My mom probably just picked up some kind of stomach flu or something, for heaven's sake, yet she's making such a huge production out of it. As long as everything turns out fine, 😉
Look, you lose up to 200 hairs a day. It’s actually necessary because that's how new growth happens... so all this whining about seeing one hair on your pillow or four in your hands? Please, stop talking nonsense. 🙄 I remember back in the day, maybe five or six years ago, I actually sat there and intentionally gathered all my shed hairs onto a piece of paper, and it ended up being an entire clump. My hair sheds even more during the fall and spring transitions. Despite all that, my hair looks pretty much the same now as it did ten years ago. When hair starts falling out, what’s actually happening is that your hair is thinning because the roots are weakening; the strands get thinner and thinner until they just "drain away" and you end up bald. You won't just wake up bald overnight—you'll be pulling whole handfuls of hair off your head at a time. One of my grandfathers had dark hair and went completely bald before he hit 30, and my other grandfather had blond hair and was also totally bald by 30. My dad had thin hair his whole life, but somehow it stayed put, so for most of my memory, he was just balding with that little tuft left in the middle. I'm 28 now, and I guess I just got lucky since my mom's side of the family all had thick, bushy hair like a bunch of mountain men. Honestly, I had every reason to be bald by now given how many bald guys are in my family, yet here I am with thick hair... it's a total lottery. Will it start thinning as I get older? Probably. But I'm pretty confident I'll never go completely bald. Besides, don't stress your head over this when you're only 18; if you're even destined to go bald, you've got a massive wait ahead of you. Go read "The Little Prince" instead.
If you actually bother to do a little digging online, you'll find plenty of info on HIV. Honestly, I feel like here in the States, the disease gets way too much hype regarding how "easy" it is to catch. If you look at the numbers from 1986 through 2008, the total number of people infected who eventually developed AIDS and passed away was under 1,000—specifically, just a few hundred people. In the grand scheme of things, that’s a tiny amount. Over half of those cases involved homosexual contact, the rest were heterosexual, there were a handful involving drug use, and I think there were maybe 11 cases where nobody even knew how they caught it. And we're talking about a span of over twenty years. Some people even go as far as claiming you can't catch HIV through French kissing or even oral sex. They say if you're the one performing, the risk is so negligible it's basically nonexistent. Of course, some people will always disagree, but seriously, where does it end? Are we all supposed to believe we'd catch HIV just from making out? Young people are constantly hooking up out in the world; if that were true, everyone would be dead by now.
Amy Walker4 said:I really hope I can track it down... Westerns have always been my absolute passion.😍
You still here? I figured you’d be busy catching up on something on Netflix. 😁 In my opinion, this might actually be the greatest Western ever put to film. It’s widely regarded as one of those all-time cinematic masterpieces, and honestly, I just love everything about it—especially the score. Most of the lead actors are American, though you get a few Italians sprinkled in here and there, which gives the whole thing this half-Italian, half-American vibe.
One of those absolutely stunning scenes—Redemption at the Bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAJ2skOJvdY
Also, from once upon a time in the West, just incredible music: - life is honestly pointless if you aren't listening to tracks like this, and this one definitely hits the mark! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cakBkd2wAVw
What are your top 5 scenes where the music hits just as hard as the visuals? Here’s my list:
#1 - Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) - Sergio Leone music: Ennio Morricone - "The Man with the Harmonica" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Az1...c-HM-fresh+div For me, nothing beats the moment the kid runs out of the house, staring at the wreckage of his family, right as that larger-than-life score kicks in. Then there's that shot where the killers emerge from the brush, creeping toward the camera—and the kid—with their faces shrouded in shadow. This movie is packed with perfection; every single detail was meticulously crafted, but this stands out. Honestly, they just don't make movies like this anymore, and don't even get me started on how much we miss music of this caliber. And that line: "What we're gonna do with this one Frank," and Frank responds: "Now that you called me by name"... damn, what a gut punch.
#2 - Blade Runner (1982) - Ridley Scott music: Vangelis - "Tears in Rain" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_saUN4j7Gw That legendary monologue from Rutger Hauer at the end, paired with Vangelis's ethereal score... it's absolutely irreplaceable.
#3 - Twin Peaks (1990) - David Lynch music: Angelo Badalamenti - Laura Palmer's Theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nbiErc00UI Leland losing his mind in jail while Bob speaks through him, followed by that heartbreaking finale set to Badalamenti's score, is easily the peak of Twin Peaks. I mean, okay, maybe Dale Cooper—well, Kyle—is a little ridiculous with all those monologues, but whatever. It's still the greatest series ever made.
#4 - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - Stanley Kubrick music: Richard Strauss - Also sprach Zarathustra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1IPrx-zC1Y That ending where he becomes the Star Child accompanied by that iconic track... pure genius. And what can you even say about this film? It was decades ahead of its time then, and it still holds up today.
#5 - Once Upon a Time in America (1984) - Sergio Leone music: Ennio Morricone - Deborah's Theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYrsllfsvlQ Ah... so beautiful. This might actually be my favorite Morricone piece. Watching that quiet guy and the stunning woman who sees their tragic fate coming is just such a gorgeous moment.
At the end of the day, great music has this ability to touch your soul in ways that acting or dialogue alone simply can't.
I haven't seen Inland Empire yet, but this post caught my eye and made me want to check it out. It looks like we’re debating David Lynch here. First off, I think it’s perfectly fine if you don't like David Lynch; honestly, that feels more authentic than some pretentious, hipster snob praising him just because they want to feel superior to the masses.
Look, I'm no film scholar, and I don't bother with critics, but I experience movies in my own way. Whether people wrap their heads around his work or not, whether they dig it or hate it, Lynch is a genius. The feeling I had—and probably a billion other people worldwide felt too—when Twin Peaks first hit the small screen back in 1990, is something money couldn't buy. From that moment on, my perception of the world, of people, and of life itself shifted. I saw a side of reality I didn't even know existed. As a director, Lynch works primarily through an audio-visual sensory assault. He takes disconnected ideas and weaves them into a visceral experience, layering his specific worldview onto it, and then, as an afterthought, he adds the story. That’s how I see him. He’s a genius because in a world where everything is forced into rigid matrices and rules designed to cater to our shallowest senses, Lynch suddenly shoves something in front of us that shocks and confuses us. If we don't get the point immediately, we dismiss him as a fraud or a charlatan using movies like endless labyrinths to manipulate us. I think a lot of people look for the "point" of his films in all the wrong places, searching within the very structures that make sense to them. It’s like trying to find God by staring at your own crap; it’s just not going to happen. Sure, Lynch uses tricks, but the issue isn't his incomprehensible structures; it's our hardwired human desire for everything—in life and in cinema—to have a neat beginning, middle, climax, and end. If that’s what you’re looking for, stay away from Lynch, because he’s looking much further beyond that. Just as we’re conditioned to listen to pop songs with a verse, bridge, and chorus, we struggle to digest different musical structures, even though those exist in classical music or the work of inventive composers who aren't afraid to break stereotypes. So, don't shut yourself off from experiencing a Lynch film, even if it’s just through the sheer impact of its atmosphere. To me, being unable to engage with him suggests a certain shallowness—the kind of viewer who would be much happier watching some mindless action trash starring Dolph Lundgren. Regarding Mulholland Drive and some of his other works, I think part of the problem is that he doesn't have the opportunity to make series anymore, something he managed to pull off with Twin Peaks. If Twin Peaks had been just a movie, we probably wouldn't even know about it today. But due to outside pressures, he made the series accessible enough for the average viewer, allowing the ambiguities to be cleared up later. If Mulholland Drive had been a series, things might have been much clearer and the plot could have followed a more traditional flow. I won't claim I fully understood MD, but the film pushed me to dig a little deeper to get at least a surface-level glimpse of what the author was aiming for. For me, it wasn't something I needed to "solve"; it was an experience, and providing an experience is what Lynch gives his audience. It’s like taking a trip to the Grand Canyon; afterward, you feel something profound, and if someone asks you what the "point" was, you wouldn't know how to answer, but you’d know you experienced something real. That’s Lynch. He doesn't want to provide shallow entertainment—not that shallow entertainment is bad—but rather, he wants to force the viewer out of the stereotypes they've been stuck with since birth. I find the characters in Twin Peaks absolutely fascinating. At first glance, someone might say they’re just a bunch of eccentric or mentally unstable people, but Lynch doesn't feed us that fake, one-dimensional caricature. He doesn't serve us the garbage that most other directors hand out on a silver platter; instead, he shows us people exactly as they truly are. We see their states of mind, their dreams, their quirks, and their fears. He shows us exactly what we discover after we've actually spent time getting to know someone. There are no fake heroes, no saints, and no pure villains—just ordinary human souls with all the madness we all carry in our heads, making up the psychological fabric of the world. To someone emotionally stunted, these characters might seem unreal, or perhaps some people have simply never met anyone real enough to realize that people REALLY ARE LIKE THIS. That is one of Lynch's magics, among many others. That’s just how I see his style, and it doesn't have to be the definitive word—not even from Lynch himself. But the guy definitely wants us to sit there and really chew on what we're seeing and feeling. Plus, you won't find any cheap jump scares from Lynch, like some zombie popping out of a closet or mindless gore. Instead, he gets under your skin by building this heavy sense of dread through specific settings, moody lighting, and soundscapes that just make you feel uneasy while you wait for something to happen. And we can't overlook Badalamenti; his brilliant, original scores are what really drive home that constant paranoia, mystery, and the haunting beauty found in Lynchian cinema. As for The Straight Story—absolute genius. It's one of his most accessible and moving pieces. Funnily enough, the actor playing the old man actually took his own life a while after the movie came out because he was battling cancer.
I’m sitting this one out because it isn't that simple. She’s definitely narcissistic, sure, but honestly? I think she just lacks self-confidence. It feels like her entire brain is occupied by trivial nonsense that shouldn't matter in her thirties. Let's be real—most women have always dealt with massive insecurities about their looks; some just hide it better than others. There’s also this pervasive social cliché that holds a grain of truth if you're only looking at surface level: that women hit their peak desirability around 35, while men don't really start their prime until they're well into their thirties. These kinds of societal stereotypes just breed misery. Most girls I know are convinced they’ll be totally washed up by 40, so they spend their twenties just trying to live it up before the clock runs out. The whole thing seems pretty stupid to me. You approached her the wrong way and judged her without any real justification. Look, if you were going to say something like that to her, you could have handled it with much more grace. She opened up to you about her fears, not her narcissism, and now she feels betrayed because if she can't trust you with her vulnerabilities, who can she trust? You basically took someone who was already struggling and made them feel even worse. You could have just kept it simple, given her a compliment, and told her she looked great.
The biggest tragedy is that thirty years ago, there was actually a real shot at seeing a legendary new musician emerge. Nowadays, those opportunities are dead because the whole atmosphere is toxic and people have such a warped perspective on what music should be. Bruce Springsteen is honestly the gold standard for pop-rock-blues, and if you actually wanted to grasp the sheer depth of his quality, you’d really need to own his entire discography—which, judging by this forum, nobody here seems to have. If you want to start somewhere, I highly recommend checking out On the Beach, Auberge, Springsteen, and The Road to Hell.
1978 - Whatever Happened to Buddy Holly (a bit generic and monotonous, but a decent start) 1979 - Delta Airlines (similar vibe to the first one, but way more diverse and better overall) 1980 - Tennis 1982 - Bruce Springsteen (a forgotten and underrated pop masterpiece; just simple, unpretentious love songs with an 80s feel and perfect melodies that actually hit you right where they should—straight in the heart... man, I wish there were more albums like this today) 1983 - Aquarius (a little overproduced, but varied and very easy listening) 1984 - Fly Me to the Moon (slightly experimental and a relatively interesting listen) 1985 - Rumours (potentially a perfect album that falls short because some of the tracks aren't great, but the original versions of Josephine, The Supremes, and All Summer Long, along with a few other solid tunes, make this a really good record. I get the feeling Springsteen was trying to get a bit too complicated with the melodies here, and unfortunately, he lost himself a little in the process) 1986 - On the Beach (probably the best summer album ever recorded; it’s the kind of album you play while lounging in the heat, staring at the waves, and just chilling... personally, I think it's one of the best-produced albums EVER. Phenomenal vocals and beautiful melodies. My personal favorites are On the Beach, Little Blond Plaits, Giverny, It's All Gone, Hello Friend, Light of Hope, and Forever and Ever—the rest of the album isn't any less perfect) 1987 - Dancing with Strangers (kind of a lost cause and not particularly interesting. Best track is Curse of the Traveler) 1989 - The Road to Hell (his most famous work, though I don't find it all that exciting because the personal experiences in the songs feel a bit artificial to me, sounding watered down and repetitive... however, The Road to Hell combined with Tell Me There's a Heaven are undeniable masterpieces. That's What They Always Say, You Must Be Evil, and Daytona are solid enough) 1991 - Auberge (definitely one of Springsteen's best... aside from the pretty mediocre You're Not a Number, Red Shoes, and the average Every Second Counts, the rest of the tracks are heavy hitters that leave a strong impression on me... a very inspired album) 1992 - God's Great Banana Skin (the title track, Nothing to Fear, 90s Blues, and Too Much Pride are excellent, and the rest of the album is solid) 1993 - Espresso Logic (the beginning of the loss of inspiration; a fairly washed-out and aimless album, though it has a few gems like Julia, Espresso Logic, and the spoken "She Closed Her Eyes," which really makes you stop and reflect on your own life) 1998 - The Blue Cafe (Springsteen tries to fake some inspiration and uses a more aggressive approach here, almost tricking his opponent—me—into thinking this is a good album... the songs are simpler, yet still atmospheric and somewhat interesting... the title track is great, and honestly the only truly great thing on the whole record) 1999 - The Road to Hell (an average album where Springsteen fails somewhat in his attempts to experiment) 2000 - King of the Beach (sterile, melody-free garbage that Springsteen somehow convinced people was a return to those "On the Beach" vibes... boring, uninspired, bloodless... in other words, crap) 2002 - The Stony Road (this is the first time Springsteen does exactly what he wants, and he actually pulls it off quite well. Even though I'm not a huge fan of minimalist blues and prefer his earlier stuff, it's an album that isn't totally throwaway)
I haven't gotten around to rating the newer albums yet.
If you’re looking for some modern stuff, I’d suggest checking out Yanni’s "In My Time" album... it’s just solo piano and honestly, it’s really good. As for classical, you already know about Pogorelich and the rest, but you didn't mention if you're actually more into the classics or if you want something newer.
I honestly don't even know what to say to you... if you have that kind of visceral aversion to meat, it sounds more like a psychological hang-up than anything else. Humans have been eating meat since we first walked the earth; our biology is literally hardwired to need it. And look, fruit and veggies are living things too—once they’re picked, they start dying and decomposing immediately. Honestly, I think you just need to rewire how you view things in your head. Avoiding meat entirely can be just as detrimental to your health as skipping vegetables altogether. Maybe try starting with fish? It’s incredibly healthy. Relying solely on plants is fine for cows and other livestock with completely different digestive systems, but meat provides the strength and energy your bones and body actually crave. You could technically get those nutrients from veggies, but you’d have to eat such massive quantities that no sane person could manage it. Just give it some thought and stop letting your own mind hold you hostage over reasons you don't even fully understand yourself. Just because you threw up four years ago doesn't mean it'll happen again today, and if meat smells bad to you, that's an issue in your brain, not the food. Look, it’s your health and your body, so do whatever you want, but since you're still in your developing years, it feels like you're essentially punishing your body by denying it protein.
electricwalker88 said:I last threw up after eating it about ten years ago (which was also the last time I touched it). I'm pretty sure it's just because it tasted disgusting. It’s the same thing when you eat something that tastes like literal garbage—you’ll end up gagging just from the sheer nastiness of it. ☕
Clearly, those old men have no idea how to cook or roast meat if it ends up tasting like crap.🙄
electricwalker88 said:I probably didn't mention that I've been seeing a psychologist regularly for seven years, and lately, even a psychiatrist 🤷 meat isn't even an option for me—the mere thought makes me sick. Even back when I used to eat it, I’d constantly end up throwing it back up. My diet is actually pretty balanced; I don't just live on fruits and veggies. I eat everything except meat—basically 99% of all vegetables out there, plus soy, grains, eggs, and milk... I also use olive oil constantly; every year my mom buys several liters from some local lady down by the coast, we've only ever bought it from a grocery store once, years ago. I wasn't even thinking about wearing my glasses right now; I can manage fine without them. Running isn't really an option because my pelvis is tilted (my right side is about an inch higher than my left), and my orthopedist actually gave me a note for school to get me excused from PE. My knee is worn down, so if I bend or straighten it too quickly or sharply, there's this incredibly painful, uncomfortable grinding sensation.
I spend most of my days alone, listening to music to drown things out, and I try to avoid contact with my parents as much as possible because they contribute an abnormal amount of stress to my life... 😉
Are you throwing up meat because it grosses you out, or because your body is actually rejecting it? Avoiding food just because of a lack of appetite isn't healthy. There's nothing inherently gross about it. Try starting with something light, like white meat or maybe some turkey cutlets; there's really nothing nasty or heavy about those. It doesn't matter if your hips are out of alignment; just focus on activities that won't irritate those areas. It doesn't have to be intense training, just something to keep your body in shape. It could be basic morning stretching, or push-ups, sit-ups, squats, a light jog around the block, or any kind of recreation that gets you moving. Maybe an indoor walking machine... anything...
Look, I’m just a layman here, but I’ve dealt with my fair share of this stuff. First off, you didn't mention what's actually stressing you out. You need to tackle that head-on because nothing in life is worth wrecking your health over, and most things can wait. Besides, you’re going through puberty, which is arguably the hardest phase of life. Your body and mind are riding a rollercoaster of uncomfortable changes, and since physical maturity doesn't always sync up with mental maturity, it hits your brain and psyche in all sorts of ways. The second thing is that you clearly have some blood pressure issues. Watch out with the black coffee. Since you described various fluctuations, I'm not entirely sure what your specific needs are. Coffee can be helpful in certain cases—even a glass of red wine can help bump up your pressure—but if it's already too high, it'll definitely do you harm. That blacking out sensation is likely a sign of poor blood pressure or just bad circulation. I used to get that all the time whenever I stood up too fast. As for your vision blurring, does that usually happen toward the end of the day? By evening, your energy levels drop and your eyes tire out, making distant objects look fuzzy. It's probably not anything serious, just eye strain. I’ve been dealing with that lately myself, and it was at its worst about eight years ago before it cleared up. My vision isn't quite what it used to be, but I don't need glasses and I see fine. This could also just be tied to your circulation and other factors. I’ve been through almost everything you’ve described, including the headaches, and I really don't think it's anything major. If I were you, I’d look into getting active—running, cycling, hitting the gym, or just some light recreation—because that could make a huge difference. Your weight seems fine for your height and age, but being a vegetarian isn't necessarily a win. The idea that the body doesn't need meat is just a myth pushed by pseudo-moralists who cry over slaughtered chickens. I’d recommend eating meat once or twice a week; not just poultry, but beef, pork, or even just more fish. Fish is packed with nutrients the body needs, so try to find some fresh, home-cooked sea bass, cod, or mackerel. Of course, if you have medical reasons why you can't eat meat, then don't. Also, use olive oil—real, high-quality stuff if you can find it, not that cheap grocery store junk, because it's incredibly healthy. It’s not about just eating fruits and veggies; it’s about variety and moderation. And if you can, cook with lard instead of oil; the body absorbs fat much better than processed oils. If I were in your shoes, I’d start focusing on these points: 1. Stop stressing out over nothing; realize you're just in a sensitive stage of development. 2. Start doing some light exercise to help your body, since it sounds like your circulation might be off or you might have some spinal issues. 3. Get your blood pressure checked and figure out exactly what diet or medication you need to stabilize it based on your specific readings. 4. Don't rush to slap glasses on your face if you don't truly need them. That's like giving someone a wheelchair the second they break a leg; if they rely on it too soon, they might never walk properly again. I've heard there are new techniques to improve vision, but in your case, it sounds like temporary blurring that isn't linked to anything serious. 5. Carve out some "me time" to unwind—listen to music, enjoy some solitude, read, take walks in nature, or paint. 6. We all deal with headaches to some extent, but I bet if you relax mentally and get your body in shape, they'll become much less frequent.
Angela Wright said:I really hope it isn't chronic sinusitis.🙄 It’s such a massive, nagging headache that usually requires surgery just to get some relief.
I’ve got my doubts about this... The doctor told her to just keep applying warm compresses to the area because she's honestly stumped on what it actually is. Personally, I’m leaning towards it being some kind of subcutaneous cyst or a deep pimple. It doesn't really hurt her; there's maybe a little sensitivity if you touch it, but otherwise, no pain at all.
Yeah, right... her doctor mentioned it might be some kind of benign tumor that could be surgically removed, but honestly, I don't think the doctor has any clue what she's talking about since she sounds just as lost as everyone else. It’s probably just some massive subcutaneous cyst that formed under the skin. Maybe it'll just break down on its own, or maybe it'll drain naturally. If not, they'll just have to cut it out.
I'm asking about my mom. She noticed this lump under the skin on her lower back, right above her glutes. Since she can't really see the spot herself, I took a look for her. When you press on it, it feels pretty firm—maybe about an inch in diameter—and we aren't sure if it's getting any bigger. It doesn't actually hurt her, but I can definitely feel it when I touch it. This showed up about a week ago; at first, it looked to me like just a typical large red pimple, maybe even with a little white head, but I can't say for certain that it was just a breakout. It could have been an insect bite or something. Anyway, that redness has mostly cleared up by now, and there's just this tiny speck left in the center that's almost gone too. Her skin looks totally normal now, except for that larger mass underneath. She’s heading to her doctor tomorrow, but I wanted to see if anyone here has any idea what this might be. Personally, I'm wondering if some bug left something behind under the skin or if it's just a lipoma, though a fatty deposit wouldn't usually start out looking like a standard pimple. Or is it possible for a regular pimple to leave behind a larger lump like this?