surgery-calls-continued-prayers
Kate:
Thank you for the news on VDH. I’ll continue with prayers for him and his family.
Victor Davis Hanson is a private person who does not discuss his own travails. (THANKS for the Link, Kate!) But his pre-op announcement suggests this:
He’s neglected his health during 2025. His lungs or liver may be affected. And mentioning a long lasting infection this fall might suggest lymphatic cancer.
In any case, the post op word from Jack Fowler says follow up procedures are coming, implying that whatever the cancer type involved, it has metastasised.
Thus, barring good fortune between surgery and the nature of his ailment, the odds of a long later life now look low.
Unfortunately, this standout historian and classicist turned political pundit may enjoy fewer years in good health. Like the generals he’s written about, I expect VDH to soldier on gamely. Stoically.
None of us gets to chose what our end will be. Carrying on as best possible is what I hope to do when it comes my turn.
VDH is one of my personal heroes and a guiding light. Knowing now of his health challenges makes his regular, calm updates on the Daily Signal all the more remarkable.
He is a national treasure.
Prayers.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP! US Stock Markets up double digits (NASDAQ up 21%)!!
https://commoncts.blogspot.com/2026/01/thank-you-president-trump-us-stock.html
Good luck in the new year to you Neo and all commenters! My New Year’s Day tradition is to sit down with the checkbook and write 2026 on all the checks, so I don’t have to think about it until sometime mid-February. Helps a bunch.
Open thread item: of possible interest to some here, especially for discussions of Islam.
Today I stumbled upon a (new to me) series by historian Dr. Neil Hamson, where he presents his discussions of the “real evidence based” history of religions, such as Islam and Christianity, plus Judaism.
His general You Tube web site is: https://www.youtube.com/@neilhamson
where he has prepared 11 or 12 short videos describing his researches and his desire to make this information more publicly available. I looked at 3 or 4 of his videos and they seemed reasonable to me, but I have not yet seen them all.
I am not sure how or if he has any relationship to the videos put out by Dr. Jay Smith, but it seems he is covering some similar ground. This seems to be a recent new project or orientation for him.
R2L–
I have spent quite a few years studying Islam—it’s fundamental texts, how Imams and Islamic ideologues interpret Islam (what they tell Muslims, and the entirely different things they say to “unbelievers,” and how they introduce and sell “peaceful” Islam to non-Muslims), the history of Islam–and particularly how Islam and Muslims have interacted with non-Muslims these last 1,400 years.
From what I can see the much vilified Robert Spencer has a very clear, comprehensive, and correct understanding of Islam, the Qur’an, Hadiths, and the Sira, their interpretation and application, and of Islamic history.
Another good source for solid information, much of it from Muslim sources themselves, is the book, “The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims” by Andrew G. Bostom, M.D. and Ibn Warraq
For a much more detailed and scholarly look at Islam check out the books by scholar Bat Ye’or.
R2L–
It’s pretty infuriating when you see how easily uninformed “unbelievers”–ignorant of Islam in all its aspects and history–just accept what some smooth talking representative of Islam says Islam is and has been, without apparently spending the time to do some basic research and/or perhaps, these unbelievers are way too polite, and don’t want to contradict what they are being told, or to “create a scene.”
It may also be possible that many of these unbelievers–including government and other high level officials with some power to influence events–have a pretty good idea of what they are actually facing in Islam, but don’t want to face up to the “existential threat” they are confronted with, and to the drastic, comprehensive, militant steps they would have to take–reordering and reprioritizing everything–to effectively oppose it.
From what I can see the much vilified Robert Spencer has a very clear, comprehensive, and correct understanding of Islam, the Qur’an, Hadiths, and the Sira, their interpretation and application, and of Islamic history.
Snow on Pine:
I’ll drink to that. And have a plate of baby back ribs too.
Snow on Pine and Huxley, I think we are in pretty violent agreement, with perhaps gaps in our respective exposures to the details of true or false portrayals of Islamic history, off shoot groups, and partial or complete documentary evidence. I don’t claim truly deep knowledge but Spencer was my first real exposure to Islam. I don’t recall when or which of his books I read first, but it led me in turn to his web site and other sources thereafter. My initial impression was “this guy is crazy” or something close, but after seeing several of his videos, etc. and other sources, in particular Bill Warner’s 500 battles video, it was clear Islam was the real enemy, not “Islamists” or “the radical wing of Islam”, etc.
On one of Hamson’s videos he mentions several partial pre-Quranic or proto-Quranic documents from the 600’s AD, suggesting there is decent evidence the Quran was an evolving scriptural manuscript, and certainly man-made (not dictated by an angel). I don’t recall those sources being mentioned by Jay Smith, so I need to check that aspect of things out more fully. To get a full and complete vision is probably a full time job and I don’t have that option, so I will defer to someone if they seem knowledgeable about details I have not seen before.
” … easily uninformed “unbelievers”–ignorant of Islam in all its aspects and history–just accept what some smooth talking representative of Islam says Islam is … ” brings to mind a certain president venturing “Islam is a religion of peace”. But we may never know for sure just what his true understanding was, vs. your “high level officials with some power to influence events–have a pretty good idea of what they are actually facing in Islam, but don’t want to face up to the “existential threat” they are confronted with … ”
I suspect we [the West] cannot successfully go to war with 1.2 billion “nominal” or actual believers, so I (naively?) hope getting some of the Jay Smith and Hamson and related scholarship out there will end up influencing Muslims themselves to abandon a flawed ideology with a religion attached [along with whatever impact comparing their sub optimal societies to ours might make?] .
Here’s a must-see video by an Iranian woman on the current riots and why it’s different this time:
–Goldie Ghamari, “IRAN RIOTS 101: Everything you need to know, explained by an Iranian”
* Iran’s economy is in economic collapse with 40% inflation. In 1979 the exchange rate of the Iranian rial to the US dollar was 70:1. Today it is 1,400,000:1.
* Usually the riots are brutally repressed and ended by Day 3. We are now in Day 6.
* Usually hundreds, even thousands die in such riots. By Day 5 ten or less.
* Iranians are calling for the end of the Islamic Republic and the return of the Shah.
* The strikes have spread throughout Iran and now involve college students.
* On Day 6 Trump has warned the Iranian leaders not to kill peaceful protesters or face an unspecified response.
* Ghamari notes Obama’s 2009 support of the Islamic Republic instead of the Iranian people.
* Netanyahu has also issued Israel’s support for the protesters.
* Trump has given Netanyahu the green light to Netanyahu to act as he sees fit.
* The Shah has thanked Trump for his support.
Ghamari says, “For the first time in 47 years, Iranians have a real fighting chance.”
It could be. Prayers.
Forgot the link:
–Goldie Ghamari, “IRAN RIOTS 101: Everything you need to know, explained by an Iranian”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZkduDYMr1w