Senatorial Collaborators Whose Term of Service Expires in 2027

Added on January 12, 2026 by C. Maoxian.

All of these Senators have aided the enemy (Caligula?) in the destruction of our Republic; it is imperative that they are voted out of office in the midterm elections:

Capito, Shelley Moore (WV)
Cassidy, Bill (LA)
Collins, Susan M. (ME) — Janet Mills alternative
Cornyn, John (TX)
Cotton, Tom (AR)
Daines, Steve (MT)
Ernst, Joni (IA) — retiring, seat open
Graham, Lindsey (SC)
Hagerty, Bill (TN)
Hyde-Smith, Cindy (MS)
Lummis, Cynthia M. (WY) — retiring, seat open
Marshall, Roger (KS)
McConnell, Mitch (KY) — retiring, seat open
Mullin, Markwayne (OK)
Ricketts, Pete (NE)
Risch, James E. (ID)
Rounds, Mike (SD)
Sullivan, Dan (AK) — Mary Peltola alternative
Tillis, Thom (NC) — retiring, seat open
Tuberville, Tommy (AL) — retiring, seat open

Classic Double Entendre Repartee in The Big Sleep

Added on January 10, 2026 by C. Maoxian.

Speaking of horses, I like to play them myself. But I like to see them work out a little first. See if they're front-runners or come from behind. Find out what their whole card is. What makes them run.

Find out mine?

I think so.

Go ahead.

I'd say you don't like to be rated. You like to get out in front... ...open up a lead... ...take a little breather in the backstretch... ...and then come home free.

You don't like to be rated yourself.

I haven't met anyone yet that could do it. Any suggestions?

I can't tell till I've seen you over a distance of ground. You got a touch of class, but I don't know how far you can go.

A lot depends on who's in the saddle.

Lav Diaz’s Closet Picks in the Criterion Closet

Added on January 9, 2026 by C. Maoxian.

I’ve added the eleven movies that Lav Diaz picked in his Criterion Closet appearance:

Lost Highway
The Apu Trilogy
Le Samourai
Essential Fellini
Ingmar Bergman's Cinema
I Am Cuba
Werckmeister Harmonies
Naked
Persona
Ugetsu
Letters from Fontainhas: Three Films by Pedro Costa

Lav Diaz made one original pick: Letters from Fontainhas: Three Films by Pedro Costa. Identifying whether a pick is original or not is one reason why my Master List of Closet Picks in the Criterion Closet is so valuable.

Will Arnett’s Closet Picks in the Criterion Closet

Added on January 2, 2026 by C. Maoxian.

I’ve added the seven movies that Will Arnett picked in his Criterion Closet appearance:

Dekalog
John Cassavetes: Five Films
Les Blank: Always for Pleasure (rando pick)
Stranger than Paradise
The Double Life of Veronique
The Tin Drum
Withnail and I

Will Arnett made no original picks. Identifying whether a pick is original or not is one reason why my Master List of Closet Picks in the Criterion Closet is so valuable.

Florence Welch’s Closet Picks in the Criterion Closet

Added on January 2, 2026 by C. Maoxian.

I’ve added the eight movies that Florence Welch picked in her Criterion Closet appearance:

This is Spinal Tap
Häxan
I Married a Witch
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Pina
The Red Shoes
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Withnail and I

Florence Welch made one original pick, This Is Spinal Tap. Rob Reiner was recently murdered at age 78, allegedly by his troubled son. Identifying whether a pick is original is one reason why my Master List of Closet Picks in the Criterion Closet is so valuable.

Worst Adverse Excursions in December 2025

Added on January 1, 2026 by C. Maoxian.

December 2025 was another outstanding month for dingbats. There were only a handful of massive outlier moves during the month, which I’ve detailed below. You have to prevent yourself from tilting on these days, and reviewing old outlier moves is one way to inoculate yourself from tilt. Good luck!

Don’t forget to review the Worst Adverse Excursions in November 2025 (5) and the Worst Adverse Excursions in October 2025 (23!).

Click on the charts to enlarge them.

December 1: AHMA, FLYE