While in Utah, I got to see the latest Star Trek movie. Yech.  When I was young, I was a real fan of Star Trek. I guess I've grown up, because it's lost its magic. Not all the original series has aged well, but it still has moments. Unfortunately the new movie had precious few of them. It mostly became a typical action movie with lots of stunts and flashy special effects, but not enough character. I'm not sure that anyone in Hollywood knows how to write anything else anymore. 

My particular objections include the opinion that the time travel device has been overused. Star Trek has never been particularly strong on either realism or consistency, but this plot had enough gaping holes it to fly the Enterprise...make that all of Starfleet through them.  Kirk had FOUR almost-falling-off-the-precipice scenes, about three too many. He was also played as brash, cocky, and hotheaded, and convinced that the rules don't apply to him. There was always some of that in him, but this Kirk is just a kid. He cannot command himself and doesn't belong in command of a starship. For starters. I read that there are two more movies,  a trilogy in the works, but I refuse to spend money on them.

There's a nasty political fight brewing in the House of Representatives. The Senate will be too busy in a rules fight to do much. Senate Majority leader, in a display of strongarm partisan politics, is trying to kill the rules that allow the filibuster.  In the House, a number of bold Democrats are claiming that the dire warnings of financial and economic disaster if nothing is done about entitlement spending (Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid) are overblown. The Republicans will have enough of a majority to wring some concessions, but I expect the compromise to be too little, too late.