LIFE IS LEARNING

TIME IS SPENT DRINKING IN CULTURE
By Alex Ness

My time grieving has been spent in mostly solitary activities. Reading Camus, Kafka and watching a bazillion documentaries, all helped give me perspective.

I watched some films that I didn't enjoy, but felt them to be well made and likely enjoyed by others. I have watched Reservoir Dogs, and thought it good but hard to watch. Mostly everything else I began but couldn't get through them. Especially as I think Quentin Tarantino is a fine director, screenwriter... He is bright, able, understands the works that have been made prior and more. But, having said all that, his qualities being elite, I've only an appreciation for his work, rather than love. I look forward to his release of a film I am moved by.  I didn't dislike Inglorious Bastards for the same reason as the others. He gets the very best acting from his chosen actors and actresses, he has perfect director's eye, and is fearless. But Inglorious Bastards is a fairy tale, and one that the unfortunately less aware will be fooled by. Yes I do believe that.

I love Ridley Scott's film work, all of it that I have seen. There is one film I need to see, Robin Hood. I liked the work of Kevin Costner as Robin and thought his Robin Hood a fun watch, but didn't love it. I absolutely love the Adventures of Robin Hood. But I avoided Ridley's Robin Hood, as I thought it was the first of a series and wanted to go slow, for fear of seeing something about a subject I love fail. I have been told it is great, but have been told by others, nah, not great, good maybe. 
 
I mention this as I've seen works recently that shook my foundations. Perhaps because of my recent losses, my being is especially sensitive. But Kingdom Of Heaven, is glorious, it is a work that shows imperfect beings trying to live under rules of a perfect God. Such films might fail, but this film moved me so deeply, I cried at every thought of the message of the film. I am surely imperfect. I have made sooooo many errors, so many sins, so many flaws hard born. I am a flawed man and my failures are deep, lavish, and horrific. Despite my flaws, I aspire to know God, perhaps as the knights and kings, commanders and warriors were shown to also attempt.

Sometimes you are learning about movies but you are reading a book. This image shares numerous books that are about the manifestation of Godzilla across the globe, in serious thought, fiction and fandom. It is worth the investment of time, but it isn't altogether important. It is just fun.

In the present, we have war in the Middle East, war in the Crimea and Ukraine, and dozens of states and non state actors preparing for an eventual invasion of Taiwan. Japan, South Korea, US Naval Pacific Forces, and many others are uniting in efforts to coordinate their efforts. Some people with my degree areas (History of various areas of the globe, and Political Science in International Relations) are deeply involved in trying to predict, know, consider, understand the upcoming events in these and many other regions. I find interest in such events and situations, and but I more than books, cable tv and internet, I have a number of internet friends who know much more than I do about such situations and want to know my opinion. It is because of my degrees and discussion about such important situations that they are curious. They are bright. I like most of them. If I want to be "entertained by fiction" rather than horrified by the world I am finding myself living within, I read. If I am interesting to those asking the questions, I understand that why they would ask. But for me, I read, write and research. When reading for pleasure or entertainment, my preference is non fiction, but in the event of reading about wars, the enclosed image shows three fine writers.

I will someday be back and interested in the world around me. But until I stop grieving, it isn't really worth the effort. I can't escape the pain of memory and loss.

May you all be well.

All images are used as fair use, no copyright infringement is intended.

Me me me me

The Choices I've Made
By Alex Ness

THIS LIFE

I didn't go through Hell growing up. I went through Heck. People reading my words often think I'm saying that I had it the worst of all humanity. I had some good life portions. Having perfectionist parents, physical punishments, and bullies, added to a number of horrible accidents that led to concussions, a broken leg, with three particular fracture lines, that my father made me walk off, I was left with scars. My parents both meant well, but my personality, mind, outlook were all carved from the soul of thoughtful, dreamer, and introvert. An introvert who is so introverted, conformity to a life where you do things because "its the way it has always been done" is vile shit.

That still sounds like I am complaining. If you see it as that you might be demanding I conform to your definition of complaining, when I am trying to explain. And that you demand I conform to the lives and societal perceptions of other. If so, you might have a suggestion to read no further. It won't get better in that regard the further we go.

I chafed at the demand I smile for pics. My eyes were always sensitive to light so it even happens when I smiled my eyes were tearing up. The eye doctor said, yeah, it is natural and real thing unrelated to emotions, so it is not ideal. I was told over the years I cried over everything. And now, I do cry, I am not crying from sorrow or pain, I cry as often over joy as I do sorrow. But life doesn't let you choose your emotional response. You are responding.

Attachment for me once I trust someone is an easy thing. Sometimes, especially in this internet life, I find people I've attached to aren't similarly so to me. Some other people think that is groovy so they get you to give them money, or books or love. I tend to be generous with friends, or I did when I could drive and mail things easily. My memory loss and such makes that far less easy. I get lost now so easily, a route 25 years known to me gets me lost.

I was asked by someone I like very much, if growing up I thought of being a historian and pol science guy. I liked dinosaurs and history, but didn't know how that would work out. Most of the friends I had who got good grades, and ended up with great careers, weren't altogether, while growing up, my best of friends. My best friends were like me, had knowledge and intuition, but testing by memorization and false measures of ability didn't necessarily display good grades. One teacher I had mocked me for my ideals, for my first name, for my family, and for not being a "Packers" fan. I still liked them, but my like list is rather crowded.  I heard in private he was kind and well thought of, but not by me. I had, at a time, decided to use my paper route money, having had a route for 7 years, to pay for a visit after I graduated high school to Europe. I thought, I might not be good enough at art, but maybe I could teach it so others might appreciate it. That never happened and I am grateful for that, I get more enjoyment from writing poetry than I do drawing guys fighting monsters.

Writing gave me solace, but I don't think I know now, let alone then, what my path and purpose were supposed to mean.  I love my wife and son, I've great friends, none near me, still I love reading tons of books. Some day I'll create a list of the most important books in my human development. A quick look would be The Little Prince, Beowulf, The Cost of Discipleship, Alexander of Macedon, The Battle That Stopped Rome: Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the Legions in the Teutoburg Forest. I am happy to have read fiction and non fiction, comics and poetry, and huge, lush encyclopedias.  Life is better when you grow the brain you are born with.

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Does Time Lead to Better Humans?

As a species do we struggle between humans with societal traits versus traits of a hunter or warrior? ADD is said by some to be a primal trait that makes intake of sensory information able to perceive sensory information quicker and with deeper engagement. Charisma, however, doesn't help a hunter, even good looking ones. It does allow a societal trait of dealing with others, even if not being altogether different in intellect, wisdom or decision making wisdom. It allows someone to be a leader of others. 

Why is this a thought right now? I wonder if certain people will follow into war the leaders who are not of higher intelligence, but lead with either charisma or a gift to lie with efficiency. It is a dangerous time when mistakes might lead to a confrontation. Confrontations that occur with weapons fought with many levels higher of intellect to build and levels higher of consequence than the leader can perceive. I have issues found in the present, this is true. It seems clear that the decay of morality and empathy will debase the firm stance of world peace, and lead to global war. If we acknowledge there is a likelihood that we are violent as a common trait of humans, this isn't a new phenomenon.

I'm an old man compared to most of the people I engage. For me the consequences of a nuclear exchange or drawn out conflict, aren't as fear inducing to me. But I do fear, for the young, the hopeful, the true living breath of culture. I fear for my son, and everyone who has life to pursue, families to build, hopes to build and children to raise, war, of any nature is a possible species killer. However, I don't suggest any US political party is more responsible for the disaster. I vote 3rd party, but if you demand that I vote for one of the two major parties, I won't be doing that.

In time we learn wisdom, but the more life is difficult, I question the frequency of people overcoming their more base instincts. And if you believe we are all good and kind, then why do nations have to have a military? Libertarians often argued against the need for "nation states" and that government taxes are in essence stealing your money, since you have no way to say no to taxes. I am many things, but likely not a libertarian. In most areas I'd say if society over regulates your existence, that is a nanny state. If it under regulates your society, you are likely to be giving up safety in exchange for freedom. I prefer freedom, and I still want safety. Who knows what I am trying to say?

I have hope. But hope isn't enough. I vote for change, but change from what to what? Change itself isn't enough.

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Some said it was enlightened, Others that it was simplistic

UPON METROPOLIS
By Alex Ness

Sometimes one looks at the surface and sees exactly what was shown to them. But in the different layers, the deeper fathoms, they might instead learn that allegorical stories require patience and discernment. This tale, Metropolis, was made to teach visually of the themes of the fallen world. Rather than saying tsk tsk, and shaking a finger at the subject, the movie tells a story of what human souls can do, despite demands upon their conformity. It shows rather than suggest that even if the masters of society wish so, by replacing humans with technology, with cyborgs, with complete ownership of the wishes of others the human mind and heart are the reason we exist. If one steals our labor and demands conformity, we will no longer exist.

The rebellion isn't from Socialism, Communism, Capitalism or Anarchism. It is the human soul finally finding courage to be its own self, rather than conform to others and abandoned being an individual. 

Fritz Lang and Thea Von Harbou co-created this classic work. It was not immediately embraced. Some critics looked at it as being propaganda for communism or socialism. Others saw the work as being a warning against technology, a way to demonize both the wealthy masters of industry as well as threatening laborers with replacement. And some never understood anything deeper than a city of works, robots and threats to the future. Conformity to a evil leadership could be a problem addressed, but in Metropolis the people are exhausted, forced to labor for a leader. It isn't the workers fault, they are bound to be in the system that controls them. But conformity to an average person model for living might lead to a system of doing what one does, because they cannot see beyond their own lives.

There are numerous layers in Metropolis. Along with empty lives and evil rulers, there is also the babble of different goals and not being able to communicate to others, because we cannot agree upon the final language we shall all use. From the film: "One man's hymns of praise became other men's curses. People spoke the same language, but could not understand each other."

The lead female actor Maria captures the truth "There can be no understanding between the hand and the head unless the heart acts as mediator."

New Entry

Alex Ness
June 22, 2026 

Blogthoughts... I gain courage to post about things that suck, and then I think about it as choosing between vanilla or chocolate while others starve without a thing. It is called a 1st world problem. And I am sure it is. As such, I need to be more specific in aim and language used to address it if it is important, but I write here because I am using this to write what was on my mind.

As this blog is about ideas rather than specific media, I want to discuss some important ideas and things that don't fit elsewhere. Not because I feel an urgency, I tend to cover ideas in my poetry, aimed at the world we live upon. I also aim at central ideas when chatting specific medium, so it isn't as if there is something that I am dying to write that I've left uncovered.

But my subject matter is my own, not an agenda to uphold, nothing specific to change the "world".  I know that I am going to keep writing about sorrow as long as I remember who and what I've lost. Sorry if that isn't of interest for you. This blog isn't to cover "important" subjects. I cover what moves me, wounds me, or causes change in the world today.

Two pics of my beloved Katya in 2026 January. Passed too soon, despite being nearly 18 years old. She was what is called a rescue, through an animal shelter. Crossroads Saying she was a rescue is false. She would have been adopted by others. She and her litter mate Sophia both rescued me. They both did save my soul, but Katya was a constant gift to my being, as she gave me stability, hope, affection, love, and so much.

MILITARY FICTION and NON FICTION ABOUT THE FUTURE

We have arrived at a time when calling a subject and setting being future oriented is a challenge. That is, most everything at this point in time is so deeply different than the last Global period of war (WWII) that it all seems bizarre. The concept of pushing a button and killing from remote control used to be offered up as a horror of humanity's violence become ever more impersonalized.

The most primal and ancient of fighting styles was even less violent, despite being hand to hand. The two groups about to fight often taunted one another, made ineffective aerial warfare attempts, but the battles would be fought between a champion from both sides. Whoever won that duel, won the battle, winning the war. It is of course likely that such a behavior wasn't the original state of violence, but it suggests that thousands of years back, humans saw a need to draw up ethical ideas about how to kill another person. In the present, the only ethical concerns seems to be to only kill people who are fighting, and do so beneath a different flag.

The books shown below offer some wonderfully written works, Alan Dean Foster's The Damned are my favorites, but Elizabeth Moon and Robert A. Heinlein shown works are fantastic in quality. Starship Troopers is often called problematic, since he seems to be promoting war. This is found in how he equates citizenship being worthy upon one's willingness to fight for the state. I just think it is a version of his verisimilitude. Alongside the fiction works, there are academic and everyman non fiction considerations of war as an evolved technique or practice.

BEAUTIFUL, REVEALING, AND PHILOSOPHICAL: Photography, Events & Temporary Movements, & The Architecture of modernity and how we arrived here

I am not a particularly talented photographer, although I've taken some nice pics. But the people who move me the most in photography were important, emotive and elite. Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange helped end the Internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. They photographed the camps, and revealed a people who were hardly alien, and represented the best of Americans. They enemy alien concept was disproved by the normal existence and the American ideals found in the Nisei, first generation Americans.  Masahisa Fukase was a brilliant photographer who captured moments of power, emotions, and abject sorrow. His own life mirrored such images. 

Sean Martin wrote histories of people, events, practices and movements, differently than others, He focused on the matter at hand rather than wrapping it in the ways of doing things of the day, and keeping the subject before the reader, rather than locating it within the majority of works and historical analysis.

I have read that people who teach about or train themselves in hard forged ideas, such as Logic, Ethics, Philosophy, all sorts of Math and the various social sciences of Academia, find books or documentaries upon Architecture to be similar to art for others.  That is a long sentence yes, but it is totally what I mean to say. Architecture functions as a philosophy, an art, a practical training and a way to bring a better way to do things to the public. The books shown are all really good, but my favorite is by Hugh Ferriss, who creates beautiful and unique styles that he perceived the growing cities of the future would adopt. It didn't happen the way he suggested, but if you view Star Wars Episode 2 with the scenes in Coruscant, you will see application of some of it.   

These books are serious but might be called "Fringe" subject matter theories, but not all of the writers are crystals sharing meditating hippies. Robert Schoch, Robert Bavaul, Graham Hancock, David Hatcher Childress, and Charles Berlitz all wrote about different aspects of human culture, and the events outside of our planet, inside the stories of human culture, and strange happenings. Professor Robert Schoch is by far the best of these, since he is more or less asking questions to arrive at answers. His concepts of disasters molding the earth, solar flares repeating in cycles, and humans crossing various oceans led to the world we have. If aliens exist or not, he doesn't deal with ideas that can't be tested. 

Others suggest that the answers are just outside of the range of normal science or normal academic consideration. Graham Hancock does offer a good alternative to some ideas. Rather than accept the fringe concept that aliens have visited, taught humans great matters to consider, astronomy and more, he suggests there were/are phases of human culture. And that disasters, climate events, asteroid impacts happen at such a time interval, that the human species came from numerous culls, and we are the inheritors of the generations that came before. 

A friend of mine in the high towers of education in hard sciences is driven a bit nuts by the fact that I read and theorize about things considered by the authors of the books below. But I don't believe most of what you will find below. I think the people arriving at each concept, though, may have studied more than I have, and I want to gather enough information to make my own decision. I always prefer questions without answers than answers that cannot be questioned. Always dig into what you can find, others will do your thinking if you let them. Test every theory. Question everything.  We don't know everything and we might never, but it is by far better to ask why or what or how, than to assume we aren't allowed or destined to know these subjects matters. 

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All works shown and/or considered are copyright the respective owners, fair use is the sole means of use asserted. Except my Katya images, those were taken by my wife Elizabeth Ness 2026©

LEFT FOR ANOTHER DAY

Arzach by Moebius

ME!
By Alex Ness
June 11th, 2026

EXPERIENCES

I am not, not now, nor ever, a mind devoted to wishing darkness upon others who themselves delight in the disasters others experience. There are people who apologize for being wrong to me, but I don't need an apology. For the most part, I see lives as being new for most people. We learn from moving forward in life, and even dark or stupid things, we can move forward from. However I tend, and have through my life, to be perceived differently than I truly am. I am tall, at 6'4"but I not only don't play basketball, I rarely in my life have actually watched it. I am heavy, at 240 lbs, but I rarely cause shock and awe by my repeated visits to the buffet line to eat food in great amounts, but few health points in my favor.  I read books by authors who society approves of, and the reverse. I don't think most people who grumble about something that someone has written, usually have ever read the book to form such disgust. 

NYPD Blue was easily one of my all time favorite shows, but I heard people say, it is violence porn. Well no, it wasn't at all. It had moments of violence, being about cops without the shine and veneer of G rated adult story telling. They'd then shift gears and say, well it shows nudity. Well we are all born nude. If it bothers you I have an answer to your dilemma. Watch something else and stop telling adults what they can or cannot watch. No, I am not telling you to shut up, I am saying, respectfully if that is how you wish it spoken, you are not my arbiter of morality in fictional story telling. I even heard someone on public affairs cable access channel, either in Arizona or North Dakota, that if society allows porn, it ought to demand that deviant acts not get protected under the umbrella of the First Amendment calling for free speech. (They didn't get that by labeling something X or NC-17, that a person may pay and view it or pay and not view it at all. They might also consider not watching the film, but none of these options are license to regulate various media. They do not get to edit or ban actions that are not illegal). 

IF YOU ARE A WRITER, WHY DON'T YOU WRITE NOVELS?

My first effort was a prose novel. However, I've been told by writers, short stories are kewl too, don't worry about the format, just write. I did poorly however. Some of it was trying to write with chemo brain and damage from sepsis that came through during the first wave of chemo. But I am not blaming that, or anyone. I didn't have a clue what I wanted to say, I've never been one to whip up adventures, I was far more about shorts narrative works, longer prose poems and other differences from straight prose. One writer offered a free read and comment. For a couple months he said nothing, and when prodded he said you don't have problems with grammar or spelling, but it doesn't read like a novel. It reads like many small stories done in prose rather than your native mindset. Bingo! I also tried writing a prose novel during my recovery from my broken neck and messed up shoulders in 2019 to 2022. That work turned out for the worse.

During my cancer phase I ended up with much more free time, since an artist fellow from Cleveland Heights asked me to allow him 18 months to achieve progress on an illustrated prose work. Why didn't I have to work? My book for his art to appear in, was done and in his hands for over a year. In the previous 18 months the artist was consumed by envy and bitterness, and actually made a blog site to house message board threads, galleries, and a potential news blog about comic books so he could fight a non existent battle with his enemies on a previous website and message board. He didn't do the work for my book, and in doing this in his fashion, he was so afraid to fail, he did nothing at all. Wait, no, he did, he worked on the message board/blog, and focused on spending time there.

The sole good point was that I could salvage the book this time, I just took pieces out and placed new pieces in, and it was published while my best friend in life had done the formats and uploaded the piece to my Amazon publishing hub. I thought he did a great job. It was presumably for him being done to try out the system, and I gave him some books or such, but not nearly as much as he deserved. I, therefore, write, but in smaller bite size portions, and my poetry is rarely the nursery rhyme variety or the drugged up hippie shit that doesn't rhyme, doesn't have a clear meaning, or is trying to slip a giant joke about its audience.

ARTISTS OF COMICS WHO I ADORE THE WORK OF

Due to wanting to do a size more manageable, I did not show MOEBIUS, JACK KIRBY, Gil Kane, Frank Miller, Jorge Zaffino, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Ben Templesmith, Goseki Kojima, Walter Simonson, Joe Staton, Michael Zulli and many more.

Shown is the front cover work of Erik Larsen, Mark Smylie, Mike Grell, Tim Bradstreet, Timothy Truman, Chris Weston, Paul Gulacy, Mike Oeming, Brian Haberlin, Ashley Wood, Peter Bergting, Tom Mandrake, Josh Howard, Jan Duursema, Paul Harmon, Jae Lee

Favorites are of course not the same as the greatest of all time, but they probably are that too.

June 11, 1988 I was married before many people in Grand Rapids, MN to my beautiful wife, Beth. She and I have celebrated 38 years together, and she hasn't aged a day. I consider her being in my life one great reason I've overcome certain hurdles, and risen despite obstacles. 

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FIND ME AT:
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SERIOUS MOVIES THAT MOVE ME

Long before beginning a new blog, I was asked by someone half my age who thinks/says I write well, what 20 movies move me the most. Since I am an emotional guy I think that the person asking would reply immediately and with 18 loves stories and 2 feel good kind of movies. I often protect my heart when saying something where others can respond. She then applied a filter to the list, no Godzilla or in her mind children's movies. I avoided the Godzilla specifically, but I'd have four of them, or more here if I chose to include them.

Now, whether for good or ill, I often do not say anything about someone else's choices, it is all a matter of taste. In their case, I did keep my yap shut. But not always... But there have been times when I couldn't keep my big yap shut. Someone liked something I despise, it was time wasted I'll never get back... so I said it like that. And they had done nothing wrong. At all. For the next twenty years they held a grudge and I refused to break the ice and apologize. Is their taste bad, or was there one great scene amongst the crappola? I'd say now, as a much older and more educated person, I don't care if someone likes something I do not, so I'll just smile and nod my head and say I am glad you found a work to fit your tastes or life experiences.

I like some work for the actors, others for the subject, but usually it is the director, the writers, and knowledge of the camera work that makes a work fully vivid and vital. Lately I've been watching Stanley Kubrick films, and those aren't the happiest of works I've watched, by any stretch of the imagination. Since I've been mourning a number of losses, my choice of film is important. I am not exaggerating when I say I've touched bottom of an ocean crevice, and can't imagine surviving the impact of rising above the darkest fathoms.

I decided to add the works in a way that doesn't much imply preference, but some preference. I have sets of 5 movies each, and offer them to generally look at what I like.

Seven Samurai
Gladiator
Amadeus
Excalibur
From Here to Eternity
Blade Runner
Blade Runner 2049
Interstellar
The Crying Game
The Black Rose
Metropolis
M
The Misfits
Andromeda Strain
Alien 
The 13th Warrior 
JFK 
A Place in the Sun
Enemy at the Gates
300











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Beyond Politics or Religion

I am told when taking the MBTI test, that I am INFJ. As such I tend to be intuitive, introverted, idealist, and future minded. There are many versions of the test found online, but few stray from the boundaries established by the creators of the exam. I mention this to offer an idea of what kind of person I am. I don't live thinking, oh, since I am an INFJ I better do or not do this this. It simply offers a way to add context to all of my instincts and thought.

I have been sent numerous questions over the last week. My outlook here is to be open and perhaps help others enjoy what I write elsewhere by knowing me. So, here are a few of my answers to questions.

"When relaxing, what adult beverage and snack do you most enjoy and do you smoke? After all I saw you in a photo smoking a big one."

I have smoked cigars in the past. That might be true, but I never smoke a ton of them. I found I enjoyed the experience but I am also aware that my health is not so great that I am immune from side effects and direct effects from non-serious behaviors. As such, I am not having more of them. I have enjoyed Stoli on the rocks, Irish Whiskey, and Grainbelt Premium Beer. As I'm dealing with substantial health issues, the meds I take might interact with alcohol. I will never be dead from personal use of meds interaction. I can't say the physicians will always be in agreement on what I take. There might perhaps be an accident, knowing that people I once knew died of med interactions.

 "Why do you live in Minnesota if you hate cold weather and snow?"

My reason for loving Minnesota comes down to the populace, ideals, beauty and hope. For a place with such cold, to live here, I think the people are warm, bright and overall kind and creative. I don't really have a thyroid that works, so it might feel colder to me than others.

"Who would you vote for in 2028? And please be serious..." 

Winona LaDuke, Tulsi Gabbard, Jon Fetterman, Jesse Ventura, a reanimated Ross Perot. And those are serious choices, if I were to vote in 2028. I doubt I'll vote. I mentioned them in an article about 8 years ago too, and my views have not changed. (All but Fetterman who wasn't yet in national levels of government.)

"Do you see more war in the future?"

I believe that humans are violent. War is easier than hammering out problems and diplomacy. People who analyze international relations and Asia, all know that the Chinese playbook had aimed 2027 as the year they would retake Taiwan. However, both Trump telling allied nations, whether in NATO or SEATO that they need to take more responsibility for their own defense. When Biden and Pelosi changed American foreign policy by saying we would stand shoulder to shoulder defending Taiwan, it changed so much. It not only changed previous foreign policy plans, it reconfirmed to Taiwan uppermost, followed swiftly by South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines that a united front would isolate and stall offensive plans in China to act in aggression towards Taiwan, and had a chance to succeed.

"Why did America, if not you, vote for Trump?"

Americans are often said to envy wealth. Trump voters want wealth as well as wanting to abandon the social programs of the past, that they don't see as fair. But those who voted against Trump probably also envy wealth. Wealth can be a positive or negative as a driving force.

I know a man who was Democrat his entire life but voted twice for Trump. He told me how he had stopped seeing America as focusing on liberty and hope, and instead it was anti wealth now. For him, he thought it was America becoming like Europe, who he once respected, (he'd served in Europe to defend NATO against the Soviet threat) but now sees as a mix of people who wouldn't defend themselves, as well as anti capitalist. Or in other words, he said, why pay to send troops to a place with tons of money to defend people who wouldn't pick up a weapon and defend their own?

"Who are your favorite "fine" or "non-genre" artists?"

This is not a fair question. But I'll try. Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollack and John William Waterhouse. But I've hundreds of fine artists I appreciate.

"Is it hard to review products when you've done it for 25 years? With nothing new under the sun, do you end up yawning and write to please the readers or is it heartfelt?" 

I never lie in a review, but that is a harder comment to explain because at the peak of publisher and creator awareness of me, there used to be so many good products and I had only so many pages I could write a week. I eventually decided to only focus on lifting others, rather than criticize everything. For one thing, I could never do better than 99% of them all, and it was insulting, in my mind, to act as if I knew better than another person's viewpoint being expressed in art.

"You are nucking futs to think Ezra Pound or Yukio Mishima were anything but assholes and fascists!"

Feel whatever you like about them, I've read too many of their works to feel as you just expressed. And it isn't that I forgive all the bad choices, dark beliefs, I just about never, however, cancel others. 

Ideas about what shape my outlook

I vote how I vote due to experiences in my life, wisdom or knowledge I've acquired, and beliefs that have framed my choices. Someone said a socially liberal but fiscal conservative person ends up de facto conservative. And that a social conservative is rarely a fiscal liberal, since they won't fund things they feel are wrong. As such, I'd argue that I am a centrist, as I don't impose my outlook on others, and that I am libertarian with a very small letter L to start, as being a centrist means there is no party that represents my outlook. I get people who demand to know my voting history, since I turned 18 in 1982 I've voted for approximately the same number of Democrats and Republicans. But for US President, slightly more Democrats than Republicans, and more 3rd party than either of the main parties. 

My views just don't easily find a home in parties. Frankly I am moving towards only voting for local and state elections, as my disappointment in the major national choices leads me to want a system with more choices due to the limits of all or nothing two party choices. As a person with political science degrees some feel I must have deeper outlooks to voting. I might, but not for my degrees. I focused upon international relations, and was as bored as I was angry about the American political system.

Choices are often argued as being held by the individual, but I've not chosen my own existence. I was born as a result of rape. My mother didn't get a choice. But how many people get to choose existence? How many humans are a result of purpose? The point I am making, is that there are arguments about why we exist. Are we a miracle? Are we an accident? Does our life reflect miracle or train wreck? 

Who am I? In a course of study some of the class argued that a baby became human only after being wanted and born in healthy form. I was not by purpose. One of the students said, I don't even think adoption makes people into being human. The birth mother needs to have decided to have a child, however they were conceived? I said I am a child of rape, so you are arguing that I am not human? She immediately turned beet red, and said, I am saying you don't get to choose the label of what you are. A number of other students in the course started calling her names. I said stop that. We all have an ability to communicate freely, we are in America, freedom of speech should run through our veins. Do I believe in abortion as a right? I don't think society can forbid things that are moral choices, or they turn the concept into an act of rebellion against the rule makers. By leaving it as an individual choice, whether it is moral or not, is found in the heart of those who chose that act. 

It occurred to me, in the period following 2020 that people of one view were not allowed freedom of speech. Someone said, my body my choice, and someone else said, in all areas except vaccine mandates. I am not a scientist, so I can't define the concept of herd immunity. As a confirmed non conformist *my wife certifies this statement* I did still get the vaccine. However, it wasn't an act of obedience nor obeisance. I was of the mind, based upon all the doctors I was seeing, that I'd not get my necessary surgery if I had not received the vaccine. My G/P doctor confirmed this. I had had a broken neck since a traumatic fall in February 2019. I walked around with an uncorrected neck break, was in a near fatal car accident, and by virtue of having no correction, by the time I had life saving neck surgery, I had two shoulders that were messed up. I had to get one surgery at least, or my neck surgery wouldn't have mattered much. I had shoulder surgery, but only post vaccine. 

I am not saying anything about the vaccine itself. Nor even am I considering policy. I don't really know what herd immunity truly is. If it is a goal, they ought to have explained it better. The way it was forced upon people was I think was a mistake. Forcing conformity is tyranny without the best explanation. I did have to get my surgery, so there was no choice for me. I could have avoided making the choice, but the pain then was worse than now, and I would have lost my mind in the meantime. Maybe I didn't have a choice, or I made a compromise between my own body sovereignty and the suffering of pain.

I do think we are all upon a journey to find the truth. Some have lower standards of success. But I know, it isn't an easy thing to find the greater truth. We might all have opinions, and experiences, but regardless of that, not all ideas are equal. Not all choices are good ones.

Image by Jeffrey Catherine Jones©

How to Escape the System

Howdy, I am Alex Ness. Technically I think it is B. Alexander Ness since I've gone by Alex since marriage around 1988. My wife gave me the courage, since, over the years I had despised my first name, didn't identify with it, and people mocked it, I chose Alex since my grandfather was Alexander Hamiliton Wells. I was named for him. 

I am writing because I have other blogs to focus, and needed one to speak to my life and outlooks. But my outlooks can certainly be found in my poetry. And my views on culture can be seen in what media I prefer. My poetry is 6000 deep in entries. My Poplitiko blog inherited a life from Popthought a site hacked by Chinese hackers in 2008. It focused on popular media. 

Adopted at birth, due to horrific circumstances. I am straight in orientation, male in gender, ethnic Viking, with Slovene traces, Greek, Polish traces, and Novgorodian Russian and Balt for the rest. I was content not knowing my ethnic percentages but my wife's outlook was aimed at becoming able to name ancestors. I find too much focus upon the origins appears to be racial preference, and even more, it might become idolatry. I am composed of flesh that neutral of politics and beliefs, and my racial origins are mental information, and perhaps misled. 

In other words, My adoptive mother was a 100% pure German, as were most of the family she came from. But that was full of information and views that were far less specific after a point, and as she was able to speak some Yiddish, it has a question mark for me.

My biological past for my adopted life suggested German, Swedish and 25% undetermined. But I had some experiences healthwise that suggested Jewish, and the biological records speak to a likely Jewish link. But in 2017 my entry upon ancestry shows: No Austrian or German, Slovenian and Western Polish both are often seen as being Germanic. For about 4%. I have Swedish in me around 50%. 35% Norwegian, 1% Danish, and 1% Finn. The truth here is that my beautiful, bright, genius, wife perceived something in meeting my birth family, that she thought my ethnicity was considerably different. In University was asked if I was part Japanese. Those questioning were both Japanese themselves. So, really, my DNA background is DNA hash, with tragedy in the past. I was implanted in my mother's womb, through rape, and said to be rape with numerous male participants. So, the concept of my having a distant father who might claim me, was a fantasy believed in people who couldn't accept my original beginnings.

I am a Christian, but not Catholic or Protestant. Politically I am just like that as I vote 3rd party mostly all. But I've become determined to only vote for local elections, since I believe the typical 2 parties, Democrat and GOP are two sides of the very same coin.  I am an American, adopted, born in the early 1960s, and I grew up in Wisconsin, despite being born in Minnesota. 

We attended a Methodist church growing up, but I liked the structure of Lutheranism, all the while I had some mutual respect for the rituals of Catholicism. I think Protestantism is a disease, no, not the churches, but the constant disagreements leading to a new church and division, almost made a lie of the words of Christ and early leaders. Deal with division within, and fix things from the inside, and make the whole body stronger, and more united. That is, we are different, but every time we get the Hell out of a relationship due to differences, it makes life more isolated. I differ from other Christians in many ways. I think God is perfect, therefore he doesn't create people that the "He" hates. I think if people live morally, God will love them in return.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex, in orientation are often called sinful. I think sin is an active behavior. Therefore, existence is not, in itself, sinful. If I am attracted to men, but kill them, that would make me sinful. The attraction is nothing but a distraction. However, what people read in the Bible says one should not sleep with a woman as one does with a man. I realize it is out of the range of thought for many to make such a comment. But I see it as behavior and not being. And therefore, I see the verse is being about sexual opportunism. If one likes adult males, and there are no males so they choose others, it is acting outside of their being.

At a time when it is supposedly easier to connect, we have split into so many small versions of family or group. By beliefs, by hates, by thoughts, by ignorance... and for me, all I ever wanted was friends I could learn from. My life has fallen from grace so often, I am trying to just learn to survive. And the friends I have who are real friends, they are all there because somehow they find in me enough to give them hope for more, and I find in them grace, knowledge, love, and hope. Glenn Gregg and Pat Wingo in grade school. Sharon Hildebrandt was the girl I chased during my brother's little league games. I never caught her but I wouldn't have anything to do if I did, for years she was my perception of beauty. Then Todd, Todd, and Brendan taught me about how to rise above the empty life I was living. I learned how to be a seeker of knowledge. I was bright but unsophisticated. They helped me find reasons to grow intelligent. Theresa Meier was my sought glorious beauty. She was smart, we liked the same music, and we were actual friends. Never saw her since graduation.

I attended a number of colleges, then joined the Air Force. I meant by doing such to pay for the rest of my education. They found past mental illness and ongoing depression to be reasons to separate me from service. It was my attempt to overcome, and it failed, ingloriously.

I graduated first from University Minnesota-Duluth, with degrees in History and Political Science, and near degrees in both Journalism and English but aimed at Poetry. Ancient History and Asia formed my areas of interest, but rather than focus on one area, when in graduate school at NDSU in Fargo, ND, I expanded my areas of study. Ancient Rome and Greece have always been of interest to me, as well as Japan and Asia, but my desire to understand the world outside of my homeland, led me to dig deep in Russian history. My adoptive brother read all the time, and with him I imitated his life activity lessons, and evoked his actions by reading my first book 30 Seconds over Tokyo. I collect many books, mostly about history, poetry, military events, political memoirs, at one time from all sorts of different brands of politics. It ended when I read one by a former president who lied, or was a propagandist for a view that is historically and absolutely wrong. 

My taste in music is relatively open. And I will explore this more soon.

I realize that my views might disappoint some people, after writing online for 25 years, I haven't truly spoken about my political views. I spoke about politics, but never from my own outlooks. It came from a life view formed by vastly different male influences, with a father two steps left of Ted Kennedy, and a number of father figures who mentored me, from center right outlooks. My father in law was a CEO so, his assumption of my views were that I was what my adoptive father believed, but I am left in only about health care. I am centrist most in every other fashion. I have no trust in the rehabilitative promises of the left oriented US justice system. I believe that 20 or 30 year sentences for murder, serial rape, child murder, child rape, and so much more is a joke. I've been told that I am left in my outlooks, but it doesn't move me to have anti rich or anti inheritance. I think the more and longer people are given benefits the longer we believe we are due them.

My sole illustration features a mass escape attempt, for the Gladiators, they seek to be freed, and by so fleeing their imprisonment and attain their freedom.  I do too, but have nothing like their courage to do so.

There is no point of it all. But I am losing the ability to write long articles or chapters, as life has made my brain, a beautiful thing, but rather forgetful. As I had a shitload of concussions in life, and I am not one of the kids who'd do dirt bike jumps, or various activities. I preferred my room, where my lego, ho-scale train track, and Airfix mini men would battle on a daily basis. Without bullies out there to beat the shit out of me.