#the next in the list is armenia

[unhonestlymirror]

I definitely should draw Eritrea beating the shit out of russia

[metamorphesque]

Formula 1, Sportswashing and Greenwashing a Genocide ... in other words, just an ordinary day in baku

As the final Formula 1 Grand Prix is set to take place tomorrow in baku, azerbaijan, I find it impossible to remain silent. The world is gearing up for what’s supposed to be an exciting event but behind the gleaming lights of the racetrack, there’s a much darker story that demands attention: the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and azerbaijan’s ongoing brutal actions against Armenians.

azerbaijan’s history of oppression toward the Armenian people is not a secret. The forced displacement of Armenians from their ancestral lands, the violent campaign of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, and the inhumane imprisonment and torture of Armenian captives in baku are undeniable facts. The world has remained shockingly quiet as over 200 Armenians languish in azerbaijani prisons, subjected to treatment that violates every principle of human rights.

One of the most glaring symbols of azerbaijan’s hatred toward Armenians is the Genocide Theme Park in baku, a chilling place that mocks the pain and suffering of an entire people. This is not just an internal issue; it’s an attack on humanity. But instead of confronting azerbaijan’s actions, the world is endorsing them.

These atrocities are certainly not limited to the government and the officials; the indescribable hatred has extended over to the people as well - take a glimpse into the azeri society

Now, let's imagine that you were fortunate enough to watch the F1 Grand Prix live in baku. How would you feel knowing that the azerbaijani person sitting next to you might be one of the many who were selling beheaded bodies of Armenian children on Facebook? Or perhaps they took their children to the Genocide Park and photographed them pretending to choke the statues of Armenian soldiers?

azerbaijan is not only hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix but is also set to host COP29, a global climate summit. These events are being used to greenwash and sportwash the regime’s crimes.

How can we watch Formula 1 without acknowledging that the very ground this race is held on is soaked in the suffering of Armenians? How can we cheer for a spectacle when the cries of the oppressed go unheard?

This is not a political issue; it’s a matter of basic human decency. While the world enjoys the race, we must not forget the injustices happening in the shadows. Formula 1 should be about fairness and excellence. But in azerbaijan, it’s about something far more sinister—using sport to hide atrocities.

So, as you watch the Grand Prix in baku, remember the Armenian lives shattered by violence, hatred and silence. Let’s refuse to let sports and international events become tools for erasing history and ignoring the suffering of innocent people.

BREAK THE CHAIN OF IGNORANCE: Share Information: use social media platforms like Tumblr, Instagram, X, Facebook and others to share articles, videos, and testimonies about the atrocities being committed by azerbaijan. The more people know, the harder it becomes to ignore. Engage in Dialogue: talk to friends, family, and colleagues about the situation in azerbaijan and encourage others to take action too. Support Armenian Communities: donate to/support organizations helping displaced Armenians and those impacted by the conflict in Artsakh. Even small contributions can go a long way in providing humanitarian aid. Artsakh Relocation Project All For Armenia

TAKE ACTION by adding your name to THE LIST of supporters.

Remember that this is not a political issue; it’s a matter of basic human decency.

[cauliarty]

Okay

I will be taking drawing requests in exchange for proof of donation to a gofundme or charity that supports any nation or people undergoing crisis, oppression, colonization, or genocide.

Donate what you want or can and send proof, as well as your request.

I’m not taking NSFW or fetish art or anything unsanitary. Also I will not be taking anything overly complicated!

I might do color, but expect a pen and paper sketch.

List of evacuation gofundmes (Palestine)

Gaza Funds website

Sudan Tarada Initiative

Links to help Congo

Goma Actif (nonprofit working in North Kivu to provide aid to the displaced people in DR Congo)

Linktree: Funds for Gaza (a rotating list of evacuation fundraisers)

El Shan Hussein’s vetted evacuation fundraisers for Palestine

Hussein also made a post on Focus Congo

Gofundmes for Hussein's Friends in Rafah

Fundraisers for Sudanese aid kitchens

Khartoum Kitchen Appeal

Education Emergency Support for Rohingya Refugees

Please help Istianah Terpadu orphanage school

The West Papua Media Project (supports 3 journalists in West Papua for the next 2 years)

Fundraiser to Help Brazil Recover from Flooding (has three options for USD, GBP and EUR)

Tigray Needs YOUR Help (Linktree)

Help Gaza Children (run by Hussam and fairuzfan)

Global Giving's Projects in Yemen

Armenian Food Bank

Life for Gaza

Post on How to Help the People of Sudan

Donations You Can Make to Gaza for Supplies

Operation Olive Branch (a rotating spreadsheet of Gazan evacuation fundraisers)

Supporting the Tibetan Association of Boston in sharing Tibetan culture

Uyghur Human Rights Project

Let's Take Action For Congo

Fundraiser for Congo, Sudan and Tigray (funds will be split three ways)

Vegetables, Food and Water for Palestinian Families (Ele Elna Elak)

The Save El Geneina Initiative (Sudan)

Hope for Ukraine

Armenia Fund

Health Professionals Network for Tigray

The Date Project

List of Links to Donate for Syria

Google Doc list of Gaza fundraisers

Organizations you can donate to to help the Armenians

Doctors Without Borders

Islamic Relief USA

UNICEF

Palestine Children's Relief Fund

Post of other organizations to donate to for Gaza and Sudan

Help Ezzideen & his family to Evacuate Gaza (1/4 way)

Help Mohammad Wishah and his family evacuate Gaza (3/4 way)

Support Ruba’s family’s urgent evacuation (less than 1/4 way)

Help Eman Abdel Rahman and his family survive in Khartoum (halfway)

Help Leena’s family evacuate Gaza ASAP (halfway)

Help Majd Omar’s family evacuate Gaza and save his mother from cancer (low on funds)

Help Mahmoud's family evacuate Gaza (low on funds)

Help Qamar and Talaat evacuate Gaza with their family (super low on funds)

Help the Odeh family evacuate (close to the goal)

Help Madleen's Family from Gaza (close to the goal)

Help Mohammad's Family Escape Gaza's Devastation (1/4 way)

Help Mahmoud Mousa Rebuild a Shelter for His Family in Rafah (super low on funds)

Help Randa's Family Flee Sudan's War (3/4 way)

Hamdi Hijazi: A Father’s Appeal for His Children’s Peace (past the goal, fundraiser is still open)

Help Abdullah Haniyah’s Family Evacuate Gaza (low on funds)

Help Mohammad Bardaweel’s Family Evacuate Gaza (low on funds)

Save Firas Salem's Family from the Horrors of the Gaza War (1/4 way)

Help The Busimba Family Rebuild Their Lives After Leaving Congo (3/4 way)

Help Children to Orphanages & Provide Aid to Goma (more than halfway)

SOS Congo for Displaced People in North Kivu (3/4 way)

Help Alaa Al Khateeb's Mother Travel to a Safe Place (3/4 way)

Rescue Mahmoud's Family: A Call to Escape Gaza's Devastation (low on funds)

Help Brothers Mohammed and Hamza Hilles Evacuate Gaza (very low on funds)

Help Shadi and His Family to Evacuate from Gaza (gfm link, close to the goal)

This is Shadi's Paypal Link for Payments in USD (close to the goal)

Evacuate Eman Abuhayya's Family for Medical Attention (halfway)

Help Amal Abushamalla's Family Evacuate Gaza (nearly complete)

Help Nesma Ahmed's Family Evacuate (more than halfway)

Help Iman's Family Find Safety (extremely low on funds)

Help Omar Evacuate from Gaza (low on funds)

Help Evacuate Bilal’s Family Out of Gaza (1/4 way)

Help Marah Reunite With her Family in Gaza and Save Them (very low funds)

Help Laila Shaqquora Survive in Gaza (very low funds)

Please Help Tahani Save Her Children and Husband in Gaza (very low funds)

Help Belal Azmi Msallam and His Family Escape the War in Gaza (low funds)

Help A Child with Cerebral Palsy Evacuate Gaza (more than halfway)

Urgent Rescue Mission for the Mortaja Family (2 family members evacuated, more than 3/4 way)

Help Mike Fantasia Save Ahmed and His Family (very close to the goal)

Help Abboud and Elias Travel to Egypt (more than 3/4 way)

Help Jehad's Relatives Evacuate to Safety (very low on funds)

Ahmd Iyd: URGENT Request for Evacuation in Gaza (very low on funds)

Help Bilal Abdul Hadi al-Saqa's Family to Evacuate from Gaza (PayPal, 2/3 way)

Help Almoghrabi Family to Evacuate Gaza Strip (very low on funds)

Save Maliha Family: Urgent Evacuation Fund (low on funds)

How to Buy E-Sims (they help maintain internet connection abroad for a period of days)

Post on Brazil's Climate Crisis (with donation links you can check out)

Care.org Sudan

Rescue.org Congo

Hope for Haiti

CAMME - Helping Children of the Congo

Care For Gaza (Sabrine is raising funds on behalf of the organization, which you can find on twitter)

Ways to Take Action for the Uyghurs

Masterpost of fundraisers for women in conflict

Forgotten Women (aid group by women and for women in crisis, has options for Afganistan, Gaza and Yemen)

One Million Sustainable Pads Campaign

On Inner Mongolia (not a fundraiser, an information post)

Learn for Artsakh (not a fundraiser)

Human Rights in West Papua (not a fundraiser)

Stop Bucc-ee's Gas Station from Being Built on the Occaneechi Trading Path (not a fundraiser)

[avivz-s4]

World Flags Part 1: Asia / Sims 4 cc

It's Ready! World Flags Collection, Part 1: Asia

Includes flags from all the countries in Asia, as well as 13 bonus flags of various subdivisions and communities across the Asian continent. A sims 4 base game recolor item.

I have been downloading s4cc for many years now, and as far as I know there still hasn't been a flag recolor for every country in the world, so I have decided to take the project up myself :)

I will be releasing the flags per continent - part 2: Europe coming next. Enjoy!

Much love, Aviv

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Full list of Flags;

Countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.

& Bonus Flags: Kurdish, Alternate Syria - green, Yazidi, Hong Kong, Assyrian, Tibet, Sikh, Parsi, Xinjiang/Uyghur, Macau, Baha'i, Balochistan, Sakha Republic/Yakut.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Download on Patreon / base game compatible

[aijamisespava]

List Of Opinions For Semi-Final 2

Just as I thought, there's a LOT for me to unpack about this semi...like a LOT so I'll just get to it.

To begin with, I'll open with an iconic quote from my sister about a performance I'm sure you'll know exactly which one I'm talking about: HE THREW HIS GUITAR LIKE 10FT IN THE AIR!

Both Latvia and Georgia snapped their NQ streaks! Both of them haven't qualified since 2016, and with that, the longest NQ streaks have snapped (Ireland was second I think, but that got snapped too. Feel free to correct me if I missed anything)

Lots of surprises, it was a very intense semi-final, which will lead to a more intense grand final.

Honestly, Latvia was a shock Q for me, as it was for a lot of people I bet. But again, in a year with high-energy songs, it will be good to have a song be our break.

BELGIUM NQ?! So, you know how that's my winner right? Right. I was pretty sure Mustii was as good as in. I for one loved the performance, AND HE DOESN'T QUALIFY?! Needless to say, shock NQ of the year, and likely biggest robbery this year imo.

I'd be foolish to note that my sister's winner (Armenia) did make it and it was an intense moment for both of us. We're good, don't worry. We won't let this affect our sisterhood.

My mom walked in to see the Netherlands perform...and saw the end (he did the VERY emotional outro for his parents which makes me tear up every time I think about it). We cried.

For some reason, I had seen word floating around a month or so ago that people were worried about Estonia qualifying? Needless to say don't worry about that; they made it...that was a fun performance (as in I was doing the dance!)!

As more of a call to action to wrap up: I'm not going to repeat myself. You all have probably seen the news of Italy's result leak AND might have seen the odds. Worst case scenario, I won't return next year (as may the contest...something the EBU brought upon themselves). I'll be revealing a 2nd tumblr page on Saturday no matter what happens, but keep that in mind. Hopefully, it won't turn that way, but figured I'd give you my side. If you read my statement you'll know where I stand.

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision 2023: #22 - #21

Mild like is not a zone I prefer to rest long in, so let's make the next two a package deal so that only 20 remain going into the new year!

22. SERBIA Luke Black - "Samo mi se spava" 24th place

Decade Ranking: 63/116 [Above Fyr og Flamme, below TBA]

Spaaaaavaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai

But I am getting ahead of myself.

In the days leading up towards towards the rehearsals I got the feeling that Luke would only barely squeak by despite being both Serbian and reasonably well-liked by the fans. This came with the slow realization that "Samo mi se spava" is kind of cringe, oop. All memes eventually become stale, and that rate at which they age accelerates further if the music's kind of not good lol. Not everyone can have the eternal resilience of "In Corpore Sano".

So yeah, I totes understand why the Latvia stans were pissed they missed out while Luke basically passed to the Grand Final based on flag. However, many acts sucked in the semis, so I'm not bothered if one I liked (sorta) qualified over one i did not (sorta).

Not to get things twisted though, "Samo mi se spava" was serviceable for what it was, as a Melovin-lite combination of shock horror and an art major's irreverent graduation project. Once you've accustomed to the senseless krumpcrat choreo and the atonal mewling however, you just have to recognize Serbia's 2023 entry was the vanity project of an ageing emo twink . Do I enjoy it? Yes, but only as ~A Piece~ (not as "a song") and only in small enough doses. Take, a listen every four months.

All that said, there are two small things about "Samo Mi Se Spava" that I greatly enjoy.

(1) the frogmarches remain hilarious so let's enjoy that in gif form:

What a great way to finish A Piece.

(2) I merely have to think of Luke to hear "SPAAAVAAAAI" and "HELLO?! GAyME OVuh" ring through my mind in his characteristic gaywhispervoice and that ALWAYS produces a chuckle. So ultimately, while "Samo mi se spava" was admittedly not very good, it does manage to lift my spirits somewhat, and for that I'm willing to carry it to 22nd in my list!

-----------------------------------------

21. UKRAINE TVORCHI - "Heart of steel" 6th place

Decade Ranking: 62/116 [Above Luke Black, below Kalush Orchestra]

Yeah, Tvorchi did well for themselves. Given the war and the general air of misery surrounding last year's Vidbir (unironically a contender for worst NF this year, even under the circumstances) and the fact that Ukraine picked their most disappointingly heterosexual entry yet, there was no way "Heart of Steel" could become good. Like, who does this appeal to? What sort of person listens to this edgelordian church cabal, and thinks "ah, my favourite has arrived." Just the Musk fanboys, right?

Fortunately for us, Ukraine is the one Eurovision country that always understands the assignment. What do you do when your song below par? You provide a good show at least.

and it kinda nibbled.

...

...

Yeah, there's no punchline. Sorry but it's NYE, i cooked the family dinner by myself and you may think it's a small step to go from roasting broccoli to roasting mediocrities, but the latter action takes up too much thinking space for a brain semi-operating on sparkling wine that is trying to weave in and out of social conversation. Jeffrey sang well, I liked the presentation and it didn't drag the more enjoyable entries around it down, what else can a one ask for? It wasn't going to get any better than what we got. Count them lucky stars, and all that.

Fourth place in the televote is a VERY stupid result (this is more in range of a 14th placer if it were any other country) but let's not end the year on a sour rant. "Heart of steel" could have been a morose drag. Instead it was moderately bemusing. Upward and onward to better things.

THE RANKING

CONGRATZ FOR MAKING THE TOP 20 to the following:

ALBANIA / ARMENIA / AUSTRALIA / AUSTRIA / AZERBAIJAN BELGIUM / CZECHIA / ESTONIA / FINLAND / FRANCE ICELAND / LITHUANIA / MALTA / MOLDOVA / POLAND PORTUGAL / SLOVENIA / SPAIN / SWEDEN / UK Some of you kind of don't deserve to~ ps: Happy New Year Everyone!!!

[dojae-huh]

as we all know, doyoung get chosen as prosperity burger brand ambassador next year (afaik, the burger only available until 24th jan) and the twitter reaction is so.. harsh. i get the sentiment bc mcdonalds has been listed to the boycott list but ppl has been calling him 'names' and purposely using this as the gotcha moment to hate him instead of spreading more awareness abt the boycott. i feel disappointed with him too but knowing he loves the burger so much and the deal has been made since months ago.. idk how to feel. i still want to support him but it will seen like i'm defending him (while in fact, i dont). what do u think about this? i need to talk with someone with rational thinking process so i can sort things out ;-; tysm

Urgh, I wanted to avoid this topic, but you asked so nicely...

Brace yourself to wait out the unleash of anti-comments Doyoung is getting. Antis are using the opportunity, and many fans are confused, shaken by emotions. It will be OK, it will pass soon enough.

McDac's promotion is aimed at SK and it is a charity. Doyoung donated 50mln won for children around Christmas. He participated in the ad for charity as well. Doubting him or blaming him speaks more about a fan's weak sense of morale and integrity than his. These advertisement companies are planned beforehand, moreover, they are created by absolutely different people in different parts of the world. US branch of MD and Korean branch of MD are not the same. Local businessmen buy the right to use the brand name, it's a franchise.

Korea is Korea, it's a country half-globe away from the conflict in question. K-pop has nothing to do with it. There are multiple conflicts and disasters all over the world that happen at the same time. However, people pay attention mostly only to those that are covered by the media. I haven't seen any k-pop fan talking about Armenia-Azerbaijan (and Armenian people experienced a genocide in the past), zero talks about what happens in Haiti, and it's been ages since I saw mention of Ukraine. And Russia-Ukraine war continues with thousands of people being killed on both sides. And it won't stop as long as Putin is in power. Noone is cancelling him in the fandom, for some reason. US is abuzz about the migrant crisis, but the rest of the world is blissfully unaware. How many people die in those jungles?

I can give you an example of fans only following the guidance of a laser pointer. You should be aware of regular "controversies" over t-shirts, headwear, hair styles, stage design. Doyoung was given a shirt with themes of Moscow (the cathedral) and Orthodoxy (Mary with Jesus, they way it is portrayed on Russian icons). Has anyone sounded concerns that Russia is on the black list, that Doyoung is a non-Orthodox Christian, that using religious imagery for fashion on a "see-thorough" shirt can be offensive for believers/cultural appropriation? (Russia has laws nowadays, plays like "Jesus Christ Superstar" can't be played). Or that such tattoos are actually prison culture, like with yakuza? Noone batted an eye. And rightfully so, because it's just a silly shirt from a fashion collection.

4. I understand fans want to do good, but what they are doing is mostly virtue-signalling. Their online actions don't help.

When Russia attacked Ukraine many companies left Russia. Either on their own or being pressured to do so. The results:

Common people lost their secure jobs with good salaries. Companies like IKEA brought with them their corporate culture of taking care of their employees, what can't be said about Russian workplaces. Russia is a very hard market to enter due to local corruption and no real protection by law. I know IKEA spent like 10 years to do so. The fruits of labour of those middle level executives were just scratched off like that.

The foreign companies were either seized or sold cheaply to Putin's cronies. As a result, he gained more of their support, because he gave them "feudal lands", conpensated for their losses due to the war and sanctions.

The state started propaganda "domestic replacement" campaign (to calm down the people, "we don't need the West or anybody!"). Money were given to any shady bussenesmen who promised to invent "Russian alternative". In reality, those money were taken and no product developed. Or a label with a Russian company name plastered on a Chinese product like a tractor. Again, another scheme for people in power, from "the elite", to fill their pockets with money and to not mind the war started by Putin.

Apple, Coca-Cola and other products are still present in the shops. They are just imported/smuggled via neighbouring countries and sold for higher price. Commoners suffer because of the prices, businessmen and the brands stay OK. And taxes still go to the state.

Many freelancers and artists either lost completely the opportunity to earn money with their craft or needed a long time to readjust and are earning less. There is little demand for art on the domestic market, so the artists need other countries. PayPal left the country, so no Etsy for them. No direct payments thorough Visa/Mastercard as they don't work with Russians banks anymore either. My own shop were I was selling my watercolours was closed by Etsy. I have to ask foreign friends to get money for me or buy me bus tickets as I can't use Wise or Paypal or WesterUnion. Politicians and businessmen? They are doing just fine. They simply opened accounts for a high price (like two montly salary of a commoner) in neighouring countries and use those credit cards. I can't shift to working for foreign publishing companies and not paying taxes to my government because I don't have a credit card to receive payment. I earn twice as less due to currency exchange as well.

In the end. Yes, Russian commoners suffer. The regime doesn't. We are talking oil, gas and natural resourses like minerals. Russia is still paid loads of money for them. Those companies leaving Russia did nothing to help to stop the war. The majority of people haven't even used those companies living far away from the capital in poverty to begin with. McDac is for spoiled brats in Moscow, not for workers on factories.

People feel a negative emotion and want a quick and easy solution to it. If I donate following this demanding action ad, I will help. If I re-twit this black list, I will do something for the good.

It doesn't work like that. There is no easy A to B. It's a giant multilayered problem, and more often than not you are being used in an informational war by one side or the other. Hamas terrorists steal the trucks with foreign aid for themselves. And who knows how many fake donation schemes there are. Israel won't listen to the opinion of college students because it's a question of survival as a country for them. The wars in the Middle East won't end as long as their is oil and gas. McDac will lose some money now in one country and earn them back in another by lowering the quality of its products or the conditions for cows raised for burgers or the salaries of its workers in developing countries.

If you really want to do good. Do it in your neighbourhood. And do it smartly, after a thorough reserch. And in the area you want, and not what others pressure you to do. This way you can both control how your contribution is used and see the positive results with your own eyes.

And the cheapest way to do some good? Is to stop being the source of negativity and to stop judging and cancelling other people.

[mokhosz-nafo]

There are currently 59 active military conflicts worldwide, the highest number since World War II, according to analysts from the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP). They have studied how these conflicts are influencing modern trends in militarization.

One key trend is the increase in military expenditures, even as their share of national GDP is decreasing. Despite this rise in spending, the global military budget as a percentage of the economy is about half of what it was at its peak during the Cold War.

Another trend is the decline in the number of troops, which has been ongoing for the past three decades, driven by technological advancements. For example, the global number of military personnel dropped from 30 million in 1995 to 28 million in 2019. India is the only major country that has seen a rise in troop numbers.

Countries where the military holds a significant place in the national economy include North Korea (at least 24% of GDP), Afghanistan (10%), Oman (5.9%), and Algeria (4.8%). Among former Soviet states, Armenia (4.2%) and Azerbaijan (3.8%) top the list, largely due to their prolonged conflict over Karabakh.

In contrast, military spending in the U.S. is currently 3.1% of its GDP, down from 4.7% fifteen years ago. The U.S. spent $736 billion on defense in 2022, far exceeding the military budgets of China ($282 billion), India ($75 billion), the UK ($69 billion), and Russia ($63 billion).

IEP estimates that the U.S. holds the greatest military power globally, with China and Russia trailing at 0.91% and 0.9% of U.S. military potential, respectively. France, the UK, India, Japan, South Korea, and Italy also rank among the top countries with significant military capabilities.

The IEP’s analysis does not simply count the number of military equipment units but also considers technological advancements across different generations and classes of weapons. For instance, they differentiate between older models like the Su-27 or F-16 and more advanced aircraft like the F-35.

The IEP notes that global militarization levels had been declining since 2008, but this trend reversed in 2022. The analysts predict that militarization will continue to rise for at least the next five years.

[tilbageidanmark]

998 Movies in 2023...

In 2021 I saw 885 movies...

In 2022 I saw 954 movies...

And in 2023 I saw 998 movies.

Yes, I've seen nearly 3 movies every single day for the last three years. Yes, I have no life, Etc. But I like it, and it works for me. So if anybody have an issue with that, they are cordially invited to fuck off. This solitary habit had evolved into an ongoing writing project, where I jog down every night a paragraph or two about each movie, and that fills me up with a sense of a minor achievement, sufficient enough to keep me going.

Most of the movies (like everything else in life) were mediocre, but about 150 were stand-outs, so on average, every two days I experienced some sort of an emotional release, a catharsis, if you will, which had made the whole project worthwhile for me.

Here are some stats, and a few random discoveries that I really enjoyed.

First of all, I made it a point to see more movies directed by women – 156 in total. I'm going to concentrate even more on female movie-making.

I also continued to explore the vast and interesting world of “foreign” cinema, (i.e. “Not from the USA”): 520 films in 2023 [52% of the total]. I plan on increasing this percentage much more next year.

The countries from which I saw the largest number were France (100), UK (70), Denmark (30), Italy and Japan (24 each), Germany and Spain (19 each), Iceland (14), Canada and Finland (13), Sweden (12), Ireland, Poland and Scotland (11). The other films were from Chile, Argentina, China, India, Mexico, Australia, Norway, Belgium, Iran, Korea, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Greece, The Netherlands, Armenia, Austria, Bolivia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Iraq, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritania, Mongolia, New Zealand, Palestine, Polynesia, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Uruguay, Yugoslavia. There was even one movie in ancient Babylonian!

I don't keep track of the genres, and I sample nearly everything. I love to cry 'and laugh and cry all again', so I mostly seek stories with “real” personal emotions. Obviously, many are dramas, art-house fair. I still have never seen any superheroes movie in my life. And I usually refuse to watch any horror, space operas, franchise, most blockbusters, supernatural, sci-fi, fantasy, and not too much 'action’.

Recently, I started picking up movies from this Wikipedia List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as lists of winners and contenders from various European film festivals.

Of the 998 movies, 103 were documentaries, 119 were films I've seen before, 150 were shorts, (and 26 were so bad I couldn't finish them).

For their age, I only saw 35 silent movies, but a whopping 111 movies from 2023. The rest are spread in between.

I did discover many new directors I fell in love with with, too many to list here. If anybody is interested in reading my personal opinions, they can re-visit the tag 'Movies' here. I post about 20 reviews every Monday.

So here are just a few of my off-beat favorite 2023 discoveries:

'The Mill and the cross' (2011) by Polish poet Lech Majewski: A literal recreation of Bruegel’s 1564 painting ‘The Procession to Calvary’, done in Newport Beach’s ‘Pageant of the Masters’ style. With a minimal narrative and nearly no dialog, it transports a masterpiece from one medium into another.

'The organizer' (1963) by Mario Monicelli, with Marcello Mastroianni. A unionist trying to organize workers laboring in inhuman conditions at a late 19th Century textile factory in Turin. A Neo-realistic and unsentimental look at the eternal struggle for control of the means of production.

'Close' (2022), innocent lost, by Belgian Lukas Dhont. Movingly and tenderly it details an intimate friendship - love, rather - between two 13-year-old boys.

The documentary 'Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb' (2022), about the relationship between two remarkable men: The LBJ biographer and his lifelong editor.

'The Maid' by Chilean director Sebastián Silva, a perfectly simple drama about the life of a live-in housekeeper. It was one of a dozen movies I saw about 'Domestics', an emerging sub-genre, mostly from South America and South-east Asia.

'Timbuktu' from Mauritania (2014), by Malian film director Abderrahmane Sissako. A heart-breaking tragedy about terror in the barren Sahara desert. Senseless religious laws imposed by a patriarchal and fanatic group on simple villagers.

'Spring Blossom' (2020), a gentle drama of a shy 16 year old girl who falls in love with a 35 man she sees outside a local theater. [Like Quinn Shephard’s ‘Blame’], it’s twice as impressive, because it was written by the talented Suzanne Lindon when she was only 15, and she directed it and starred in it before she was 20.

The earlier films of Irish director John Michael McDonagh, 'The Guard' and 'Calvary', both with Brendan Gleeson. (But not 'War on everyone' which was awful).

All of Lynne Ramsay's Glasgow-based dramas, especially 'Gasman', her first short, and 'Ratcatcher', her debut feature. Heartbreaking, transformative masterpieces. The same goes for Ken Loach's 1969 'Kes' and 'I, Daniel Blake' from 2016.

Re-watch: Nils Malmros's 1981 'The tree of knowledge'. It has always been my favorite Danish movie, and also one of my general All-time Top-Five favorites - Ever. Together with Truffault’s ‘Small Change’, it’s also the best movie about children, the pains of puberty and the joys of adolescence.

'The Ballad of the Weeping Spring' is a “different” (and hard-to find!) Israeli cult film from 2012. An homage to Kurosawa’s Samurai films, and to Sergio Leone’s Westerns, it’s a mystical pilgrimage into the origins of “Oriental / Mediterranean Music”. After inadvertently killing his two friends and living off the grid for 20 years, the mythical band leader of the defunct “Turkish Ensemble” is recruited to “put the band together”, and is looking for 9 other musicians to play for his dying ex-partner.

Jody Foster's documentary 'Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché' (2018). Alice Guy-Blaché was the first ever female filmmaker, and history’s first director of narrative cinema. An enormously important figure, who was erased and forgotten until her recent resurgence. Like ‘The Méliès Mystery’ documentary, these two biographies are a must-see for any film lover.

'The house is black' (1963), by another female pioneer, Iranian avant-garde poet Forugh Farrokhzad. A harrowing documentary about a real leper colony.

Werner Herzog, Radical dreamer, a 2022 German documentary about the greatest living filmmaker, one of the greatest of all time.

And not to be accused for being an elitist, I've re-watched (some as many as FOUR times this year!) many of my all time 'guilty pleasures': 'In the loop', 'Long Shot' with Charlize Theron, The Icelandic 'Echo', 'Office Space', 'After the wedding', 'Hot Fuzz', 'A simple favor', 'Cold war', 'Margin call', 'Belle de Jour', 'Chinatown', 'The conversation', 'Game night', 'To kill a mockingbird', 'world of tomorrow', 'Midnight run', 'Burn after reading', Etc., etc.

[Photo Above: I didn't realize, and didn't find it mentioned anywhere, but Buñuel gave himself a little cameo in 'Belle De Jour'!]

So what does it all mean? Nothing, really. Except of food, air, and some minimal travel, I don't consume much of anything any more. I don't have a TV, cars, streaming services, any belongings, or attachments. But I recognize that this obsessive viewing is also some form of unhealthy consumption. Anyway, for the time being, I'll just keep doing it.

[And to answer a question that may come up, I view 100% of these movies on “free” streamers. I'm not ashamed of it, on the contrary!]

So far, in 2024 I only saw 2 movies, both of which I've seen before: René Laloux's 'Fantastic Planet', and one of my most precious films from last year, Celine Song's 'Past Lives'. 10/10 for both - will watch again!

Adios, mothers'.

[This is copy from my r/truefilm post]

[msclaritea]

Where to Watch ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest’ — 2024 Edition

Blind Items Revealed #2

February 10, 2017

With his popularity waning because he is not on television each week, this A list mogul is threatening to pull his production deal with the parent company unless he gets back on the air now. Thirsty f**ker. Always likes you to think he prefers being behind the scenes. Nope. His ego is HUUUUUUGE. So, now the company is going to overpay for a worn out franchise from a different network.

Ryan Seacrest/American Idol/NBC

Blind Items Revealed #5

July 13, 2021

Except for making some things blind items, I have left it entirely in the words of the tipster.

I was invited to spend time this past Memorial weekend hanging out with this animator/writer/illustrator/one hit wonder (#1) who had a short lived series on this almost network several years ago. The show attracted a significant cult following when it aired on (#2) and this person still has a strong fan base within his subsection of pop culture. To this day, he never appears out in public where he might be recognized or allows any photos to be taken without wearing his signature disguise that he’s worn since the inception of his show. (He didn’t wear it Memorial weekend when out with me. I completely didn’t recognize him when I first saw him.) Everything online, including his Wikipedia bio, is fake and written by him. He will do anything and everything to keep people from knowing any personal info about him. He desperately attempts to project his age much younger than his 54 years and while his real first name is very close to his fake persona, his last name is not.

To say that he is a horribly racist individual doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of his deep seated racism. A very nice and genuine friend of his that I met last year, he refers to as, “that rich Jew”. He believes everyone in the Little Armenia section of LA hates white people. He was upset that his neighborhood is being “invaded by Mexicans”. A kind friend of his, who happens to manage a very popular bar, graciously let us cut to the front of the line to get in because he was getting angrier and angrier at having to wait. When talking about his friend that got us in the bar, he continually made disparaging comments about the fact that the guy only dates black men. He repeatedly said throughout the weekend that he doesn’t like inviting this person to his house for parties because he brings a boyfriend and hates having black people in his house.

He texted me Sunday afternoon and inquired about lunch and thrift shopping (something we have in common). I said sure and hoped that Saturday’s deplorable behavior was just due to having an off day. Nope. As soon as I picked him up, he was in a horrid mood. When I called him out on it, he said that he could just not talk to me at all (tempting but awkward). He asked what I had done all morning. I told him the fun I had and the great places in LA I visited. He laughed and said he thought I was probably sitting in my hotel room waiting for him to call. (Pro tip: when in LA be sure to visit the immersive art exhibit at Cakeland LA.) I suggested we eat lunch at El Coyote. I had always wanted to eat there. He got more irate and asked who I thought I was that I could pick where we ate. Not wanting to argue with someone with the temperament of a four year old, I let him pick lunch. While waiting for our food he asks me who I think is gay in LA. (I’ve been an avid reader of CDAN for over a decade; I know my Hollywood gays.) First name that comes to mind is the mogul (#3). He says he’s heard that #3 might be gay. Next up on my list is the talk show host/game show creator (#4)’s ex boy toy, (#5). He says that he has met #5 numerous times and there is no way he can be gay because he is so nice and gives back to the community. (That may be true but Helen Keller could tell #5 is gay.) I tell him I’ve always thought this A+ list mostly movie actor (#6) was gay. He replied with the antiquated and false notion that #6 can’t be gay because he’s married with kids. He wasn’t joking. He actually believes this! While we were dining outside, he randomly starts yelling at me out of nowhere. People stopped eating and were staring until I told him to calm down because someone was going to call the police on him. His ability to go from zero to unhinged, screaming rage is only surpassed in speed by JLo’s ability to call the paps when lunching with Ben.

After lunch, we went thrift shopping. The first spot we hit, he found a book he wanted to buy. It was $2.75. At the counter, when told the price, he said he didn’t have any cash. I stepped up and paid for the book. As soon as I got outside, I was berated for paying for the book. He said he had cash and he told the sales clerk he didn’t to see if he could get the book for less money. It was $2.75. The money was going to a charitable organization! He literally complained about everything, including his constant inability, due to his size, to easily get out of my rental car, a Ford Mustang. He argued that getting out of my own car, a Mini Cooper, would be much easier. (No way.)

After I dropped him off at home, I had a delightful dinner at El Coyote. I decided that there was no way I could spend another nanosecond with him. Life is too short to waste time with someone like this. I used my points on Southwest to fly to CA. To change my flight to an earlier one would have cost me over 28,000 points. I called Southwest and asked if I could please change my flight and not be charged the additional points. The customer service rep said she would need a reason to tell her supervisor why an exception should be made. I told her who I spent my weekend with and what had transpired. Southwest allowed me to change my flight without using any of my points; even they realized what an ass he is. I do feel sorry for his long suffering partner and the unmitigated nightmare it must be to live with him. He’s looking to restart his career with another series. Miraculously, he got a pitch meeting with some executives at Amazon. To the surprise of no one but himself, there was never a second meeting. This man is a vile, narcissistic human being.

#6 - George Clooney

#1 - Angus Oblong

#2 - "Adult Swim"

#3 - David Geffen

#4 - Merv Griffin

#5 - Ryan Seacrest

#6 - George Clooney

Blind Items Revealed #4

November 28, 2023

Apparently the wannabe Ryan Seacrest and the launch of his new venture was sparsely attended. They were expecting hundreds of people and got maybe a dozen.

Mario Lopez/Shoe collection

[badgersprite]

My 2023 Eurovision Top 37!

It's that time again! That time where I give my thoughts on the Eurovision songs of the year ahead of the contest.

Lowkey I think this has turned into a way stronger year than people expected. I don't think there are any ~objectively~ bad songs honestly, even the songs I don't care for this year it's mostly not because they're bad so much as it's because they're just OK, and this has been the hardest top 10 I can remember having to pick since I started ranking Eurovision. This is my favourite top 10 I've had in a while. I literally cannot split my Top 4 songs in terms of how much I love them, it's basically a four-way tie that fluctuates with my mood.

OK, with that said, I'm going to do something different than I usually do and countdown my Top 37 in REVERSE order!

37. POLAND - BLANKA - Solo

Yeah, OK, this just isn't for me. This is an entirely personal thing but it's got that, like, white-people reggae beat that irks me? You know like how in the same way that Meghan Trainor does a really milquetoast soulless version of doo-wop? This sounds like reggae as interpreted by Meghan Trainor

And yes I mean that as an insult.

36. ROMANIA - THEODOR ANDREI - D.G.T (Off and On)

It starts as it means to go on and never really goes anywhere. If you don't like it in the first three seconds you're not going to like the next three minutes.

35. CYPRUS - ANDREW LAMBROU - Break a Broken Heart

Generic Eurovision sad boy song. Does nothing for me.

34. LITHUANA - MONIKA LINKYTĖ - Stay

I cannot stand this chorus. Gets some points for doing a bit more than the generic Eurovision ballad with the gospel choir.

33. SWITZERLAND - REMO FORRER - Watergun

Oof. Yeah, no. Points for good production and the great voice but to me the attempt at a serious anti-war message using lyrics like "I don't want to play with real blood" is jarring in a bad way.

32. ALBANIA - ALBINA & FAMILJA KELMENDI - Duje

I normally like Albania's Eurovision entries but this year is a break from tradition. To me the song comes across as kind of messy and structurally weird, I can never really get into it. There is also A LOT of Eurovision that basically sounds exactly like this to me. I feel like I heard this exact song multiple times in the 2000s.

31. SAN MARINO - PIQUED JACKS - Like An Animal

Don't like the song or the guy's voice but the guitar sounds alright, I guess? It's honestly kind of hard to rank the entries that you don't particularly care for lol. I have no strong feelings about this song at all, I don't even remember it as I'm writing this.

30. ARMENIA - BRUNETTE - Future Lover

OK, ballads aren't really my thing. It takes a lot for me to connect with a ballad. There's things about this song that I like, but I can't change that I don't connect with it. And if it doesn't evoke any particular feeling from me and I'm not super here for it musically because it's not my kind of song/genre to start, then I can't exactly pretend that I like it more than other songs I've put higher than this.

29. ESTONIA - ALIKA - Bridges

I like this a lot more now than I did the first time I heard it where I was literally rolling my eyes at it, but even with me recognising the quality in this song and connecting with it more than Future Lover, it doesn't finish any higher than this unfortunately.

28. AZERBAIJAN - TURALTURANX - Tell Me More

Kiss me, out of the bearded barley, nightly, beside the green green grass--oh wait that's not the song? Yeah, this is a very forgettable, kind of meh song, nothing that stands out about it, but sonically it sounds very pleasant, I like the chords that remind me of Sixpence None The Richer and in that regard I like it more than the songs below it on this list.

27. ITALY - MARCO MENGONI - Due Vite

Yeah, again, this is another Eurovision ballad I don't particularly care for, but that piano riff is very nice. I like that about it. I like it more now than I did the first time I heard it. It's perfectly fine.

26. GERMANY - LORD OF THE LOST - Blood and Glitter

Oh, OK, now we're out of the ballad zone and into the fun and interesting stuff. I'm glad that stuff like this is here in the contest this year (even though I wanted Melodies of Hope to represent Germany lol), the problem is that even as someone who isn't really into this kind of music, it's just kind of an OK example of its genre.

25. CROATIA - LET 3 - Mama ŠČ

Hahaha, OK, I might enjoy this more than most people, but I'm glad these guys are here, they're a laugh. And I don't think the song is that bad at all, I actually quite enjoy the chorus.

24. NETHERLANDS - MIA NICOLAI & DION COOPER - Burning Daylight

I connected with this ballad a little. The ending is particularly good. But it doesn't really hold up for me on repeat listens. It's not a song I expect to ever listen to again after the contest. Until maybe one day I do listen to it when I'm sad and suddenly I'm crying my eyes out, and on that day I'll love it. But until then it's perfectly fine.

23. IRELAND - WILD YOUTH - We Are One

This sounds like the final song from a Disney Channel movie about a plucky high school rock band and their wacky adventures. Like you know the main guy almost left the band but then he comes back at the end and he sings this song when they reunite. That being said even though this is very annoyingly facile and I am totally aware of that, I like the way it sounds. And I should like the way it sounds because it's so inoffensive that it was probably designed in a lab to use the chord progressions that appeal to the most people.

22. ICELAND - DILJÁ - Power

Again, kind of a generic pop song that sounds like it could be from any point in the past 30 years, but I enjoy her vocal and the breakbeat. I do keep forgetting what this song sounds like though. That's not a great sign for it.

21. GREECE - VICTOR VERNICOS - What They Say

I'm kind of surprised that this is this high, but I just find myself liking the way it sounds more than the songs below it, even though it doesn't evoke any real feelings from me at all. This is almost certainly going to be a song I don't remember a year from now.

20. LATVIA - SUDDEN LIGHTS - Aijã

OK we're now at the point where I straight up like every song from here down. Love the complex rhythms and time signature changes. Is this the first Eurovision song to be in 5/8? I don't know, but I think it's definitely the first Eurovision song to switch from 5/8 to 6/8.

19. UKRAINE - TVORCHI - Heart of Steel

This song came out so early in Eurovision season that I almost kind of took for granted how good this is. This song really has a presence. It feels big and makes you pay attention, and it's not a genre we really get at Eurovision much so it stands out a lot, for the right reasons.

18. MOLDOVA - PASHA PARFENY - Soarele Şi Luna

I'm really enjoying the trend in Eurovision to have traditional folk music elements mixed with electronic music. It's always a vibe.

17. UNITED KINGDOM - MAE MULLER - I Wrote A Song

Yeah, this is a super fun song. I like it. I like it a lot. I might just be a tiny bit too old to vibe with this song as much as some people, it has a little bit of TikTok about it, but this is the kind of music the UK should have been sending for years.

16. AUSTRALIA - VOYAGER - Promise

I don't like this as much as Dreamer but I think people are underselling how good this song actually is. I enjoy Voyager. They sound a bit like The Presets and The Potbelleez. They take me back to when I was still in high school lol.

15. ISRAEL - NOA KIREL - Unicorn

OK sure the unicorn lyric is fucking stupid, but it knows it's stupid. This song is not above being stupid. And I'm not above loving it.

14. SERBIA - LUKE BLACK - Samo Mi Se Spava

This speaks to teenage me on a deep level. Like it's got a lot of Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle vibes about it. And I've never really stopped liking this kind of music. The synth riff in this song makes it.

13. NORWAY - ALESSANDRA - Queen of Kings

Yeah that's right I said it, Queen of Kings isn't in my top 10. I told you this is a good year. This song is an event. It's like an EDM sea shanty. It's extremely catchy. It does lose its lustre a bit after repeat listens. But, like, live? It's going to be amazing.

12. AUSTRIA - TEYA & SALENA - Who the Hell is Edgar?

Oh we're going FULL Eurovision this year, huh? Wow we've got like multiple meme songs and most of them are great. This song has no business being as good as it is.

11. PORTUGAL - MIMICAT - Ai Coração

I did not expect to love this song as much as I do. But it's great. It makes me feel extremely happy every time I listen to it. I think I feel about this song the way a lot of people felt about Moldova last year.

10. SLOVENIA - JOKER OUT - Carpe Diem

We got ourselves an indie rock banger at Eurovision. This song is just pure quality. It's catchy as hell and you can dance to it. You know you'd think it's not easy to get songs stuck in your head when you don't speak the language, but this is the type of song that shows how universal and transcendent music really is.

9. BELGIUM - GUSTAPH - Because of You

Girlies. Listen. I am a homosexual. 90s Eurodance defines who I am. As a person. I will never abandon 90s Eurodance. I have a spiritual connection with this kind of music. There is absolutely nothing objective about me putting this here, but it makes me happy and speaks to my little gay soul in a way nothing else can do. Highkey, I love that this song is so self-aware about how 90s it is that it's in early 90s MTV black and white with the old 90s TV aspect ratio.

8. FINLAND - KÄÄRIJÄ - Cha Cha Cha

And the award for most Eurovision song of Eurovision 2023 goes to...

Seriously though where else but in Eurovision could this song exist? Describing it doesn't really do it justice, it's just something you need to experience. And this belongs in the annals of songs you show people to capture the essence of what Eurovision is along with stuff like Verka Serduchka.

7. GEORGIA - IRU - Echo

Georgia was the last country to release their song, this only just came out, and HOLY CRAP. I have barely had time to process my thoughts but this is so up my alley. I think this is also the first time I've liked a song from Georgia since like 2015/2016? So, honestly, slay. Georgia have had the worst qualification record in recent years. This song should break that. It deserves to. It's amazing. And the STYLING in this video makes me incredibly excited to see it staged live.

6. MALTA - THE BUSKER - Dance (Our Own Party)

Listen, Eurovision + Saxophone = $$$. I don't make the rules I just live by them. This song is a straight up good vibe and I dig an epic sax. I don't have very complex thoughts about this song as its appeal to me is entirely unintellectual and coming directly from some base id lizard brain inside me, but like it's a fun party song you can dance to. What's not to like? And what else do you really need at Eurovision?

5. DENMARK - REILEY - Breaking My Heart

This is pure pop perfection. I'm surprised that this isn't as popular with Eurofans as I think it should be. But this is the most like the music I listen to outside the contest. Electronic pop with a summery, almost 80s esque synth bass rhythm. I'm so here for it. This is the kind of contemporary music I love to hear on the radio. People are sleeping on this song, but I'm not.

OK for real before I get into my Top 4, all these remaining songs are my actual babies. I have never had four songs in the same Eurovision that I've loved this much. On any given day any one of these four songs could be my top. I want all of them to win, if any one of them does I'm thrilled. But this is how I feel about them today, in this order.

4. SPAIN - BLANCA PALOMA - EAEA

This right here. This is why I love Eurovision. I have literally never heard anything like this in my life before, and I adore it. This isn't just music, babes, this is art. The modern production mixed with traditional flamenco rhythm speaks to the culturally Spanish heart of this song, evoking the traditional Spanish lullaby sounds sung to babies when they are crying.

The lyrics are beautiful too. A sample translated to English:

Oh, come to me, child of mine

Sleep by my side

Because in my chest there’s a shelter

A little shelter for your grief

My child, when I die

May they bury me in the Moon

So that I’ll see you every night

Every night but one

3. FRANCE - LA ZARRA - Évidemment

I love how unapologetically French France always is at Eurovision. I hope they never change. Honestly, this is just a total serve and a total slay. The biggest "Yaas Queen" moment of Eurovision 2023, and she owns it. La Zarra exudes boundless charisma as she mixes classic chanson with a Dua Lipa-esque disco revival beat and bassline. Seriously, she's got stage presence other artists can only dream of. They don't need to change the staging at all for Eurovision from what they did in the music video. I wouldn't be shocked if this is even better live than it already is and unexpectedly snatches the crown.

2. CZECHIA - VESNA - My Sister's Crown

How to say 'fuck you' to Putin in four languages. This was SO, SOOO close to being my top song. It's been in my head ever since it came out. I love everything about it. Once again, music like this is why I love Eurovision. The voices of Vesna combine together to sound like an epic traditional Slavic folk women's choir, but then they mix that with in-your-face modern production and rap. When's the last time you heard Bulgarian rap? This whole song is just straight fire.

1. SWEDEN - LOREEN - Tattoo

Listen. This is a Loreen stan account. I have always been a Loreen stan account. I refuse to apologise for it. I embrace what I am. Loreen is my favourite Eurovision artist of all time. Not just in Eurovision, but for her work outside of Eurovision. Yes, more than ABBA. Hell, she's possibly my favourite pop artist full stop. Heal is one of the greatest underrated pop albums of all time. I love everything about her as an artist. She has one of my favourite voices I've ever heard. And I adore how she uses every inch of her body as a canvas for performance art to tell a story. I just adore Loreen, and I love this song. Even with me trying to keep my Loreen bias out of it, I can't not put this song first. That second verse, bridge and chorus are just a cosmic event that eclipses everything else for me, even before it gets to the end.

So will this be the year that Sweden ties Ireland not only in having 7 wins at the contest, but having the first two-time winner since Johnny Logan? Bitch it might be. Catch me in Gothenburg next year

That's it, go home now :P

[aijamisespava]

THE EUROVISION 2024 RANKING!

The time has finally come for me to rank the Eurovision songs we have this year. But before I do, I do want to make a couple of points because there are, I feel, a couple important comments that need to be made.

For one, you'll notice that I ranked only 35 countries while the list has 37 songs. There are 2 countries that should not be competing this year, and I decided not to include them in my ranking or any other posts I make here on Aijamisespava, especially as a heavily opinion-based platform. Second, this was a REALLY hard year to rank. So if you see a song ranked super low, it's not that I hate it (I don't really hate any of these songs), it's just I liked some more than others. And finally, I won't be providing explanations for my rankings quite yet. I have a fun 2023 vs. 2024 post for next week planned where I will explain things.

Ready? Set? Here are the first Aijamisespava Eurovision Rankings!

35. Finland: "No Rules!" by Windows95Man 34. Latvia: "Hollow" by Dons 33. Albania: "Titan" by Besa 32. Cyprus: "Liar" by Silia Kapsis 31. Ireland: "Doomsday Blue" by Bambie Thug 30. Luxembourg: "Fighter" by Tali 29. Sweden: "Unforgettable" by Marcus & Martinus 28. Netherlands: "Europapa" by Joost Klein 27. Austria: "We Will Rave" by Kaleen 26. Australia: "One Milkali (One Blood)" by Electric Fields 25. Iceland: "Scared Of Heights" by Hera Björk 24. Germany: "Always On The Run" by Isaak 23. Malta: "Loop" by Sarah Bonnici 22. Czechia: "Pedestal" by Aiko 21. Moldova: "In The Middle" by Natalia Barbu 20. United Kingdom: "Dizzy" by Olly Alexander 19. Spain: "Zorra" by Nebulossa 18. Greece: "Zari" by Marina Satti 17. Portugal: "Grito" by Iolanda 16. Armenia: "Jako" by Ladaniva 15. Estonia: "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi" by 5MIINUST & PUULUUP 14. Italy: "La Noia" by Angelina Mango 13. Ukraine: "Teresa & Maria" by alyona alyona/Jerry Heil 12. Denmark: "Sand" by Saba 11. Switzerland: "The Code" by Nemo 10. France: "Mon Amour" by Slimane 9. Poland: "The Tower" by Luna 8. Lithuania: "Luktelk" by Silvester Belt 7. Georgia: "Firefighter" by Nusta 6. Slovenia: "Veronika" by Raiven 5. San Marino: "11:11" by Megara 4. Norway: "Ulveham" by Gåte 3. Croatia: "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" by Baby Lasagna 2. Serbia: "Ramonda" by Teya Dora 1. Belgium: "Before The Party's Over" by Mustii

Final Verdict: This year started off a tad underwhelming. Maybe this was my saltiness at my national final winners not winning. However, as I listened to some songs more and more, I started really liking a lot of the entries. And then the internally selected songs came out and I was utterly blown away by some of the songs we got. Was this a good year? Absolutely. I can't wait to see all these songs fight it all out in May! *oh yeah, may I note that my opinions may change? My winner has been flip flopping between Serbia and Belgium for a while and may continue to do so until the end of time*

Congrats to Belgium for winning my personal Eurovision so far, and scoring their 2nd victory in my rankings (having been my winner for 2015).

Okay, I'm gonna go now, bye!

[keloshe-sims]

Art Around The World

Happy Holidays! These are all the paintings of countries around the world i've found!

Merged into one package, letters A-Z with 336 swatches!

Search [keloshe-sims] in buy to find

Simfile | Direct Download

If you have any of the single files delete them for the merged!

as always countries listed below if you're curious!

Countries;

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Andorra

Angola

Antigua & Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Bolivia

Botswana

Brazil

Brunei

Bulgaria

Burma

Burundi

Cabo Verde

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada

Caymen Islands

Chile

China

Coast of Ivory

Colombia

Comoros

Congo

Costa Rica

Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

Czechia

Czechoslovakia

Denmark

Dijibouti

Domminica

Dutchy Parma

Ecador

Egypt

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Estonia

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Fiji

Finland

France

Gabon

Gambia

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Hawaii

Holy See

Honduras

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Jamacia

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kiribati

Korea

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Loochoo

Luxemburg

Madagascar

Malawi

Maldives

Mali

Mauritania

Mexico

Micronesia

Moldova

Mongolia

Morocco

Mozambique

Malaysia

Namibia

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Nigeria

North Macedonia

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

Palau

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Romania

Russia

Rwanda

Samoa

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia

Seychelles

Sierra Leoni

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

Somalia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Suriname

Sweden

Switzerland

Syria

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Togo

Tonga

Trinidad

Tunisia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Uganda

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United States

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Vanuatu

Venezuela

Vietnam

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Thank you again for this year and looking into my cc! even if you dont download i appreciate the browsing! See you next year!

[medicaluniversity]

No. 1 Institute for Medical Education in Armenia | YGU

Yerevan Gladzor University: Armenia’s No.1 Medical Institute for Aspiring Doctors

Ranked as the No.1 medical university in Armenia, Yerevan Gladzor University (YGU) is a distinguished institution, recognized by the WHO, ECFMG, National Erasmus, ENQA, and more. Offering a cutting-edge MBBS program, YGU integrates advanced 3D education technology and a curriculum designed to prepare students for top international medical exams such as NExT, USMLE, and German language proficiency for those aspiring to work in Europe.

Why Choose Yerevan Gladzor University for Your Medical Career?

Global Recognitions: Listed by international accrediting bodies like WHO, ECFMG, and ENQA, YGU’s MBBS program ensures graduates are recognized worldwide.

Innovative 3D Education: Using 3D educational tools, YGU enhances understanding, making complex medical concepts clear and accessible.

Comprehensive Curriculum: The MBBS curriculum at YGU is designed for success on global exams, including NExT and USMLE, and offers German language coaching to support careers in Europe.

Begin your medical journey at Armenia’s top-ranked university! Apply to Yerevan Gladzor University today and unlock a world of career opportunities in medicine.

[smashtours]

Read caption…👇

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Armenia

Azerbaijan

Sri Lanka

Georgia

Jordan

Bahrain

Kuwait

Lebanon

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Thailand

Brunei

Indonesia

Japan

Kazakhstan

Malaysia

Maldives

Philippines

Singapore

South Korea

Fiji

Cook Islands

Seychelles

Egypt

Mauritius

Morocco

South Africa

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[deified-frost]

Written some time between 2008 and 2010

A FINAL SOLUTION

        So, you find yourself as the head of state or militant group, and there are a few people you feel the region or the world could do without. There have been promises of "never again" and statements such as "Not on our watch." Never being such a short time in human memory one only has to look to the 20th century to see the pattern beginning with Armenia that continues today in Sudan. While there are more eyes in on this planet (biological and electronic) than ever before, critical events are seldom witnessed (cause), leaving only the aftermath (effect). What follows is a list of "causes" that will lead you to your "effect" of an Ultimate Solution.

        A Complacent Society- will allow you to instill fear or hatred of your choosing into the collected subconscious. Distractions such as wealth, its pursuit and maintenance, are the selfish intent of a society driven by stature. American society and it's fascination with celebrity and failure to learn about global situations would be a prime population to become allies with (their seat on the U.N. Security Council is a plus). There is also the desperation of a post war society; with weakened or destroyed leadership, becoming male-less due to casualties, and the resulting economic wasteland are easily accessible apprehensions. Fearing the loss of wealth and a growing hatred of those perceived as being the cause of hardships felt by an entire portion of your population brings us to the "untermenchen" (low people) a phrase coined by Nazi Germany to "sub-humanize" the Jewish populace.

        Create Division- Us vs. Them. A result of sub-humanization, people believe they are human and if convinced that those people aren't fully human are able to accept their massacring. Look to the "Inyenzi" of Rwanda and the "Schwien" of Germany, cockroaches and swine respectively. Pestilent "things" that are to be exterminated is the image needed to properly incite the masses to non-thinking hysteria. Propaganda in the forms of posters, pamphlets, impassioned speeches, and radio transmissions are devices that if used properly will result in even the most academic of minds to be swept into frenzy.

        Efficiency of Killing- finding a method that requires little work while serving up a high body count will be beneficial for time and budget. The Nazi Party gathered people from the ghettos and after holding them captive for weeks without food or water would introduce "tainted" water which when the prisoners were released, helped spread such sickness as cholera throughout Jewish communities. The Sudanese government has used modern technology in the use of cluster bombs to eradicate entire villages, forcing the displacement of the non Arabic peoples to huddled camps where they can be targeted for slaughter. 800,000 dead in 100 days, while not as impressive a number as Hitler's minions the death rate was much higher, this being done by giving a whole population machetes and unleashing them on unarmed men, women, and children in Rwanda. Evacuations and forced labor will kill the weak immediately leaving only those able to work. The aim of course strengthening your control (Khmer Rouge Cambodia & Turkish Armenia) leading to the next phase, disinformation.

        Blinding World Community- with bureaucratic bodies such as the United Nations words and action are seldom in sync, in those rare instances where they are, with so many opinions it is hard to get a consensus. Gen. Romeo Dallaire received little help because of the wording in the order as "peace keepers" not "peace makers" forced him to watch the atrocities in Kigali, Rwanda citing an incident in Somalia where American soldiers' bodies were paraded through the streets. This fear was realized with the deaths of 10 Belgian "peace keepers". The Darfur region of Sudan has been home of some of the most brutal killings and rapes in history while the world has been told that the violence stems from tribal conflicts which has been perceived by the U.N. as land disputes and have yet to send any forces in to assist the African Union forces stationed to protect food and medical aid. Pol Pot closed embassies and removed all foreigners from Cambodian soil; cutting off radio, television, mail, and telephone while revoking personal transportation effectively removed Cambodia from the world's sight. The control and falsifying of information will be vital in implementing your very own "solution".

        The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making the world believe he doesn't exist. This is most evident Turkey, where almost 100 years after the fact, the government still denies the heinous acts it committed. Every one of the genocides in the 20th century could have been prevented; however, if your actions are swift and precise, using these few tactics, you can kill millions of people washing your soil and soul in crimson carnage. You can maim, rape, and torture for no logical reason at all, whether it be the color of one's skin, the god they believe in, or some long fought feud. "Never again" is over and over again when everyone watches with open eyes and closed minds.