Posts by Raymond Anderson4

Nicole Barrett76 said:Since we can no longer keep them separated from us in camps, perhaps the most honest solution for everyone involved would be for the state to tie social assistance to a specific duty: caring for the aging European population. We have so many elderly citizens left behind in small towns because the youth all moved away looking for work.

In this scenario, migrants could, for example, spend five hours a day chopping wood for those residents, followed by three hours of intensive language study to facilitate some semblance of integration into the society they have entered. Afterward, a selection process should occur. Those who master the language effectively could be permitted to stay, while those who do not should be sent back via plane. Alternatively, they could be relocated to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the emirate, or Dubai.

Furthermore, language proficiency should be tested so rigorously that staying in the country becomes a genuine challenge to achieve.

Keeping people isolated is counterproductive. Setting up camps on the outskirts of cities is just bad policy; how are they supposed to socialize with the local population if that’s even the goal? You end up creating ghettos filled with people who lack any means of support, and that doesn't bode well for anyone. If they have already arrived, it implies the city leadership intends for them to stay permanently. You won't achieve integration by immediately removing them from society.

As for the idea about chopping wood... I'm not sure if that's sustainable long-term. This is a situation that requires serious, long-range planning.
We could utilize migrant labor for public works projects, or allow locals to provide services for a fee determined by the state. But this needs to be structured as a cohesive, time-bound project.

Even if we’re just talking about temporary housing, trying to settle 500 migrants in a tiny town is already a massive challenge. But think about the long-term reality: how on earth do you find work for all those people in a town of only 3,000? Let's say out of those 500, there are 100 able-bodied men looking for employment. Where are they supposed to go? A small town like that usually operates on a very steady, established rhythm of small manufacturing plants, local shops, and offices where the headcount stays pretty much the same. It's not like they're going to suddenly start manufacturing custom job openings just for them.

I don't have the specifics for this particular case, but I'm genuinely curious to see how things actually played out in this German city: http://pamelageller.com/2015/10/town...-country.html/

Robert Patel2 said:Honestly, the weirdest part of this whole circus to me is how economic migrants have suddenly become the bad guys! Like, they’re actually the only positive kind of migrants because they show up ready to work—kind of like how Americans head out to find jobs elsewhere, you know? They aren't just moving to live off welfare like millions of people in Western Europe. A system that basically funds people for life just to sit around on social assistance when they aren't even sick... I mean, that just seems like a broken system to me!

They arrive in Germany or Scandinavian countries with nothing in their pockets, expecting the government to bankroll them until they get back on their feet. The real issue is that many struggle to find their footing even then. They need help learning the language, they need help finding housing, and since many lack a high school diploma, finding employment becomes an uphill battle. Should we implement a rule where they are required to work? Even basic jobs, like handing out flyers, often require at least a high school education these days. Between food and clothing, they are essentially dependent on the state for at least the first six months to a year, relying on public funds to cover their entire existence.

And there is also the question of the children. How do you integrate kids during their most formative years when they don't know the local language or even five words of English?

Such an incredibly moving film 🙂...it really stayed with me. The screenplay was brilliant, Eddie was top-notch, and Alicia was absolutely superb. This is easily the definitive performance portraying Hawking, especially since he spends half the movie essentially playing the role of a background extra.

Samuel Scott54 said:About Schmidt, Sideways, A Time to Kill, Southern Comfort, Deliverance, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Last Picture Show, Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof...

If my memory serves me right, the entire plot takes place deep in the woods or somewhere right on the edge of a forest.

We’re definitely going to be coming out stronger in Rio de Janeiro. Having Ivica on board, along with Stepancica and likely Pavlovic, gives us a noticeably more powerful lineup.

Badlands is one of my favorites because it really captures how being stuck in a small town shapes who you become.

I'm not sure if you feel the same way, but I’d put Nebraska in that same category. It’s got those moments that just scream small-town life—like that scene in the diner, or when he goes to visit his brother.

Carl Garcia22 said:I’d find those kinds of comments much easier to swallow if you hadn't all been preaching about winning gold and total dominance right before the tournament started. You were all saying we just needed to survive the group stage, claiming we had no shot, complaining about who was left off the roster—and now, suddenly, it's entirely the coach's fault because we walked away with nothing but bronze.

Typical American fan behavior. 🙏

I don't know who specifically wrote that, but saying "let's just get through the group stage" is a classic move for people who check out mentally the moment things get tough. They want to blame the coach and call it a day.
Most of these Spanish players aren't even starters at their clubs, let alone top-three talents.

Gummo would also belong on that list.

We aren't building this squad just to look good in 2018; we’re building for the Olympics. These guys have the experience under their belts, and honestly, everything else is just noise meant to rattle people who are too afraid to go all in.

It feels like we’re somehow destined to let fools run the show; it’s almost like we have a knack for it. You usually only see this kind of dysfunction in places like Bangladesh or Chad, but I can't help but feel like we consistently make the same mistake. We just keep picking the wrong people to hold the reins.

What can we actually expect from this game when the coach seems to think our chances depend more on how many prayers we send up than on actual strategy?

Good grief, what can I even say after that? I need to go watch something else immediately just to get my brain back to some semblance of normalcy.
Terrence Malick is classic Terrence Malick. The cinematography is stunning, the production design is gorgeous, and the soundscape is phenomenal. But honestly, it often feels like it's drifting away from its own core. He might think he’s staying on track, but for me, it feels a bit disconnected. 😁

I think this is one of those movies you really have to see in a theater. After trying to process this masterpiece on my laptop screen, I realized it’s meant to hit you visually and auditorily—it needs to punch you right in the face to truly make you feel it.

Don't use an Oscar nomination as a reason to knock a movie 🙂...that's the whole issue with the Academy—they nominate just about anyone at this point. Honestly, I wouldn't even call this one a romance because love feels like a secondary element here. To me, the core of the story is a raw, realistic look at someone caught in that agonizing tug-of-war over how to live their life. It’s the kind of crossroads so many people face in their 40s, 50s, or 60s when they realize they're searching for happiness just as the clock is running out.

Lawrence Edwards58 said:Couldn't you just put Domhnall Gleeson in the cast list? He was the whole reason I watched this movie.

It’s a solid film—straightforward, steady, and just a really easy, pleasant watch.

Hmm, he actually should have been on the 😁 list. Now that I think about it, I must have just blanked on him in the moment, even though I remember scrolling through his IMDb page earlier. Who knows...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381111/



Starring:
Saoirse Ronan - Eilis Lacey
Emory Cohen - Tony Fiorello
Jim Broadbent - Father Flood
Fiona Glascott - Rose Glacey
Jane Brennan - Mrs. Lacey

I couldn't find the official soundtrack online, which actually surprised me. After finishing this movie, I can honestly say it’s powerful enough to make even a Martian or Max cry during lunch...

To give a bit of context on what we're looking at here... the story follows a young woman named Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) who decides to chase her dreams across the Atlantic to New York, specifically Brooklyn. As the name suggests, Brooklyn is where everything kicks off; it's where her life takes a turn for the better, both financially and romantically, especially when she meets Tony, leading to a quick romance. But after her older sister passes away, Eilis is forced to head back home to help her mother for a couple of months. That's where things get complicated... I won't spoil anything else, though. You'll just have to see how it unfolds.

I personally loved this film. Honestly, I'm struggling to find a single significant flaw.
There's no unnecessary filler or cheap sentimentality. The pacing is fluid, the dialogue isn't exhausting, and there aren't any awkward scenes forced into the narrative where they don't belong. Everything feels perfectly placed.
It offers an incredibly realistic portrayal of a woman standing at a crossroads: does she return to the man she loves, or does she accept the life her community expects for her—marrying someone she doesn't truly love just to ensure a comfortable, stable existence?
This is where Ronan really shines. She does a masterful job blending the persona of the girl who blossomed in Brooklyn with the "old" Eilis, who is trying to reintegrate into a lifestyle where she attempts to reclaim that polished, old-school, almost aristocratic demeanor.
🙂
Highly recommended!

Amy Jones2 said:Criterion Collection starter pack

Transcendent Moments of the Ecstatic Truth

Philosophical Ramble

Loneliness, The Great Depression, Alienation, Nihilism

Nihilism / Contemplative Cinema

Contemplative Cinema - A few more additions to the collection

500 Existential Films list

A list from the Criterion Channel, which finally looks like something. Everything you need is right here.

I haven't looked at every single title here, but from what I've scanned, some of these don't seem to fit the theme at all. 😁
That list really is a bit of a grab bag. 😁

Rebecca Peterson3 said:If you're looking for that specific vibe, Živojin Pavlović's *Awakening of the Rats* is pretty much exactly what you're after.
And honestly, if you pair that with anything by Terrence Malick—which is actually why I eventually had to stop watching him altogether...
Then you've got the essence of Antonioni: *L'Avventura*, *Zabriskie Point*, *Il Grido*, *L'Eclisse*, even *Blow-Up*.
That particular atmosphere permeates everything he does, though with Malick, it feels like that’s all there is to it...

Fair point. Badlands is violent, sure, but it definitely leans into that existentialist filmmaking style. 🙂

Me and You and Everyone We Know
I don't have a massive film library to pull from—I really should dig through my digital folders to refresh my memory... but this one from the link definitely stands out. It's actually a great movie.

Well, here I am. :D
I'm in my mid-twenties, currently a student, just working my way through life—watching, listening, walking. I have this constant hunger for knowledge and for meeting decent people. I’m big into astronomy and astrophysics, but I also love a good movie, wandering through museums, and getting into deep discussions—whether they're totally ridiculous or incredibly profound. I just want to stay plugged into the world and everything it has to offer.
It would be really cool to chat online with someone who shares these interests. Age and gender don't matter much to me; I just want to connect with a genuine, normal person. :D