Isle of Dogs (2018) ***

A little overboard with the extreme closeups, but enjoyable homage to Japanese pop culture from the 50's and 60's.

Barbara Ehrenreich: Why I'm Giving Up on Preventative Care | Literary Hub

So I grudgingly conceded that undergoing the test, which is noninvasive and covered by my insurance, might be preferable to immobility and institutionalization. The result was a diagnosis of “osteopenia,” or thinning of the bones, a condition that might have been alarming if I hadn’t found out that it is shared by nearly all women over the age of 35. Osteopenia is, in other words, not a disease but a normal feature of aging. A little further research, all into readily available sources, revealed that routine bone scanning had been heavily promoted and even subsidized by the drug’s manufacturer. Worse, the favored medication at the time of my diagnosis has turned out to cause some of the very problems it was supposed to prevent—bone degeneration and fractures. A cynic might conclude that preventive medicine exists to transform people into raw material for a profit-hungry medical-industrial complex.

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) ***

Another odd fable from director Yorgos Lanthimos in his inimitable deadpan style. Always interesting and thought provoking if at times difficult to watch.

I, Tonya (2017) ****

Upfront about its shaky veracity, this biopic offers outstanding performances, fine casting, and crisp direction. The skating sequences are done exceptionally well.

The Breadwinner (2017) **

Earnest, well-intentioned animated tale of survival in Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Well-made but the relentless oppression makes for difficult viewing.

Danny Ray Thomas, an unarmed black man, shot to death by deputy in Houston - The Washington Post

“According to witnesses, Thomas was walking in the middle of the intersection of Imperial Valley and Greens Rd. with his pants around his ankles, talking to himself and hitting vehicles as they passed by,” the Houston Police Department said in a statement. Thomas struck a white vehicle, and a physical altercation ensued. A passing deputy stopped to disrupt the disturbance, the police said.

“The deputy gave Thomas verbal commands to stop, which he ignored and continued to advance toward the deputy. Fearing for his safety, the deputy discharged his duty weapon, striking Thomas once in the chest,” the department stated.

There used to be a great deal of paperwork and penalty for even discharging your weapon let alone killing an unarmed person. Now just say "I feared for my safety" and you get a medal.

Police shoot, kill man in backyard of south Sacramento home - SFGate

During that pursuit the subject turned toward our officers with both arms out and had an object pointed at our officers and our officers believed it was a firearm and they feared for their safety,” Chandler said. “And they fired their weapons to basically protect themselves.”

Family members told KCRA the home belonged to the man’s grandparents and he frequently stays there.

Family said the man was trying to get inside of the home, but they didn’t know why he didn’t have a key to the house Sunday night.

The man died on the scene.

Investigators did not find a firearm at the scene. The only item found near the man was a cellphone.

This is what happens when you train policemen as if they are combatants in a guerrilla war. And it is getting worse.