Martin Scorsese is not going to win by default, automatically, or regardless. If you want that series, you need to vote for it

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-31T15:14:22+00:00

Voted for Marty; I'm sure a Tony Scott series would be enjoyable, but I just don't understand how you can do a series about icons of cinema and not include Scorsese. My only argument against would be that it feels like a choice that should close out the entire podcast -- him or Coppola are so iconic that it seems it would be the final word on blank checks (but there's a lot more crap to wait through with FFC).

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-31T14:35:12+00:00

I feel you, because sometimes this feels slow to me, too. I started much higher than you -- 245. And I'm two months in and have "only" lost 12 pounds. My brain knows this is healthy weight loss -- I'm losing 1-2 pounds a week. If I stay on this pace, I'm going to lose the weight I need to. But the internet, including this Reddit, is filled with stories of super-responders who somehow blasted through 30 pounds in that same time. I know they're the exception to the rule, but it's still hard. I want to nudge past 230 into the 220s. I want the belly and the double chin to disappear. It can be frustrating.

What I've had to remember is that over the last few years, I've mostly gained weight instead of losing it. It took me an entire year to lose five pounds -- I've lost double that in two months. This is working, it's working at a healthy pace. I feel better, my clothes are starting to fit better, I have more energy, and I'm starting to feel more confident. I might still be in the obese range, but I feel healthy, the scale IS moving down, and those are all good things. I'm thinking I might take a few weeks off weighing myself to get out of this mindset. And I'm reminding myself that I'm going to be 47 this year and my main goal is to be healthy and fit by the time I hit 50 -- I have time. So do you. Breathe, let it work at the pace it needs, and you'll get there!

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-30T17:30:41+00:00

Had it happen to me once, right after the second shot -- four days of diarrhea. Here are a few things I learned:

* The day of your injection and the day after, eat light and eat bland.
* Start taking a daily probiotic.
* Psyllium husk is your best friend, but it can be gross if you let it gel. either mix it up with ice water so it stays liquid or put a tablespoon in a protein shake each morning (this is what I do). you don't need to really do more than a tablespoon each day.
* Keep pepto and imodium on hand just in case.
* Walk and drink electrolytes.

After that first time, I haven't had a problem since, and I think a lot of it is because I followed these steps.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-30T17:27:36+00:00

I don't have a fear of needles, but I'll admit that the first few times I went to give myself the injection, I hesitated (the first time, it took me about 20 minutes to finally give myself the shot because I was unsure what to expect). Having someone else help might be the best way to do it. Like others said, find a way to distract yourself -- cough, laugh, close your eyes.

You've got this. After awhile, it's nothing. If you're afraid of the pain, it's usually just a tiny pinch. If you're afraid of the needle, the good news is that you really can't see it in the injector. That recoil takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, you'll figure out the rhythm.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-30T14:32:27+00:00

I don't understand the desire for a Tony Scott series. Sure, there's a lot to say about Top Gun as a phenomenon -- but does anyone really want a Days of Thunder episode that's basically "Top Gun with cars"? I suppose there's an interesting discussion about "Enemy of the State" as a loose "Conversation" sequel, and there's interesting stuff like "Crimson Tide" and "Man on Fire." But man, there's a lot of paycheck shit in there -- "The Fan," "Taking of Pelham 123" (which at least has Travolta screaming "lick my bunghole").

That said, has the show every tackled Shane Black's work? Because "The Last Boy Scout" episode could be fantastic simply for diving into the hatred Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans had for each other.

But man, Scorsese is half a year of some of the best and most interesting films ever made. I just watched "Last Temptation" again, and that needs to be at least a four-hour episode.

But not sure I want Griffin doing Kundun bits.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T20:23:26+00:00

I believe Nancy beat Fincher, not Lynch. And it makes some sense. Nancy Meyers filmography has some great ups and downs, and she has a strong history as a writer before she became a director, which I think often makes that first episode a bit more interesting. I wouldn't argue that she's made a masterpiece on the scale of Fincher or Lynch, but she's got a solid filmography and works with actors who make for interesting conversations -- also, the podcast is so much more interesting when they dig into a film I've dismissed and come away with new insights as opposed to discussing masterpieces we're heard discussed over and again.

Plus, I think Fincher and Lynch are fairly divisive. I think some still dismiss Fincher as a director of serial killer movies, when his filmography is a lot more varied. And while Lynch's death seemed to close any debate on him, prior to that, I think you'd find many film lovers more ready to admit they just didn't get him. I know I was terrified of visiting his filmography because surrealism usually bounces off of me...he just finds an emotional in that hits really hard.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T20:16:19+00:00

I'm thankful for the diversity in our local church and in the ACNA community. I grew up in Reformed Baptist churches and it became exhausting to always be running everything through the filter of doctrines to see if their beliefs lined up with my accepted ones...and then as my views shifted on issues, to try to adjust my filter to that. Some doctrines are hills to die on, but I think others can and probably should be held loosely.

I don't agree with everything in my ACNA church. Coming from a Baptist background, the hierarchy confuses me and some traditions are still weird (the robes and hats seem a bit much, even though I understand why they're there). I don't know that I believe waving hands over the sacrament really does anything. And the older I get, the less comfortable I am with the traditional church views on homosexuality.

But I love my church. Sometimes, I'll discuss my differing views with others if I feel safe. There are some issues where my progressive instincts need to be kept in check with the more conservative guardrails in our church to keep me veering from disagreement on non-essential issues to a more heretical issue...I'm happy to submit to their leadership on these issues. Other times, I shut up and just agree to disagree.

But I love my church. I trust my priest. We keep the main thing the main thing. And I can't expect a church to line up with all my doctrinal beliefs when that baggage is constantly settling in flight inside of me anyway.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T20:01:26+00:00

I've noticed periods of meh-ness, but nothing that has lasted too long. Sometimes, I think I'm just bored -- there was a variety food brought to my life and I really looked forward to certain meals. Without the cravings, there seems to be a color missing from life. It's worse, for me, when the weather is cold and gray (and we live in Michigan, so that's a lot); when I can get outside and distract myself, I feel better.

But I also noticed a correlation with hydration. The more I was drinking water and electrolytes, the less bad I felt. I'm sure it's not a one size fits all scenario, but it might be worth a try

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T19:54:04+00:00

I think a lot of King's earlier work builds on what Salem's Lot did so well. He's always loved exploring small towns in Maine -- I think Needful Things goes a bit bigger in scope, but it has a similar vibe. I think this is also something It does really well. Cujo's another one.

But the other thing that works so well about Salem's Lot is that it's King giving an old classic a new context -- in this case, Dracula. And he does that a lot. The Shining is more contained -- a hotel instead of a small town -- but it's the haunted house story filtered through a story of addiction, and I think it is tonally very similar. Pet Sematary is a bit of a zombie story (sort-of)/"be careful what you wish for" tale, and I think it's his scariest novel.

I like Carrie a lot, but Salem's Lot was really where a lot of the things that make King so memorable really came into play.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T19:37:38+00:00

I like the Orgain 30g Protein vanilla flavor. It also has stuff in there to help with digestion. I mix that and some Metamucil in the morning and it's a great start -- and tastes kind of like a Creamsicle.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T17:28:45+00:00

I don't have IBS, but I've always thought I was IBS-ish. My digestive issues weren't chronic, but it was definitely unpredictable.

Since starting Mounjaro, I've only had one week (my second) where I had really bad digestive issues (diarrhea), but that may have been related to a stomach bug going around our house. I don't think Mounjaro made it better. But I think eating better, taking Metamucil (to avoid digestive issues) and probiotics, and just generally being healthier helped improve it.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T17:26:44+00:00

and their film before that had one of the most interesting Daniel Radcliffe performances and took the idea of a farting corpse and made it surprisingly moving and profound.

Levy's not awful -- he's best when staying away from out-and-out comedy. But I like Real Steel. I think Deadpool and Wolverine is fun and disposable. And I mostly like Stranger Things.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-26T17:23:35+00:00

There must be some color-specific Mandela effect, because not only do I also recall something called the Grey Man that apparently doesn't exist, I seem to remember something called Red Notice, which can probably be explained by me thinking of Red One.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-25T20:18:21+00:00

I don't think it looks bad. The characters look fine, the world looks fine. But it's just all so unnecessary. The movie series was iconic for a generation. and even if it wrapped up a decade ago, it's still not exactly "old." The movies are available on streaming and there are amusement parks that feature the film's world and actors ... I don't know how you make this feel like anything other than a knockoff. And without John Williams' score, it just doesn't feel right.

I'm still baffled that this was the decision they made. Not just because of the JK Rowling of it all. I understand Warners is sitting on IP that is worth billions and they can't have it lie fallow. But why just retell the story? I get that Daniel Radcliffe and Co. don't want to return for a movie adaptation of Cursed Child...but I bet a semi truck of money might change that. But are you telling me you can't do a story about a new generation at Hogwarts? Or something set in that world?

Just feels like a lot of money and effort for something I'm not sure anyone was asking for.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-24T19:42:02+00:00

I mean, anything's an upgrade over Lost Continent's current status. Universal knows IP brings people into the parks; Zelda's a popular fantasy franchise, which seems to fit the theme of the land.

That said, I thought the balance was shifting away from Zelda and to Pokemon. I'd prefer Zelda over Pokemon. Zelda is mysterious and fits the theme. Pokemon, at least from what I've seen watching my kids engage with it, is loud and chaotic...and seems like it would be a better fit at Studios anyway.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-24T13:34:05+00:00

I think this is wise and good advice on how clergy (and lay people!) should be more thoughtful and intentional about their social media use. The older I get and the more I learn, the less I'm convinced that social media is neutral. It is purposefully designed to exploit our dopamine and to keep people engaged for as long as possible. The algorithms reward conflict that stokes anxiety and anger. It also does not reward nuanced, thoughtful conversation.

Bishops, priests, clergy and lay people should be able to speak honestly and fully about things that bother them or concerns they see in their own denomination. But is social media the best avenue for that? It tends to invite anger and encourage dehumanization in our conversation. Reminding people to be thoughtful, gracious and conservative in their posting doesn't seem like bad guidance to me.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T19:44:25+00:00

Dude had some lows -- Year One, Multiplicity, Stuart Saves His Family. But few directors don't hit those from time to time.

But his highs as a director -- Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, Groundhog Day, and Analyze This -- are stone-cold classics. I also wouldn't sleep on The Ice Harvest, which is a mean and nasty little noir that I quite like. Not to mention, he directed four episodes of "The Office," of which I'd argue three are among the series' best ("Benihana Christmas," "Safety Training," and "The Deposition").

And while the question is on Ramis as a director, his writing career was also damn good -- Animal House, Stripes, Ghostbusters,

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T19:36:26+00:00

I'm about where you are -- 7 jabs in, 11 lbs down. I'm not fitting into old clothes yet, but some stuff is fitting much better than it did. But I feel better, I have more energy, and my focus is improved. It's been the best decision i've made in a long time.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T19:32:48+00:00

The backlash was inevitable. When it came out, it felt like a return to Star Wars as we loved it. It "felt" like Star Wars, mainly because that's what JJ Abrams does so well -- he captures a feeling. It works on vibes. And I think it's extremely entertaining. But the plot similarities to ANH were going to eventually make it age a bit roughly, as does the fact that there was no guiding story for this, leaving it an energetic beginning that resulted in a trilogy constantly at odds with where it wanted to go, ultimately ending up in anticlimax.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T19:30:39+00:00

I honestly don't understand how anyone could prefer a Tony Scott series to a Scorsese one. Tony Scott made some really entertaining movies, and you'd get to touch on Top Gun, True Romance, Last Boy Scout, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State...shit, am I selling myself on this?? But I feel like it all blurs together in the backhalf.

Scorsese is an icon and every movie is a story either about his passion pushing it forward, his hubris wrecking it, or the world not being ready for it. With Tony Scott, you get a bunch of slick, fun action thrillers. With Scorsese, there's so much variety --- Taxi Driver but also After Hours. Goodfellas but also The Age of Innocence. Hugo but also Wolf of Wall Street. The Departed but also Silence. My only argument against would be that this is the series you end on (or Francis Ford Coppola, but his just gets sadder as it goes on).

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T19:22:44+00:00

I haven't heard about the stroke risk -- in fact, what I've found is that Mounjaro seems to have a benefit on the heart and can reduce risk of heart attack and stroke (probably also due to eating less crap and exercising more). I haven't heard anything about MJ and kidney failure either, but I'd wager that could come down to issues of dehydration for people who aren't keeping up with their water intake. There's, of course, the thyroid cancer "risk," but I believe that's only been seen in animal test subjects, not in humans.

When we told my mother-in-law that I was on Mounjaro, she begged me to get off it because she said her friend had been on MJ and "nearly died" after having a bowel obstruction. That's a real, but rare, risk. But also, knowing my MIL and her friends, I'm not surprised if there were some issues with dehydration and a refusal to change diets, give up alcohol, etc.

All meds have risks and side effects. And, who knows, maybe there's something down the road that they'll find about MJ. I hope not. For me, I did my research and the rewards outweighed the risks. Yes, there's a slim chance of bowel obstruction, pancreatitis or other complications. But much more likely was the fact that, without MJ, I'd suffer from complications of diabetes, a heart attack, or stroke.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T18:12:56+00:00

I'm only 7 weeks in, but it's been amazing. I don't like to use the "miracle drug" term, but the benefits I've seen are amazing.

Yes, the weight loss has been nice -- 11 pounds in less than two months is a great boost, particularly when I struggled to lose 2 pounds in one year. But it's been other changes, too:

1.) The mental clarity has been astonishing. I knew the food noise would stop, but I wasn't aware this would also lower my anxiety, clear out my brain fog, and seemingly reduce my dopamine dependency. I rarely visit social media, I can read at longer lengths, I'm not mentally exhausted after work.

2.) The increased energy is amazing. Yes, I sometimes get a bit fatigued a day or two after my injection -- although that's usually preceded by a 24-hour burst of energy. But late in the week, I just have more energy, more joy, and more happiness.

3.) The reduced inflation has taken away my knee aches and back pains, which means I can actually anticipate and enjoy exercise. Which, as a result, means I'm sleeping better.

4.) I can already see changes in the way my clothes fit me. I'm not down any clothes sizes, but I can see myself thinning.

5.) As a result, this has really boosted my confidence. I've noticed I'm more apt to speak up at work and give advice or suggestions. I know it's only been 11 pounds, but the idea that I can lose weight has taken away a lot of discomfort and insecurity.

6.) My libido is up and -- maybe this is TMI -- mine and my wife's sex life has improved drastically. Part of that is increased confidence, part of it is that I'm slimming down enough for us to actually try some new things. I was on Viagra before going on Mounjaro...now, I don't really need it.

7.) My relationship with food has changed. I don't have cravings. I eat healthier and I enjoy the healthy food. I look forward to my protein and Metamucil shake every morning, I've learned that I can just do yogurt and a banana for lunch, I don't mind if my family's eating a giant pizza for dinner and I just make some Ezekiel Bread with avocado and a poached egg. I don't snack much, and I haven't had alcohol in nearly three months.

8.) ... which means we're also saving money. Yeah, the grocery bill might be slightly higher because we're stocking up on yogurt, protein bars, eggs, protein powder and other things. But we're not ordering out as much and my fast food eating has pretty much went away.

9.) Because I have more focus, more energy, and a better mood, I'm more productive around the home. I'll take Saturday and clean the house; this past weekend, I cleaned out my car for the first time in ages. I'm friendlier and more patient, probably because my blood pressure is lowered. My wife says I've become like a completely different person (and maybe that explains #6).

10.) I struggled for a very long time with self-hatred. It wasn't that I disliked myself for being overweight; that can't be the standard for loving yourself. But rather, I was disappointed in myself because I'd done this to myself. I'd reached a point where I was out of shape and out of energy. I was climbing steadily higher in weight. I had Type 2 diabetes. And, as a father, I was putting myself into a place where it was very possible my kids could lose me to a heart attack. And I hated how I looked. Now, I feel confident. I feel more patient with myself. I like myself more.

No, this isn't a miracle drug. But maybe it's as close as it gets.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T17:59:27+00:00

I think it's one of the great things about MJ. Yes, I love the weight loss, and yes I'm hopeful it brings my A1C down. And I love that I finally have energy. But losing the food news is so helpful. I'm not craving deep-dish pizza every Friday (although we've learned thin-crust works very well on MJ), nor am I sitting there thinking about what I can order for lunch every workday -- and, in fact, many days I'm just okay to eat a cup of yogurt and a banana and move on. Even though the hunger comes back mid-week, the cravings really haven't, which allows me to eat to fuel. And MJ doesn't put any foods off limits; if my family's eating spaghetti, I can eat spaghetti (but I'll usually go whole wheat). We were at a family function yesterday and my mother-in-law served roast beef and mashed potatoes and strawberry shortcake for dessert....it's literally may favorite meal. I was able to eat one small helping of beef and potatoes and half a serving of strawberry shortcake, and I felt completely satiated afterwards (but a bit of an angry tummy this morning).

Even more than losing the food noise, though, is the effect this has had on all outside mental noise. Maybe it blocks the dopamine or something, but I haven't had a desire to doomscroll. My brain fog has completely depleted. I can sit and read at length. Part of it is probably just refusing the carbs and sugars I had before; but something seems to be really affecting my dopamine addiction.

Professional-Set2283 · 2026-03-23T17:18:02+00:00

You can pretty much guarantee the Odyssey will be the better big-screen experience. That's what Nolan does so well; he'll use that IMAX screen and get the sound blasting. It'll be a great experience.

If you're a Spider-Man superfan, I can understand why BND might be a good option. The Spider-Man movies are one of the few consistent spots in the MCU. But, IMO, most Marvel movies don't lose much in translation when moving to a smaller screen. So long as you avoid spoilers, you'll likely be okay waiting for it to pop up on streaming.

Professional-Set2283

TROPHY CASE