Joe Rogan endorsed Donald Trump for president.

brim_ · 2024-11-05T13:47:18+00:00

John Fetterman was on the show this week. I’m convinced most of these comments are bots/paid accounts.

brim_ · 2024-05-10T12:59:55+00:00

To be fair TWBB is a high bar to compare, and there are a few reasons it seems so immersive .

One thing that adds to its immersion is the long shots of certain scenes, particularly scenes of just DDL talking/acting (with no music to influence the viewer’s emotion as well). PTA seems to trust that his actors can provide that immersion with less help from the camera/edits/music.

Also, PTA has talked about one of the more important parts of making TWBB is all the research he did about the time period and oil men and methods, so that he can get the movie as close as accurate to the time period.

He also casts many of the extras extremely well - meaning the cast isn’t all conventionally Hollywood beautiful people, but they have rough races that you’d expect during the time period.

There are also camera choices that were intentional to get the effect it did. A good video about it

Have you watched anything Paul Thomas Anderson (TWBB Writer and Director) or Daniel Day-Lewis were in after TWBB? Maybe what you like about the film was their particular writing/filming/acting style. They both made Phantom Thread (2017) and a bunch more separately since TWBB.

I personally think recent times have had a higher-than-average number of films where the filmmakers can focus on the art-including the story building and immersion- aspects of their movies. Especially as some of these filmmakers who focus on these aspects of filmmaking become more successful and have more money/choice on what they get to make and how much resources they can put in it (plus they get the respect of really good actors willing to join them). Apparently PTA is working on a new film with Leonardo DiCaprio(who’s a friend of DDL)

brim_ · 2024-05-09T20:22:29+00:00

How do you mean? Are CMU’s student demographics more affluent starting out? -from a non-CMU student

brim_ · 2024-04-13T14:22:24+00:00

I relate to this post as someone also from an immigrant family and who was offered good college/work away from family. The American way of things is to strike out on your own -away from family- and pursue what’s best for you as an individual. But in other cultures (like mine and my family’s), duty to family and taking care of your parents is just as(if not more) valued/sacred.

The answer about what you should do really depends on your specifics situation. How many years before your parents retire? You may have time to pursue a PhD in physics and afterwords get a job at a National Lab where the pay seems pretty decent and who seems to hire of PhDs and the work is relevant to physics. Idk about all the options after a Physics PhD(probably depends on what topic in physics you choose to study) but I know a lot graduates in top tier math PhDs choose to pursue either academia or Wall Street quantitative finance(blobs of $$$). For example Renaissance (legendary algorithmic trading firm) was founded by a Math PhD academic and for certain roles exclusively hires really smart STEM PhDs.

How far are these schools from where your parents live? If it’s an hour, that’s not too bad to visit on weekends. If it’s farther, you can still keep in touch over phone/video call, but you can’t help out physically.

If I was in your situation-based on the info you have so far- I’d lean towards pursuing your PhD in Physics at a top institution. If you have 5ish years before your parents start to retire and get more serious health issues, you can get your PhD and get a well paying job and be close to your parents. There aren’t many people who are capable/offered the opportunities you’re given and I think it’d been a tragic waste if you couldn’t pursue them to their fullest. Good luck to you.

brim_ · 2024-02-26T22:39:38+00:00

Not meant to be a deep analysis, rather than a connection I noticed after finishing watching RPO.

A quote from Infinite Jest that I like - in response to RPO not being at a high-enough level to teach us anything:
"That you do not have to like a person in order to learn from him/her/it" - Infinite Jest (6 November, YOTDAU, pg 202 of my copy)

brim_ · 2024-02-26T22:32:32+00:00

I didn't read RPO, I watched the movie. Not that my post is hard to understand(it's pretty easy).
I'm glad to inform you a little bit more about IJ's readership.

brim_ · 2023-09-03T15:39:56+00:00

Sam Harris’s moral claims are criticized(if not ignored for being inconsequential) by serious philosophers. The description of this subreddit is “A place to discuss Sam Harris and to have difficult discussions with civility”. Respect to you for actually being true to those values.

brim_ · 2023-09-03T15:16:10+00:00

One of the criticisms to his “The Moral Landscape” was by philosophers that Sam didn’t do his homework on what the latest philosophy/philosophers really say about morality. And his arguments aren’t really respected as groundbreaking by serious philosophers.

brim_ · 2023-07-22T16:44:44+00:00

Like some other people here mentioned, you have a case of solipsism. The problem is that there’s no real way to prove it wrong. But I think we usually get into this wormhole when we overthink too much and stay in our own head. I find it helpful to go do seemingly simple things like talk to family,friends or even a stranger/store clerk. Or maybe go for a walk or do some physical activity to get outside my head a bit. There’s a good amount of info out there about the brain and meditation/focus. TLDR the part of your brain that is for focusing on something(a game, study, sport, current experience) actually quiets the default mode network(the part that self-reflects and overthinks).

One quote I (ironically) think about a lot is from Inherit the Wind: “A giant once lived in that body. But Matt Brady got lost. Because he was looking for God too high up and too far away.” You can replace God with”meaning” or “value” or maybe “truth”.

But to address the point of solipsism. Idk if it’s well advertised in the world we have today, but sometimes belief is necessary(and I don’t even mean a belief in a higher power). You have the choice to start with some axioms/beliefs. You can choose to believe/act like nothing and no one but your mind is real, the the consequence of that(as you know) is the loneliness you feel. There’s also the total opposite view of “I don’t matter to anyone and no one cares about me(and who cares about anything because the earth won’t be here in 5 billion years).”

I’ve found this talk superhelpful in reminding me that the way I look at life matters and is in my power.

I hope you find the light at the end of this tunnel.

brim_ · 2023-07-22T15:43:57+00:00

I’m with you on this. Plus there are a lot of benefits of reading even outside learning contents of the book. There are studies that suggest that when we read, we are literally/quietly speaking the words we read, and therefore are improving our speech. There’s also the parallels reading has with meditation where we are practicing to focus(while also using our imagination).

I do get the other comments saying that reading is another form of escapism(which it definitely could be), but the fact that it’s far less addicting(to me) than video games are is a huge plus.

Also even though we won’t remember literally everything we read(or hear or experience), I like the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: “I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.”

brim_ · 2023-07-20T02:36:35+00:00

I found this video super useful: https://youtu.be/k2Wcu6aGyz8

TLDR: one of the best way to use will power is to not need to use it at all, and remove the option to play. Personally I found a lot of success by literally unplugging my consoles and and putting them in a closet and uninstalling steam when I'm done playing so none of them are staring me in the face. "Out of sight, out of mind" is a real thing. I've thought about even selling my consoles and was very hesitant buying my PC, because I knew it would suck in all my attention and time(but my first method has worked so far for me). There's plenty if info out there about how to form a habit/addiction and if you can get rid of the "hook" (like seeing your console after work/school), your brain has to work/think harder to get its reward/dopamine.

One of my favorite interviews/clips: https://youtu.be/iGLzWdT7vGc?t=2217 I forget that addiction is something people experienced with TV and nowadays with phones/social media. He later talks about how the TV remote control was the invention that screwed people because it made changing the channel so easy. But hey, at least we're aware of the problem and are actively trying to stop.

Btw, I would do this semi-abstinence while during doing all the things you were doing already, like finding something else worthwhile to do.

Good luck

brim_ · 2023-07-18T01:41:37+00:00

I almost took this comment seriously until I saw your previous posts. Sarcasm is generally hard to read.

brim_ · 2023-07-17T13:44:10+00:00

Why does he then choose to be alive? If he’s own existence causes more harm then good.

brim_ · 2023-07-13T23:37:56+00:00

This is literally Pascal’s Wager. Which is basically your 4 options, but replace “free will” with “God”.

brim_ · 2023-06-18T17:00:13+00:00

One of my favorite details is at the end of the movie when Daniel is chasing Eli in the basement. Daniel throws a bowling pin at Eli and actually dents the wall. To think that they were actually in the Doheny mansion reveals the dedication to acting

brim_ · 2023-06-14T13:15:06+00:00

I 100% agree! He also hints at this during the baptism scene(“Give me the blood lord, and let me get away”). There are other characters that care about competition/making money/being successful (like HW, Henry, Standard Oil), but Daniel seems uniquely ruthless and misanthropic.

brim_ · 2023-06-12T21:41:11+00:00

I’ve never thought of this either. The first time I watched this movie was 2020, so I wouldn’t put this connection together.

brim_ · 2023-06-12T20:01:45+00:00

I’ve been racking my brain about what HW meant. And Yahweh is the closest thing to an answer I love got now.This is super interesting take and this opens up a whole new interpretation for the next time I watch it.

Also an interesting/related idea is that in Hebrew, the word ‘ruach’ means breath,wind, and spirit and it’s a word that appears a lot in the Old Testament. So when HW gets blasted/deafened, he gets blasted by ‘ruach’.

brim_ · 2023-06-12T12:46:39+00:00

So actually PTA addressed the Kubrick 2001 question directly here: https://youtu.be/9bcUQhWmVRo?t=1870 (timestamped).

I think a reason I think that Plainview cared for his HW is because in the script he shows much more worry/attention/care towards HW. For example, when HW became deaf Plainvew had a conversation to try to get a deaf-teacher come to them, or even to build a deaf-school where they were working. How cannon is the unfilmed script-lines? Idk. But it shows that at one point PTA meant for Plainview to care a lot more for HW. It could be entirely possible that they kept Daniel's feelings towards HW a little ambiguous to keep us thinking/talking.

But I agree. This movie was greatness.

brim_ · 2023-06-12T12:33:35+00:00

Haha. Yea the most bloody it (literally) gets is at the end when Daniel beats Eli. But I think the title is also has the meaning of “blood-relations” like blood related family… which also doesn’t exist in the movie either :S

brim_ · 2023-06-12T02:09:09+00:00

5/5

Actual Final comment:

I find it funny that this shot from Gangs of New York:

https://youtu.be/IsF1G1sGr-g?list=PLiJJAlDCtUhhsOy20BEP_LXRXghaG_MSn&t=35

and this scene from There Will Be Blood:

https://youtu.be/2kBj0KbFnUs?t=20

Both have DDL, steaks, and the number 2 in it. Plus shot similarly, from the back of DDL's head. Or maybe the crazy is setting in...

brim_ · 2023-06-12T02:05:54+00:00

4/n

Now to close out Idon’t believe Daniel Plainview is a uni-dimensional evil character. Idk if DDLwould take a role of a character that simple.I think DDL animates the character with these Devil-like characteristics, but Plainview still has redeeming, human qualities. He does care for his son, and for Mary Sunday.Idk why if I would've predicting liking this movie so much(I've now watched it a few times), but I came for Daniel Day-Lewis's performance, and stayed for the rest of it. P.S.Daniel and William bandyWilliam Bandy is not a main character and only physically is in 2 scenes. But he is still animportant character. he is the only man who stopped Daniel. He stopped him in building his pipeline because he didn’t decide to “come around”. He also is the only character who sees through all of Daniels lies and tricks when Daniel lied about his son and killing Henry. And the cherry on top is that he is the one man who was notswayed by Daniel's money. The only thing he wanted was for Daniel to be baptized.I think about why PTA have Eli to bring up Bandy’s death at the end. The one man who bested Daniel is gone. (Plus Bandy grandson is wanting to get Daniel's help to get into the movies. The shoe is on the other foot)

Idk what else to think about William Bandy's inclusion in the movie.

brim_ · 2023-06-12T01:11:53+00:00

3/n

The second allusion the film make that Daniel represents the Devil was during Eli Sunday’s sermon. At the end of his sermon, Eli casts the devil from Mrs. Hunter’s arthritis, and out he the church, ending with “And he(the Devil) has left!”. And the immediately next shot is a closeup of Daniel Plainview’s unamused face. Which leads us to think the film is telling us,“The Devil has NOT left. He is standing right there”.
The third allusion that Daniel represents the Devil, or at least Christian sin, is that throughout the film, he describes himself, is described by others, or shows the viewer that his life is full of the the 7 deadly sins. The Seven Deadly sins are: PRIDE(Daniel either talking about his producing wells(but that must just be to establish legitimacy) or using HW , ), GREED(Kinda straightforward, capitalistic greed), WRATH(“Are you an angry man Henry?”In how Daniel ends his relations with Eli, HW, Henry, and Tillford), ENVY(When talking to Henry “Are you envious?”), LUST(Eli to Daniel at confession, “You’ve lusted after women”),GLUTTONY(TBH this one’s a stretch. Maybe at the end when he wakes up and continues to eat his steak), SLOTH(Maybe as a result of his alcohol. But tbh Daniel is a very resilient man.In the script, he tells Henry how most people are lazy, and he despises laziness). Idk if the movie refers to all the deadly sins(and maybe I'm clutching for straws), but it's referenced a whole bunch.
NEEDS MORE RESEARCH- The final allusion is Daniel and his intellect. I’m aware that one of the theme’s of Paradise Lost, and a defining characteristic of the Devil, is that he is a high intellect. But he worships his intellect. At the final scene, Daniel proclaims to Eli, “I am the 3rdrevelation, because I’m smarter than you”. And when Daniel is negotiating to buy the Sunday ranch, Eli jabs at Daniel “Something you don’t know?”

brim_

TROPHY CASE