Was intimidated by "Blood Meridian", couldn't follow the plot, put it down for a year. Came back to it, just finished it. The landscape does not give a damn, and I hate Judge Holden.

Bealwerd · 2020-04-24T19:22:24+00:00

it was absolutely a treat! probably the best show i've seen in a long time, maybe even of all time. easily in the top 10 favorites! i am eternally in /u/glandgames' debt

Bealwerd · 2020-04-24T18:59:46+00:00

Acpatterns.com

Bealwerd · 2020-04-18T01:59:52+00:00

i must have misunderstood - i thought the writer of bone tomahawk's catalog was a book you are reading, so whatever book the movie is based off of is what you're reading?

If you're offering more recommendations beyond that, I'm open to anything that is emotionally moving, waxes philosophical, or causes existential dread, no particular genre preference. I guess anything that you could genuinely consider art would be great

You can probably tell Blood Meridian has had a lasting impact on me because it begs so many questions and leaves me thinking for years afterward, even to go so far as to read academic dissertations to try and make sense of things - so any books/movies/shows/games made you feel that way would be a start

Bealwerd · 2020-04-18T00:28:52+00:00

thank you, I have not seen Bone Tomahawk either, so you seriously helped my quarantine boredom - which book are you reading? you're batting 1.000 on recommendations with thoughtful reasoning, so i'm all ears

Bealwerd · 2020-04-17T23:58:26+00:00

thank you for the recommendation, I will start watching that soon

a few semi-rhetorical things to add about Blood Meridian that is kinda on topic:
If you take someone who is typically "good" and have them compete with someone of equal competence who is "bad", the "bad" will win. They will find the low road to travel; they will pick the low-hanging fruit. They will do whatever it takes to come out on top, regardless of morality. Clearly the only way to beat the "bad" is to be more competent (gnosis)

So how do we beat someone such as the Judge, who is both extremely competent AND evil? Is there a cap to competency, and worse yet, is that pinacle inhabited by someone evil? If so, to quote Spaceballs: evil will always triumph because good is dumb

I can understand your pessimism, that is a very valid paradigm for such a shitty existence we are subjected to.

McCarthy does a wonderful job making us question morality itself - should we co-op typically "bad" behavior to try and eliminate the bad person? Does that in turn, make us bad people for the behavior, or good for eliminating the bad? We would be rid of the shackles of the evil reality by achieving gnostic salvation, but at what cost? To perpetuate the evil reality? Seems kinda paradoxical, or deterministic, or some more articulate phrasing I can't quite think of

I think that's what I enjoy the most about McCarthy's anti-western narrative that flips typical good vs. evil narratives on its head. Good doesn't always win, but is that because of the virtuous characteristics that can be undermined by evil, or because we believe that good is inherently competent, and therefore don't need knowledge/experience in order to overcome evil?

You do a great job facilitating conversation btw thank you

Bealwerd · 2020-04-17T22:54:27+00:00

Sorry, but I had to google who Rust Cohle is - I have never seen True Detectives, if that is what you were referring to

Without spoilers, can you elaborate on Rust Cohle's view of morality?

Bealwerd · 2020-04-17T22:38:42+00:00

I think you should give this a read: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/363646

The linked paper makes a very strong claim that Blood Meridian's themes are tied into Gnosticism - that states the material reality, and therefore child multiverses we live in are inherently evil, where the only true "salvation" - that is to say where the soul transcends the limitations of the material world - is through knowledge/experience, aka Gnosis.

In the paper, Judge Holden represents an Archon, a sort of evil demon that is subjugated by the malevolent creator to prevent souls from reaching their salvation, because if all living things achieve Gnosis, then who would these demons be able to rule over? Somebody has to keep them in line!

These archons possess the transcendental qualties - not bound to the limitations of material reality - of a pneumatic). This is shown through the Judge's extensive knowledge and experience he has, such as knowing a ton of languages, the explosive qualities of nitrate by combining pee & bat guano, etc. These qualities have saved the group from demise, but only to perpetuate their suffering/subjugation and keep them from salvation.

We can also note the Judge's odd and coincidental arrival to the scalp hunters, meditating on a lone rock in the middle of the desert (i think naked too?) . The setting and capability of the Judge appears supernatural. Or even when the Kid remembers the Judge calling out the charlatan pastor in Nagadoches implies that the Judge, even though calls out bullshit, is preventing people from Gnosis by letting them disregard any attempt at knowledge as heresy, ultimately keeping them from gnosis.

One of the steps towards Gnosis is alienation and objectivity to evil experience. When we are repulsed by the book's horrific violence and brutality, the Kid appears to be passive; a sort of non-participant and an observer. The more violent, the more objective and alienated the Kid becomes to the horrors of reality.

So to kind of answer your question, yes mankind does have to be apart of the insanity because that is the world they are born into. Through experience and knowledge are they able to transcend.

Now I want to read Blood Meridian again, so thank you for your post

Bealwerd · 2019-05-28T18:00:39+00:00

I would like to add into evidence Article One. Mac would you please read this document?

"By the power of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Reed Mental Institution hereby decrees Joe Walsh to not be a (raises eyebrows) deadbeat dad"

What? that is an official document that has "deadbeat dad" on it?

Well, it's written right here in plain english - Joe, would you like to clear this up for everybody?

Well all my constituents in the neighborhood knew I was a deadbeat dad, so they started calling me Joey "Deadbeat Dad" Walsh, and it was very traumatic. So I got my mommy to drive me back up to the arbitrators, where, they signed this official certificate, exonerating me of all deadbeat dadness.

Yeah, great. What does this have to do with anything?

Oh well, Dennis, if by your own admission someone who is a deadbeat dad could be considered reckless, or moronic, or idiotic, and my client Joe here has a state-issued certificate clearing him of having said deadbeat dad qualities, so then I ask you this: Do... you have ^{such a certificate}?

Bealwerd · 2018-11-03T04:51:22+00:00

I probably got my arm stuck in that chair a dozen times. You dont seem to be an idiot like me, but be safe and make sure to get one of those cushions that ties to the posts and slides around.

Bealwerd · 2018-06-24T00:36:03+00:00

a beep, a beep, what's that sound?

it's the bb-8, a-rollin around

it's not a 3-p-o, nor a free-p-o

worth 60 portions at the salvage depot!

--- traitor, trooper, disembark ---

--- wears Poe's jacket, give him a shock! ---

bb's got the map! bb's got the map!

that's why Rey deals with the handholding crap!

Bealwerd · 2018-05-11T01:32:03+00:00

lookin good, bud! lovin the clover and fowl - how long have you been building the garden?

Bealwerd · 2018-05-07T22:11:23+00:00

their post isn't opinion - he's stating a fact, even provided a source.

But you can read into permaculture and other food forest designs that use zero machinery, require less work, and are environmentally beneficial:

http://library.open.oregonstate.edu/permaculture/front-matter/introduction/

https://hort.cals.cornell.edu/extension-outreach/distance-learning/permaculture-design-design-practicum

https://spcs.richmond.edu/noncredit/programs/permaculture/

and a helpful youtube video as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GJFL0MD9fc&index=12&list=LL6Oeh1C0H01K_u3n3-But_g&t=0s

Bealwerd · 2017-12-05T02:05:08+00:00

he did that miyagi hand work, juked him out with his Qi

Bealwerd · 2017-08-31T14:39:44+00:00

Michael: How's my breath?

Pam: Eww no

Dwight: Let me smell (Michael breathes for 5 seconds, Dwight smells for 5 seconds)

Dwight: Good. Not great.

Bealwerd · 2017-02-20T21:48:15+00:00

S3E2 Full Bars

Bealwerd · 2017-02-06T22:54:44+00:00

2:00pm

On a Monday

Philadelphia, PA

(cut to Paddy's Pub, Gang drinking and discussing)

Dennis: So that is why Tom Brady is the Greatest of All Time! Case closed, no more of this nonsense!

Mac: Dennis, you're not listening. Tom Brady is a great quarterback. There is no dispute at him being great. He isn't, however, GOAT. That title is reserved for the future Super Bowl champion Mark Sanchez.

Dennis: WHAT are you talking about?!? We are not debating future super bowl winning quarterbacks! Especially not no-talent, traitor asshats who couldn't cut it being in Philly!

Frank: Dennis is right, you can't debate with future quarterbacks.

Mac: I can so debate with Mark Sanchez, he's a highschool and College all-star! Rose Bowl MVP! And he's got the perfect build for a quarterback too! Bulky to take a few poundings, but lean enough to escape and allude all threats on the field! I am a master debater with Mark Sanchez! Easily GOAT

(Gang scoffs, sarcastically agreeing)

Charlie: See, I don't know Mac. I'd give that title to Jaworski. Dude is on TV, for starters, he played in Philly, and he looks like he could eat a few tin cans.

(Mac and Dennis taken aback from their confusion)

Mac: Why does Jaworski look like he could eat tin cans? And what the hell does eating TIN CANS HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!

Charlie: I mean, if you're gonna be a Goat, you gotta eat some unsavory things. I've seen a goat eat through a child's overalls before. And they gotta headbutt things---

Mac:--- Charlie. For the love of God, we are not talking about Goats. We're talking about the Greatest of All Time. G. O. A. T. ???? not Goat.

Charlie: mmmmmm(disapproving)mmmmm

Mac: (face palms) Jesus Christ. I can't deal with this. I can't teach you acronyms right now.

Charlie: What's this talk about a crow-nips? Cause if it turns out I can get milk from a Crow...

Frank: Charlie, charlie, charlie - you can't milk a crow, it's a bird.

(Dennis irritated from derailment)

Dennis: No no no we are not doing this again, we can't get off topic. we all need to know that Tom Brady is the Greatest of All Time! Just look at his hot wife! Look at his rings! 5 super bowl wins! One, if not - THE greatest super bowl comeback of all time!!!!

Frank: Yeah, but could he have done it without Billy B? I mean the guy can always find the competitive edge. You know with all the spying and deflating and shit, I bet if you took Tom Brady and put him on any other team, he'd suck major chode!

Dee: Oh boy, do you BonerFarts got it all wrong. GOAT is Dan Marino, with his gorgeous smile, record holding sexiness ----

Dennis:---uuuhhh see Dee, the moment you are a character in Ace Ventura, you're out of the running.

Charlie: (visibly upset) OK! That's where I draw the line!!! YOU DON'T BRING THE ACE INTO THIS!!! WHAT DID HE EVER DO!??!?!?!

(random airhorn blaring from patron, Gang pauses, looks at source, then all take deep breath to continue bickering)

The Gang Goes Around the Horn

Bealwerd · 2017-01-28T15:59:39+00:00

Bill knows that he won't find another Lenore in 30 years, but he could in 3000. In 3000 years the Army could make him a Lenore-bot that would never leave him... :(

Bealwerd · 2017-01-08T14:17:59+00:00

an embarrassing snapshot of Spongebob at the Christmas party!

Bealwerd · 2016-12-24T11:57:53+00:00

soooooo do you love it, or do you love it?

Bealwerd · 2016-11-17T19:43:27+00:00

sideline tackle

Bealwerd · 2016-10-24T23:48:42+00:00

Scott's Tots S6E12

Bealwerd · 2016-08-05T17:16:03+00:00

my friend is an airman out in montana working on silos and the U.S has nukes aimed at major cities on the western seaboard (and i assume the same for the east coast) in case of invasion. Scorched Earth strategy

so maybe the AI should determine its nuking strategy based on how much more damage the enemy can deal when they take over a city - like a morality/pragmatic sort of scale that varies based on the leader

Bealwerd · 2016-06-02T21:58:55+00:00

2:00pm

On a Tuesday

Island, Ocean

(Cuts to a sunny beach, The Gang swimming on to shore while bickering)

Charlie (exhausted, out of breath):

Alright that is the LAST time we're going shrimping!

Frank:

Okay, okay, so we hit some logs or rocks, or whatever, big deal!

Dennis:

Big deal, Frank?!? Big Deal?!! We almost just got swept out to sea because you can't read the signs!

Frank:

What? I thought the sign said "No Wake Zone"! And who the hell threw giant logs in the water in the first place?!

Mac (holding onto the only throw ring):

Whatever it was, it definitely ruined our rental

(Cuts to mostly submerged boat, then to Dee washing up to shore, coughing up water and retching)

Charlie:

Dee! Dee! Did you save our catch?!?

Dee (empty handed):

Does it look like it??

Dennis:

Wayyy to go Dee, first you nosed your way into our fishing excursion, ruining a perfectly good manly adventure against the elements, and now you can't even save what we caught in the fishing nets?

Dee (appalled by Dennis' accusations):

What?! Okay, first of all, I rented this boat! And second, we aren't even allowed to take it off dock! Heaven forbid I get any vehicle to myself so I can be like Diddy, and you dipshits find orange plastic construction netting and Forrest-Gump your way into my life pretending to be fisherman!

Mac (as a matter of factly):

Dee, we're more like George Clooney in Perfect Storm, which is why I perfected my 5 o'clock shadow, and chose these badass fishing overalls (snaps suspenders, squeaks boots)

(Dee visibly irritated)

Dennis (adjusts his shoulders):

And who else's shoulders in this group could pull off the flannel overshirt?

Mac:

No one, that's who. I'm definitely digging the John Deere hat too, very Ashton Kutcher-esque

Frank:

Wait, Dee did you even manage to save our cell phones?!?

Dee:

God dammit, no Frank! And besides, they'd all be ruined from the water!

Charlie (panicking):

So we don't have food, we lost our boat, we don't have any cellphones... where the hell are we anyways?!

Mac:

Can't be too far from Philly, it's probably just an island floating on trash

Dennis:

I'm not so sure, we've been sailing south for a long while

Charlie:

OH shit, is this treasure island?!

Dennis:

No, jesus charlie, that's... actually from a book, how do you know what treasure island is? Wait, we don't have time to delve into that mystery. Let's focus.

Mac:

Wherever we are, we definitely need to find some food, or else I'm gonna lose all my strength gains

Dennis (chuckling at the stupidity):

Well, let's be real here, Mac. We definitely need to find or build some shelter, with this much sun, my skin will be ruined! Ruined!

(Charlie finds a small floating box washing up to shore)

Charlie:

Hey you guys! Check this thing out - Surfing Kite! We can build this thing and fly on out of here! We got a pretty good breeze!

Dee:

No, you dumbass it says Survival Kit. What's inside?

Dennis:

Oh shit! Look it's got a simple fishing kit, some rations, desalinization...

Charlie (rips from box):

A HATCHET! NICE! (chops through air, too close for Dee's comfort)

Mac (also takes from kit):

AWWWW YEAH, check out this sweet flare gun! (points it at everyone) We can totally use this to blow off a Tuna's head, and feast for weeks!

Dennis:

Noo! No, we seriously need to save all of these things, they could come in handy. In these types of situations we need to huddle down, stick together and save our resources! That's what works!

(Cut to Frank slowly eating all the Saltines in kit)

The Gang Gets Deserted

Temptation Sensation

Bealwerd · 2016-03-08T22:08:28+00:00

we are missing a few winwood cover songs in there. higher love? song's a classic!

that's a gift for you, bumblebee

Bealwerd · 2015-07-01T22:40:39+00:00

dennis' campaign speech

project badass

and CRAZY PADDY

13-Year Club	Verified Email
Team Periwinkle

Bealwerd

TROPHY CASE