The Mystical Man

The other cult documentary:

"One of the myths of Jonestown was that it was a mass suicide, whereas, in fact, it was a mass murder."

I have fond memories of playing this game: It had quite the impact on me. Brilliant game. Too bad they never made the sequel:

I wish I was more like this kid: no filters, great verbal skills, funny and adorable.

Good question. His maturity and wisdom, and his ability to talk to people. He values simplicity, the small moments of life, and the art of conversation, and I appreciate that. "I think one of the most important things in any kind of human communication is: Do I actually understand the person that I'm talking to? Do I really understand them? It's a really big question. Because we can think we understand them, but we might just be understanding our interpretation, or our judgment of what they are saying, or we are filtering it through our own experience. And so we are not really hearing what the other person wants to say or needs to say. So it's a big question: 'Am I actually understanding and hearing what someone is trying to tell me?' If you did nothing but that, if that was your only practice, it would revolutionize your human communication." - Adyashanti A sane presence is immensely valuable.

Brilliant encounter: On my second playthrough, I played on grounded. Surprisingly, the rat king wasn't as difficult as expected. Ellie's encounter with the bloater was much worse. And on my second playthrough, I already knew the story, so I could pay more attention to the other amazing aspects of the game; I could appreciate the brilliant level design and the sound design. On grounded, the AI is absolutely formidable. They call out where you're hiding, and they cover each other. It's very realistic.

This is not the way to affect positive change in the world: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/15/it-was-terrifying-stop-oil-activists-on-the-new-battle-against-fossil-fuel

Apparently, he's enlightened.

Part II made me feel emotions that no other medium had made me feel before. I felt the anger and sadness so intensely that I had to remind myself that it's just fiction. A last act, one final movement of such power, such beauty, and such magnificence is so rare. Druckmann crafted Ellie's downward spiral with a mature vision and a deep understanding of human nature. Whenever I'm tempted to hold on to something, I don't remember spiritual teachings. I remember Ellie's journey, and I know that it's wiser to let it go. That's the power of art. It's a power that non-fiction doesn't have. McKee calls that power Aesthetic Emotion – the simultaneous experience of idea and emotion.

Bloodborne is awesome. Best FromSoftware game. I love the soundtrack and the final boss fight. The bosses in the DLC, The Old Hunters, are amazing, too, especially Ludwig, Lady Maria, and Kos.

I really, really, really like this video:

She lifts her skirt up to her knees Walks through the garden rows With her bare feet laughin' I never learned to count my blessings I choose instead to dwell in my disasters I walk on down the hill Through grass grown tall and brown and still It's hard somehow to let go of my pain On past the busted back of that old and rusted Cadillac That sinks into this field collecting rain Will I always feel this way? So empty, so estranged? Of these cut-throat busted sunsets These cold and damp white mornings I have grown weary If through my cracked and dusty dime store lips I spoke these words out loud Would no one hear me? Lay your blouse across the chair Let fall the flowers from your hair And kiss me with that country mouth so plain Outside the rain is tapping on the leaves To me, it sounds like they're applauding us The quiet love we've made Will I always feel this way? So empty, so estranged? Well, I looked my demons in the eyes Lay bare my chest, said, "Do your best to destroy me" See, I've been to hell and back so many times I must admit you kinda bore me There's a lot of things that can kill a man There's a lot of ways to die Yes, and some already did and walk beside me There's a lot of things I don't understand But so many people lie It's the hurt I hide that fuels the fire inside me Will I always feel this way? So empty, so estranged?

I have fond memories of playing Rayman 2 & 3. Reminds me of another great but less known game: Vexx. Best RTS. Love it.

That's just my opinion. What's your suggestion?

Unfortunately, no. Not bad, though. Thanks for sharing.

I know it's stupid, but...