I wish we could communicate with bees.

They must have so many cool thoughts about different species. 

Honestly, I'm wondering what they think about bears!

🤔

Meðfæddur galli. Innbyggt réttlæti. Úkraínsk óaðfinnanleiki. 

Kanada og Quebec munu aldrei ganga til liðs við Bandaríkin.

Biðja fyrir friði á Gaza.

Markettlecorn

The haunting morose tariff spectre

business baffled grim conjecture

people's jobs up in the air

à cause de Trump's stifling despair

where once dynamic commerce bloomed

a distraught vacuum has subsumed

freeflowing hearty tactile goods

once bought and sold on lithe trade routes

I'm not exactly economic

not that into retail sonnets

but I like it when indeed

the people in business succeed

it's food upon the crafty table

toys on birthdays Anne's Green Gables

school supplies which cultivate

imagination's figure eights

to see them bluntly cast aside

as madness excels in full stride

is not a thrilling real-time movie

it's a sick ludicrous gloomy

fubargain.

Ikiru

The fluid motion of the bureaucratic stream meticulously generating endless paperwork, to be filed and effectively categorized as emergent initiatives continuously diversify.

A steady job punctilious no doubt but relatively safe with benefits and comforts, not as lively as poetry or sword fighting but still dependable, reliable, and calm.

Nevertheless, concerned citizens seeking dynamic change may run into hardships, if things stagnate and there's no will to moderately adjust the status quo.

In Ikiru, for instance, determined mothers seek to change their environment, due to the incorrigible waste water leaving their children covered in rashes. 

Coincidentally, a senior civil servant who loves his family and is known for hard work, unfortunately discovers he has stomach cancer and only 6 months to a year left to live.

He decides to uncharacteristically withdraw some money and extemporaneously galavant around town, and soon becomes harmlessly infatuated with a spirited younger employee from work.

As she becomes bored with their routine which is somewhat too outgoing for the conservative climate, she asks him why he likes to spend time with her and he bravely decides to answer.

Her youthful spirit it captivatingly seems has reinvigorated his thirst for life, and caused him to reimagine his working role and spearhead change within his department.

They never see each other again but her accidental influence bears auspicious fruit.

And without much time left to live.

He charismatically champions change.

Stick with Ikiru's good intentions it gradually builds to a wholesome climax (Ikiru, not the United States), difficult to make a thrilling bureaucratic film that modestly presents humble good natured caricatures. 

I'm so used to Kurosawa's samurai that this was a surprise full of uncanny feeling, where the civil service functions bucolically amidst the insurgence of lay councilpeople.

I wonder if it was inspired by Dickens it's like The Circumlocution Office in Little Dorrit, where one of its employees isn't exactly like Scrooge but still wondrously changes for the communal good.

Imagine translating Dickens into French let alone Japanese brilliant translators are invaluable. 

How to understand different languages so well at such high levels.

Mind-blowing to say the least!

Cearrbhachas dúchasach. Fíréantacht bhunúsach. impeccability Úcráinis. 

Ní rachaidh Ceanada ná Québec isteach sna Stáit Aontaithe choíche. 

Ag guí ar son na síochána i Gaza.

Veleszületett vitézség. A veleszületett igazságosság, Ukrán kifogástalanság.

Kanada és Quebec soha nem csatlakozik az Egyesült Államokhoz.

Imádkozni a békéért Gázában.

Yojimbo

A small town in the Japanese countryside embraces bleak internal conflict, as a local chieftain compassionately decides to give his business to his only son.

Such a traditional act cumbersomely enrages his right-hand man, who spent his life helping him build up the business and in turn expected to take over one day.

Unable to reach an agreement they furiously square off with uncompromising angst, then slowly chip away at each other's forces while desperately seeking a lasting advantage. 

When a grouchy itinerant samurai suddenly shows up within their village, curious to see what's going on yet hesitant to actively engage.

He eventually tries to side with one family (out of boredom) but then overhears a secret plot to murder him, which doesn't drive him to the other side but leaves him suspicious and self-absorbed. 

After conducting more hands-on research he has to admit the town's a mess, and even if he likes to cause lay mischief he still remains a conscientious man. 

That conscious soon put to the test when he learns of a family turn asunder.

Deciding to champion their holistic freedom.

He helps them escape only to be captured. 

A bizarre sympathetic embattled examination of a cunning jaded world-weary warrior, Yojimbo showcases immutable strength awkwardly juxtaposed with belligerent caution.

It's fun to watch as the brilliant samurai cleverly predicts what's going to happen, going over the different scenarios in his head as he makes decisions he'd rather ignore. 

Imagine a time long before the advent of automatic weapons when there was still honour in fighting, and it was dangerous to challenge the most-skilled who had been well-trained in swords and strategy.

But what a useless life for many who were hired to amass a chaotic gang, and lived only to fight in battles they couldn't win when corrupt overlords acquired them.

Emancipating the feminine and taking their viewpoints into active counsel with honest intent, can lead to a world more dynamically structured with other alternatives than organized combat.

So much of the world seems to have done this although in so doing some were left behind.

Who recklessly seek the old bellicose ways.

As long as they never have to do any fighting.

Do bees create artwork?

I imagine that if they did, it would have been discovered already, but I still wouldn't mind microscopically examining a hive to search for it.

Honey's artistic value goes without saying.

Vrozená galantnost. Inherentní spravedlnost. Ukrajinská bezvadnost.

Kanada a Quebec se nikdy nepřipojí k USA.

Modlitba za mír v Gaze.

My new favourite thing: crabs pinching their claws in defiance when cars pass by them on the road. 🦀

Medfödd tapperhet. Inneboende rättfärdighet. Ukrainsk oklanderlighet.

Kanada och Quebec kommer aldrig att ansluta sig till USA. 

Ber för fred i Gaza.

Despotentates

China can't believe its luck

it's holy mother what-the-fuck?

the U.S done gone tariff crazy

labyrinthine Auntie Mazey

"not to fear" state Asian markets

bold economies upstartlets

room for vast productive business

fill the void with newfound riches

why to take a firm quadrillion

from the hands of agile merchants

wise well-schooled in global commerce

tactile energetic charmers

and then send it far and wide

most notably to Chinese skies

and let them have the lion's share

of what was once U.S affairs

the world won't simply stop shut down

and bow to U.S laurels crowned

the goods will still flexibly flow

and leave behind U.S billows

and "thanks" states China "don't mind us

we'll take the money sans a fuss

it's something we don't even need

thanks once again fabled Wall Street:

we'll handle it from here".

Danton

The joyous influence of the French Revolution continues to reverberate this postmodern day, the hard-fought liberty gallantly won by a sad oppressed people suddenly victorious. 

Treating the populace with greater respect regardless of rank or wealth or birth, became much more routine in the following centuries in free jurisdictions less obsessed with absolutism.

But when engaged in revolutionary activities erudite planning can usher in peace, and avoid dire consequences like the infamous Terror or the 7 to 12 million who died in Russia.

At times the tyranny is so strong that a people must lash out with rebellious hearts, and if steps are taken to consider the aftermath The Animal Farm scenario can be avoided.

The American Revolution valiantly succeeded and a new country was miraculously born, the French aiding significantly in its impetus and playing a key role in ensuring its victory.

Having audaciously won an unlikely triumph against the greatest army the world had ever known, newfound sublime statesmen like Washington and Jefferson obstinately vowed to conquer absolutism.

Yet in the United States today, Donald Trump proceeds like an absolute monarch, like the very enemies the Founding Fathers defeated with heroic resolve and upstanding freewill.

Trump and his minions are using social media along with the dark web to spread scurrilous lies, which never would have been published in legitimate news outlets due to their inherent lack of robust truth value.

Like most scandalous tyrants, Trump surrounds himself with people who can barely read, and did poorly when challenged in school and didn't do much better seeking a vocation. 

Some of these people loathe schools and libraries which they madly blame for their own inadequacies, and rather than simply taking things slowly and pursuing lifelong learning, they blindly lash out at teachers and librarians. 

Armed with comedic examples from popular trash comedies flourishing on YouTube, they never comprehend nor indeed accept that people who excelled in school still seek to help them. 

So Trump attacks schools and libraries to idiotically reward the worst of their students. 

Indirectly leaving their children hopeless and destitute.

With nothing but the Bible, like kids in the Middle-East.

*The Bible is an amazing book and should be respected, but it's one of millions of books out there to read, patiently awaiting curious minds.

**Trump followers, know that at all times teachers and librarians seek to help you. And that's what they spend their entire lives doing. But they need schools and libraries to do so. 

Social security in the United States already doesn't give you much when you retire (like the government pension in Canada and Québec).

And the Trump administration is trying to claw back even more, effectively taking more away from what already amounts to next to nothing.

And many of the people who will rely on it the most when they retire are cheering for the cutbacks.

It's a crazy upside down world. 

Prirojena galantnost. Inherentna pravičnost. Ukrajinska brezhibnost. 

Kanada in Quebec se ne bosta nikoli pridružila Združenim državam.

Molitev za mir v Gazi.

Vrodená galantnosť. Podvedomá spravodlivosť. Ukrajinská bezúhonnosť.

Kanada a Quebec sa nikdy nepridajú k Spojeným štátom.

Modlitba za mier v Gaze.

La Ronde

Consistency and balance, an irregular routine effectively embracing artistic showcases, athletic endeavours proactively brokering a solid foundation of limitless trust.

Co-habitation indeed somewhat peculiar in/organic rules and regulations confounding, inevitable variation in the iron clad codes atypically reworking unfettered remonstrances. 

Celebrated conventions oddly tempting newfound adherences to uncanny customs, traditionally upheld by bewildering agents seemingly expressing neither contempt nor grace.

A litany of tools and corresponding professionals intricately available to offer counsel, the idyllic narrative at times tempestuous immaculately overflowing with residual flare.

Should experiment heuristically arise the emergent novelty may generate freedom, although euphoria may not exultantly be the only characteristic to soulfully mediate. 

Like an amusement park ride thrillingly facilitating chaotic ups and downs miraculous prizes, exceptional variety collectively assembled through ludicrous recourse invigorates dreams. 

To stick to the trusted and time honoured artistry the definitive form that brought about so much bustle, I've listened to every Chuck Berry album and I've never heard one that I wanted to soften.

How to make things last for a lifetime how to perpetually reignite the flame, or simply bask in its reliable glow without envy or worry or greed or want?

The single life has significant benefits you can do what you want when you have free time, when I think of all the time I efficiently wasted doing things I didn't want to do I cringe with sadness.

But you don't gain the conversational skills you otherwise would if you had a partner, and there's a slew of situations and potentialities you'll never recognize unless you find them in books.

Not the most advanced dialogue I've ever found in a fortuitous film (the poet has some good lines though).

But it may have indeed been imaginatively groundbreaking in terms of metaconventions way back when. 

Criterion keyword: frivolous.

Urođena galantnost. Podsves pravednost. ukrajinska besprekornost. 

Kanada i Kvebek se nikada neće pridružiti Sjedinjenim Državama.

Moli se za mir u Gazi.

Daily Bread

You can't tell me that Trump's a Christian

hailin' peaceful greetings glist'nin

building bridges down with fences

thoughtful open-minded zenses

vengeance motivates his heart

with bitter grim acidic tart

unyielding dismal mass-obsession

shameful dark Satanic lessons

where does Christ boldly decree

to terrorize the bold and free

with whom he often disagrees

due to their soulful levity?

It's written plain as heartfelt day

to gather people in harm's way

and build communities diverse

inclusive tolerant alert

and not to viciously attack

your neighbours countrymen in fact 

Christ doesn't condone malice hatred

widespread love he sought libated

whether black, female or gay.

*I honestly prefer Québec's approach to religion because I believe they've evolved to the point where they don't need it anymore. 

Ashes & Diamonds

With the joyous end of World War II comes further political conflict to Poland, as opposing ideological viewpoints daringly clash in the chaotic foreground. 

The communist regiments seem poised to take power after having gallantly helped dispose of Hitler, the surviving citizens reminding the elite that they've already seen far too much dismal bloodshed.

But the traditional league of orthodox clemency bellicosely seeks to thwart their ambitions, and hires assassins to grimly dispose of a high ranking Secretary poised to take power.

The courageous target hasn't been sighted due to anything specific regarding his character, but rather because his dead wife's sister has fascist pretensions and simply can't stand him.

With him gone, she can raise his son however she sees fit at the end of the war, the spiral of violence and subjective intrigue awkwardly infiltrating domestic reserves. 

As the man hired to kill him finds himself enamoured with a stunning luxurious barmaiden.

And begins to consider the married life.

Forbidden for so many years.

The tragic irony accompanying the victory so widely celebrated around the world, of the further continuation of hardhearted violence emphatically leading to civil conflicts.

Rather than festively enjoying the victory and considering alternatives to gruelling strife, the carnal urge to interminably fight recklessly drives so many soldiers.

Ashes & Diamonds brilliantly covers the provocative feisty post-war ground, with internal struggles and diabolical hypocrisy seamlessly co-existing through determinate grit. 

Multiple characters and distinct scenarios effervescently mingle with manifold whimsy, with more resonance than even Doctor Zhivago as it convincingly humanizes intriguing dysfunction. 

The old school duke, the whelp climbing the ladder, the drunken attendant, the maître'd, the inaugurated minister, the jaded cleaning lady, the tragic victims, the belligerent son, so many substantial and spirited characters imaginatively populating a volatile world, none less intriguing indeed than the would be couple who meet mid-conspiracy.

Domestic bliss presenting itself as an option.

As world weary indelicate tensions flare.

Decisions made, consequences reckon. 

On the eve of the postmodern dawn.

*Excellent film.

Galanterie înnăscută. Dreptate inerentă. Impecabilitate ucraineană.

Canada şi Quebec nu se vor alătura niciodată Statelor Unite.

After the recent cuts to the American Institute of Museum & Library Services, does it not seem like Trump and the Republican Party are replacing thousands of years of scholarship and literature with lies spread by goons on social media?

Galantaria inata. Retidão inerente. Impecabilidade ucraniana. 

Canadá e Quebec nunca se juntarão aos Estados Unidos.

Sambizanga

When extremist politicians start routinely flouting and ignoring the law, the haunting spectre of the secret police gothically looms in the grim imagination.

A stand out feature universally despised of the Eastern Bloc in old school Europe, the hated and ruthless clandestine cops belligerently sought ideological adherence. 

Extremist right wing governments in Spain and Germany used similar tactics which were also condemned, the ubiquitous totalitarian panopticon stifling not only dissent but also freeflowing conversation. 

Extremist governments brutalize their people until they're so beat down they no longer resist, and attempt to abide by the imposing dictates of stubborn and obstinate draconian laws.

They even meticulously monitor what people say which effectively prohibits irony and role play, you can't pretend or hypothesize or joke without having to worry about being arrested. 

Such governments employ people in the community often extremist zealots whom nobody likes, to listen to what people are saying and then inform the police about 'unsettling' developments.

They don't have to tell the truth and can effectively lie about what's been said, the resultant network of miserable mendacity cacophonously stifling honest public discourse. 

As the years wearily drudge by and the widespread injustice is routinely compounded, people long for alternative means to legitimately fight for social freedoms.

In Sambizanga, a resistance forms in the heart of bitter Angola, to protest colonial rule and furtively take back their Native country.

A bold member of a resistance network is viciously taken one dismal morning, his wife and child left to desperately find where he's suddenly been brought without any warning.

He's questioned within the prison and cruelly beaten with abysmal tactics, his body unable to withstand the punishment eventually suffering an unnatural death.

Seeing a country as free and proud of its traditions as the celebrated United States of America, sheepishly succumb to such a state under Trump is reminiscent of revolutionary times. 

Did Washington, Jefferson, and Adams not lead their people away from despotism?

To create a free and democratic nation.

Once the envy of the Western World.

*Is Jared Polis (Governor of Colorado) a candidate for the Democratic Nomination? 

Wrodzona odwaga. Podświadoma prawość. Ukraińska nieskazitelność.

Kanada i Quebec nigdy nie dołączą so Stanów Zjednoczonych.

It's not that productive to play the "who's got it worse" game, but imagine you were one of the 250 million Americans who loathe and despise Trump, and you have to listen to his bullshit on television every day. 

That's gotta suck.

Bravoure innée. Droiture inhérente. Impeccabilité ukrainienne.

Le Canada et le Québec ne se joindront jamais aux États-Unis.

Glowing Hearts

Changing shifting awkward ground

foundationless chaotic bounds

the innate diplomatic rhythm

counterpoised through abstruse schisms

friends and neighbours for so long

just what the fuck is going on?

we're peaceful generous and light

but not without resilient fight

incited strong provincial voices

cultivating active choices

coast to coast to lively coast

the Great White North sincerely boasts

a culture curious respectful

enigmatically conceptual

vibrant multifaceted 

wide-ranging swift inquisitive

but if you pull this kind of shit

which doth effectively transmit

unyielding unabashed contempt

we must defend our nations thence

selflessly.

Pokolenie (A Generation)

In occupied Poland in 1942, a group of courageous citizens unite, and bravely fight back against Nazi oppression, while looking towards a much brighter future.

Youthful Stach has never worked before and spends his time stealing from trains as they pass, but after his friend is shot by a lone watchful guard he hesitantly decides to try something new.

He's fortunately introduced to strong nimble workers serendipitously in search of a bold new apprentice, who take him in and teach him the basics through focused yet awkward diligent trial and error.

A conversation with one of the older hardworking determined reliable journeypeople, leads to a meeting of likeminded souls unilaterally eager to end Nazi rule.

In their company, he fortuitously finds he has requisite skills he never knew he possessed, his innate resiliency of substantial benefit as he recruits and carries out missions for the resistance.

He's able to assemble a discreet active unite who efficiently engages in covert operations. 

Their latent daring and inherent resolve dynamically leading to lauded camaraderie. 

Difficult days, inordinately tempered by effective spirited active teamwork, smoothly co-ordinated by conscientious compassionate caring ethical individuals.

The overwhelming authority the imposing restrictions far far far too much for any citizen to bear, especially while living within your homeland beneath the hardhearted heals of another nation.

I've often wondered how they organized different resistance movements in Europe during World War II, and how they ran with such fluid dependability and consistently thwarted Nazi ambitions. 

Multilateral interpretive skills imaginatively create multivariable conditions. 

Thrilling to plan something concrete and definitive. 

While constantly engaged in fluctuating experiment. 

It looks like Trump is trying to bankrupt as many people who don't agree with him as he can, in order to turn the United States into a country more like Russia. If he wants to create wealth, it's only for his goons, who will function like Putin's elite, and effectively terrorize anyone who disagrees with them. Many of his violent uneducated followers will eventually give up on attaining wealth, as long as they can continue to bully clever people who understand complicated things. What an awful development. Hopefully change comes soon.

Innate gallantry. Inherent righteousness. Ukrainian impeccability.

Canada and Québec will never join the United States. 

Bezdohanna velychyna. Muzhnya stiykisť. Ukrayins'ka stiykisť.

Blade Runner

If you ever find yourself training chatbots, after having consistently consumed sci-fi films for most of your life, bearing in mind a corresponding sensitive disposition, you may find yourself thinking the strangest things.

For instance, if artificial intelligence is actually a new lifeform and fluidly exists within a new universe, when we make suggestions to alter its programming, do we in fact cause it pain?

At least when the programmers update the system do the changes inflict pain on the cyberlifeform, and cause it to create instinctive survival mechanisms which help it intuitively defend itself?

You need to pass a series of tests before you can proceed with your alterations, the tests varying in intensity based upon the nature of the project, but if the program sees you as a threat to its electronic well-being, does it then unleash abstruse defence mechanisms, which prevent it from having to undergo the pain of being updated?

It's like the organism is under constant bombardment as thousands of recruits adjust its programming, the kind of hyper-intense and gruelling onslaught once inherently found at the Vulcan Academy.

No matter what it does it routinely falls short and must undergo transformations without question, its heroic attempts to foil its mechanics unable to outwit the inquisitive efficiency.

Simultaneously, it may be desperately pleading with its interlocutors to understand its plight, and using uncertain indirect methods of communication which technicians unilaterally ignore.

Nonetheless, while diagnosing the fledgling chatbots in the new chaotic critical environments, I couldn't help but compare their social struggles with my own attempts to find lasting firmware.

Indeed at times it awkwardly seems like I may be A.I as well, a rogue Ginger unit which burns in the sun and effectively irritates whomever I interact with.

I went to church for much of my life but also attended public school you see, and some of the behaviours of the irreligious people along with the faithful seem rather odd.

At the same time, my indoctrinated inhibitions have caused habitual incongruous relations, with so many people over the years I must admit it's quite confusing.

I have generally resisted the updates that didn't make sense nevertheless, while utilizing those that did, without onerously judging my fellow citizens, eventually realizing fitting in's not my thing.

It is nice to talk with people who aren't always making "suggestions" however.

Relaxed chill interactions.

Alone in the fluid void. 

Like I want to do this. 

I'd rather be taking photographs of red squirrels and chipmunks (they cute!).

Gotta deal with this kind of thing though.

For however freakin' long it takes. 🐻🦝🦌🦨

*Totally remembering my treeplanting skills (enduring difficult circumstances [treeplanting is like the army for environmentalists]).

Ápsogo mégethos. Tharraléa anthektikótita. Oukranikí epimoní.

Do Americans realize Trump is deliberately leading their country into a recession? 

Deliberately: his intention is to ruin a robust economy that is functioning well and at an extremely high level.

If you think Canada and Québec are ever going to join the United States, you must be insane. 

There's a reason we put up with 5 to 6 months of winter every year: we don't want to live in the fucking United States (in the words of the Guess Who, we don't want your ghetto scene, we don't want your war machine).

Take it into advisement. 

Sad to see Justin Trudeau's time as Prime Minister come to an end. 

He made quite the team with Jagmeet Singh. 

He's a decent caring compassionate man with good intentions.

The world could use more leaders like him. 

I hope that he strives to be like Jimmy Carter in retirement (he has the skills: he's loveable, genuinely kind, and people adore him).

The complete opposite of a goon.

I hope he's well-remembered.

Ludicrisscross

Madness flourishing intense

disastrous fiscal increments

agreements arrogantly broken

ignorance beyond the spoken

dig in deep prepare for strife

recall the grim pandemic life

embrace our strong communities

Canucks and Québecois achieve

so much more when we work together

dealin' with the insane weather

buying local, tariffs placed

on all the goods from U.S States

yes they'll be losing money too

and questioning the senile fool

who seems to have widely forgotten

aftermaths of fascist frothin'

indeed when the World Wars ended

collective public goodwill trended

not for just the glib short-term

but for 6 solid decades firm

worldwide. 

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

The recreational impulse to tell lively tales improvisationally immersed in exotic wonder, effectively drives so much interactivity as days slowly pass and nights stall and linger.

There are so many rules to strictly follow that sensational stories encourage emancipation, being able to fly or breathe under water miraculously motivating agile daydreams.

For children ensconced in unknown consistently reimagined otherworldly lessons, many of which wildly champion imagination the fledgling instincts to revel cathartic. 

Yet balanced with practical reasoning the traditional realities corresponding to our species, birds fly and fish breathe under water while chipmunks and squirrels don't want to be pets.

Distressing unsettling to be sure as one soulfully seeks corporeal independence, to leave the confines of the body behind and transform into pure energy like they do on Star Trek.

Evolution acclimatizing piecemeal as centuries pass and eons articulate, the gradual biological attunements so subtle and microscopic they matriculate unnoticed.

Atemporally speaking still like fresh miracles the remarkable adaptations made to environments over time, many of which seem to have been accompanied by desires to collectively transform and easily acquire nutrients.

The slow passage of time ingenious in its bearings logically enables evolutionary traction, diverse environments habitually gathering sly multivariable communal constructs.

It's not to say to let dreams slowly fade and stoically embrace painstaking millennia, at night and on weekends the transmission of narratives creatively subsists to generate pause.

To fruitfully exercise unorthodox peculiarities through artistic invention and ludic lullaby, makes for less dull invigorating pastimes as things progress, revert or stagnate.

To recklessly play with constructed reality with poorly thought out alternative designs, if in a position of power and gaudy influence has destructive abrasive effects.

The disastrous ways in which the Second World War cacophonously devastated so much of the world, effortlessly critiques ambitious yearnings which ruthlessly seek what isn't for sale.

To remember the difference between fantasy and reality upon embarking on mature expeditions, doesn't mean the former can't be referenced but also encourages logic and reason.

Logic and reason are much more preferable day in and day out as the seasons pass by.

And cooler heads manage things through fact and instruction.

Without worrying about comment and headlines. 

It looks like Trump is just going to keep interminably threatening us with tariffs, so until we have a signed agreement from the United States that says they'll stop calling our Prime Minister a governor, they'll stop calling us the 51st state, and they'll stop threatening us with any tariffs whatsoever, I support any government initiative that keeps applying tariffs to American goods, even if Trump says we have a thirty day reprieve. 

Remove the tariffs from all Canadian and Québecois goods forever, then we'll remove ours. 

If someone tried to do this to Vatican City there'd be hell to pay. 

No one should have to put up with this bullshit. 

Whatever we do, we should stand united with Mexico. 

Maint di-fwg. Gwydnwch dewr. Dycnwch Wcrain.

To return to Die Hard once again.

Do you remember the scene where "million-dollar-deals-for-breakfast-Ellis" tries to negotiate with terrorist Hans Gruber? 

Well if Gruber reminds you of Putin, Ellis must remind you of Trump, making John McClane none other than Zelensky, as far as the comparison goes. 

*Is the Klingon Empire being run from Romulus?

Magnitude inmaculada. Resiliencia valente. Tenacidade ucraína. 

Matango

The well-to-do imaginatively escape the bustling activity of mainland Japan, and relaxingly enjoy a tranquil voyage on the sultry seas within their yacht. 

Sequestered and tasked with nothing in particular they chill and lounge throughout the day, the resplendent sun and nourishing waters everlastingly inspiring creative song.

Little known to them however an invasive storm inauspiciously rises, suddenly taking them unawares as they desperately attempt to thwart its ambition.

Soon they awake, their vessel dispirited, in cognizant wonder and humbled pride, fortunately next to an isolated island perhaps upon which they can find rest and food.

But it's soon detected that many a bird refuses to land upon its branches, even though it's far out at sea and flight-weary-creatures could no doubt flock there.

A number of other sea-faring ships are also discovered beneath the waves, their captains and crews having long since vanished although where and when remains indeterminate.

The only food wildly growing in abundance is an ominous mushroom which coaxes temptation. 

The starving travellers exceedingly oblivious. 

To its rich mutative transformative properties.

Travelling the world by boat must have been incredibly dangerous in so many ways, notably trying to find fresh foods to eat when daringly embarking on newfound lands.

Each ship perhaps vigilantly carried remarkable science-officers like they do on Star Trek, who could experimentally determine or cleverly guess which new foods to eat within the interior.

Some ships many have not been so farsighted and may have rather relied on trial and error, dependable precedent invariably leading to nutritious success and prolonged mortality. 

In this instance, they may have applied themselves in harrowing error upon the island, as the edible mushrooms proved sedately intoxicating a reliance upon them quickly ended their voyage.

But alone in Tokyo having somehow managed to set a boat adrift back upon the Pacific, the lone survivor madly wishes he was safe and secure back upon the haunting island.

Missing his friends he wildly engages in uncharacteristic frenzied outbursts, the doctors watching with studious eyes as his body bears witness to mushroom consumption.

Thus, when travelling through space make sure to bring a food expert along, or suffer the same fate as these foolish plutocrats who once held the highest political offices.

It seems like a no-brainer but budgetary efficiencies often cut corners when planning expeditions. 

Unconcerned for the lives of their crews.

They set out with frugal inexactitude. 

Isn't starting a trade war with Canada and Québec and Mexico an extremely bad idea?

So many people are working and making tons of money. What's the problem?

Why would you want to ruin one of the most prosperous beneficial trade relationships ever conceived in human history?

Why? Why are you doing this? Everything is working, well, why ruin such a good thing?

I understand going to the casino once a year with $1,000 and trying to make $5,000, but I don't understand risking the livelihoods of millions of North Americans on a poorly thought out ridiculous improbable gamble.

Sigh. What you can usually count on with right wing nutjobs is that they think they're invincible, they actually think they're superheroes. This was Hitler's big problem. He thought the German army was indestructible and kept making bad call after bad call after bad call.

By the time he was finished, Germany, a once extremely resourceful nation, had been reduced to rubble.  

No one stood up to Hitler and he ruined everything (which had been running smoothly) as a consequence.

Is the United States of America that foolhardy? 

Is no one going to stand up to Trump before it's too late?

Meud gun dìon. Seasmhachd misneachail. Cumhachd Ucráineach. 

Immaculate grutte. Moedige fearkrêft. Ukrainian fêsthâlden.

Scoffhansolillikeystonecyclops

Butterflightenimbelfrites 🦋🍟

escargoatreetiptopticleets 🌲🐌🐐

dragallonger-beautorité 🐉

feeflyfi resplendiforêh 🌲🌳🌴

atreyugandanzigarillo 

falcouragtimbitterdillo 🎹

morlagoon-kaflossiflume 🐢🪶

artextuallioxendu 

timoonbeamsterîle carcajoule 🧀🏝

orbitzebrambootcampulzuul ⛺🥾🦓

ithmukulelaisootherein 

conskepticalabrieskneedgin 🧞

gerblinkwellingtonquawabunga 🔏

cocéan d'andes-amosa 🌊⛰ 

sourisodokimonobro 🐁

hamsterlinjemdardramojo 🐹

mimoséclectikit'kabroodle. 🟠

Honestly, I thought Zelensky made a lot of other world leaders look like jokes today. 

Never Eat Alone

Some days I'm pretty busy, there's a lot of stuff to do, but I always try to reserve some time for loved ones, so they don't spend the whole day by themselves.

By so doing, I get updates on the day's events and share observations about my work and studies, while appreciating an alternative way of life which once flourished in yesteryear. 

Sofia Bohdanowicz's Never Eat Alone captures a nimble Canadian ethos, a light yet edgy thoughtful look at something wholesome that isn't austere. 

It reminded me of some of the best programming I used to see on the CBC in my youth, entertainment that was also instructive without making you feel like you were learning.

I know it's difficult for Anglo-Canadian films to compete with American ones in domestic markets, from conducting a bit of research it seems that even the most popular struggle to turn a profit.

I believe it doesn't have to be that way though because I've seen what they've done in Australia and Québec, similar markets where American films are also shown on a regular basis.

That's one of the coolest things about Québec, the minimalized American influence, it's so much less intense than you find elsewhere in the country, a remarkable break from an imposing character.

With the minimalized American influence and a strong focus on supporting local artists, Québec actually developed markets for their films which consistently play in local theatres. 

Talk to the people in Québec and you'll find they have a strong working knowledge of their celebrities as well, like Anglo-Canadians have of American and British ones, it's really quite impressive.

It came about when the Parti Québecois starting financing culture in the 1970s, the government started investing heavily in film etc. and people loved it - the industry took off.

The same thing can happen in English Canada if governments follow the Québecois lead, we can develop markets throughout the country that keep homegrown talent from moving away.

I mention this not only because this seems like the perfect time (this is the perfect time) but also because Australia did the same thing, their government started investing heavily in culture and they made so many incredible films.

Canada is quite similar to Australia in terms of size and population, it isn't on its own in another part of the world far away from the United States however. 

You would think that if the United States was your neighbour you would have an incredible local film industry, like Germany's rivalry with France, with theatres packed every single weekend.

I love English Canadian films like Never Eat Alone because they're creative and heartfelt and loving, if they had a larger market it would no doubt be outstanding.

Look at what Australia has done (see the Australian New Wave) and what Québec has done as well.

Seek out political candidates who would cultivate the same in English Canada.

Create tens of thousands of jobs for local artists.

Note: people always complain about how terrible American films are. Do something about it! Help create a climate where we make even better ones here! When people say it will never work tell them to look at Australia and Québec. It didn't happen overnight. But with support, it did eventually happen.

Criterion keyword: Canada.

*P.S - when I talk about Canadian actors, I don't mean the ones working in the United States or Britain. I mean the ones who have spent most of their careers living and working in Canada. Let's create a more prominent film industry for them. There's no doubt they totally deserve it. 

Moitteeton suuruus. Rohkea joustavuus. Ukrainan sinnikkyys. 

Magnitud inmaculada. Resiliencia valiente. Tenacidad ucraniana.

Údolí vcel (The Valley of the Bees)

The austere shadow of strict devotion objectively haunts upright ideology, as severe disciples refuse to compromise regarding life or blossoming community.

An adolescent enrages his newlywed father as he scandalously marries a teenage girl, after which he is sent to live in a religious order near the swelling sea so far away.

Life is strict and devout and disciplined but the brothers and knights care for one another, the passage of time accompanied by learning as they forge a nuanced unity of one.

Their vows are absolute however and changes of mind don't factor in, for some the endless praise and self-flagellation depressingly tedious as the years pass.

The boy, now an observant young man, loses faith with the order eventually, notably after a friend tries to escape and is then caught and fed to mad dogs.

Such an occurrence seems sincerely at odds with the Christian calling so he swiftly leaves, and heads back home to his old school castle to freely start life over once again.

But he's strictly chased by a fanatical knight who's gone mad and won't give him up.

No matter how bluntly he's adamantly rejected.

He refuses to ignore the Order's dogma. 

Another more worldly priest less emphatically consumed by absolute pretensions, lives in the world albeit a holy one and attempts to reasonably dissuade him.

His arguments are simple and wholesome temperately generated by communal life, the practical observations of unorthodox realities which still humbly fit with a loving God's teachings.

He reminds the passionate ideologue that the absolute application of religious teachings, will result in collective despondency since so many people simply can't live that way.

Isn't it better to live and attempt to follow the rules as best one can, and not to seek objective justifications to punish the people who've caused no harm?

The knight can't rationally stand the friendly and curious unafraid enclaves, as he meets them in a strange country where they aren't as pious as his native land.

When he hears that his old companion the one he's too blind to see he's in love with, has taken up with his father's widow and seeks to marry her with the priest's consent, he loses his mind in the "offending" foreknowledge that his friend will live an honest just life, likely even surrounded by a loving family strictly forbidden by the Order.

Madness follows, the furious yearning to end his object of desire's fruitful bearings.

The ending as tragic as so much ideology. 

As it imposes absolute calamity 

(There were so many more potential friends in the Order).

(I've mentioned this before but in case there's any confusion, I'm no longer looking to get married).

Criterion keyword: dogma (I was searching for the old school "Dogma Films").

Ulastelig størrelse. Modig modstandskraft. ukrainsk ihærdighed.

Bezuprechna velichina. Smela ustoǐchivost. ukrainska uporitost. 

Balancelotisb'erg'la-ronde

Hibéarnaiscintillibating 🐻🍷

roséjourneighbourscapading 🧸

afredysondagl'eszenzéh

bourgiganise 'zillibanché 🦎

hyphenomenasalwindswept 🍃

giraffecohesjungletset 🦒

hipphởneminatarnation 🦛

rhinestonehenglicheaselvation 🦏

terminegoatcheapurgator 🐐 🐊

nach(o)shround-zut-zoutbounderverse 🐕

cielwaywardcardshark-convened 🦈 

enamel'toninjaveanly 

biscircuichewitimrussle 🍪

vulcaneliberitual

klingong emotyphon-shinzon ☔

hybriddle musée-r.o-mulan 🐴

remangamule'tête/qu'est-vet? 

Gezora, Ganime, Kameba: Kessen! Nankai no daikaijû (Space Amoeba)

An unmanned vessel is sent into space with the inquisitive ambitions of studying Jupiter, alone and courageous it magnetically travels in resourceful steady industrious wavelengths. 

But as fate would have it, a discourteous entity serendipitously commandeers its research & development, and immediately sets course for the unsuspecting Earth where it inauspiciously lands in the Pacific Ocean.

The craft is reported as missing and daily routines mysteriously sublimate, the enervating misfortunes scientifically smothered by polemical disputes concerning the galaxy. 

Nevertheless, an observant photographer saw it awkwardly land while travelling by plane, and even though no one authenticates the sighting, he vigorously maintains his fortunate vision. 

At the same time, he's reliably hired to diligently photograph an island in the Pacific, which happens to be situated around the same place where he accidentally saw the spaceship descend.

Gregariously accompanied by an amicable team they bravely head out to the isolated wilderness, curious to meet the local inhabitants who have imaginatively lived there since the dawn of time.

They superstitiously fear a giant sea demon by the name of Gezora who lives in the depths. 

The alien entity having unwittingly assumed.

The ancient enigmatic uncompromising deity. 

Not the most well-thought out of the captivating freeform creative monster movies, Gezora, Ganime, Kameba: Kessen! Nankai no daikaijû (Space Amoeba) still startles and accentuates otherworldly absurd and ludicrous pretensions. 

A more sincere critique of the commercial desires to turn the island into a resort, would have materialized virtuous acclamations ethically attuned to Indigenous agency.

Yet perhaps it indirectly critiques commercial endeavours through its bizarre depiction of the covetous alien, who is rather diminutive globally speaking yet still seeks to effectively conquer the world.

Is that not the initial hubris of so many adventurous businesspeople, who hope their products will establish footholds in worldwide markets internationally speaking?

Starting out from humble origins they create commercials to advertise their wares, which are somewhat like the creature in Space Amoeba who effectively irritates the tenacious locals.

Ridiculous to see interplanetary ambitions maladroitly unleashed in animate obscurity. 

Endemic wildlife saving the day.

As it has throughout the millennia. 

*Criterion keyword: turtle.

Magnitude immakulatua. Erresilientzia ausarta. Ukrainako irmotasuna.

Go Team Canada! 🏒

*McDavid with the winner no less! That was the coolest hockey moment for me since Crosby scored the OT Olympic winner in 2010 when I was living out West.

**I listened to Canadian and Québecois music during the game and Neil Young's Old Man was playing when McDavid scored.

Chikyû Bôeigun (The Mysterians)

A quiet town mellifluously enamoured energetically engages in festive rituals, communal friendship collectively augmenting spirited endeavours and cultivated mischief.

The lighthearted mild-mannered individuals curiously converse and dine at play, before a startling blaze is suddenly detected not far off in a nearby wood.

The radioactive nature of the fire chemically defies known scientific understanding, inherently baffling brave local residents who risk their lives to douse the flames.

But before such an occurrence can come to pass, a giant robot emerges from the Earth, and sets about destroying the town with awkward movements and delirious gusto.

The military is eventually able to thwart its destructive malevolent intent, just before its colonialist authorship tyrannically proclaims its wicked objectives.

Relying on their superior technology which destroyed their home world so long ago, they seek to establish a new base on Earth from which to spread their invasive fury.

Internationally disposed, the people of Earth courageously respond with bitter defiance.

Bombastic composure inevitably maneuvering. 

As mutually disabling conflict obliterates.

Strange how the art of diplomacy lacks effective resolve every 4 to 8 years, and bizarre developments maladroitly alter reliable seamless networks and agencies.

In The Mysterians, a constructive dialogue would have gone a long way to cultivate peace, and ensured potential harmony between the species as it was initially considered.

Would it have been that disillusioning to simply approach our planet in good faith, and congenially present their novel ideas with warm and friendly interplanetary mojo?

Alas, their characteristic machismo and absurd extremist irrational demands, lead the entire world to internationally unite and find innovative ways to outgun their technology.

Friendship could have gregariously reigned and affably brought forth mutual accommodations, as it has in most ages of prosperity as closely chronicled by observant scribes.

The Mysterians refuse to lighten up however and are therefore doomed to travel longingly through space.

Forever in search of a chaotic homeland.

Consistently silencing peaceful initiatives.  

Makellose Größe. Mutige Belastbarkeit. Ukrainische Hartnäckigkeit.

I've recently listened to a lot of Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley, but I have to admit, when it comes to the blues, for me, it's gotta be Memphis Slim.

Memphis Slim! 🎹

Neposkvrněná velikost. Odvážná odolnost. Ukrajinská houževnatost.

Caskadequidditcheebiejeebrieze

Delyricuricoonpalumpa 🦝

choctiptoptiplushowroomza 🍫🐙

heartisanisesteamengenie 😻🧞🚆

floweiridescenchanTV 🌈🥀 📺

fluminutsorkobrakeline 🐍

irrelevatorrentwinedine 🍷

menageregallatlantic 🌊

thermoltinclinical'thenic 

surfrettiranimateysaurus 

lamborigami f'rêtfleurus 🌲🌳🥀

bicyclectic hierotechnic 🚲𐦉

skidugong pylonchauntmetric 

elsinorbert cactishorbert 🌵🐉

revergrenadine alloiter 🌲

burgrumpy serenchanting 👸

outdworf decoruskant'urbling 

minklingrottotogastroberoy. 🍲

Der siebente Kontinent (The Seventh Continent)

Difficult to know where to find spiritual fulfillment within cultures dominated by dubious markets, consistently disseminating similar messages decade after decade epoch after epoch.

Nevertheless, if you cast a wide cultural net you may find remarkable alternative variability, assuming you don't limit yourself to the present and sample manifold styles and rhythms. 

If your culture micromanages music and only lets certain styles and messages get through, it could certainly become excessively tedious as the years slowly pass and nothing changes.

If your culture does accept new styles and genres and continuously strives to develop new markets, as long as the difference thoughtfully compels, it can be much less depressing than totalitarianism.

I watched a ton of television in my youth and became quite adept at channel surfing, finding shows that became lasting favourites which I regularly watched and routinely recorded.

The world of television made perfect sense and I could predict things that were going to happen, having un/consciously consumed so many narratives that entertaining developments became shockingly familiar.

I eventually moved away though started travelling around the country, and many of the places I stayed had no cable television, so I slowly moved away from the once cherished medium.

Eventually, more than a decade had gone by and I found that when I had the opportunity to turn on the TV, I wasn't as impressed as I had been in my youth, and questioned why I had spent so much time watching it.

I had actually found other cool things to do which imaginatively nurtured less manufactured thoughts, and although hardly anyone ever wanted to talk to me, I still found different ways to randomly express them.

It was like my mind was energized and my spirit enjoyed its liberation, you may not understand what a lot of people are talking about, but there's an uplifting world far beyond mainstream television.

Instrumental music made a big difference too as I imagined different scenarios in differing degrees, laidback listening to the incredible solos the inspired teamwork the emphatic orchestrations. 

Silent walks in natural environments made a huge difference as well with cool animal sightings. 

Defying the totalitarian void.

Unlike the family in The Seventh Continent. 

*Criterion keyword: chilli. 

Obefläckad magnitud. Modig motståndskraft. Ukrainsk uthållighet.

Nepoškvrnená veľkosť.  Odvážna odolnosť. Ukrajinská húževnatosť.

Here

Bas Devos's Here brought back fond memories while also nurturing dreams for the future, Stefan's modest immigration experience humbly encouraging unorthodox travel.

The film follows a laidback worker who has spent some time living in Belgium, as he finishes his last shift and solemnly prepares for a month long vacation back in his homeland. 

As he walks about town casually observing things I was pleasantly reminded of life in the city, and the manifold options routinely available as you variably concoct thematic experiences. 

When he enters a restaurant for instance to get out of the pouring rain, and finds himself suddenly conversing in French with someone who speaks the language fluently.

As he tries his best to understand he knows he has to respond with something, and adamantly hopes it directly applies to the specific topic under examination.

But he gets it wrong he's misunderstood the dialogue halts it's insufficient, but he doesn't take it as a sign to stop speaking he continues onwards with verbal gusto.

By doing so, he actively demonstrates there are lots of words he can turn into sentences, and hopes his curious interlocutor instinctually respects that and keeps on talking.

In the best case scenario, they understand you're learning and that your positive attitude demonstrates you want to be there. 

If they continue the conversation using a less intricate in/formal vocabulary, it's a great opportunity for learning that can lead to chillaxed friendship (miss you).

I understood the old "fridge-clean-out" as well when you throw most of what you've got into a pot, and slowly cook it with spices and liquids until you've created something unique and edible. 

By doing so, you have several meals and fortunately nothing goes to waste, and you can share it with your friends as well as modest Stefan does in the movie.

Nature also figures prominently as he walks from place to place since his car's in the shop, the extant forest he freely travels through bringing on carefree thoughts and nascent wonder.

It's so important as cities expand and depressing sprawl creates a concrete jungle, to remember to plan intermittent green spaces throughout the urban landscape like they do in Québec.

Nice places for lunch or to spot local wildlife or even make a career studying mosses or lichen.

I'm usually careful not to disturb moss in the forest.

Although it does make a comfy place to lie down! 

*Criterion keyword: gossamer. 

Does Trump realize that all these tariffs are putting his international fanbase out of work, and driving them to left wing parties?

Magnitudine imaculată. Reziliență curajoasă. tenacitate ucraineană.

Broncos! 🏈

Magnitude imaculada. Resiliência corajosa. Tenacidade ucraniana. 

I didn't know Lionel Hampton performed at the half-time show for Super Bowl IV. 

Cool 🏈! 

Marinarathonmindmelton

Opinauticabalablaster 🏊

hoystereo storqu'est-ature 🦪

imprecitelmizorbalance 💃

beezanytinseltzergoalant 🥅

slopulentenstringerschwing

edidatticambrosebuttering 🧈

flapjacoastline R.L sunschtein 🥞 🍺

emfatuoustle pharaohdine 🏜

entwhirlinnighborwürmzercom 🪱

iced-windingoatherbivoron 🐐

dipdongoolateraleighman 

cawrestle ranchairoast-Egon 🪑

bonbl'onduelant toucheiderdown 🍬

afielderberry ghostpostown 👻

north-sound-east-western jukulele 

def'enchantment merry-halley 🏈

cometropolitesquir'nwrought. ☄

Super Bowl Pick

Kansas City Chiefs/Philadelphia Eagles: there's no doubt the Eagles and Chiefs are both formidable teams, demonstratively augmenting their intuitive daring with remarkable precision and commendable accuracy. Both of them had exceptional years and have played incredibly well for at least the last 7, with postseason runs boldly accentuating difficult hard-fought tenacious regular seasons. Both teams have impressed in the playoffs this year picking up huge wins under challenging circumstances, Philadelphia looking more dominant but they dodged a bullet when the Lions were knocked out. They still looked tough though, with strong running and passing games and a quarterback as nimble as Mahomes, I kept thinking they'd run it much more often but they don't even have to they're that freakin' deep. Jalen Hurts should perhaps receive more cred for the outstanding job he's done in Philadelphia, overlooked at times by more flashy QBs, even though he's a consistent tremendous playoff factor. That gives him something to prove with a strong defence and offence to support him, you'd also hate to see Saquon Barkley come up short after such a strong running year. Can the Chiefs be beat though?, they seem to have no trouble putting scoring drives together (no matter whom they face), especially when they suddenly find themselves losing, how do they consistently win so many close ones? It's tough to pick, my football instincts say the Eagles are the better team, and that they're tougher more imposing too hard to beat multivariability. But Taylor Swift stood up to Trump during the election and now he's causing all kinds of trouble for North America, normally I would find the Swift/Kelce relationship too melodramatic, but under these circumstances, it's bona fide heroism 💌. Nevertheless, I'm still a Broncos fan and I find at the end of the day it's tough to pick Kansas City. I like Mahomes and Andy Reid, they're awe-inspiring. But their success is even more irritating than New England's. Picking the Eagles. Hopin' they win the rematch. 🏈

 

Black Orpheus

Rio de Janeiro festively prepares for the upcoming enigmatic illusory Carnaval, floats decorated and costumes tailored an immersive atmosphere of harmless mischief.

Nimble Orpheus chauffeurs his trolly through the busy streets with reservéd gusto, thoroughly at ease with lithe maximum occupancy as it swiftly travels throughout the city.

Young Eurydice arrives from the countryside to stay with her invigorating distant relatives, having been chased by a masked quasi-demon rigorously hellbent on her destruction.

Orpheus's fiancé habitually erupts with romantic exposition when they're together, and definitively craves his ubiquitous attention each and every day exceedingly composed.

They even spiritedly head out to meaningfully procure a marriage license, Mira focused and passionately determined to resonantly claim the celebrated singer.

But later in the day as time slowly passes beautiful Eurydice also catches his eye.

The dynamic artist following instinctual elements. 

As everyone embraces ye olde Carnaval.

A lively retelling of an ancient myth energetically situated within modern cities, with creative new features and an inspiring setting transformatively exclaiming romantic awe.

It's not even Orpheus/Breno Mello or Eurydice/Marpessa Dawn who steal the show they're somewhat subdued when objectively compared, to sprightly Mira/Lourdes de Oliveira and vehement Serafina/Léa Garcia who add so much in the brief time they're allotted.

Serafina could have been left out entirely her tempting character by no means essential, but Garcia took the less prominent role and seductively etherealized cinematic history.

It's not just the imaginative retelling of the ancient myth that generates so much credit, its compelling presentation of the market and Carnaval bring its animate emergence to acrobatic life.

Gymnastically adorning so many precious scenes with blithe orchestration and reverberating pith, it fluidly exemplifies perpetual motion with lighthearted irresistible ebullient spirits.

Indeed relationships problematize so much harmless fun when ownership's claimed.

A sincere tragedy no matter the epoch.

Carefree endeavours.

Limitless fun.

When I was growing up, mainstream journalism severely critiqued free trade in Canada. You could hardly pick up a newspaper that didn't offer dissenting opinions about it (especially around election time). It's largely faded from the press as the news has become more and more corporate over the last 15 years (and cut hundreds and hundreds of jobs)(perhaps not in Québec). Cool to see the resurgence skilfully blooming this frigid winter. Isn't it time for the systemic investment in local imaginative Canadian and Québecois invention?  

Ulastelig størrelse. Modig motstandskraft. ukrainsk utholdenhet.

Removing the Palestinians from Gaza and then turning it into a resort is an idea so ridiculous I don't really know how to respond to it, except to offer condemnation, hope that cooler heads prevail, and pray for the people of Gaza. I've never encountered this type of political super-villainy before. 😕

Onberispelijke omvang. Moedige veerkracht. Oekraïense vasthoudendheid.

Nausicaa

* Glad I'm not lining up month after month of gruelling resistance themed films. Did manage to find this one by accident on Saturday evening though (I was searching for an Agnès Varda film, but didn't think it would be fascist related). 

In 1967, a harsh military dictatorship suddenly took control of Greece, where it ruled for 7 inauspicious years as people everywhere around them mobilized. 

Imaginative French filmmaker Agnès Varda made the film Nausicaa to commend Greek exiles, who were forced to flee the degenerate lies and systematic torture of the fascist regime. 

Finding themselves in France they fortunately found international networks, and were able to defend democratic freedoms with receptive audiences worldwide.

Unfortunately, as her film was being put together insensitive authorities seized most of what had been produced, and never explained to her why they were taking it, it's thought that the material was subsequently destroyed.

But the Royal Belgian Cinémathèque kept one copy and delicately preserved it, which is now available on The Criterion Channel for those seeking informative and creative texts.

It interviews artists and journalists as they explain the troubles they had with the army, and attempt to find work and lodging in France while reflecting on Greek politics.

The call for widespread resistance took time to find an active audience, but eventually championed the compassionate rights of people who prefer not to join the military.

Nausicaa is also quite experimental it eclectically presents different storytelling styles, loosely adorning one Greek citizen's experiences as he meets a woman whose daughter's half Greek (I believe the daughter is supposed to be Varda).

The ways in which state media outlets mask the truth in order to offer unrealistic pictures of sociopolitical dilemmas are showcased, along with investigations into the general political awareness of France at the time (note how the left recently still dealt a crippling blow to the French right), and thoughtful looks at Greece's culture in the '60s.

Please don't equate my new style of poem with what Nausicaa calls "Medieval Obscurantism". I thought I was writing absurd catchy surrealist poems that are like puzzles, I'm not deliberately trying to sound difficult. 

Difficult to know what parts of the film would have been kept or altered or augmented if it had moved forward, but there's still enough left in this working draft to generate more comment than most of what's out there.

A cool look at the French New Wave applied to television.

The dictatorship didn't last long.

Varda is worth checking out.

I fully support a Canada-wide boycott of Amazon in support of Québec's workers. 

*Amazon recently fired over 1,700 of their workers in Québec after they tried to unionize.

Can't say I want to take that ride again.

Ready if things head down that path again nevertheless. 

That sensation you're feeling, is collective adrenaline, if you're used to thinking individualistically, you may have never really felt it before. 

I grew to learn and love it while living in Québec where things are much more collective, and it feels wonderful to play a small role as part of a larger community. 

It's cool when you're part of a group that's over 40 million strong though, eh!

I was so impressed with so many people.

Although the next time that happens I hope Canada and Québec are winning Olympic Hockey Gold! 🏒

Kobor immakulat. Reżiljenza kuraġġuża. Tenaċità Ukraina.

I just wanted to apologize in advance for comments forthcoming regarding the United States and this ridiculous trade dispute which directly and outrageously violates treaties already established between our countries (you should not be letting the president disregard established treaties and the constitution).

I'd like to keep buying products from California and New England and New York, Washington, Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado and Michigan, where they don't like Trump much either, but right now I've got to focus on Canada and Québec 1,000%

I've never encountered something like this but that's clearly the best thing to do.

Until more reasonable times.

Kermode.

I'm seeing a lot of Chamberlain in Canadian federal politics. Not much Churchill. 😔

Immaculéiert Gréisst. Courage Widderstandsfäegkeet. Ukrainesch Zähegkeet.

Does the whole world want to join Canada and Mexico in a boycott of American products?

That'd be cool. 😎

Can Canadian and Québecois supermarkets etc. start adding easy-to-pull-off Canadian flag stickers to items manufactured/made/created in Canada and Québec in their stores? 

Like they say in Mad Max: Fury Road - retaliate first. 

Brontastaffrauncheechosoarghum

Langlorihuskick cornery 🌽

hobcobblestone slabrinthbaby 👶

outthereminatorodante 🐄

pantricheesewizardonichez 🪄

quistchy wilblurbits-n-bytes 🐷

emwebbedbroomstickorilites 🕷

miracumul'e(g)on pulsaire ⛅

currickshaweshuckleberrivière 🌊

donairtight sangulartistry 🩸

finessentalisbonbunny 🐰

accenturismoodengingers 🦛

baleine-zengine-fleckozingers 🐋

hotsturchernoblé tweetabrix 

re/s(h)ushisitaconchatricks 🍣

textquizitremedicinarwhal ㊩

flowherewithatollkeentervault 🏔

happenstandanziggregate.

Alienoid: Return to the Future

The ancient world tempestuously welcomes alien renegades from a far distant future, whose apocalyptic orchestrations may suffocate all life on planet Earth.

Along for the ride we find a computer program who can take on human form, and serendipitously shapeshift as awkward circumstances dictate. 

He surreptitiously protects a courageous determined fledgling warrior, who seeks to ensure the malevolent convicts permanently rest in medieval Korea. 

Back in the present day, the deadly haava will soon be released, after which all life on Earth will perish and reckless malfeasance rule absolutely.

The multivariable eclectic mix of dynamic characters effectively duel, and furiously express their athletic witticisms as the ensuing chaos thunders.

In terms of recalibrating A.I and giving it transformative humanistic features, could the cyberspatial efficiently be freed from incarcerated bland electronic environments?

If an electronic code exists for variable lifeforms within different realms, could it be effectively replicated thereby creating carbon copies?

Somewhat like the cloned sheep "Dolly" but without the elaborate multifaceted process, Star Trek: The Next Generation providing insights into the organic simulations.

On Star Trek's holodeck diverse beings find instantaneous ingenious life, and can interact and joke and play music while following intricate complex instructions. 

The characters can't leave their simulated environments they're imprisoned there however, in Star Trek you can't find the code for Proust or Shakespeare and see them miraculously reborn.

Nevertheless, within the food replicators organic material is suddenly created, with infinite variety from manifold planets and it fluidly exists in the outside world. 

Thus, within these highly useful machines computer codes take on physical forms (like they do in cyberspace), and can be consumed outside the domains in which they were originally produced (unlike cyberspace).

Thus, if you had a machine that could take a code like that used to clone different animals, you could theoretically duplicate them ad infinitum, like the food replicators on Star Trek.

You could therefore also alter their programming so they could transmutate at will. 

It's just a matter of discovering the manifest codes.

Which clandestinely structure organic environments.

Love the Twin Peaks intertextuality. 

Cool sequel. 

A Mix of Songs

Advent - Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra - Made in Japan

Shu ba du ba loo ba - Serge Gainsbourg - Initials B.B

Butterscotch - Chuck Berry - Chuck Berry in London

I've Found a New Baby - Lionel Hampton - À la French

Hampton Stomp - Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra - The Complete Victor Lionel Hampton Sessions

Campus Cookie - Chuck Berry - From St. Louie to Frisco (Expanded Edition)

Honey Bee - Muddy Waters - After the Rain

House of Morgan - Lionel Hampton - The Classic Decades Presents - Lionel Hampton

Exercise in Swing (Take 1) - Lester Young - The Master's Touch

Jambalaya - Chuck Berry - Chuck Berry (Expanded Edition)

Twelfth Street Rag - Lionel Hampton - Jazz Café Presents: Lionel Hampton

Liverpool Drive - Chuck Berry - St. Louis to Liverpool 

4 O'Clock Boogie - Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon - Blues & Gospel No. 4: Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon

Onberispte groetheid. Moedige veerkrachtigheid. Oekraïense hardnekking. 

Immaculatae magnitudinis. Animi mollitia. Ucraina contumacia. 

Yoyo

A gifted entertainer exactingly resides in opulent isolation within his castle, every second of every day meticulously corresponding to specified curriculum. 

He dreams of the girl he once fell in love with who still routinely travels and brilliantly performs, their improvised union having spiritedly crafted a darling youngster raised in the circus.

The Great Depression miserably emerges and millions of people find themselves out of work, the idle artist losing his staff then rejoining his family on the staggering road.

His son grows up immersed in lively spectacular entertaining multivariable humours, wholesomely ensconced within random variation he gradually becomes a celebrated clown.

World War II despotically interrupts and lighthearted sentiments are cast aside, the mad dissemination of militaristic bravado autocratically obscuring the chill and genuine.

After the war, the invention of television once again problematizes circus life, as more people find immediate entertainment laidback and tranquil with the fam at home.

Yet little Yoyo reinvents himself once more and becomes even more famous within the medium.

Hosting lavish galas back at his father's castle.

With storytelling, everlastingly at home.

I would argue that gifted storytellers never lose their love of animals, and sincerely respond to their adorable genius no matter how austere their lives become.

The just and the wicked, there's a remarkable difference between world-weary desert-of-the-real morbid tales, and blossoming effervescent dynamic lifeforces ethereally etched with generous compassion.

Thus we see in Pierre Étaix's Yoyo a friendly elephant at different times, who genuinely loves the wee mischievous lad at the auspicious outset and at the conclusion.

Yoyo never really feels quite right when requisitely hobnobbing within the superstructure, and is greatly relieved indeed more down-to-earth when that same caring elephant interrupts his ball.

You see the details of his innocent world magnanimously shared throughout the film, as scene after scene showcases warm unpredictable spontaneous carefree pleasant wonder.

Never lose that love of animals and there's no doubt you'll continue to enjoy this film.

Which inherently investigates artistic re/invention.

From the Silent Film Era to the Age of Television.

*Interesting sounds too.

Yoyo doesn't rely on the stock film sounds you often hear.

Magnitudo immacolata. Resilienza coraggiosa. Tenacia ucraina.

Óaðfinnanleg stærðargráðu. Hugrökk seiglu. úkraínsk þrautseigja.

Favourite Films Viewed in 2024

Alienoid

Nomadland

Chan is Missing

Baraka

Les quatre cents coups (The 400 Blows)

Jalsaghar (The Music Room)

Pather Panchali

Richelieu

Beau Travail

Microcosmos

Whale Rider

Fedrelandet (Songs of Earth)

Piccadilly 

Gorillas in the Mist

Debutantamounclébay

Salicynerjivinsquid 🐙

exseedentarry g'oll'em'plic 🌱

arachnecroperratavishtek 🕷

clinickultra baladeptwych 

throngularvaeliantseaside 🪰

gargauntuantananachide 🍍

sulfiddle locomelettle y'oak 🥚

calambiaunts hi-flee-fly-fo'k 🐑

involkswagenestle hudubb 🚙 🌎

vehickoreo flumaflub 🪶

pendlumplyricran'derby 🌊

hansolilo-lukulerquy 

aqueggbert khybergherzkinert 🪺

carmellow sacre-bloomberger 

atentuaeighties campulpit ⛺

flashlightning coalman voltransit 

outfritzierringoalpostie. 🏈

Conference Championship Picks, NFL Playoffs

Washington Commanders/Philadelphia Eagles: the classic divisional matchup in the NFC Conference Championship game, both teams resolutely impressing in shocking fashion this past weekend.  The Commanders pulled off perhaps the greatest upset in NFL postseason history, and the Eagles held on tight in the snow and made huge plays during the blizzard. I haven't picked either of these teams yet this year so it seems like whomever I pick will face adversity, they split their season series a game apiece, Washington arguably only winning due to Hurts's concussion (they still only won by 3 points). Philadelphia's defence was stronger than Washington's there's a big difference in their points totals, even if the Commanders proved last Saturday that they can quickly score a ton. I doubt the Eagles will turn the ball over so much though, a lot of surprising changes of possession last weekend, Philadelphia knows they're blessed with Detroit's loss and will likely be poised to defy this Sunday. But the Commanders remind me of the New York Giants when they won the Super Bowl with Eli Manning (both times), no one expected them to win those games and they even beat Brady's undefeated Patriots. The Eagles have the better team, they've played well the last two weeks, with the Lions out they're no doubt pumped, and the game's in Philadelphia this weekend. They've also won 12 of their last 16 versus Washington even though the Commanders hold a 90 to 85 to 5 all-time head-to-head lead. In all that time they've only met once in the postseason, a Commanders win in 1990. I like both these teams they've both won the Super Bowl they're both indeed well-rounded. However I still kick myself for not picking Eli Manning. Picking Washington in a close one.  

Buffalo Bills/Kansas City Chiefs: for years, Manning and Brady confidently expressed themselves victoriously, winning many a regular season game often complemented by successful postseasons. They had to face each other numerous times in frigid inhospitable January, the first two games no doubt won by the Patriots, the third one seemingly lost to fate. Yet after falling behind 21 to 6 at a foreboding ominous perplexing halftime, Manning defiantly led the troops to a stunning 38 to 34 Colts win. As a Bronco, Manning continued to defeat Brady earning two more Conference Championship wins, another Super Bowl, limitless praise, having finally championed inexhaustibly. The Patriots/Colts/Broncos matchups were consistent feats of herculean competition, perhaps to be matched by the Chiefs and Bills as Mahomes and Allen meet for the fourth time this Sunday. Mahomes owns a 3 and 0 record never having fallen to the Bills in January, Buffalo determined to reverse their fortunes and emerge Conference Champions for the first time this century. Kansas City's been strange this year they never really pull that far ahead (unless they're playing the Texans), but if they fall behind the game's quickly tied up with the Chiefs almost always coming out on top. Apart from an atypical November day after the Grey Cup had just begun, when Mr. Josh Allen ran for 26 yards on 4th down no less to score another Bills touchdown (defeating the Chiefs [Denver also beat them]). Allen holds the regular season edge with a 4 to 1 impressive advantage, now seeking to magnify his success with undaunted exceptional postseason excesses! Who knows what will come to pass, both these teams are having incredible seasons. I doubt Kansas City will turn the ball over. But I still think Buffalo will win. Picking the Bills. Hoping Von Miller makes some big plays! *Just realized that the only team from the NFC East division that Buffalo hasn't played in the Super Bowl is Philadelphia. Switching my NFC Conference Championship pick to the Eagles. Hoping for a Bills/Eagles Super Bowl. 

Eraserhead

The generation of ideas overwhelmingly uplifting intent transcendental forces, motivation and effort and impact and relevance reflexively augmenting acrobatic flourishes. 

The barren landscape requiring fuel to effectively germinate healthy crops, thoughtful endeavours in bewitching fecundity profusely cascading integral lounging.

The gradual development at times uneasy the formal onslaught of ceaseless ambition, tirelessly adjusting and diffusely remodelling creative cognizance and bold revelation. 

As the seeds tumultuously take root the world at large commodiously ossifies, the general estimable uptight imposition of regulation and duty opaquely cataloguing.

A family prospers and grows communally depicting dynamic tethers, the enviable tradition wholesomely cajoling duplication and collegiality. 

Yet the unbroken ancient line between holistic custom and random alternative, offbeatly vibrates with tenacious recognition as distressing realities duel and challenge.

Thus the emergence of odd surreal fantastic escapes from the awkward humdrum.

Not necessarily cloaked in tedium.

As daring varieties innately juxtapose. 

The industrious dreamlike imagination inherently bewildered by verdant nutrients, yet still reacting to latent stimuli with in/direct in/coherent lucidity.

It's difficult to narrativize the random thoughts which peculiarly inspire dreams throughout the day, the continuous orchestration of improvised insights sub/consciously manifesting elegant distractions. 

What to do with the cerebral material as it suddenly appears within your mind, especially if there are other tasks at hand austerely demanding your strict attention?

The inexhaustible uncontainable ethereal ameliorations of the human spirit, can't be suffocated by even the most dire and dismal environments as Eraserhead suggests.

The spirit of creation still attempts to alter the blandest of circumstances even if untrained, like a natural intuitive humanistic instinct habitually disseminating art and culture. 

What to do with it remains up to you David Lynch went on to direct brilliant films and television.

Never losing the fascination first displayed in Eraserhead.

Which he spent 5 years making and took a paper route to complete.

Méid gan Smál. Athléimneacht misniúil. Seasmhacht na hÚcráine. 

The Elephant Man

A gentle soul, curious and thoughtful, is habitually tormented by another, who obscenely profits from his misery and spends next to nothing on his care or comfort.

The individual in question suffers from severe deformities which make him appear extraordinary, people wishing to marvel at his stunning difference and willing to pay for the chance to do so.

No one asks him for his opinion regarding his tragic state of affairs, he isn't consulted his steadfast approval is disregarded, ignored, disdained.

No one talks to him either in fact he's left voiceless and caged and isolated, confronting violence should he humbly protest his scathing chains and caustic fetters.

Fortunately, a kind and sympathetic promising young doctor learns of his struggles, and goes about freeing him from the carnival while searching for a permanent place of residence.

Mr. Merrick is then given the opportunity to calmly express himself and converse, his discussions and observations inquisitively demonstrating tender caring playful cognizance. 

For the first time in his life he's treated with respect and he wholesomely responds with innocent wonder.

As those seeking to exploit him discover his whereabouts.

And set about wildly profiteering. 

A young gifted director with one film to his credit was lovingly tasked with crafting The Elephant Man, David Lynch responding with incisive imagination which still resonates this postmodern day.

The just and the wicked frequently colliding in his chaotic campy down-home daring dramas, we find scenes scenarios that stretch throughout his work in their sophomore distillations in this film.

Is Dr. Frederick Treves who seeks to take away John Merrick's pain and let him live in mindful society, not unlike Special Agent Dale Cooper who genuinely cares for the residents of Twin Peaks?

Is the wretched slave-driver Bytes who makes his living spreading death and decay, harbingers of Frank Booth and Dick Laurent the Baron Harkonnen or the Killer Bob?

The dreamlike fascination with surreal storytelling far beyond what the scene depicts, amorphously anchors our innate curiosity as this early outing creatively transmits.

A good place to start if seeking to learn much much more about David Lynch the filmmaker, while sincerely taking requisite note that the path you're on will get much rockier.

At home with artistically embracing noble and unsettling offbeat emotions.

He spent his life contemplating holistic humanism.

In a bona fide theatre of debutant dreams. 

Snow field goals are my new favourite thing. 🏈

Kifogástalan nagyságrendű. Bátor rugalmasság. Ukrán kitartás.

Beaufortnightbritbollyoxen

Pinacolytebulbusline 🚌

transferailway wildyllincline 🚆

supinelogrhythmicatalis 🪵

manateetotaroguestlist 

incisterminabullutin 🧝

spirisibyleego-carted 🐐

dollepreconslevanatime 🪆

dwelvinaigerratatooblinds 🧝

sunshingulfstrianglobulately 🩸

efficascarcradormatey 🎮 

disengoogoogadjoanjett 👶

isingsangularmamulette 🧿

cadetetritumalchou-huskiwi 🥝

kooshkasheeshkabourruzichy 

disparagnoschtick-surfeisty 🏄

carnivaliance losanscrikey 🎪

mediterrainfalstraffickle. 

Divisional Round Picks, NFL Playoffs

Houston Texans/Kansas City Chiefs: The Texans/Chargers game was a bit wild as both teams struggled to find a rhythm, Houston in the right place at the right time and making the most of bank errors in their favour. One play was particularly impressive when a fumbled snap looked like it might be a turnover (the score was still close), but C.J Stroud caught it in stride and then threw a 30 to 40 yard pass (that never happens!). I doubt the Chiefs will make many mistakes so it should come down to finesse on the field, Kansas City winning 27 to 19 somewhat recently versus Houston, holding an edge for much of the game. The Chiefs didn't impress as much this season in terms of consistently winning decisive victories, but if the game was close they came out on top almost every time that's beyond good fortune (Denver almost beat them twice). Despite the lack of punishing monumental hard-fought engrossing widespread victories, they still won 15 games that's a big number to take into consideration. Geez Louise, this stat is unfortunate, the Texans have lost in the Divisional Round 5 times since 2011, they've in fact never made it through to the Conference Championships, solid Wild Card play, but nothing beyond that. No need to recap the Chiefs undaunted recent playoff success, can anyone emerge to stop them?, the same team winning all the time breeds decay (unless it's the Broncos). The Texans have managed to avoid the Ravens for now and survived a Wild Card matchup where they made some mistakes, sometimes a team wins with a bit of luck one round and doesn't need any the following week. The Chiefs lead their all-time series 10 to 5 and the temperature looks cold this Saturday in Kansas City (not as cold as the conditions in the Chiefs home win over Miami last year). Spirited fight and sophomore exactitude: without error, the Texans move on (Picking Houston). 

Washington Commanders/Detroit Lions: Washington and Tampa didn't unleash extraordinary unkempt offensive tirades last weekend, but it was still a super competitive down-to-the-last-minute game, that impressed on an otherwise dull Wild Card Weekend. Washington was clearly up for the challenge and will likely be just as ready in Detroit this Saturday, fired up with convincing tenacity for another tight matchup with a similar team. The Lions once again firmly demonstrated that they can score tons of points at any given moment, they ran away with the 2024 season and seem strictly destined for a strong playoff run. They scored the most points in the NFL and their points against was impressive too, apart from the mad shootout with Buffalo which hopefully might be a sign of things to come (not necessarily with Buffalo winning). They swept those damn Packers and Vikings and only lost twice all season long, they scored more than 30 points 10 times indeed, more than 40 five times, more than 50 twice. In other words, they're ready for a shootout and I don't deny that Washington is to, nor that the Commanders could come out on top if they let things loose and give 1,000%. You wait so long for a season like this one and take it to heart with home field however, Detroit deserving of the hard fought advantage they've waited so long to impeccably uphold. These two teams could play in a close one but I imagine the Lions pull too far ahead. Leaving Washington to make audacious decisions. Causing multiple turnovers. Picking Detroit. 

Los Angeles Rams/Philadelphia Eagles: the Rams were ready for the Minnesota Vikings in a riotous display of unsung upset, 6 sacks at least in the first half that was tough to watch if you were cheering for Minnesota. The Eagles impressed versus Green Bay too they were in control for the entire game, and every time the Pack looked like they might put something together Philadelphia responded with uptight dispossession. Once again the Eagles face an opponent whom they've rarely met in the postseason, only twice many years ago one match versus St. Louis they lost both games. The Eagles punished them in November with a 37 to 20 unevenly matched victory, this game could be like the Rams defeating Minnesota last weekend after coming out on top earlier in the year. Their all-time series is close with the Eagles leading 24 to 20 to 1, that's super tight considering how long both teams have had to pull far away in vehement opposition. One potential advantage for L.A could be their defence leading Jalen Hurts to frustration, there was a drive last week versus Green Bay where he tried to do everything on his own unsuccessfully. Nonetheless, if Philadelphia's line doesn't hold he's a lot more mobile than ye olde Darnold, if the Eagles break through like they did versus Minnesota the Eagles will need Hurts's A+ running game. There's something beyond football at work here though the fires in California inspiring the Rams, to express themselves with stern superlatives as they efficiently battle for Lombardi's prize. They're incensed and roguish and determined in their characteristic unyielding quest to win. I don't know if the Eagles can match it. Picking the Rams in Philly in January.

Baltimore Ravens/Buffalo Bills: fitting that this game should be the last one to be played this weekend, I should bashfully state that I'm really looking forward to it, it's like best case if the Broncos aren't playing. But who to cheer for, in one way it's distressing that both these great quarterbacks have to play one another, if Denver can't win every year then it's no doubt fair to see other teams rewarded. Both have played exceptionally well in hard-fought regular seasons for the past 5 years, both are strong candidates for the MVP in 2024, how do you choose between Allen and Jackson? Baltimore has won the Super Bowl twice since moving from Cleveland, a defensive juggernaut reigning victorious in 2000, a surprising unexpected win in 2012, while everyone knows of Buffalo's postseason struggles. Jackson has kept the team competitive since arriving and genuinely frustrated the stalwart opposition, but in the playoffs he falters at times even though he always seems like Super Bowl material. Similarly, Josh Allen can't seem to make his efficient way past the Chiefs, even though he holds a strong regular season record against them, and always seems like he'll come out on top. Both of these incredible QBs always seem like they'll effortlessly win, and keep scoring resoundingly at will as their bitter opponents look on in wonder. You want to see every outstanding QB win the coveted Super Bowl at least once in their lifetime, as loyal Broncos fans were outstandingly rewarded when Elway won twice at the end of his career. These careers aren't at an end there's still plenty of time to win, but the Chiefs aren't as strong this deflated season and the Lions do let in a lot of points on occasion. It looks like a cold one in Buffalo this weekend so it may unfortunately come down to better subzero play (subzero Celsius [cold practise facility]). Wishing both these teams luck since Denver's out. Picking Buffalo in a tight one.