I was wondering if anyone could help me track down films by the legendary Yasujiro Ozu—honestly the greatest director in the history of outer space—in any format you can find (VHS, DVD, digital, etc.).
Thanks in advance! 🙏
You might find some stuff over at http://www.criterionco.com/asp/browse.asp. If he really is your favorite director, be prepared to drop a serious amount of US dollars on their boutique releases.
If anyone's interested, there’s another one from "those parts" that’s just okay in terms of the plot, but it’s actually pretty solid when it comes to the special effects and those classic Chinese tropes (like running through the air). It’s called The Legend of Zu, and you can find it on DivX. It’s a fun little watch.
People who only care about Western films probably won't get the appeal of this one either.
Robert Cooper41 said:The movie is pure genius... but I have to give a shout-out to the incredible score by Joe Hisaishi. He's my absolute favorite composer from the Takeshi Kitano era (he scored almost everything he did... except for Zatoichi)👍 p.s. Pretty sure he did the music for Princess Mononoke, too.
Exactly. Joe actually composed the soundtrack for Princess Mononoke. But honestly, he’s done the music for most of the Ghibli films as well.
Abraxas said:This movie is amazing. It’s basically the Japanese take on Alice in Wonderland. Definitely worth checking out.👍
Personally, I think The Cat Returns is a much better "adaptation" of Alice in Wonderland. Maybe we'll finally get a theatrical release here in the States one day. Or at least see it pop up on Blu-ray.
At first, I thought "pre-utility" was just a way to describe the natural world—everything out there that exists independently of us, things we can observe but not necessarily control. It felt like a way to define how humans relate to a reality that has its own mode of being, completely detached from what those things might be "useful" for. But then I realized you could also apply this to an object, like a broken gadget; once it stops working, it regains that sense of pre-utility. So now, I see the concept differently: it’s not about something being inherently "untouchable" by nature, but rather about the degree to which we have no functional relationship with it. It’s less about an essential state of being and more about the distance between us and the thing itself... I guess I’m a bit of a dreamer, as people might say... because I found myself immediately pulled toward that raw thread of existence, looking at the world as it truly is, right in front of my eyes, even if I couldn't reach out and touch it. Just now, I stopped in front of a cherry tree. It didn't tempt me with its bright, sweet fruit; I didn't feel that sudden urge to grab a handful and stuff them into my pockets just because I know how good they taste. Instead, I just stood there, treating the sight like a painting, simply soaking in the beauty for a moment... But it isn't all poetic whimsy. My neighbor just walked right past it without a second glance, carrying a basket of cherries he bought at the local farmer's market. Why would he stop to stare? He’s already got his prize. If I were to take just two steps back and try to truly grasp what that tree *is* in its purest, most neutral form—without the context of food or beauty—maybe it wouldn't even look like a cherry tree anymore. It might become something entirely unrecognizable... A tree can't influence my emotions the way a person can. It won't smile at me when I look confused, or rustle its branches to catch my attention, or tug at my hair if it senses I'm about to follow my neighbor. It won't even swat at my arm with a twig if I start trying to carve my initials into its bark... Maybe it's just an illusion I subconsciously create—this sense of intimacy we feel with something that simply *exists*. When I try to strip that away and understand the tree as a neutral entity, just existing in its own way, that illusion shatters, leaving nothing but a sense of total incomprehension... But if I could actually comprehend how this tree, as a living thing that grows on its own, might possess its own internal world—its own capacity to suffer or thrive through a biological version of feeling—then perhaps I wouldn't experience it as something fundamentally alien or "other." Without me and my little illusions, the tree is just a neutral fact of life that "is." And yeah, it happens to be delicious, too...
1. Someone mentioned they won't buy, say, a Polish first aid kit because they're waiting until we have our own local version. The truth is, we'll never have one, because most of the supplies aren't even manufactured here in the States. 2. Then someone asked, "Are those new kits actually compliant with European Union regulations?" They sure aren't! Most items in the kit have dimensions that nobody in the European Union actually manufactures. Why? You tell me. Stop. Just stop. It's Tosa. 3. In the HN1112 model, the box has these hyper-specific dimensions too, which is honestly just ridiculous. 4. It's wild how every single measurement has to be exact. For example, the adhesive tape has to be at least 2cm x 5m—not a millimeter off. But you go to the store and find 2.5cm x 5m everywhere, which technically doesn't meet the standard!!!! The entire European Union produces the 2.5cm x 5m version instead of what Tosa requires. 5. If you use up one of the items in the kit, you're basically screwed!! Local pharmacies don't carry bandages or foil wraps in these specific sizes. They have to special order them. And from where?? ... Tosa. There are a few more things, but I'll get to those later. Cheers,
I really hope you don't end up having to trade in those R. E. M. tickets for something else... though honestly, anything can happen here. It’s pretty depressing how few people actually show up for stuff like this. Sure, money is tight, blah blah, but people will always find a way to support Skor—they'll even go out and buy the original CDs 🙂 It would be absolutely legendary if R. E. M. actually came through. Any idea when the new album hits the shelves? Regarding those comparisons, I have to say I saw the Peppers in New York City earlier this year and the energy was just insane, totally indescribable. At the end of the day, it's all about personal taste, but R. E. M. concerts tend to be a bit more chill... plus, the crowd is usually a little older 🙂
What for exactly? Not every psychologist is a specialist in everything...
If you're dealing with issues involving abused children, I’d highly recommend Prof. Flander - Buljan. Or, if you need someone for neurosurgery-related consultations, go with Prof. Pacic-Turk. And so on... Or, if you're struggling with study habits, check out the psychologists at the Student Health Center near Market Square (or whatever they're calling that area now). Alternatively, if you need corporate testing done for your company, try Kalibro. Etc., etc... There are plenty of great psychologists out there; it just all depends on what you actually need.
The fact that people are living longer—say, reaching 78 or 80 these days—doesn't mean folks back in the day were dropping dead of "old age" at 39, or that women were hitting menopause at 27... It just means more people survived childhood and middle age because we aren't constantly battling infectious diseases that are now easily cured or totally wiped out. Back then, if you were lucky enough to have decent living conditions, you still had a solid shot at reaching old age, just like people do today
So, I wouldn't necessarily bank on a proportional increase in our fertile years, even though it’s definitely possible that better overall health and living standards could play a role in that too...
I’m living in New York City and honestly, I’m a little intimidated by going to the doctor here. It feels like they hand out antidepressants as casually as if they were recommending an aspirin. I really want to find a way to deal with this through more natural means instead...
The mind and the body are constantly feeding into one another. There’s no real mystery there—it’s basic biology. But when people say "a healthy mind lives in a healthy body," don't take it quite so literally. 😉 It's actually a well-documented fact that many killers and violent offenders possess incredibly fit, well-built physiques.
Ryan Wilson2:
Anyway, getting back to the point, someone's physical appearance can actually reveal their spiritual practices. It’s just a fact: what's happening on the inside eventually shows up on the outside.
And vice versa—the external can influence the internal, too.
Look... when you're performing a classic pentagram ritual, you have to summon four Angel figures. Since I've been doing this for years, I've gotten really good at visualizing them. To keep things from feeling too airy-fairy, I’ll mix in the Water element by visualizing everything from a calm ocean to a massive tsunami.
😁 I also like to bring in some freshwater elements, and honestly, my Angel visions are pretty stunning, if you know what I mean. 😍 😍
Roger Edwards2 said:What’s your take—is spirituality and religiousness something we’re actually born with? Do people believe in the supernatural or God just because that's how they were raised, or is there some kind of genetic component at play here?
I personally think it's hereditary, but more in terms of *how* we express and process our spirituality.
Strumming the guitar Sometimes you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, and it leads to this exhausting cycle of holding onto hope one second and spiraling into despair the next because that hope just isn't enough to sustain you. When those low moments hit, try telling yourself, "Okay, I'm just having a rough minute," and know that it'll pass if you can just hang in there. You don't necessarily need to jump straight to medication either; sometimes just sitting down for a therapy session to vent your fears to someone who listens is plenty. And even if a doctor does suggest something, it doesn't have to be heavy-duty antidepressants—sometimes a mild anti-anxiety med is all it takes. Watch your diet, too—too much caffeine is a huge anxiety trigger. When things feel heavy, try brewing some chamomile tea instead.
I’m struggling with depression. One minute I feel like everything is totally fine and I’m doing okay, but the next, it feels like the ground is slipping out from under me and everything is just sinking. There are moments where I feel genuinely motivated and enthusiastic about life—I actually look forward to tomorrow and appreciate everything I have and everything happening to me.
But then, whenever I’m not in that great headspace, I feel like I have nothing to live for. I feel unloved, I have zero energy for work, and my version of a "perfect day" is just being able to crawl into bed and sleep through it all. I find myself giving up on my dreams way too quickly because they start to seem impossible. And honestly, if it’s impossible, why even bother trying? Why just head straight toward disappointment?
A while back, I went to see this psychic who summed up my entire situation in a single sentence. She told me I was carrying around a lot of bad energy from my past and that I needed to close that chapter of my life before I could move forward. She offered to help since she’s a spiritual healer (or something like that). I just said thanks, but no thanks. I don't really buy into that stuff; I’m more of a realist who thinks this is all down to some kind of chemical imbalance in my body.
I desperately want to get rid of these mood swings and this depression, but I really don't want to go to a doctor. It feels silly to me, and I’m pretty skeptical about taking things like antidepressants. I truly believe there has to be another way.
Does anyone have any ideas? Please, let me know...
boldsailor32 said:I wouldn't call myself a total purist yet—I probably hover somewhere between 75% and 90%—but honestly, I’m getting more consistent every single day...
To me, being a true "Stem" means actually living out what you believe in your daily life, making sure your actions match your words perfectly.
No matter what those beliefs happen to be.
V.
😉 And that whole idea of fluidity and flexibility... just going with the flow whenever it feels right? That only works if you're staying true to your core principles. 😁
Charlie has a point, though; all those gray areas really do blur the lines. 😁 😉