Documentaries

[Dana Jean]

The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell

This was....creative. This Christine is like a Elvira/Alice in Wonderland person who shows how to make crafts and food items for the macabre. Really cute things. Interesting techniques and tools. Some absolutely amazing gingerbread houses. A little bit of guidance, not really a step by step but enough to get someone inspired to try their own.

Where this show lost me was -- it's a Hensen production. So, yep. Puppets. And this isn't really a show for small kids so why they felt that adults were a good target audience, I'm a bit baffled. It was a cute concept for about 5 minutes and then it was just crap I had to fast forward through to get to the tutorials.

 

[Dana Jean]

After Neverland

Parts 1 and 2 and the Oprah interview.

I totally believe these two men.

 

[fljoe0]

Leaving Neverland part 1

This is difficult to watch. I might have to wait a while before I watch part 2. The 2 men accusing Jackson in this documentary seem very believable and their accounts of events coupled with all of the background information you get is devastating.

Both of these guys testified for Jackson in 2005 and they were in their 20s when they did. I hope in the 2nd part of this doc that is addressed and they give credible reasons why they did that. Even knowing that they testified for him, the interviews and circumstantial evidence in this doc are so powerful and believable, (I can say in advance) there's a very strong chance that I'm going to believe their reasons for testifying for him. The pattern of manipulating and gaining the trust of the adults involved is something that most of these kinds of cases seem to have in common.

 

[fljoe0]

After Neverland

Parts 1 and 2 and the Oprah interview.

I totally believe these two men.

I finished the 2nd part and the Oprah interview. I completely believe these guys and I understand the testimony from Wade in 2005. What makes this documentary essential to watch is that so much of the grooming is on film and this entire 20+ year story is all there for us to get an understanding about how this happens. We've heard interviews from people that were abused by people close to them as children but never got such a complete picture as this doc gives us.

It's interesting how differently the two guys handled this. Wade put it in the back of his brain and basically tried to pretend it didn't happen and James never could do that. I think the scene that really showed the difficulty that James was having was when he was showing the jewelry Jackson had given him. That was tough to watch. The fact that he had not gotten rid of the jewelry says a lot about the internal struggle he is having with this.

This is just brutal to watch but I think it's important to see so that we can recognize the red flags.

The parents here were bad but I don't have as harsh an opinion of them as I did before. I can see how they were groomed by Jackson as well (I'm not letting them off the hook but I can see how they were manipulated). It's crazy that Michael leave his mansion and would stay at the Safechuck's house in the suburbs and eat dinner there and spend the night. He became a family member to them and that was all part of the process.

 

[Dana Jean]

I finished the 2nd part and the Oprah interview. I completely believe these guys and I understand the testimony from Wade in 2005. What makes this documentary essential to watch is that so much of the grooming is on film and this entire 20+ year story is all there for us to get an understanding about how this happens. We've heard interviews from people that were abused by people close to them as children but never got such a complete picture as this doc gives us.

It's interesting how differently the two guys handled this. Wade put it in the back of his brain and basically tried to pretend it didn't happen and James never could do that. I think the scene that really showed the difficulty that James was having was when he was showing the jewelry Jackson had given him. That was tough to watch. The fact that he had not gotten rid of the jewelry says a lot about the internal struggle he is having with this.

This is just brutal to watch but I think it's important to see so that we can recognize the red flags.

The parents here were bad but I don't have as harsh an opinion of them as I did before. I can see how they were groomed by Jackson as well (I'm not letting them off the hook but I can see how they were manipulated). It's crazy that Michael leave his mansion and would stay at the Safechuck's house in the suburbs and eat dinner there and spend the night. He became a family member to them and that was all part of the process.

Well said. This is exactly my thoughts. Michael groomed everyone. Slowly, methodically and completely.

They loved Michael. They would have done anything to protect him. I even think if he was still alive they would continue to protect him. Without his influence on his fan base and the boys/men today, (even though contact was sporadic) I think they were able to finally break free of this spell Michael had over them.

And both men are risking everything by coming forward now. We see these rabid Jackson fans who give them death threats.

They finally are able to speak the truth and try to heal themselves. It is very sad. And pedophiles can be your absolutely favorite celebrity. They can have their public watching all the good things they do (charitable, talent-wise) while still being a predator. And some will say, Michael didn't have a childhood and he's just a naive child himself being playful -- no. He's an adult man and he knew what he did was wrong. Because he groomed them not to tell or they were all in trouble.

And I still believe that McCaulay Culkin and Corey Feldmen were abused by Michael, despite what they say. They just aren't there to tell yet. And maybe they never will be.

 

[Dana Jean]

The Disappearance of Madeline McCann

This is a very interesting documentary. Detailed and thorough.

Her parents started out as sympathetic figures and turned into suspects. The mother's stoic attitude was difficult for me to process. But, she is British and they are very much stiff-upper-lip type people in general. (Not a sweeping statement about the British.)

Coming away from this, I do not feel that the parents had a thing to do with her disappearance. But, I do place a lot of blame on them. I hate that I do, but I do. I am being completely judgmental about it. I admit it.

They left a 3 year old and two 1 year old twins alone in their room at the resort. Alone. They were close, true, but not that close. Not close enough.

I would have never left my little children alone on vacation in a foreign land ever. Ever. I do think they were negligent.

Where is this little girl? What happened to her? Another one of these crimes from long ago I think about from time to time and so wish could be solved.

 

[fljoe0]

Well said. This is exactly my thoughts. Michael groomed everyone. Slowly, methodically and completely.

They loved Michael. They would have done anything to protect him. I even think if he was still alive they would continue to protect him. Without his influence on his fan base and the boys/men today, (even though contact was sporadic) I think they were able to finally break free of this spell Michael had over them.

And both men are risking everything by coming forward now. We see these rabid Jackson fans who give them death threats.

They finally are able to speak the truth and try to heal themselves. It is very sad. And pedophiles can be your absolutely favorite celebrity. They can have their public watching all the good things they do (charitable, talent-wise) while still being a predator. And some will say, Michael didn't have a childhood and he's just a naive child himself being playful -- no. He's an adult man and he knew what he did was wrong. Because he groomed them not to tell or they were all in trouble.

And I still believe that McCaulay Culkin and Corey Feldmen were abused by Michael, despite what they say. They just aren't there to tell yet. And maybe they never will be.

I believe McCauley until he says different but there is something very telling about his brother Kieran. Kieran has always refused to say anything on the subject which tells me that even if nothing happened, he doesn't want to defend Jackson.

 

[ghost19]

The Disappearance of Madeline McCann

This is a very interesting documentary. Detailed and thorough.

Her parents started out as sympathetic figures and turned into suspects. The mother's stoic attitude was difficult for me to process. But, she is British and they are very much stiff-upper-lip type people in general. (Not a sweeping statement about the British.)

Coming away from this, I do not feel that the parents had a thing to do with her disappearance. But, I do place a lot of blame on them. I hate that I do, but I do. I am being completely judgmental about it. I admit it.

They left a 3 year old and two 1 year old twins alone in their room at the resort. Alone. They were close, true, but not that close. Not close enough.

I would have never left my little children alone on vacation in a foreign land ever. Ever. I do think they were negligent.

Where is this little girl? What happened to her? Another one of these crimes from long ago I think about from time to time and so wish could be solved.

This one sounds interesting. I'll have to check this one out, DJ.

 

[Dana Jean]

This one sounds interesting. I'll have to check this one out, DJ.

What's wild about it, they had big big money backing them. You would think that would wield results! They had a millionaire step up as a benefactor. JK Rowling and others donated to funds to help search for Maddie. They had the money to hire private jets and go from one appearance to another, from one place to another to distribute flyers and to talk to the community about helping them find her. And the family was criticized for the slick campaign they waged. But, if I was a parent of a missing child, I guarantee I would accept all money, I would accept all help and I would move heaven and earth with the money back-up to find my kid.

The first private investigators they hired had a very good investigator, but the company wasn't interested in finding maddie, they wanted the publicity for the company. (That good investigator no longer works for that company). They got taken by another big name detective agency completely. Shockingly!

It's a very good documentary and I hope it somehow inspires the right person who knows something to just let these poor parents know what happen to this kid.

 

[ghost19]

What's wild about it, they had big big money backing them. You would think that would wield results! They had a millionaire step up as a benefactor. JK Rowling and others donated to funds to help search for Maddie. They had the money to hire private jets and go from one appearance to another, from one place to another to distribute flyers and to talk to the community about helping them find her. And the family was criticized for the slick campaign they waged. But, if I was a parent of a missing child, I guarantee I would accept all money, I would accept all help and I would move heaven and earth with the money back-up to find my kid.

The first private investigators they hired had a very good investigator, but the company wasn't interested in finding maddie, they wanted the publicity for the company. (That good investigator no longer works for that company). They got taken by another big name detective agency completely. Shockingly!

It's a very good documentary and I hope it somehow inspires the right person who knows something to just let these poor parents know what happen to this kid.

I can remember following that case when it happened on the news. I always thought the parents seemed a bit stoic about the abduction but then again, they're British, like you said and their reaction was a bit different. Still, you always have to look at the parents first in any child abduction. I may have missed you saying but is that one Netflix?

 

[Dana Jean]

I can remember following that case when it happened on the news. I always thought the parents seemed a bit stoic about the abduction but then again, they're British, like you said and their reaction was a bit different. Still, you always have to look at the parents first in any child abduction. I may have missed you saying but is that one Netflix?

Yes, Netflix.

 

[ghost19]

Yes, Netflix.

Thank you ma'am.

 

[Dana Jean]

I believe McCauley until he says different but there is something very telling about his brother Kieran. Kieran has always refused to say anything on the subject which tells me that even if nothing happened, he doesn't want to defend Jackson.

As should I believe McCaulay.

But, I just can't knowing how good Michael was at making these boys believe this was their secret love, special and unique and magical. So, when asked "did he touch you" their answer would be no because the kind of touch they were inferring was molestation, not relationship love. Even Wade and James didn't believe it was molestation as children, they believed it was a unique love. Touching out of love, not out of abuse.

 

[fljoe0]

As should I believe McCaulay.

But, I just can't knowing how good Michael was at making these boys believe this was their secret love, special and unique and magical. So, when asked "did he touch you" their answer would be no because the kind of touch they were inferring was molestation, not relationship love. Even Wade and James didn't believe it was molestation as children, they believed it was a unique love. Touching out of love, not out of abuse.

One thing that may have been in McCauley's favor is that his brother was always with him. That may have made it more difficult for abuse. Also, McCauley has a difficult father. This may be one instance where a difficult father helps. Also, McCauley was already very famous and the other boys weren't. So, the Culkin family may not have been as easy to manipulate.

 

[Dana Jean]

One thing that may have been in McCauley's favor is that his brother was always with him. That may have made it more difficult for abuse. Also, McCauley has a difficult father. This may be one instance where a difficult father helps. Also, McCauley was already very famous and the other boys weren't. So, the Culkin family may not have been as easy to manipulate.

All very true. Obviously Michael didn't abuse every single kid. He did pick and choose and McCaulay being famous also may have made him more off limits. He'd have power, money and fans behind him too.

 

[Dana Jean]

That's a great idea! I think I was paralyzed by the first step being clothes because that will probably take the longest. I fractured my ribs on Jan. 22nd and it's been a slow road to improvement. (Good news is, I was able to sleep on my good side as opposed to trying to sleep sitting up, for the first time a few days ago. Yay!) I think that is super helpful advice - doing the things that are conquerable first!

Hope your ribs are behaving.

Just wanted you to know I am done with my kitchen.

Every drawer, every cabinet, behind the fridge, inside the fridge, under the sink, above the cabinets -- absolutely every single thing in my kitchen is now clean and organized. It looks so damn good and I open a drawer or cabinet and I know exactly where everything is. I scrubbed down everything inside and out, it's made a huge difference. So organized and efficient!

So, like I said, it took me a while to get here, but I'm here and now I've moved onto my bedroom. I was going to do my craft room but I was feeling so inspired by the kitchen, I was ready to tackle my bedroom. And that will also take me a while. I can't do it all in a day or two. But, every drawer, every space I clean is that much done.

I actually filled a 55 gallon trash bag of clothes. It is so heavy, I will need help loading it in my car to donate. It was crazy how much I was hanging onto. And why? why?

I have decided to start valuing myself. All this chaos was not valuing myself.

The real nightmare space is going to be the garage. Ugh. That's going to take a while. But, a box a day, an area a week. I'll get it done without too much stress. A little sweat equity, but letting go of crap is feeling great.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...."letting go of crap".....

 

[morgan]

Hope your ribs are behaving.

Just wanted you to know I am done with my kitchen.

Every drawer, every cabinet, behind the fridge, inside the fridge, under the sink, above the cabinets -- absolutely every single thing in my kitchen is now clean and organized. It looks so damn good and I open a drawer or cabinet and I know exactly where everything is. I scrubbed down everything inside and out, it's made a huge difference. So organized and efficient!

So, like I said, it took me a while to get here, but I'm here and now I've moved onto my bedroom. I was going to do my craft room but I was feeling so inspired by the kitchen, I was ready to tackle my bedroom. And that will also take me a while. I can't do it all in a day or two. But, every drawer, every space I clean is that much done.

I actually filled a 55 gallon trash bag of clothes. It is so heavy, I will need help loading it in my car to donate. It was crazy how much I was hanging onto. And why? why?

I have decided to start valuing myself. All this chaos was not valuing myself.

The real nightmare space is going to be the garage. Ugh. That's going to take a while. But, a box a day, an area a week. I'll get it done without too much stress. A little sweat equity, but letting go of crap is feeling great.

Good for you! I bet that feels amazing!

 

[Blake]

about the history of 2000 AD comics.

 

[Blake]

also a documentary featuring Clive Barker.