eightpix

eightpix , 4 days ago

It seems like I've been obsessed over death and dying for decades.

When I was thirteen, as a form of dealing with the concept of death, I imagined hearing the news of the deaths of each of my family members and a couple of the girls I liked from school. Finding out that a person is dead is a singular experience. A few years later, I viscerally understood what was said in Unforgiven, "[death] take[s] away all he's got, all he's ever gonna have."

When I was sixteen, I did a cooperative education placement in a hospital. As fate would have it, I was placed in the histopathology department. I was surrounded by tissues removed from the dead, the dying, and those who had gotten a new lease on life. In the morgue, I helped discard any samples that were two or more years old. Removed silicone breast implants were frequent, as were containers labelled "uterine curettings." In that same morgue, I sat in on two autopsies, including one where sections of the brain were needed.

Between 13 and 18, I began to be much more aware of conflict zones; injustice, and miscarriages of justice involving death; of the legacies left behind in their wake. I became aware of South African apartheid, war — later, genocide — in a disintegrating Yugoslavia, genocide in Rwanda. The collapse of social order in L.A. in '92. Hurricanes in the Caribbean, especially Andrew, which battered Jamaica. The Bay Area earthquake. The Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. The bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City and the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics. This period also saw the formation of my opposition to capital punishment.

It wasn't until 9/11 that I saw people die live on TV. I didn't wake until 10 am that day, but by 1030, I saw both towers fall. By the end of that day, it was a buddy of mine who said, "Why don't they stop showing this??" It hadn't occurred to me that we were watching snuff film until then.

Then there was 17-18 March 2003. I sat and watched as Shock and Awe were released on Baghdad. One of the oldest cities in the world bombed for political expediency. More snuff film.

____ and ____ would later start to collect and disseminate the deadliest and the most violate material. I wouldn't go looking for it, but it would find me. Cartel violence, industrial accidents, gun camera footage, people filming police shootings... there was so much death. Busta Rhymes said it best, "numerals of funerals every day." Another thought that has not left me.

I didn't know why I needed to know. Then, in time, I came to understand that I was bearing witness.

It was about 2004 when I started to develop an appreciation for the special violence of the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict and the sheer destruction it inflicts. I read a lot about the Holocaust, Jewish diaspora, anti-Semitism, and the campaign to make genocide punishable. Then, I read about the roots of the Israeli state, its funding, protections, and the special relationship it enjoys with the warlike American state and its allies. Then, I read into America and how that state has secured its place in world history. I moved to South Korea and started to understand Korea, Japan, China, and the other nations of Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania, much more clearly.

What I found out is that, to some, achievable ends are sought by bloody means. This is a pattern across most of the world. In general, average everyday people are just trying to get by and do right by their families. In the places that we can not peacefully coexist, where expropriation and indignity are inflicted by those who wield the power they seek and are corrupted by it. Frank Herbert said, "Power is magnetic to the corruptible."

Journalists, in my opinion, are those who pursue power in the practice of relinquishing it to the public. With this in mind, I understand the threat that Julian Assange was to the power establishment in the US. I saw the "Collateral Murder" release that landed him in the Ecuadorian embassy for the better part of a decade. The truly destructive part of this episode is the proliferation of instances in which military outfits across the world are engaged in similar activities. The Dutch Safety Board investigation and publications regarding the shooting down of flight MH17 are exceptional examples.

All of this is to say that we need to spend more time coming to terms with death and dying. We need to be more aware, not less, of the living conditions that cause people to die. War, famine, pestilence, climate upheaval, conflict zones, refugees from conflict and climate and corruption, drought, flooding, colonialism, austerity, and protectionism threaten almost all of the world's population.

The few who are not threatened take refuge in their comfort and contrive to maintain the status quo. They change laws, lobby, employ, and help to elect and appoint those that serve the entreched interests. A future that looks like the present is a dead future, and we are witnessing the spread of atrophy and rigor mortis each day. That's about as real as it gets.

eightpix , 7 days ago

Marvel: s (NY, ) mixed in with fake locales (Genosha, A events (9/11 has made several appearances, WWII is canon), legit in-universe stakes and motivation, lots of difficult or morally grey choices. Good reading, they make you think.

DC: fake cities (i.e., Metropolis, Gotham); never have seen a historical event (feel free to enlighten me if you would); stakes seem to be damage to infrastructure and property — maybe a hero or two will get hurt (except for that one time they put a lady in a refrigerator as motivation — that was not cool); good guys are clearly good, bad guys are clearly bad.

My money has always been with Marvel.

eightpix , 6 days ago

I like watching well-done cinematic synopses of characters or storylines. Watched only AFTER having seen the series.

Here's one for Altered Carbon S01. Very BladeRunner, very neo-noir, 80s meets 20s.
Here's one for the Expanse, story focused, 2 movements, so compassion-inducing

Both are by this creator.

Two of my top ten shows right now. I think I'm going to go finish DEVS right now.

Devs Poster, simple

eightpix , 8 days ago

Think that the calculus is to stem the tide and activate the electorate in recognition that the EU Parliament outcomes were a surprise?

eightpix , 8 days ago

This is enlightening. US maternal death rates compared to other industrialized nations.

Source: Roosa Tikkanen et al., Maternal Mortality and Maternity Care in the United States Compared to 10 Other Developed Countries (Commonwealth Fund, Nov. 2020). https://doi.org/10.26099/411v-9255
L

From: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/nov/maternal-mortality-maternity-care-us-compared-10-countries

eightpix , 8 days ago

USA, 55th in the world overall, for maternal mortality in a 2018 study.

A fast look at the UNICEF data for 2020 shows 66th.

That's behind the State of Palestine (61st), Moldova (46th), Albania (34th), Poland (3rd) and Belarus (1st).

https://data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/maternal-mortality/#data

eightpix OP , 11 days ago

I'll start:

Cover for Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy, fair use image from Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stella_Maris_(Cormac_McCarthy).png#mw-jump-to-license

My fortunes converged with Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy. My reading of the physical copy was first, and the book sung.

Then, on opening the audiobook, the two actors really captured the cat-and-mouse interaction — each thinking the other is the prey — with such clarity and perfect tone. It was amazing.

eightpix OP , 10 days ago

Ok. We can be friends.

The Expanse is among my favourite sci-fi of all time. Others include Chris Claremont and Johnathan Hickman writing the X-Men, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Atwood's Maddaddam trilogy. Three-Body may get there, but I read it amid reading the Expanse. Maybe the physical books will shift my mind some.

Three-Body was a great read and such incredible insight to a different perspective of sci-fi. The reveal of Dark Forest theory absolutely stopped me in my tracks. Death's End was such a great conclusion to that storyline.

eightpix OP , 10 days ago

Read The Passenger, then Stella Maris.

Blood Meridian is an amazing, terrifying, shocking, and eye-opening book. Ill never see another "Western" the same way again. It is among McCarthy's most visceral.

I cannot recommend to anyone that they read this book. Much in the same way I love films like Requiem For a Dream, Dancer in the Dark, or Melancholia, I can't inflict them on others. Blood Meridian is this perspective in book form.

If you've steeled yourself, by all means embark on Blood Meridian. Don't say I didn't warn you.

eightpix OP , 10 days ago

The Expanse is political/corporate intrigue set in the 24th century after humans have extended mining to the rings of Saturn. There are three major political camps:

• the United Nations of Earth and Luna — a bloated, old, slow, and traditional nation that has the only source of live soil samples, punishing universal basic income, and 30 billion mouths to feed. They are the "takers".

• the Martian Congressional Republic — a trim, agile, militaristic, and focused nation that makes technological advances and works hard to stay alive on a hostile world. They are the "dusters".

• the diffuse factions known under the umbrella term "Belters." They are the workers, the downtrodden, the neglected, and the subjects of the great nations' impunity. In a few short generations, their bodies changed, adapting to the ravages of microgravity and zero G. Their needs are simple: air, water, food. Their work is hard. Their lives are nasty, brutish, and short. But, they love fiercely, have a language and culture all their own, and refuse to bow before Earth and Mars.

"In fair Sol system, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."

eightpix OP , 10 days ago

Just an observation: I love how much you all love The Expanse. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You've made my day.

And as always, thanks to James S.A. Corey — Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck — for creating and publishing this world that has linked us in such inspired interaction.

eightpix , 15 days ago

Take it from one who quit piano at 16 after having started as a 4-year-old... the regret runs deep.

Take the stupid lessons, buy a $100 keyboard and a pair of headphones, and PLAY. Its hard and you'll suck for a time, but treat it as play. Laugh at your mistakes and revel in your success.

2 bars at a time. That's how you build.

eightpix , 14 days ago

Alcohol is a poison.

eightpix , 18 days ago

Lucy (2018) - some mild insanity, remorselessness

Genie from Aladdin (1992) ‐ everything is a joke

Bruce Almighty (2003) - can't actually control himself

I'm going to go off on a comic-book tangent here:

Wielder of Infinity Gauntlet (1991, 2018) - potential insanity, later radiation scarring

Phoenix Force (1976) ‐ heavy insanity, desire to consume planets (see: Dark Phoenix Saga (1980), (X-Men '92, S03E11), Avengers vs. X-men (2012))

Omega-Level mutants - tendency toward megalomania (see: Jean Grey, Magneto, Kid Omega, 4 horsemen of Apocalypse... even Ororo Munroe (goddess), though Iceman seems well-adjusted)

Beyond - remorselessness, destruction of universes (see: Secret Wars (1984), Time Runs Out Event (2014))

eightpix , 18 days ago

So, Jumper.

eightpix , 17 days ago

My preferred quote on this line:

"Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted." ~ Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse: Dune

It takes the will of a saint to be incorruptible — to not become addicted to the exercise of power. Those who do not desire power, like saints, may have it thrust upon them.

Even when left to own devices, a person can only exercise power within a society that has desires, wants, and fears. The whole society would need to be incorruptible. This is improbable. In the unlikely case of such a pure society, it would also need to be incorruptible when in contact with "the other" — peoples, species, events, and ideas. This is exceedingly improbable. So, the whole of existence would need to be incorruptible.

Power corrupts.

QED (using the slippery slope, I know)

eightpix , 26 days ago

Trigonometry

eightpix , 1 month ago

Yeah, I don't mind it. Thor is a name and a title/power. God (presumably) is a name, and Thor has the power of a god.

Prince is a title. It's also a name. And, to some musicians, Prince is a god.

It'd be rare to win an argument by invoking Prince, but there you go.

eightpix , 1 month ago

Going forward is the worst of corporate-speak. I
refuse to use this phrase.

eightpix , 1 month ago

This is the reason I stopped shaving. Cost. I have an electric shaver, but I can't be bothered with a half-ass shave. Also, shaving too often gives me razor bumps.

And, without a beard, I probably look like I should be in high school.

eightpix , 1 month ago

I saw Baise Moi (Kiss/Rape Me) in a theatre just before it was banned. I was not expecting that

This is about the same time that Kids, Gummo, Happiness, and the Brown Bunny were all released.

Each film is fucked up for its own reasons. Though, I understand, Salo and A Serbian Film are next level fucked up.

eightpix , 1 month ago

Marvel: Too many to name, but let's go with an oblique character — I read a lot of X-men before Bishop came on the scene. He was the first new black man to enter the fray in a long time in my reading of comic books. I'd never really liked Power Man/Luke Cage, nor did I have much contact with T'Challa / Black Panther or Rhodey/War Machine. Also, Nick Fury wasn't black yet. Wolverine is Canadian, but not black, and Storm is black, but grafted onto the same default "comic book beautiful woman" frame that almost all others were. So, Bishop made an impact on me at 14 that few other character introductions could. He was my example for the importance of representation. I actually looked forward to Hallowe'en that year.

DC: I never liked DC. Too saccharine. Too Star Wars. Not enough moral gray. To that end, my fave DC character is Amanda Waller. Uncompromising, unrepentant, and driven. Don't fuck with Amanda Waller. She would find a way to bury Batman.

eightpix , 2 months ago (edited 2 months ago)

(Squints) What do you mean by "solved"?

I mean, we're pretty good at math. We can "solve" math problems. But when the math is applied and we choose to do the opposite of what the math says, then we've not "solved" the problem, we legitimately make it worse.

See also: climate change, housing bubbles, food insecurity, pay equity, universal childcare, universal healthcare, universal pharmacare, student to teacher ratios, media consolidation, and most other market-based solutions.

e: and, as said below, war. That math only maths when dominating "others".

eightpix , 2 months ago

So... What you're saying is, I need a cat.

eightpix , 2 months ago

Came looking for this one.

eightpix , 2 months ago

Brazil (1985)

Chinatown (1974)

Conspiracy (2001)

eightpix , 2 months ago

Funny, I didn't mind that the characters' motivations were written differently. Much more about their pasts and their circumstances than their outward emotional states, their irrational fears or momentary actions, and their short-term gains. It more all about the situation, the collective motivations, and the achievable ends.

I liked reading a Chinese sci-fi novel. It was alien twice.

eightpix , 2 months ago

It earns its 7.2 or whatever rating. On the whole, watchable. Parts were bothersome. Others, magnificent. Not sure about rewatch value.

eightpix , 2 months ago

The Forever War is a book that I'll always point to as a gateway into reading sci-fi, not just watching it.

Such a good book.

eightpix , 2 months ago

Private maps that show you where you've been and what missions you need to complete there.

Right now, all I have is the thermal map of photos linked to a Google account, and that is way too creepy because the location-based data is housed with a transnational corporation and is dependent on photos I feed to the machine.

eightpix , 2 months ago

I finished reading them in December, and I'm still obsessed with the genius in The Passenger and Stella Maris. I've read the books and listened to the audiobooks. The audiobook for Stella Maris is exceptional.

eightpix , 2 months ago

Soil farming.

I sh!t you not, we need this. Topsoil in many parts of the world is leached of nutrients, or packed with chemical by-products of insecticide, herbicide, and fertilizers, or the topsoil has eroded away. Or, it's buried under concrete, asphalt, glass, and steel.

Soil farming for vertical farms, indoor cultivation at home, and replacing some other food growth options just makes good sense.

3D-Printed Houses

Hear me out. Right now, they're small and ugly as f*ck; but that's a design issue. Getting the materials and designs right can encourage mass adoption of sustainable design, waste sequestration, and abundant housing.

eightpix , 2 months ago

Hahaha. I'm a teacher. It is better to err on the side of caution. Never know when I'm actually sleep-typing an email and forget to be cordial.

It's more about self-discipline and self-awareness rather than self-censorship. The self-censorship kicks in when I'm in the classroom, and some kid feels the need to act a damn fool.

eightpix , 2 months ago

I curse in my sleep typing. And, I surely don't use the swears in my professional moments.

It takes curse words to get some people's attention or to confirm that I am not a robot. Whenever we get to the point that open, honest, civil conversation is once again the norm, I won't use them.

eightpix , 2 months ago (edited 2 months ago)

US society sees a woman exercising self-empowerment as a reason to cancel her.

It's not necessarily about being sexual,l. It's about subverting misogynistic, capitalistic patriarchy with the only totally exclusive resource she has.

She'd have been shamed, imprisoned, ostracized, and burned as a witch in 1624.

She'd have been shamed, imprisoned, and ostracized in 1724, 1824, and 1924.

So, her being shamed and ostracized and her job loss in 2024 is viewed as "progress" in America.

e: Yes, I admit, OF is another element of the patriarchy, servicing the male gaze and devaluing women to the level of exploiting women's bodies. The system is what it is until it isn't. America should be paying teachers more and celebrities — of all categories — less. Until then, this is the world we live in. The best that some of us can do is subvert the system.

eightpix , 2 months ago

"All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day and put the pieces back together my way."

This was the lyric that hooked me in '01.

eightpix , 2 months ago

The first time I crossed this track was with the video.

Masterpiece.

eightpix , 3 months ago

Same episode, Loki skips ahead to the future. He knows that it is the future this time, instead of the past as was established previously in the episode, because of the writing in the dust.

eightpix , 3 months ago

2nded.

Find your own source for information about the things you can understand, apply, and for which you can create solutions.

Then, build your strength.

eightpix , 3 months ago

Unless you live in Flint, Michigan. Or any of these other US Cities

eightpix , 3 months ago

Listening to Sexual Politics (1969) by Kate Millett.

There's a part in chapter 2 (her theory of sexual politics) that, essentially, encapsulates the wedge we are witnessing now, 55 years later.

It's wild that concepts and the attendant issues of sex, sexuality, gender, patriarchy, and human rights were so clearly described in the late 60s.

eightpix , 3 months ago

Sub "Caesar" for "Bloody Mary" and I'm down.

eightpix , 3 months ago

I used to love them.

Then, 20 yo me decided to split a 26er into two glasses, top up with tonic and a twist of lemon. Waited til my buddy showed, put on some music and drank them in under 45 minutes. 30 minutes after that, we are standing in a snowstorm, in t-shirts (because we dont want to pay for coat check), outside a bar (we walked from our place), waiting in line to get in. An hour after that, we say fuck it, walk home, and proceed to have the worst spins, come downs, and hangovers of our lives. Needless to say, G&Ts are off the books for me forevermore.

TL;DR 20 yo me destroyed G&T for all the mes to follow.

eightpix , 4 months ago

I worked with teacher named Mr. Zero for a year. He was super cool.

Also, if you haven't seen it, the Zero Effect is a solid movie with Ben Stiller and Bill Pullman. The latter plays Daryl Zero.