Galameandersongbird

Exseedentarrigaolden gush

remonstrustery gastronuts

impestiferrors vitamangey

robotantiqualaid slàinchi

toski-wheaties Machignagua

coshone pheausy pitapocka

nebulent tinkuspitty

erosiândfiliblustery

decrediblucious paysageast

bligh-phở-co-quala 'verscity

aggreta 'berg thunterrastory

cataclimatic vervoaring

destinascence crystalisp

immentataerial permist

amidrift nihiley reverlasting

lay faunauticaliscamply

fibernal.

Grey Cup Pick

Winnipeg Blue Bombers/Montréal Alouettes: I don't know if you've ever driven to Winnipeg but it's worth doing at least once. The trek west is full of wonder and the forest seems like it will never end. But then when you hit Manitoba it abruptly does and you find yourself suddenly surrounded by farmer's fields. Approaching the chill city that farmers built. Farmers who vote for the NDP. Its football team has distinguished itself over the years and has recently put together quite the run. If they had only scored two more points they would have in fact won the Grey Cup three years in a row. This year it's back to the Hammer to contend down south for the coveted trophy. In a city where they've beaten the home team far too often. No need to mention how many times. But Montréal. I just looked through the Grey Cup list of champions. And Winnipeg has never played Montréal in the finals! In a year where the Alouettes owned Hamilton, it's time they kept that unprecedented (?) streak alive. To exceptionally emerge indubitably possessive of unheralded herculean triumph! The Cup heading back to Montréal! Fajardo and the D having emerged CFL legends. Faites du Bruit! 🏈   

Brainstorm

So far, I've had trouble getting into virtual reality. Don't get me wrong, it's kind of cool, but as a substitute for the real thing, it disappoints. Perhaps the technology has significantly advanced in the last 15 years, I haven't checked it out for a long time. But way back when I was highly critical, criticism accepted, I could have have been more open.

I do like watching nature documentaries as a substitute for the real thing, since there are so many places around the world I'll never get to see. I know it's not the same thing, they're not meant to be holistically immersive, but since it's unlikely that I'll ever visit Indonesia or Vietnam 😢, I appreciate being able to watch related wildlife programming.

Brainstorm is some cool old-school sci-fi (1983) that takes an imaginary look at virtual reality, wherein which ingenious scientists actually create realistic virtual experiences.

At first, the genius is rewarded with scientific applause and technological accolades, but soon disreputable agencies seek to weaponize its potential.

It's classic innovative idealistic scientists confronting the corruption of their work, with Christopher Walken erupting in fury near the beginning of his outstanding career.

Fortunately, it predates internet hypotheses so it's still possible to hide the work. It's like they're trying to take out SkyNet before it has the ability to shift and mutate.

If you're fascinated by old school special effects or varying degrees of authentic realism, effects that were made without the total reliance on computers, effects relying on the creative manipulation of the dynamic production qualities of the time, and an erudite knowledge of electronics, Brainstorm's concluding moments are fun to watch, scientific artistry chaotically applied.

Directed by Douglas Trumball, who worked on the special effects for Blade Runner, 2001, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (it still has cool effects), it's nice to see a tech wiz at the helm, don't recall ever hearing of a similar transition.

I still feel like virtual reality is cheating when it comes to interpersonal experience, I still like talking to people and don't mind getting burned regularly for being honest.

Sometimes I'll ask a question that I know the answer to because I can't think of anything else to say, and then I'll be ridiculed for having asked the question, sigh, it's always the same old story.

Brainstorm isn't Inception but still makes a cool historical impact.

A pioneering look at this type of story.

When special effects were really starting to take off. 

Fantasifull oppfinnsomhet. Konstituerende briljans. ukrainsk samfunn.

Starcrash

Evasive creative space pirates habitually manoeuvre to outwit the law (Caroline Munro and Marjoe Gortner), until one grievous inopportune day when they suddenly find themselves sentenced to life.

Fortunately for them, a courageous ship was sent out on a vital mission, to discover whether or not a powerful weapon exists, in the far off reaches of space.

As fate would have it, they were no match for the irate destructive colossus, yet three bold innovative cruisers escaped, their whereabouts heretofore unknown.

The space pirates, imaginatively engaged in improvised spur-of-the-moment shenanigans, soon find themselves tasked by the galactic Emperor (Christopher Plummer) to voyage to locate his forlorn son (David Hasselhoff [Hasselhoff does not show up in spellcheck!]).

They respond with innate gusto and are soon soaring throughout the heavens, following clues and appealing hyperbole wherever the seductive stars collide.

As the Emperor's rival the foul and cruel ignominious usurper known as Count Zarth Arn (Joe Spinell), plots to take over the galaxy with his formidable insufferable Lava Lamp. 

When the first two ships lead nowhere our reluctant heroes digress abandoned. 

But one cast-off vessel remains. 

Harbouring symphonic destiny. 

It's all in good fun unconcerned merrymaking inconclusively driving this campy space romp, through the spirited realms of theoretical melee to the upstanding spawn of illustrious bewilder.

Strange how Lucas found a way to make Star Wars seem so much more real, than his robust and ample competition there's no doubt it was a stroke of genius. 

Still though, when it doesn't work out why not add a robot programmed down south (Hamilton Camp as the voice of Elle, Judd Hamilton as Elle), to emphatically uphold intergalactic chivalry as starstruck maidens bravely prosper.

Perhaps space isn't the lofty officious spectacle it's pretentiously thought to be, perhaps horseplay and mischievous exaggeration at times do qualify its stately grandeur.

If not how would cultural propagation consistently redefine and reconstitute, throughout mutating in/animate continuums elaborately cascading in flagrant nadir?

When superlatives fail to provide what else awaits beside kitschy inexactitude? 

Netflix etc. have so much potential.

As does the old school compelling variety. 

Why are people picking on Al Michaels? 

Okay, I figured it out.

A lot of people who don't like football are watching the games. 

They don't really care about what's happening on the field, so they focus their attention on the announcers.

Then they put football announcers under the political microscope and come out excessively critical. 

Al Michaels has been a first rate football announcer for years.

He's like Football's uncle.

Try focusing more of your attention on the game! 😠

Hud

Three generations of a ranching family actively live together in the American mid-west, father and son at ethical odds while the observant grandson comes of age.

Gramps (Melvyn Douglas) is an honourable man who takes responsibility for his actions. When it becomes apparent that his herd of cattle might have foot and mouth disease, he doesn't try to sell them for scandalous profits. 

His son Hud (Paul Newman) on the other hand only sees an enormous loss, and would have sold the cattle to his neighbours and spread the problem across the land.

He also cavorts around town with other men's wives out in the open, and routinely gets into fights and drinks too much and has a furious temper.

Thus, two visions of America irascibly compete home on the range, one steady and trusted and true the other only seeking crass self-fulfillment. 

They're consistently at venomous odds and don't freely beat around the bush, it's plenty awkward intergenerationally so, how do you progress in such heated circumstances?

The grandson (Brandon de Wilde) isn't sure what to do both the adults offering disputatious alternatives. 

The next generation of an adventurous country caught between competing undefined dreams. 

I reckon it's generally like this from one unique epoch to the original other, integral factors and intermediary zones cultivating community while self-obsessed visions tar with the same brush.

There isn't much ambiguity here it's clear to me Hud's quite the rapscallion, and there's nothing sublime or misunderstood about his way of life, he's just a first rate self-centred jerk.

There's something to be said for community building for playing a role big or small in such construction, perhaps not requiring mandatory parades or laudatory ubiquity, but still with a general sense of collective well-being (like you find in Québec).

There are thousands of chill roles to play and many aren't that bad if you show up and work, although things can be tricky from time to time, I try to keep quiet, unless my silence offends.

In one scene from Hud grandpappy relates how the munificent cow built so much of their culture, providing material for clothes and other things while also encouraging nourishment.

I immediately thought of the millions of bison who had historically resided on the plains. 

There was a built in network of ranching way back.

What a tragedy, how things unfolded.

*Not the Broncos win on Monday night versus Buffalo. That was amazing. 🏈

You've Got Mail

Well, it looks like way back when, when giant bookstores starting taking over, an adorable romantic comedy was made to help soften the corporate blow.

I remember the old school crisis and how it effected the local markets, not that independent bookstores disappeared entirely, but I certainly don't see them as much as I used to.

I suppose I don't really know who financed You've Got Mail, but it looks like a traditional piece of propaganda, that makes for a much more pleasant hostile takeover, complete with big business male conquering small business female.

I wonder how it was received at the time.

There's no doubt it's clever.

The internet was just starting up and people were just beginning to use email. 'Twas a fledgling monumental paradigm shift in the ways in which the entire world operates. The people at You've Got Mail clearly understood this, and went about crafting a related narrative.

Which was inherently endearing. 

If not ominously inevitable. 

I do rather like Chapters/Indigo, it is a cool place to look for books, each individual store having to pass the Proust and Dickens test, before definitively delineating its classical authenticity. 

Stick a Starbucks in there.

What a brilliant idea.

A Christmas bonus to whoever thought that one up.

It was a shame to see so many independents go under though, they had character and savvy and weren't quite so freakin' imposing.

My favourite bookstore will always be the local bookshop from my youth, a cool little place where I found my first volume of Proust (after watching Little Miss Sunshine) and many other cool books over the years, the owner used to even feature photos of raccoons in winter, and even took the mayor of Hamilton to court (and won if I'm not mistaken [long before Andrea Horwath who I imagine is doing a great job])!

25 years after the release of You've Got Mail I find myself dreading another paradigm shift, where Chapters/Indigo and bookstores everywhere go out of business, and one's forced to shop online.

That's all I've been doing since the pandemic hit and I have no idea how those stores have coped. All I know is that books used to feature prominently in the mainstream narrative (see You've Got Mail or The NeverEnding Story), and I never really see them mentioned anymore.

There should be money for prestige films that might win Oscars that focus on books. Obviously, I love film. But books and music still feature heavily in my life.

Perhaps I'm just being anxious, and nothing's really wrong, but I keep hearing bad restaurant tidings, and my laundry alarm went off while I was editing this sentence. 

I worry because I don't know many people who read books.

But I never really have come to think of it (outside of University).

Good thing Dad made sure I read as a child.

That was one thing he sincerely pushed. 

Honestly, when I was really young illiteracy still existed in the mainstream mind, and learning to read was regarded as a great thing, like we really had evolved. 

Another step in the wrong direction?

Getting my COVID booster soon. 

Good Morning, Miss Dove

The age old fascination with dependability and routine, as applied to flourishing bucolic life, through tranquil age and consistency, intergenerationally sustained. 

A clever recent University graduate travels home to see her Dad, who brags about her success and dreams of lucrative dividends. 

But he suddenly passes on and she soon soon finds he's been embezzling funds, and in order to avoid shock and scandal, agrees to gradually pay back the debt.

Thus, she refuses to marry a reliable brilliant eager suitor, and takes a job teaching geography at the local primary school, where she remains throughout her life.

It's the old world stiff-upper-lip resigned to duty and objective sacrifice, without flinching or even the  consideration of much more personally enriching paths.

She doesn't entertain regret or destructive bitterness or disastrous envy, and settles into a steady job she devotedly keeps for years to come.

As time passes, many local students must deal with her requisite tests, her level-headed impartiality encouraging widespread lifelong respect.

When she unexpectedly falls ill several ex-students visit her in the hospital. 

The dedication of an honourable lifetime abounding with reticent heartfelt allegiance. 

It's nice to see that dismal alternatives aren't generally focused on in Good Morning, Miss Dove, that the rewards of service and fidelity are angelically uplifted with enchanting charm.

Also nice to see the profession of teaching narratively celebrated and highly regarded, with the advent of new technologies breaking down timeless methods of instruction.

Do people dislike their fellow citizens so much is there that much social tension promoting A.I?, I honestly doubt it would ever replace teachers, but if I'm not mistaken, others disagree.

Then again the sale of CDs and cassette tapes has greatly decreased in recent memory, I hope artists still make comparable amounts from Apple Music etc. but I'm afraid I rather doubt it.

Professional movie making has been significantly challenged by online streaming and Netflix etc as well, my new remote even came with a Netflix button, I've never seen the like for CBC or CNN.

How else did artists used to make money and encourage independent thought, oh yes books!, is the younger generation reading? It's amazing how much you can learn from reading if you just put in a little time and effort.

Has the internet taken billions away from artistic endeavour as part of a plan to promote obedience, or was it just an unfortunate byproduct skilfully envisioned by pent up grouches?

At least schools are still prominently functioning and pandemic experiments proved infertile.

Doesn't mean they won't try again.

Working on my vinyl collection. 

Broncos! 🏈

Fantasierijke vindingrijkheid. Constituerende vernuft. Oekraïense gemeenschap.

Varministerio

Honeypotash 'crickculler

d'origenecuddly rombrasure

onsetmismatchshtickshapely quatrope

sphersummatadorset marmo

quillintron(t)ic flexistencil

multigranulstirrup mental

cal-qualabethestrial

invigorgantruantervault

tonguetwizlard binerlibrarie

thattachmentoriclambak'ry

distortussle glanflubbed infuchsia

meddlimburgumbeeline scoocha

overrothighwire-extentric

trea'tis Frobishire lamented

praise to thee lest we forget

the sacrifices which protect

our freedoms.

*I think "communal madness millions dead" makes a more effective last line, because it's important to remember how things can spiral out of control and lead to disastrous wars, like in The Lord of the Rings "some things shouldn't be forgotten", but there's the possibility of misinterpretation, of people thinking that such memories are so abhorrent that we should forget them, so I decided to change the line to "the sacrifices which protect". Hope that helps. 

CFL Playoffs, Finals Round

Montréal Alouettes/Toronto Argonauts: It's been a long time since I've seen a CFL season where one team let alone the Toronto Argonauts were this dominant. 16 and freakin' 2. That's super impressive. I'm used to the Argonauts winning the Grey Cup when they're the underdog, however, at least they play exceptionally well in the frigid postseason when they haven't particularly done well that year. A lot of new QBs emerge in the CFL nevertheless and I don't recall ever seeing one look like such a serious Grey Cup lock in their first year (notwithstanding the small but instrumental role he played in Toronto's win last year). There's still two games to play. But Chad Kelly looks outstanding. You know who I bet that annoys? Cody Fajardo. He's made a prominent name for himself in the CFL with no Grey Cup wins (where he was the starter) and I was surprised that Saskatchewan let him go. He may have come up short a couple of times, but if there's one thing to hold onto on any football team, it's a solid QB who consistently wins (even Elway had tough years).  Thus, even though Toronto defeated the Als three times this year, just as Montréal beat Hamilton thrice, I'm picking a resurgent Fajardo who has a lot more to prove. Montréal hasn't made the Grey Cup in a long time and those fans could use a big win. Favourably pursuing the improbable. Picking the resurgent Alouettes! 

B.C Lions/Winnipeg Blue Bombers: The Stampeders put up a fight last week but B.C still scored more than 40 to beat them, to set up the Blue Bombers rematch, after such a long time without a Grey Cup win, it's cool to see the 'Peg playing consistently well. Zach Collaros was huge in the Hammer when he started his career way back when, and just when it looked like he was finished, he picked up two solid Grey Cup wins. Could the same western team make the Grey Cup 4 years in a row, in the tumultuous CFL playoffs nonetheless, that seems like an impossibility. Calgary didn't even achieve such heights during a crazy long run on top. Can Mike O'Shea do what hasn't been done? Since Edmonton made it 6 years in a row. Not if the Lions have their say these teams are so freakin' closely matched, a blowout each and a Bombers overtime win the only thing separating these two juggernauts. If Cody Fajardo makes the Cup I imagine he'd like to defeat his old rival, Collaros having outmaneuvered Saskatchewan with reflexive grace and paramount savvy (in recent postseason memory). But if Chad Kelly makes it (picking Montréal) would it be more legendary to see Vernon Adams Jr. also playing in his first Grey Cup, consume the adventurous media (odd how Collaros is the only QB to have won the Grey Cup as a starter out of 4 late postseason CFL QBs)? Sigh. Sports gets kind of dull if the same team makes it all the time, unless they're your favourite team, then things couldn't get better. But I'd rather see a new western champion undauntedly emerge with formidable gusto. Picking B.C versus Montréal (where Adams Jr. used to play) (the Lions winning the western final by a late field goal). That's a cool slice of Canadiana. 

   

John Q

I'm happy that we have great health coverage in Canada and Québec, and I'm glad that everyone has access.

I'm glad my friends and family and neighbours can see a doctor or visit the hospital without having to pay out of pocket, and that the wide variety of services available continue to expand beyond limitation.

I know it's frustrating having to wait.

It would be nice if things moved more quickly.

But the services are still available and they're available across the board.

Watch Michael Moore's Sicko watch John Q check out the nightmare, awaiting the privatization of health services if there's less of an emphasis on public health.

Imagine you suddenly had to come up with over $200,000 to pay for medical bills, which the insurance plan you had paid into for your entire life wouldn't cover.

Imagine that if you couldn't come up with that money one of your loved ones would die.

Without public health this isn't a rare occurrence. 

Without universal health care it's par for the course.

Universal health care is a sign of enduring progress and practical community, a sustainable way to ensure widespread health at all times across the land.

If we can hire more doctors and invest in hospitals wait times should decrease, and more of our medical school graduates will find the jobs they've worked hard to get.

One of the big differences between private and public health care, as outlined in Maude Barlow's Too Close for Comfort, is that public health care workers put people before profits, while private health is more interested in money.

Thus, the private hospital sets a goal of profits to be earned in a specific month, and then sets about trying to earn them. If there's a shortfall come the 31st heads will roll and people will lose their jobs, hence services are cut for employment security's sake, as administrators with no medical knowledge try to save money. If they save money and produce higher profits the private board running the hospital is more impressed. Therefore, there's an impetus to be as cheap as possible while pretending to provide expert service.

In the public system people care about health and finding more efficient ways to take care of each other.

While providing access to all kinds of different specialists.

For a thriving culture.

It's a total win-win.

Inġenwità immaġinattiva. Brillanza kostitwenti. Komunità Ukraina. 

Kepintaran imaginatif. Kecemerlangan konstituen. komuniti Ukraine.

Person to Person

Hyper-obsessions with the omnipresent, the characteristic need to express thoughts and emotions, the honesty clarity genuinely beaming, the established difficulties perpetually stoking.

The potential scoop inertly resting within unconcerned inanimate shade, wholeheartedly uninterested in asking questions of an inconsiderate aggressive nature.

Trying to learn a new skill indubitably applicable to arts and crafts, yet unaccustomed to the invasive practices at times associated with acquiring information.

The incipient stages acrobatically wherein which versatile material may flexibly emerge, counterbalanced with awkward politesse and innate feelings of communal well-being.

The joy of life sincerely illuminating multifaceted random cause, as someone who vividly cares goes frolicking about with cheerful genuine stalwart integrity.

A scrutinizing look at urban communities interactively drawn towards communicative life, without much of a focus on automobiles or ye olde home ownership or raising a family.

The unmarried masses productively relating inhibitions cast off and merriment proclaimed, within a volatile spectrum reciprocally radiating instantaneous clash.

So much happening within the city so much free time to extract and chirp, who knows indeed what to imaginatively make of it, fun to lose yourself within the immersion.

I did have problems with observant delineations vocally defining social miscues, which unfortunately turned me into that guy even long after I had learned not to generally share them.

I eventually adapted and grew and slowly mutated into a traditional mode, but I was still prone to humorous outbursts which could at times lead to passionate scorn.

Nice to see the people in this film constructively givin' 'er nevertheless, a cool cast with creative narratives offering thoughtful insights into variable phenomena. 

Books and film and music and poetry there's ample room for a life of the mind.

It certainly never grows boring.

Especially with wildlife sightings. 

Imaginativna genijalnost. Sostavna brilijantnost. Ukrainska zaednica.

Ingenii imaginativae. Splendor constituens. Communitas Ucrainae. 

Skitzodiantique

Bonhommage neighe flaskon de f(r)etting

hivernastrospheric treading

stroll 'em tight diciduflush

errfidodorabullenthrust

erstwildernessie clandestudine

cavalifelong learnins vinclined

retisensual 'vocative

immatiery figurr-eighted

loup-de-loopy loquadrastic

double scoopy chlorrowed bratwick

entsiantics prymordrover

ha-ye herbiboring clover

crimsing-sonic superbellum

peewiskiwi-fibrust melons

gégé splicing froficheshire

alohoctagaghast'risk wired

haymasqueraid.

CFL Playoff Picks, Semi-Finals Round

Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Montréal Alouettes: seems as if Montréal defeated the Cats three times this woebegone season, to effectively shut them out, that hasn't happened in quite a while (if ever). But Hamilton improved remarkably as things progressed and are playing their best football to date at the moment. Thus, once again it seems like these two incredible teams are too evenly matched. The future too close to call. Unless you're dialling up Hamilton.  

Calgary Stampeders/B.C Lions: this has to be the worst season the Stampeders have had in a while, but for a long time they rivalled Brady's New England in terms of unparalleled excellence. It's only one game in football but it's not as if the Stamps have been blowing them away recently. To win they'll have to creatively jangle. And formidably execute accordingly. They did beat B.C recently but it looks like the game didn't mean much to the Lions, although Dane Evans has distinguished himself at times, if he hits his rhythm, he's tough to beat. Nevertheless, Vernon Adams is having an amazing year and the net says he's healthy to start tomorrow. The Lions tenaciously rival Winnipeg. I'm picking the Bombers/Lions rematch. 

 

A River Runs Through It

Family first and foremost reciprocally resigned in pristine pastures, a sturdy minister and his adventurous sons tenderly taken care of by an adoring mom.

Strict but not overbearing the natural tendency to erupt in play, openly encouraged within temporal limits reasonably applied each and every day.

Fly fishing forges the backbone of glib inquisitive rural endeavours, local rivers and fields and forests ebulliently itemized in joyous caricature.

It's focused on several times and becomes something artistic if not spiritual, the youngest lad remarkably entertaining with paramount dexterous improvised brilliance. 

His older brother's somewhat more tried and true and spends six years away from home at school, learning the integral ways of literature to be creatively taught with bucolic industry.

The younger takes to the wild and emphatically learns the art of journalism, freely expressing his withering whimsy with a festive fair-hand and spry open-mind. 

But somewhat unsettled somewhat borderline reckless he pursues risk-fuelled gambling and drink beyond reason. 

Yet still never arrives late for fishing.

And always puts on quite a show. 

Narrated with old world omniscience as if oracled fate was clairvoyantly hewn, exciting moments and tragic expenditures objectively passing with sagacious sentiment.

I remembered so many exuberant hours curiously exploring throughout my youth, as I watched those rambunctious lads engage in resolute countryside quorums. 

Such a shame when disciplinary regulations counterintuitively produce wanton interludes, the legionary impetus of the pervasive patterns alternatively encouraging adventitious catalogues.

Such a shame when a lack of order counterintuitively begets despotism, through the unfortunate contemptuous dismissal of laidback chillin' and relaxed intuition.

What a consistent pain applying reason and logic to find realistic solutions.

Sport always seems to fend off carnage.

The arts unfortunately lacking commensurate mass appeal. 

Glad to see the Texas Rangers finally win the World Series.

Would have been cooler if the Jays had won.

Sill, not bad for those long suffering Rangers fans! ⚾

The Las Vegas Golden Knights, Denver Nuggets, and Texas Rangers all won their first championship this year. That's freakin' awesome. 

What a year for new franchise wins! 

Ingegno fantasioso. Brillantezza constituente. Comunità ucraina. 

Hugmyndaríkt hugvit. Innihaldsljómi. úkraínska samfélag.