Category: Life

Sicario(2015)

Sicario(2015)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397884/

Sicario review – Emily Blunt’s star quality lifts Mexican drugs thriller

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A great performance from Blunt makes this well-staged story of FBI operations in the murky world of the US-Mexico borderlands a cut above the ordinary

Sicarios: The Story Behind the Cartel Killers

Meet the Real Sicarios Who Created a Blood Bath Across the Americas

Sicario means hitman in Spanish and the word is most often used to describe the hitmen associated with the Mexican drug cartels.Jul 3, 2018

https://www.intelligencefusion.co.uk/insights/resources/intelligence-reports/is-sicario-based-on-a-true-story-comparing-the-film-with-real-criminality-in-mexico/
Asked Gemini (Advanced) a few questions about the film “Margin Call”

Asked Gemini (Advanced) a few questions about the film “Margin Call”

The answers are as follows:

Key Themes

  • Greed and Systemic Risk:
    The film highlights the reckless greed and flawed risk models that fueled the financial crisis.
  • Moral Ambiguity:
    It portrays characters struggling with moral choices when faced with imminent financial disaster.
  • Human Cost:
    It showcases the devastating impact of the crisis on those involved, from Wall Street executives to average investors.

Detailed Breakdown

focused on some of the key events and characters

Opening: The Layoffs and Eric Dale’s Warning

  • The film starts coldly with mass layoffs at the investment bank. Eric Dale, a veteran risk manager, sees it coming and is unsurprised when he’s let go.
  • Before leaving, he gives junior analyst Peter Sullivan a crucial flash drive, hinting at its vital nature. This subtly sets up the crisis that will unfold.

Sullivan’s Discovery and Escalation

  • Driven by professional curiosity, Sullivan analyzes Dale’s model overnight. He discovers that the firm’s leveraged position in mortgage-backed securities is on the brink of catastrophic failure.
  • Sullivan alerts his superior, Will Emerson, who initially dismisses the severity of the issue. As the scale of the disaster becomes clear, the alarm spreads up the chain of command.

High-Stakes Meetings and Ruthless Choices

  • Mid-level executives like Will and Sam Rogers are pulled into a vortex of meetings, each escalation bringing in more senior leadership. These tense confrontations showcase the mounting pressure and growing panic.
  • Sarah Robertson, head of risk management, tries to find solutions but is undermined by higher-ups seeking a quick fix.
  • John Tuld, the calculating CEO, arrives. He coldly recognizes the gravity of the situation and devises a ruthless plan: dump all toxic assets before the markets realize their worthlessness.

The Fire Sale: Ethical Conflict and Collapse of Trust

  • The bulk of the film centers on the execution of the fire sale. Employees wrestle with knowingly selling worthless securities to clients, the very definition of fraud.
  • Sam Rogers particularly displays inner conflict, aware of the destruction they’re perpetuating on investors and the markets. He knows their scheme may buy them time but will decimate trust in the system.
  • Others are pressured into going along to ‘save the firm’, highlighting the lack of individual accountability in such high finance situations.

The Aftermath: Scapegoats and Lingering Doubts

  • Once the fire sale is complete, the company has superficially averted bankruptcy. However, the consequences are swift:
    • Further layoffs ensue, including Sarah Robertson, who’s made the scapegoat for the firm’s recklessness.
    • Disillusioned by the experience, Sam Rogers expresses his regrets and a desire to leave the industry.
  • John Tuld remains defiant, offering a warped “apology” but highlighting the cyclical nature of such financial collapses, suggesting little is learned and it’s just business as usual.

Additional points to Note:

  • The film is deliberately shot in a claustrophobic style, emphasizing the tension and confinement of these characters throughout the night.
  • Dialogue is heavy with financial jargon, adding to the sense of insider knowledge and heightening the crisis for the audience.
  • Even while showing morally compromised actions, it portrays the characters as humans caught up in a systemic failure, leaving viewers to question how these situations arise repeatedly.

The Dog as Symbol

Sam’s dog has no direct narrative impact on the movie. The main thrust of “Margin Call” is the financial crisis. However, his dog serves as more than a fluffy side detail; it functions as a nuanced symbolic tool:

  • Humanity Amid Chaos: The first time we see Sam is not in the corporate war room but a quiet domestic scene. He walks his dog late at night. This simple action contrasts strikingly with the ruthless decisions he’ll later make and serves as a subtle reminder that he’s a person with life outside the cutthroat world of finance.
  • Vulnerability and Morality: When Sam faces the hard choice of carrying out the toxic asset sell-off, he confides in his dog at one point. The dog isn’t judging, merely present. This scene underlines Sam’s inner conflict as he struggles with the morality of his actions, suggesting some remnant of conscience.
  • Lost Faith: Near the end of the film, the dog is revealed to be sick and requires costly treatment. This mirrors the sickness of the financial system – something Sam helped perpetuate. It can be interpreted as a symbolic loss of innocence and faith. Sam is now tainted by the crisis and faces tough choices for himself and those he cares about.

Filmmaking Device

Beyond symbolism, the dog serves some storytelling purposes:

  • Character Grounding: “Margin Call” is dense with jargon and abstract financial tension. Scenes with the dog provide brief moments of ‘normalcy’ for Sam, letting the audience see something human about him amid the cold calculations.
  • Pacing Breaks: The dog-walking scenes force a slower, contemplative pace compared to the rapid-fire decisions made in the boardroom. These quiet moments give the audience breathing room amidst the intensity.

Limitations

It’s key to note that we glean this information indirectly. We never get explicit statements about how deeply Sam loves his pet. It’s left for the viewer to piece together the relationship’s importance through visual cues and context.

Seth is a young, ambitious risk analyst. He’s motivated and bright but naive regarding the cutthroat world of high finance. His arc reveals:

  • Initial Idealism: Seth likely entered the field hoping to put his skills towards something valuable. He takes pride in his ability to understand complex financial models.
  • Wake-Up Call: Discovering the hidden risk with Peter Sullivan is Seth’s brutal ‘crash course’ into the realities of the system. He confronts the gulf between textbook models and how things actually work on Wall Street.
  • Pressure and Compromise: He witnesses the high-stakes decision to execute the fire sale. Being in that room fundamentally alters him. Seth experiences immense pressure to “fall in line,” demonstrating the systemic corruption he’s now a part of.

Seth as the Audience Representative

Seth partly functions as a stand-in for the audience:

  • Technical Explainer: He often puts technical jargon in layman’s terms for other characters (mainly Will Emerson). This mirrors how he helps the audience understand the intricate financial concepts that undergird the crisis.
  • Window into Transformation: Seeing his moral hesitation, initial resistance, then ultimate acquiescence in the sell-off is powerful. It highlights how readily ordinary people can be pressured into morally questionable actions in such high-pressure environments.

A Foil to Other Characters

Seth interacts meaningfully with several key characters, showing different aspects of the industry:

  • Peter Sullivan: They are the young ‘technically minded’ generation. However, while Sullivan retains some critical distance, Seth is quickly corrupted.
  • Will Emerson: Seth looks up to Will, a hardened yet jaded professional. Will gives Seth the infamous pep talk about how they profit from people’s desire for the unattainable, revealing the cynicism he’s adopted to survive.
  • Sam Rogers: While mostly background, we see that even higher-ups like Sam started somewhere like Seth. Seth’s arc is thus a stark warning of the path he could easily follow within this system.

A Piece of the Larger Story

Seth alone can’t carry the moral weight of the film. However, his transformation encapsulates a vital piece of the “Margin Call” message: the system is designed in a way that rewards and even necessitates ethical compromise for young and talented individuals, perpetuating greed and a lack of real oversight.

How the film was received by critics and the general public

Critical Acclaim

  • Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews:
    “Margin Call” garnered widespread praise from critics for its tense storytelling, sharp dialogue, and stellar ensemble cast. It boasts impressive scores on aggregators:
    • Rotten Tomatoes: 87% “Certified Fresh”
    • Metacritic: 76/100 (indicating generally favorable reviews)
  • Specific Praise:
    Many reviews highlighted:
    • The film’s intelligent handling of a complex subject matter, making the financial crisis accessible.
    • The lack of moralizing, presenting characters navigating shades of grey rather than easy villains.
    • The claustrophobic style that mirrored the building tension.

Public Reception

  • Financial Niche Success:
    “Margin Call” wasn’t a massive blockbuster, given its subject matter and limited star power. However, it found a strong audience among:
    • Those interested in business, finance, and the mechanics of the 2008 crisis.
    • Fans of dialogue-heavy, ensemble-driven dramas.
  • Word-of-Mouth & Streaming Availability:
    The film likely gained more viewers over time through positive word-of-mouth and availability on streaming platforms, attracting people intrigued by its critical reception.

Awards and Recognition

  • Accolades:
    The film earned a few notable awards:
    • Academy Award Nomination: Best Original Screenplay (J.C. Chandor)
    • Independent Spirit Award: Robert Altman Award
    • Numerous National Board of Review awards (Best Ensemble, Best Original Screenplay)
  • Legacy:
    Although it isn’t the most well-known movie about the financial crisis, “Margin Call” is often held up as one of the more realistic and well-crafted works dealing with that specific event.

Additional Considerations

  • It’s important to note that audience opinions will always vary. For some, the film might be too dense or lack traditional cinematic thrills.
  • It’s hard to get precise box office data on such independent films, making it harder to measure popular interest than for big-budget productions.
EBS의 세계테마기행에서 Shakespeare를 주제로 한 내용

EBS의 세계테마기행에서 Shakespeare를 주제로 한 내용

2016년 4월 “셰익스피어 문화기행”

  • 1부 튜더 왕조, 영문학을 꽃피우다
  • 2부 불멸의 작가, 셰익스피어의 탄생
  • 3부 동화의 나라에서 햄릿을 만나다
  • 4부 셰익스피어 인 러브, 베로나와 베네치아

그 후에도 2020년, 2021년에 “유럽을 읽는 즐거움 — 셰익스피어 인 러브”, “풍경은 영화처럼 — 셰익스피어 인 무비”가 있었구나.

프로그램 웹 페이지: https://worldtrip.ebs.co.kr/worldtrip/replay?stepId=01BP0PAPD0000000013

여행지로서 “Shakespeare’s Italy”를 소개한 기사가 있었다: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20120416-shakespeares-italy

Rivers Cuomo횽이 떠오르지 않을 수 없고.
“Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo hosting Shakespeare-themed parties for fans”
https://www.nme.com/news/music/weezer-19-1217378

(Singing) Shakespeare makes me happy. Shakespeare makes me happy, so happy. And I’m happy to be with you.

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1087173272
내 이런저런 작은 장치들의 충전 (계속 업데이트)

내 이런저런 작은 장치들의 충전 (계속 업데이트)

장치들

Jabra Talk 55

https://www.jabra.com/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-talk-55

Techsheet의 battery 부분

  • 통화 시간: 최대 10시간 (헤드셋에서 최대 3시간, 충전 케이스로 최대 7시간)*
  • 대기 시간: 최대 72시간 (헤드셋만), 최대 7일 (헤드셋이 충전 케이스에 도킹됨)*
  • 대기 시간 연장을 위한 Power Nap 기능: 최대 7일*
  • 충전 시간: 헤드셋 충전만 약 2시간, 헤드셋과 충전 케이스 함께 충전 시 약 3시간
  • 충전 케이블 표준: USB-B 커넥터 (30cm)
  • 배터리 충전 전류: 30mA (헤드셋), 170mA (충전 케이스)
  • USB 충전 케이블: 5V 300mA

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/earbuds/quietcomfort-earbuds.html

Battery

  • Battery life: Up to 6 hours
  • Earbud battery charge time: 2 hours
  • Charging case battery charge time: 3 hours
  • Quick-charge time: 15 minutes for 2 hours
  • Battery charge method: USB-C or Qi certified wireless charging pad
  • Battery type (earbud): Lithium-ion (metal-enclosed coin cell)
  • Battery type (case): Lithium-ion (pouch cell)
  • Automatic on/off feature to preserve battery life

Charging case Input: 5V 1.2A, output: 5V 0.22A 두 개

충전기, USB power adapter들

USB 3.2 Gen 1 4-Port hub

https://www.acttomall.com/product/스피드업-usb-30-허브-hub-33/312/category/73/display/1/

주의사항 중 충전에 관한 내용 일부

  • Tablet PC에 대해서는 충전 불가, 데이터 전송 가능
  • Power adapter를 사용하는 경우 총 전력이 4A를 넘지 않도록 한다.
    4A 초과하는 전력을 필요로 하는 장치를 연결해 사용하면 그 장치가 손상될 수 있다.

전력: 네 포트 모두에 장치를 연결하여 동시에 사용하는 경우 총 2A, 한 포트만 사용할 때 2A

Cutting nippers and diagonal pliers

Cutting nippers and diagonal pliers

Wire cutting 위한 공구로 우리나라에서 보통 니퍼, 뻰찌라고 하는 것들이 서로 구분되는 공구들인지 같은 것인데 이름이 다른 것인지 궁금하여 검색.

Wikipedia에서 diagonal pliers를 찾으면 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal_pliers) 이것이 철사 따위를 자르를 목적으로 쓰는, 바로 그 공구이거나 그런 것들 중 하나로 보인다. 설명을 일부 가져오자면:

… (also known as wire cutters, diagonal cutting pliers, diagonal cutters, side cutters, dikes or Nippy cutters) …

Diags or dikes is jargon used especially in the US electrical industry, to describe diagonal pliers. “Dike” can also be used as a verb, such as in the idiom “when in doubt, dike it out”.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, diagonal pliers are commonly referred to as snips or nippers, and in Canada, Australia and New Zealand they are often referred to as side cutters.

그런데 이 페이지에 대한 한국어 페이지를 열면 ‘니퍼(공구)’ 페이지가 열린다. https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/니퍼_(공구)

나무위키의 플라이어(plier) 페이지(https://namu.wiki/w/플라이어)는 플라이어의 종류를 니퍼, 펜치(combination plier, lineman’s plier), 롱노즈 플라이어(long-nose plier, needle-nose plier), 트위스터(twister)로 구분하여 설명하는데 펜치의 설명에 아래와 같은 내용이 있다:

니퍼보다 규격이 커서 전선을 절단할 때 힘이 덜 들기 때문에 포설 등의 작업을 하는 사람에겐 니퍼보다 더 애용되는 공구이다. 물론 진짜로 굵은 것을 잘라야 할 때에는 니퍼든 펜치든 답이 없기 때문에 볼트 커터 혹은 절단기를 사용해야 한다.

잠실은 누에를 키우는 곳

잠실은 누에를 키우는 곳

iPhone 14들의 주문일, 출시일이 공개되었다 하여 apple.com/kr에 들어가니 이런 화면이 보인다.

“Apple ‘잠실'”점 소개에 “‘비단’처럼 펼치다”라는 표현을 써
‘잠실’의 ‘잠’ 자가 ‘누에 蠶’ 자인가 싶어 확인하니 그러하구나.
이제야 알았다. 蠶室이라고.

그건 그렇고
‘비단을 펼친다’ 하니 ‘접힌 비단길’도 생각난다 — dark web의 Silk Road.
문제 사용자가 많았지만 본래 서비스는 멀쩡하던 사이트들이 여럿 닫혔다.
가는 곳마다 “This Hidden Site Has Been Seized”라며 FBI의 힘이 보였다.

Theme: Overlay by Kaira __
Fury Road, Pluto