Im Westen nichts Neues (All Quiet on the Western Front)

Ideological exuberance devastatingly clashes with abysmal import, as new recruits head to the trenches mind-bogglingly eager to do their part.

The crushing realities having been kept generally tight-lipped amongst the influential, the daily terror and the resounding menace not quite as romantic as old school sword-fighting (see MacBeth).

But the adoring dreams jingoistically cultivated with envious furor and imperial venom, have concretely created joyous optimism overwhelmingly destined for chaotic discord.

How could those responsible continue the campaign, when only children were left to call up to refill the ranks that were clearly suffering?

How could monotonous ideals still stubbornly endure amidst the reckless bombardment, of mechanized condemnatory contradiction uniformly proving just recalcitrance?

But they do, they still do today, and they've once again become widespread and persuasive, notably within the war in Ukraine where Russia has clearly been deluded.

With a widespread dismissal of alternatives and a unilateral focus on master and slave, the fascists cruelly and abominably wage woebegone destruction with merciless rancour.

Fortunately, the free people of Ukraine are capable of multilateral thought, which inevitably outwits absolutism with inherent character and formidable verve.

People will argue that a cultural focus on the needs of the many is yet another form of absolutism, but how does food to eat and multivariable pastimes lead to a singular demarcation?

If manifold businesses with corresponding counterparts judiciously compete within a regulated sphere, antitrusts eventually level the field to promote newfound trajectories while nurturing tradition.

Thus, there is no absolutism, the absolute cannot coercively materialize, the checks and balances ensure constructive fluid motion and the liquidation of totalitarian trusts.

Do you really want only one store to buy clothes in, and only two or three restaurants where you can eat, and to accept what they provide with neither question nor critical infrastructure designed to inspect them?

Do you not want the liberating option to try new things regardless of race or income?

Do you want to transform a brilliant world full of life?

Into dull autocratic inertia?

Disgyblaeth ragorol. Aberth anghymharol. Mae'r Wcráin ddihysbydd.

Smacht eiseamláireach. íobairt incomparable. An Úcráin gan teorainn.

Nintendo

Limber lexicon flimflam

syntactical patchwork shazam 

irradial hypnotic beat

pulsating paralyzed surfeit

replete upbraided burly tressin'

parenthaisy convalescin'

laidback larynlynx conceita

brandybrine merminxy 'screeta

torc transisting taut tangelo

impersisting mandrake mellow

mood dishragamuffin thumpy

chortlin' pterofractyl frumpy

indiscretion lamplit loop

raspberry requisitioned root

computed imprecise mammalian 

neutred hoovering hogtailin'

whirl.

Meshi (Repast)

The rigid structure once naturalized since time immemorial so it seemed, the man diligently thriving at work, the wife taking care of the home.

It now appears rather out of touch with fluid non-specific schematics, which see both partners animately working while sharing household chores at the end of the day.

I'm not entirely sure how it works, but I imagine contemporary partners function multilaterally, perhaps cooking on alternate nights, and cleaning together on the weekend.

As time passes, I reckon the division of labour organically corresponds to habitual preference, within relevant temporal constraints, incorporating time and variability.

Do couples indeed function this way as time progresses and patterns emerge?

Or is it only read about in books and newspapers?

Has corresponding data been reasonably compiled?

In Meshi (Repast), there isn't much of an alternative for Michiyo (Setsuko Hara) besides the life of a traditional housewife, the socioeconomic style of the times having yet to embrace gender equality. 

She finds her life rather dull and becomes frightened by her future prospects (they live in suburbia), especially after her husband's (Uehara as Hatsunosuke) pretty cousin (Yukiko Shimazaki as Satoko) comes to visit, and he engages her in conversation.

Michiyo leaves to stay with family and her husband is left to monotonously deal, he's actually not such a bad guy though, and patiently accepts his solitary predicament.

He certainly has the more active role empirically equipped with inherent mobility, but he isn't cruel and dismissive either, he loves his wife and doesn't flaunt his advantage.

She eventually realizes he's a catch even though he's dependable and trustworthy, and the two reestablish their conjugal trajectory, director Mikio Naruse presenting their union idyllically. 

Her husband's rather chill and accepting and would likely have played a role in instigating change (Meshi's from 1951). 

And perhaps would have learned to be more spontaneous as well.

To take Michiyo out to dinner more often. 

Fyrirmyndar agi. Óvioðjafnanleg fórn. Hin óþrjótandi Úkraína.

Példaértékű fegyelem.  Összehasonlíthatatlan áldozat. A kimeríthetetlen Ukrajna.

Girl with Green Eyes

Who knows how to orchestrate equanimous relations amongst the genders, perhaps the hottest topic throughout multidisciplinary millennia, although I have my suspicions that if you're thinking about it you've missed the gregarious point, successful couples finding a steady routine, which generally dismisses such questions. 

Although I suppose that's just best case, I don't have real world marriage stats to consult, and I usually only see couples on festive occasions, when they're theoretically much less disposed to argument.

Nevertheless, the constructive ebb and flow of power relations and the means of production, seem to prosper when listening is encouraged and both parties reasonably yield, yin and yang harmoniously hypothesizing as heartstrings harken holistic, while some things remain immutable, lucidity of paramount import.

Although seeing things clearly can infuriate at times, mistakes and rash decisions, even impromptu reckoning, encouraging excitement and irrational versatility (romance).

The cultural codes Kate Brady (Rita Tushingham) rebels against are much too bland and dishonourably restrictive, you can see why so many women are furious when immersed within such environments. 

Every aspect of her entire life is to be controlled and managed by men, and should she attempt to stray from the path dire convictions warrant sincere distress.

She embraces manifest courage and makes a break for it into the void, wherein which she encounters reasonability of a flexible nature and appealing uncertainty. 

There's no doubt that her initial circumstances are severe and unsustainable, and that it's cruel to imprison anyone within such a bona fide panopticon. 

Not to suggest there should be no boundaries upholding stable regenerative consistency, unless two or more people fortuitously meet who can resourcefully function without guide or structure, but when such boundaries stiltedly stifle latent creativity and flourishing imagination, they should indubitably face passionate scrutiny, in order to encourage interactive athleticism. 

Brady learns difficult lessons through tantamount trial and exacting error, and seems much more naturally resilient thanks to her experimental resolve.

It's difficult to imagine how intolerant things must have been way off way back when.

She doesn't even set out to be rebellious.

Glad there's much more freedom these days. 

Eksemplarisk disciplin. Uforligeligt offer. Det uudtømmelige Ukraine.

Eksemplarisk disiplin. Usammenlignelig offer. Det uuttømmelige Ukraina.

Spalding

Serendippin' shiggle slather

layered multitud'nous batter

inconspicuous convection

gastronomic in/digestion

lyrical concentric kelvin

nodes in caliseccentric velvin

incommuniavocado 

guac melodious staccato

rend pétanque portfolio

in vibrant vivid carousewn

frittoto ruby red rapscallion

peelin' palimpsted pervalian

tetral fuel fortuitous

extemporary impetus

adjust align alight aquiver

dalliance dissonantly zithered

thrifting.

When We Were Kings

It's tough to determine the varying degrees through which codes classify sensations, but the boxing legend introduced in When We Were Kings as Muhammad Ali is like the bona fide quintessential genuine.

I've never seen an athlete so at ease while rapidly sharing points of view, with pinpoint provocative picturesque poignancy, I have to admit, I was a bit overwhelmed.

Without rehearsing he sincerely presents multiple compelling thoughts and observations, without worrying how they'll be interpreted, or what people might shockingly think.

It's pure ironclad honest discourse which doesn't hesitate or pause, and also has cool things to say, what an incredible entertainer.

With idyllic public relations, Ali expertly holds the crowd, with carefree innocent freeform inspiration, like he truly was touched by God.

Perhaps brought about by character gained by his refusal to fight in Vietnam, the essential prominent humanistic integrity righteously disseminating goodwill and purpose.

With the advent of social media and the extra layer of thoughtful scrutiny, media sensations face quite the struggle when suddenly engaging the critical public.

And even though you would think remarkable variability would generally spread with unconcerned expression, the age old mass marketed commercial prejudice still seems to be manifesting one-dimensional stereotypes.

It seemed like within an open-minded spectrum composed with respect and multilateral dignity, alternative ideas would resoundingly flourish in what's oft referred to as friendly conversation.

Not in terms of the monstrous dissonance chaotically cultivated by the resurgent far right, nor the exceedingly suffocating rules prudishly administered by the far left.

But a less lucrative and spellbinding continuum bound to sell far fewer newspapers, wherein which less sarcastic and vitriolic peeps fluently inquire and delve and reckon.

Nevertheless, I imagine that even within the quasi-totalitarian discourse, Muhammad Ali's imaginative voice still would have wondrously shone through.

With ethical poise and cultural understanding, literally like no other mass media sensation, it's like smoothly flowing poetic jazz music freely offered with upstanding nerve.

I wholeheartedly recommend When We Were Kings to anyone who deals with media.

A crash course in vital fluidity.

Presented in verdant balm.

Wouldn't financial geniuses focusing on a way to facilitate widespread commercial and personal debt forgiveness, without detrimentally affecting the economy, socioculturally prosper in the contemporary global climate?

Esimerkillistä kurinalaisuutta. Vertaansa vailla oleva uhraus. ehtymätön Ukraina.

Disciplina ejemplar. Sacrificio incomparable. La inagotable Ucrania.

Sounder

Full of well-meaning spirits and calm regenerative congeniality, a trusted backwoods family resiliently scrapes by, working hard but not left with much due to the colour of their skin, wage equality still a long ways off, along with equal opportunity.

Generally speaking, reasonable goodwill assurédly structures their social relations, Paps (Paul Winfield) even pitching for a local baseball team, his family adoringly watching close by.

But one night temptation assails his oft self-sacrificing composure, and frustration from a lack of success hunting leads him to steal meat from the town's local smokehouse.

Had he earned more from the most recent harvest he wouldn't have been so uncharacteristically covetous, poverty rationally driving people to extremes especially when it's regarded with cultural invariability. 

He's taken to a local work camp where he's forced to spend a year toiling, his oldest son (Kevin Hooks) stricken with wholesome regret, his resourceful mom (Cicely Tyson) offering loving counsel.

When his son comes trying to find him he stumbles upon an African-American school, with a dedicated inspirational teacher (Myrl Sharkey) who takes a curious supportive shine.

She loans him some rather thick books and offers him a place to sit back and learn.

But to take it he'll have to move.

After his father returns with a salient injury.

The feisty ingenuity of learning and education constructively reverberates in Martin Ritt's Sounder, where schooling and bold instruction foster change and imaginative verve.

It's motivating to see the enthusiastic student overflowing with determination to improve, in a respectful and challenging environment creatively founded by genuine altruism.

It's a wonderful time the school days when you're surrounded by multivariability, and several different subjects to study, with other students also keenly appreciative.

So much diversified potentiality eagerly disseminating widespread fascination, with practical knowledge and theoretical know-how manifestly awaiting novel syntheses.

Through active engagement with the storytelling arts such inquisitive wonder is proactively sustained. 

So many ideas so much latent productivity.

Sincerely brought about.

By compassionate educators. 💗

Wzorowa dyscyplina. Niezrównana ofiara. Niewyczerpana Ukraina.

That was a pretty cool Super Bowl. Nice to see Mahomes win once again. Even though I've been more excited about the Super Bowl in the past, that game didn't disappoint, from start to finish it was impacting, with a fumble return touchdown, along with a big special teams play. Nice to see. The AFC West becomes the second division with three teams who have won the Super Bowl three times (still need 3 more wins plus a Chargers win to tie the NFC East if I'm not mistaken), although one of them's technically never won (there's a cool riddle there). Sad there's no more football till June. Crazy year. Back to hockey and basketball. 

Raptors!

*I went off about the refs last year.

Vorbildliche Disziplin. Unvergleichliches Opfer. Die unerschöpfliche Ukraine.

Afield

Contumely clashing bold colossi

gnarled and gnashing legion loci

vintage vetted febrile frenzy

unindebted tactile sentries

one inherently imposing

juggernautically composing

crazed curricular compounding

praised impregnable surmounting

yet another smoothly strives

through paramount perdition thrives

phenomenally forthright faring

stern formidable forbearing

what to suddenly expect

hypothesize surmise detect?!

outrageous outcomes undefined

predictions zealously refined

audible.

NFL Playoffs, Super Bowl Pick

Kansas City Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles: have to admit that even though these were the two most likely teams to make the Super Bowl, I'm still somewhat taken aback, I thought the Bills would compete this year for sure, especially after that huge storm in December (like New Orleans winning after Katrina). The Allen/Mahomes rematch has been put on hold nevertheless, the Mahomes/Burrow rematch favouring the Chiefs, who seem like underdogs in this one (even if that sounds nonsensical). The Eagles exploited San Fran's QB issues in the most disappointing playoff game in recent memory, but there's no doubt they scored plenty versus that defence, who did spend most of the first half on the field. From what I've seen from Philadelphia, they look super unstoppable, like an impenetrable marble wall, backed up by an outstanding offence. When they had to make huge plays they made them and slowly chipped away at the formidable 49ers. Definitely tough to beat them. Also difficult to take on Mahomes. It's strange when you consider that the best QB in the NFL seems like the Super Bowl underdog, that doesn't make much sense, Kansas City's defence also played well. But things were closer in their games but would they have been if Mahomes hadn't been injured?, without recourse to the multiverse there's no answer, but one less penalty and I may have been picking the Bengals. Nonetheless, Philadelphia and Kansas City struggled for a really long time, and their loyal fans stuck with them, cool to see the success, forever, go Broncos! There's nothing quite like your favourite team making the Super Bowl, it's a wonderful time, no arguments there. The last time a team I wanted to win the Super Bowl came out on top it was in fact the Eagles (I guess I was rooting for Tampa too), but this time I'm taking the Chiefs, it'd be cool to see another Kansas City win. Another Kansas City win and the AFC West becomes the second division with 3 teams to win the Super Bowl three times (Las Vegas technically has to win the Super Bowl again [even though the Raiders have won three times, they've never won in Las Vegas]). Hey. That's not too shabby. The Chargers still need to pick up that first win. They've got a solid team. Whatever. Go Broncos!

Top Gun: Maverick

In terms of successful careers, of maintaining an enviable cool for 35 to 40 years, Tom Cruise is practically in a class of his own, only Tom Hanks perhaps as comparable, it's incredible how many solid films they've made in my lifetime.

As far as I know, Cruise has never starred alongside a dog, nor engaged in nonsensical shenanigans, he's been sure and steady throughout most of my life, and in terms of action-adventure, in a league of his own.

Regarding consistency, his films are usually cool with numerous elaborate death-defying sequences, to make so many over such a long span of time is a definitive salute to finesse and professionalism. 

Take Top Gun: Maverick, within there's a new generation of actors one of whom may have a career that rivals his own, and it's his responsibility to guide them on a dangerous highly-specialized mission.

His character's idyllic cool he's been playing by his own rules for impressive decades, in the armed forces no less, that's an outstanding feat.

But can he trust these younger pilots to execute their mission with impeccable precision, as he teaches them what no one else can efficiently transmit through heroic calm and legendary expenditure? 

In the end, no, a way is found for him to take part in the mission itself, an indefatigable challenge to the youth of today to have a Hollywood run as successful as his own (that is just an interpretation and by no means reflects what Tom Cruise actually intended).

I suppose when engaging in extremely precise and resoundingly requisite covert missions, the first run should be trusted to the most gifted personnel, who have passed the unrelenting onslaught of multivariable tests designed to flexibly discover the most loyal and battle worthy.

But there's still what I (and probably many others) call game time instincts, the skills that can only be developed in the field against intense opposition, and a well-rounded spectrum of diverse soldiers and pilots can perhaps ensure greater success under such conditions.

I'm thinking of Saint-Loup's admiration for the bakers and other less aristocratic soldiers in World War I (In Search of Lost Time), and the British pilots who extemporaneously arose during the Battle of Britain to outmaneuver Nazi scum.

Had a wide spectrum of diverse capability not been trusted to exceptionally command (isn't this why the American economy has traditionally functioned so well?), would the haughty Nazis or even Putin's Russians have had greater success on the field of battle?

You can no doubt simulate similar conditions but there's no substitute for direct engagement.

Will anyone ever perform as well for such a long period of time as Mr. Cruise?

I doubt I'll see it again in my lifetime. 

Perennially committed to entertaining through cinema. 

Obviously when I'm searching for Latam, I'm not searching for Latam Airlines. 

I'm searching for geographical Latam.

With its abundant capybaras! 

*If hoping to view wild capybaras, I recommend taking Latam Airlines. 😊

Exemplarisk disciplin. Ojämförlig uppoffring. Det outtömliga Ukraina.

After viewing several sloths on Nature's Miracle Orphans, I have to admit they look wiser and more playful than other animals. It's cool when they go swimming.

Sloth noses: incredibly adorable. 

Voorbeeldige discipline. Onvergelijkbaar offer. Het onuitputtelijke Oekraïne.

Elvis

It's surprising more films haven't been made about Elvis (Austin Butler), and that it took so long for this one to come out, but I suppose rock bioflicks aren't really that common, or that I don't recall one having been made about the Beatles or Rolling Stones.

A big one anyways.

You'd think there'd be a huge market for stylistic glimpses into chaotic yesteryear, but perhaps said fans no longer care much for movies, and multigenerational appeal remains too risky (The Doors was cool in my youth).

Elvis's influence was waning when I was younger but he was still widely regarded as The King, and no other musical performer ever rivalled his incredible American popularity, there were certainly dozens of potential candidates, but no one else commensurately captured that sensational spotlight so smoothly.

So pervasively.

I liked many of his songs and even enjoyed playing them on the piano, but I wasn't that interested in the phenomenon, I was way more into Brit pop.

He had kind of been identified with the more straight and narrow path, and I often associated his music with study, which made it less appealing.

Baz Luhrmann is no doubt aware of this crisp commercial characterization, his film focusing on controversies from Elvis's life, where he spoke out against the grain.

Like a passionate devoted fan, he chronicles the less wholesome aspects of the King, and serializes his sultry swagger in contumacious cordial conflict.

Although I really don't know how seriously a non-traditional Christmas special challenged Woodstock, but it seemed to work according to the film, and helped him regain the centre stage, I wholeheartedly feel no shame for my love of Christmas specials.

The film focuses much of its attention on Elvis's relationship with his manager (Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker), who took advantage of the singer's naivety to earn an astronomical income.

Everything starts off well but things become tricky when it comes to international travel, since the Colonel has no legal identity and can't leave America, he consistently tricks Elvis into remaining stateside.

Such a shame the managerial aspects the real-world greed that complicates art.

Elvis still never stopped givin' 'er.

Even when he was forced to do so practically every night.

Some of his songs seem truly timeless and I'll still stop and listen like that guy on Seinfeld. 

Staple tradition. Consistent change. 

Shouldn't lyrics have been used in the title?

Disciplina exemplar. Sacrifício incomparável. A inesgotável Ucrânia.

Discipline exemplaire. Sacrifice incomparable. L'inépuisable Ukraine!

Cyborg

Soundtracked decibel deductive

flip acoustic repercussive

rollin' strollin' rhythmic rustles

folkal cataclysmic fluffle

aeronauseous meteors

galactic practic pompadour

frenetic fringe horizonless

irrelevant rhapsodic bliss

semantic synergistic steeping

simmering stylistic bleeping

looped liaising ludic larking

introspective frugal farthing

limitless relationless

soliloquized fugacious

flip-flopped fluidic 'nertial sands

pulsating 'tasmagoric glands

cordial.

The Horse's Mouth

I imagine The Horse's Mouth has been inspiring cheek for generations, as it magnanimously schemes through stray ludicrous accord.

Hark then, take offhand note, an imaginative artist is released from prison, immediately resuming the stress thereafter which initially led to his foul distemper.

Thus, with no income at hand and no commission retroactively forthcoming, a theoretical deal which may have merit seductively swelters in sordid cynosure.

Strange how someone so sought after just wildly wanders half-starved and disputative, you would think there'd be some kind of role for him to adequately play with solemn disinterest?

But wandering salubriously suits him with soliloquized synergies short and syncopated, the odd connoisseur taking distracted note, random deals struck fugaciously unaltered.

Inspiration indeed surely struts and mischievously materializes maelström and mayhem, as it does within The Horse's Mouth when idyllic lustre illustriously liaises. 

Indubitably, a frenzied subaltern is even enlisted with aggrieved bravado, the lack of orthodox laborious blueprints producing reluctant starstruck nebulae. 

No doubt encouraging flagrant entropy resiliently mutating into adamant verse. 

At times some things go amiss.

Textiles tantamount cantankered probity.

You wonder where he's headed in the auspicious final moments, imagine having a boat fortuitously buoyant and inquisitively seafaring.

I suppose if you can catch your dinner with moderate success there's no horizon, puzzling predicaments at times bemoaning yet still loose and lithe and limber.

With abundant material work may flourish beyond reckless trope and placated gale, regenerative lapse demonstrative brine lopsided latitude elegant shades.

Romance wasn't once so dangerous although tremulous realism distorts as well, without hope how do you ever achieve assuming a hearty practical frailty? 

Sometimes things relax and tactile comforts efficiently abound.

Soak it in, time for a breather.

It may even last.

'About on the seas.

*Essential viewing for Alec Guinness fans. It's like Obi-Wan Kenobi if he'd never had Jedi training. 

2022 Mix

2112, 1. Overture, 2. The Temples of Syrinx, Rush

Soul Love, David Bowie

Hoedown, Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Fat Old Sun, Pink Floyd

Volunteers (Live at Woodstock '69), Jefferson Airplane

Friend of the Devil, The Grateful Dead

Try (Just a Little Bit Harder), Janis Joplin

I've Just Seen a Face, The Beatles

Magic Carpet Ride, Steppenwolf

Hang Fire, The Rolling Stones

Fly at Night, Chilliwack

Good Times, Bad Times, Led Zeppelin

Badge, Cream

Piece of My Heart, Janis Joplin

One Rainy Wish, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Starship Trooper, Yes

One More Saturday Night, The Grateful Dead

Exemplary discipline. Incomparable sacrifice. The inexhaustible Ukraine.

Favourite Films Viewed in 2022

Ofelaš (Pathfinder)

Le Plaisir

Die Brücke (The Bridge)

L'Atalante

La soupe aux choux (Cabbage Soup)

West Side Story

Green Grow the Rushes

Storm Boy

Yajû no seishun (Youth of the Beast)

Sword of the Beast

Maelström

El espíritu de la colmena (The Spirit of the Beehive)

Modern Times

*Need to get this out earlier. It's been crazy busy.

Nezlamna nepohrishymisť! Kvintesentsiya Ukrayiny!