Camonica Club of North America: Japan

Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Equinozo di Autunno 2022 - Part 2

Video Links

The Dark Reality of Los Angeles - YouTube

The Ocean is Way Deeper Than You Think - YouTube

Experiment: LAVA vs BULLETPROOF GLASS - YouTube

5 "Impossible" Things That Can Happen On Other Planets - YouTube

The Mormons: Who They Are, What They Believe (2015) | Full Movie | Dr. Lynn Wilder - YouTube

The RIDICULOUSLY expensive cost of living in Nome, Alaska (you won't believe how much water costs) - YouTube

When LIVING IN A CAR is Your Last Choice - "Mobile" a Short Film - YouTube

WRITE IT DOWN & The Universe Will Bring It To You - Dr. Joe Dispenza (Law Of Attraction) - YouTube

Death is Not Random - View from the Other Side, Episode 4 - YouTube

15 Merciless Moments When Male Lions Attack Their Prey - YouTube

Everything You Didn't Know About Dark Web, But Should - YouTube

China's Plan to Overtake USA as Superpower (Why It's Failing) - YouTube

How and Why Do Most People Fool Themselves? Here it is...

Scientists Submit Actual Proof Aliens Are Watching You Right Now

Exploring The Abandoned Town Of Thurmond, West Virginia - YouTube

WW2 Weapons That are STILL Being Used Today - YouTube

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Greenleaf Foods

While driving the other day here in Sonoma, I got a little surprise in the form of a Greenleaf delivery truck from back home in Brisbane. All plant-based foods, some of it organic.

GreenleafFoods.com

Adam Grogan, President at Greenleaf Foods: The Future of Protein Is Now

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Young mystery woman

The young woman whose tiny image is so frequently featured on that YouTube advert located on the upper right. Who is she? Is she Slavic?

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Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America

Granite Falls, Washington

Constructed 1935

https://www.tsubakishrine.org

Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America (video of the the grounds)

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Tsubaki Grand Shrine (Japan)

Shinto

Shinto shrine

Gallery of other Shinto shrines

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This shrine reminds me a lot of an Asatru hof in architecture, energy, location, and principle. Shinto and Asatru, as ancestral-based belief systems, seem to have a similar general view of life.

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Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden

PeterRabbit59

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Lynn Anderson

Lynn Rene Anderson was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on September 26, 1947, to Casey and Liz Anderson. Her grandparents were Scandinavian immigrants who established a North Dakota "saddle club". According to Anderson, she could ride horses before she could walk. While she was still a young child, the family relocated to a subdivision in Fair Oaks, California. However, Anderson insisted that her parents move to a ranch, prompting the family to move to Sacramento, California. In Sacramento, the Anderson family bought a ranch with two acres of land. The family raised horses, which she learned how to ride and care for. At the age of nine, Anderson won second place at a local horse-racing event in San Francisco, California. Lynn also became interested in performing from an early age. Both her parents were aspiring songwriters that had formed friendships with west country performers. Her performing and musical interests continued into high school. During her teens she landed a job working as a secretary for KROY in Sacramento. Upon graduating, she became the station's secretary to the general manager.

While working full-time, Lynn continued entering equestrian competitions. Once winning several competitions, she was dubbed the "California Horse Show Queen" in 1966. While watching her daughter at these events, Liz Anderson was also composing songs. She sent her compositions to Los Angeles and Nashville, Tennessee, where they were heard by music executives. Among the songs heard was "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers", which was recorded by Merle Haggard in 1964. The song led producer Chet Atkins to Liz to a recording contract at RCA Victor. This prompted the family to relocate to Nashville. Before officially moving, Liz took a brief trip with her daughter to Nashville in 1965. At a hotel, mother and daughter performed in an informal sing-along with several other artists. Also present at the sing-along was producer Slim Williamson. Impressed by her vocals, Williamson offered Lynn a recording contract of her own. In 1966, she signed her first recording contract with Chart Records.

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Anderson has been widely regarded as one of country music's most significant female artists.

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Chuck Missler -- Transhumanism

1,901,765 views - July 26, 2013

Calvary South Denver

Chuck Missler spoke at Calvary South Denver in Littleton Colorado on July 24, 2013 on the subject of Transhumanism. (It is recommended that you watch this video at full 720p resolution so that you can clearly see all of the powerpoint slides used in this presentation.)

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Robert Downey Junior says "I love Chuck Missler"

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Little Moon Clothing

Hand-made clothing

Beautiful pagan-themed clothing for females of all ages

The guys have to sit this one out I guess

LittleMoonClothing.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Littlemoonclothing

https://www.pinterest.com/littlemoonco/

I guess it's like anything else, if you want to see more of this type of thing, vote with your pocketbook..

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Sophia Loren, Yvonne De Carlo

and Gina Lollobrigida at a

film ball in Berlin in 1954

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A Beautiful Morning. The Rascals. (1968)

12mulligan

The Rascals 1968 hit, A Beautiful Morning. With lyrics.

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"Sweet memories driving to work the first week of May 1968 anticipating our wedding on the eleventh. We were so very very happy. That day was the beginning of our life together for 31 years! God’s way is the best way. He blessed us abundantly. May 11 was a beautiful morning, and the beginning of a beautiful life!"
-- Mae Guerra

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For me , I was in 7th grade walking to school , on a Beautiful May morning , we were going to our annual school safety picnic , my Mom bought me a new outfit for the picnic a pretty pair of ,pink and white shorts with a matching pink top and jacket and loved the outfit , I met up with my girlfriends at the corner of our street and we all walked to school , so excited for the picnic , Beautiful morning came on my transistor radio I was carrying, and it spoke to us girls every way , what a sweet memory , I have always cherished , we were happy young preteens that day and I never forgot this song , and that Beautiful morning walking to school full of joy and all was right with our world , Cherish it my whole life and always will ..💕
-- Bonnie McGinnis

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'Mysterious Hammer Of Thor In Canada Was Built Before The Arrival Of The Inuit – Did Vikings Raise The Monument?'

Ellen Lloyd - January 22, 2018 - AncientPages.com

On the desolate north bank of the Payne Estuary, 15 miles above the village of Payne Bay, near the west coast of Ungava Bay, northern Quebec, Canada, there is a very curious ancient monument resembling Thor’s Hammer.

The monument is a two-ton stone structure, about 8 feet high, and measures 4-1/2 feet across at its pointed lintel, surmounted by a 14-inch-high capstone. It is unknown who raised the monument, and there is some dispute about its builders.

The structure was discovered in 1964 by archaeologist Thomas E. Lee during an anthropological expedition to Ungava. Lee was struck by its roughly Nordic design and dubbed it “the Hammer of Thor.”

God Thor is considered a hero of the Vikings, and his hammer has long been the Vikings’ amulet of protection and power. Thor is often depicted with Mjölnir, a magical hammer in his hand.

con't....

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Hammer of Thor (monument)

This monument is located in the far north of Quebec, near the north opening into the Hudson Bay.

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VIKING SYMBOLS meaning and pronunciation

597,381 views - November 17, 2020

Hrafna

305K subscribers

Let's talk about VIKING SYMBOLS! and of course their meaning and pronunciation. Don't forget get like and comment to participate in the giveaway! And leave your IG or email so I can contact you if you win!

Thank you to Epic Loot: https://www.epiclootshop.com/

If you guys want more content from me then please go follow me on instagram @hrafnhildurrafns

FAQ:
how old are you? 22
where are you from? Iceland
what camera do you use? Canon M10

For business inquiries ONLY contact me on hrafnhildur15@hotmail.com or DM me on Instagram

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On top of her passion and knowledge, Hrafna is really quite the "Viking Princess" stereotype

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Perceptions for the coming Autumn Harvest Moon IV

Autumn Harvest Moon 2016

The Full Harvest Moon is also known as the Full Corn Moon and the Full Barley Moon. We've had some very clear evenings the last few days here along the coast, which we haven't had lately. I'm hoping for a perfect night tomorrow, as we hike along the edges of our local high peak in the pitch darkness. I really need to see that full golden globe sitting majestically in the navy blue sky, and with the black mountain peak standing along side it as I look upward at it from a steep angle. I really need it this time! To me there's no greater altar.

Full Moon for September 2016

Live Harvest Moon Show!

This year, the Full Harvest Moon brings a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. Watch the live show on this page—and enjoy Moon facts and folklore.

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Brenta Group mountain range in Trento

Mountains are the cathedrals where I practice my religion. -- Anatoli Boukreev

Brenta Group - A part of the greater Dolomites

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Documentary ancient Egyptian - The Egyptian Book Of The Dead - Full Documentaries Films

Full Documentaries Films

Documentary ancient Egyptian - Book Of The Dead - Full Documentaries Films

The Book of the Dead is the common name for the ancient Egyptian funerary texts known as The Book of Coming [or Going] Forth By Day. The name "Book of the Dead" was the invention of the German Egyptologist Karl Richard Lepsius, who published a selection of some texts in 1842. Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, or the worship of many deities.

The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses each representing characteristics of a specific earthly force, combined with a heavenly power. Often gods and goddesses were represented as part human and part animal. They considered animals such as the bull, the cat, and the crocodile to be holy. Their two chief gods were Amon-Ra and Osiris. Amon-Ra was believed to be the sun god and the lord of the universe.

Osiris was the god of the underworld and was the god that made a peaceful afterlife possible.

The Egyptian "Book of the Dead" contains the major ideas and beliefs in the ancient Egyptian religion.

The Rites of Magic - Poke Runyon (Hermeticism)

Buy Reality Films DVDs here:
http://www.reality-entertainment.com/realitypress/html/films_order_desk.html

The Secret Rites, Magical Empowerments and Powerful Techniques of a Magical Tradition older than the Golden Dawn's Cypher Manuscript. Accompany your host, anthropologist and ceremonial magician Poke Runyon, as he conducts you on you on a Magical journey into the hitherto Secret Realms of Hermetic Yoga (our Western counterpart to Tibetan Tantras), Magical Pathworkings (Inner Plane Projection), Seasonal Ceremonies (The Ancient Rites of Melchizedek) and Eucharist (the ultimate transubstantiation ritual) -- and a complete Enochian Opening by Watchtowers ceremony. As a bonus feature we have included a short surrealistic Alchemical Fantasy by the talented avant-garde filmmaker Eric Bossick.

The embedding won't hold here. Link below....

The Rites of Magick- Learn Techniques of Secrets of Occult, Magick, Paranormal Personal Power!

Fire and Ice the Brotherhood of CERN and Saturn

Freedom Fighter Times

This video explores a digram of Saturn that is taught in the secret society of the brotherhood of Saturn. It connects biblical teaching to expose the evil plots behind CERN.

Emma on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tDECHPppyMtaYzkgjD2qQ/feed

Fraternitas Saturni

Fraternitas Saturni (lat.: "Brotherhood of Saturn") is a German magical order, founded in 1926 by Eugen Grosche aka Gregor A. Gregorius and four others. It is one of the oldest continuously running magical groups in Germany. The lodge is, as Gregorius states, "concerned with the study of esotericism, mysticism, and magic in the cosmic sense." Today its purpose is in working on the spiritual evolution of humanity by means of development and advancement of the individual being. This is to be attained by mental and ethical schooling of the personality and complete mastery of esotericism and occultism. The FS adopts a system of degrees, ending with the 33rd as highest degree to reach this goal. The lodge claims further no political or economical objectives. It propagates ideals of freedom, tolerance and fraternity.

'Fire and Ice: Magical Teachings of Germany's Greatest Secret Occult Order'

Llewellyn's Teutonic Magick Series

S. Edred Flowers - 1995

The Brotherhood of Saturn is one of Germany's most secret occult lodges and unknown to magicians of the English-speaking world. This is the first study of its inner documents and workings. Discover the fascinating histories of its founders and leaders. Witness the development of its magical beliefs and practices and its banishment by the Nazi government. The Saturnian path of initiation is revealed in full detail.

Since 1972, Edred Thorsson has been dedicated to the esoteric and esoteric study of the Indo-European, Celtic and Teutonic traditions. He studied Old Irish, Middle Welsh and Indo-European religion and culture at major universities in Germany and in the United States.

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Edred Thorsson, or S. Edred Flowers, is actually Dr. Stephen Flowers. I haven't read this book yet, but it is apparently the only go-to source for information on the Brotherhood of Saturn. Many have speculated that this secret society was behind Teutonic Order (Germanenorden), which founded the Thule Society. Since I don't know much about the Brotherhood of Saturn, I can't speculate at this time as to this connection, or to any connections to the global "Cult of Saturn" milieu. If they are a real power behind the scenes, then they sure aren't doing any favors for Germany today.

Brotherhood of Saturn

Spiderface - Topic

Provided to YouTube by CDBaby

The Brotherhood of Saturn · Black Lung · Spiderface

Accretion (The Tympanik Audio 5th Anniversary Collection)

℗ 2012 Tympanik Audio

Released on: 2012-12-04

Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane

ScorpionsVEVO

Music video by Scorpions performing Rock You Like A Hurricane. (C) 1984 The Island Def Jam Music Group

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This song feels like it has an Odinic energy to it; or perhaps Thor's hammer. Even the lyrics have elements of Germanic neopaganism.

'Rock You Like A Hurricane' - Scorpions

It's early morning, the sun comes out
Last night was shaking and pretty loud
My cat is purring, it scratches my skin
So what is wrong with another sin?

The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell
So give her inches and feed her well
More days to come, new places to go
I've got to leave, it's time for a show

Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane

My body is burning, it starts to shout
Desire is coming, it breaks out loud
Lust is in cages till storm breaks loose
Just have to make it with someone I choose

The night is calling, I have to go
The wolf is hungry, he runs the show
He's licking his lips, he's ready to win
On the hunt tonight for love at first sting

Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane (Are you ready, baby?)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane (Come on, come on, baby)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane

Rock you like a hurricane

It's early morning, the sun comes out
Last night was shaking and pretty loud
My cat is purring, it scratches my skin
So what is wrong with another sin?

The night is calling, I have to go
The wolf is hungry, he runs the show
He's licking his lips, he's ready to win
On the hunt tonight for love at first sting

Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane (Are you ready, baby?)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane (Come on, come on, come on, come on)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane

[Written by Herman Rarebell, Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker]

Greek Primordial Gods

Unfolded Mysteries

This video puts up the names of the Greek primordial Gods and their names.

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These gods are different than the Olympian gods or the Titans.

VA list of gravestone symbols grows

The image to the right is the list as of 2013, in chronological order. It's from an article from MilitaryAtheists.com entitled 'Veterans Administration Hammers Through Barriers to Diversity' (James Torpy 7-13-13). It's worth clicking on and blowing up for examination. Out of these 57 symbols, only one--the Hammer of Thor--symbolizes a pre-Christian European spiritual tradition. The Pentacle Star, in part, also has a strong European tie-in; and the Celtic Cross apparently represents either Gaelic heritage, the "Celtic nations," or the greater Celtic world. There were both Vehmic symbols, as well as Celtic crosses in ancient Europe.

I saw on a YouTube video where one young neopagan woman questioned the importance of being on this list, since she didn't agree with U.S. foreign policy. I think it is important, since this is the only list of it's type that I know of, which is compiled by the government, and which gives some official recognition to various religions... or as I prefer to call some.. "spiritual traditions." I would like to see a folkish Vehmic Rune within a circle, to represent the old religion... the various magical traditions of ancient Europe. Realistically, Neo-Druidism would be the logical next choice as far as native European traditions.

Open Halls Project (Serving Military Heathens)

Is a "reptilian humanoid" of Japanese folklore... real?

Kappa (folklore)

A kappa is a yōkai demon or imp found in traditional Japanese folklore.

Yōkai

Yōkai (ghost, phantom, strange apparition) are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits and demons in Japanese folklore.

'Are these the bones of a water demon? 'Remains' of mythological Kappa to go on show in Japan'

* The Kappa is a water demon from ancient folklore that is depicted as green and scaly with webbed feet and looks a little bit human

* Remains said to be those of this mythical creature are going on display in Miyakonojo, Japan

* Scientists have not confirmed that the bones are from what many believe to be the Kappa

* Some people think the stories actually refer to a type of giant salamander

* The Kappa is used by parents to scare children away from water

Sarah Griffiths - Daily Mail (UK) - May 30, 2014

Just as British children have been brought up with scary stories about the Loch Ness Monster, Japanese people know all about the Kappa - a slippery water demon from ancient folklore.

The pond and river-dwelling monsters are typically depicted as human-like but with the scaly green or blue skin of a reptile and webbed feet.

But unlike the Loch Ness Monster, believers claim to have found ‘proof’ of the creature’s existence - and bones purporting to be from the Kappa are going on show in Japan.

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Clinton Road and the Druid Pyramid

New Jersy folklore

Clinton Road is a rural road near West Milford, New Jersey where there reportedly has long been paranormal activity. Hidden down a ravine off in the middle of this road is what has been called a "Druid pyramid," which I find to be the more curious aspect of this folklore... as it's so old and interesting looking... and just sits alone in an unusual out of the way location. The following video actually shows this structure up close and inside.

Clinton Road - The Most TERRIFYING Road in America?

The urban legends of Clinton Road

Excerpt: There's an abandoned druid pyramid in the woods This is in reality an old iron furnace, built in 1826 and fired on Sept. 17, 1833, this furnace was fired only three additional times, and abandoned in 1837. There where many iron mines in that area up into Sterling forest and as far as West Point. There ere the remains of many such furnaces through-out the area that where built to serve these mines. Many helped forge the chain across the Hudson River

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Clinton Road, West Milford, NJ

Mysterious City Appears In Sky Above China

Paranormal Crucible

The footage which was recorded by a local resident appears to show a huge city floating in the clouds.

The apparition which was witnessed by hundreds of shocked local residents only lasted a few minutes before completely disappearing.

News Report: http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/612531/Did-parallel-universe-open-up-Hundreds-see-floating-city-filmed-in-skies-above-China
News Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoP1sh1WXm8
Source Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX23ocYCjlA
Join My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/paranormalcrucible

Please subscribe to watch more great vids.

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I believe that governments are tinkering with holographic technology here. Decades old documents, such as the 'Report from Iron Mountain', show that global elites were actually talking about this technology in the 60's... at which time it was in its infancy stages back. They had some pretty bizarre ideas that I'm not going to go into here, but I think we should be aware of this technology. "Project Blue Beam" was one of the newer programs.

Alien Or Heavenly Realm Appears Over New York?

Amazing China mirage ?!?

Floating City Over California, China and UK: This New Image May Help Solve the Mystery

"Here Comes The Sun " - George Harrison Cover - Video by Rob Boelhouwers

John Cortese

A cover I did some time ago. My dear friend Rob Boelhouwers put this excellent video together for it. " Thank You " so much Rob, for all your time and hard work. We hope you enjoy this cover and collaboration by Rob and myself. Peace & Best Wishes....John C.

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Just like 'My Sweet Lord', this one has a certain timeless and pagan/nature-like theme to it. A song can really be anything that you want it to be though..

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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Blue Moon musings

This coming Friday evening will be a full "blue moon." A blue moon is an additional full moon that appears in a subdivision of a year, either the third of four full moons in a season or, a second full moon in a month of the common calendar. I think I'll enjoy a Blue Moon beer on this blue moon. The ancient Camunian/proto-European word for moon was Mòn or Mùn, prior to being replaced with the Roman/Latin Lùna. The Camunian village of Monno (in Italian) was known as Mòn in the Camunian dialect. Even the Roman name for the valley, Vallis Camunnorum, has the word Mùn within it, which means "Valley of the Camunni".. which actually breaks down roughly to "valley of the home of the moon people."

The name in the Camunian dialect was Al Camònega ("valley of the home of the dawning moon"). The influence of the church gave rise to the local term "mòna"... a foul name for a woman, which is rooted in a negative reference towards the old venerated moon goddess. It should be noted that during the times of the witch trials, Camunian Catholics and Camunian Pagans (one-third of the population) got along fine.. as there was plenty of cultural overlap. Try to get out on the trail on the twilight and evening of this Friday's rising blue moon (actually sort've grayish), and feel that age old spiritual-ancestral and solar-lunar energetic interaction.

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Internet chess

Although there is no online reference to it that I can find, it can be most frustrating when you devote a half hour or longer of your time to a game of online chess, and finally reaching a critical point in the game... only to have the site/game system or internet connection "short your move" which directly makes you lose. Even though the game is meaningless, and you are anonymous, the psychological and intellectual frustration is not lost! It's as though you finally "blew it"... when you actually did not.

Another idea that I had was that it would be better if you were able to simply allow your king to be "taken".. to avoid the intellectual humiliation of being outnumbered and trounced during the final phase of the game. This would be better than the cowardly perception of "resigning" (aka quitting). In the game of rugby, when one team is far ahead on points, they just "call the game" and the players and coaches honorably meet at the center of the field. This fosters more respect between the teams.

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ELE happening now?

You know, we're in real trouble now. The Fukushima disaster--unlike Chernobyl, which ended after about a week I recall hearing--is still ongoing! Some scientists have called it an Extinction Level Event (ELE). If you haven't looked into it, you should. There is a lot on YouTube about it; I would suggest searching "fukushima rense" if you really want it fast and straight. If you read this in time, Fukushima is the subject of tonight's Coast To Coast AM program. There's almost no way to underscore how devastating this disaster is, or how bad it could get. There's practically a news blackout of it. But, what are they going to say... that we're all going to die?

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Gambara and Forseti

['Empfindsamkeit' by German Neofolk band Forseti - ωεlτεηbæμmçhεη]

Queen Gambara was the first queen of the Langobard tribe when they broke off from the Winnili tribe in 1st century Scandinavia. Although she inspired the migration into ancient central Europe with a command to her people to "Go forth!," she never saw the Italian peninsula. Forseti was an important god in Odinic mythology, although he is less known than Odin, Frigga, Tyr, or Thor. Both of these names would sound perceptively as "Italian" to the English-speaking world. I'm always looking for modern tie-ins to the ancient world, and often that can be within surnames.

Just off of the top of my head, the South Tyrolian beer "Forst" comes to mind if I try to brainstorm the root word "Forseti." There's likely no connection, but I ponder it. With a surname search for "Forseti" in Italy, there is nothing; however, there are a very small number of "Forsetti's" in the north. Again, it's likely just coincidental; although old Langobard words and surnames are common, albeit "Italianized."

In a surname search for "Gambara," as many as perhaps 75 showed up around Emilia and Lombardy. That's not too much of a longshot since the Langobards brought the old legends of their origin with them into their new Cisalpine home. I would lay the odds at about even with that connection. "Gambara" was one of the aristocratic family names who made up the powerful oligarchic Brescian Council of the Middle Ages.

The surname "Gotti" is actually a Lombard regional name with Gothic roots.. originating from "the Goti"... the Goths. "Goti" is a Tuscan regional surname as well. Also, a Goði or Gothi (plural goðar) is the historical Old Norse term for a priest and chieftain in Norse paganism. Some of those long ago "Goti" made their way down to southern Italy... hence the now somewhat infamous Mafia name "Gotti." However, it's much more generally a Lombard surname.

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Regarding the recent rash of clown sightings, but don't laugh yet...

[Rob Zombie's '31' (2016) - Shane's World]

Apparently there has been a rash of reports of people, dressed up as creepy clowns, sneaking up upon and surprising or scaring unsuspecting people at night. It has escalated this year, and you can google or youtube it. It started in California, but has spread all over the country, and even in the UK. This brings up the issue of clowns in general, and that some people actually hate clowns! Personally I never had any problems with clowns as a child, having always seen them as benevolent. This phenomenon of unsuspecting clown terror at night is curious to me. So often, as with horror movies, it's "the face" and "the intent" of the clown, ghoul, monster, etc. The mask and outfit seem to somehow dehumanize them, and they become something of a monster. The mystery of who's behind that mask? Are they crazy, evil, or dangerous?; and at the dead of night no less!

I like the centuries-long history of the circus, the clowns, and other aspects of that eccentric traveling entertainment culture. It's really a small part of our history. Perhaps only some of the using of people with birth defects crossed the line in my opinion. Just last evening, while watching the most recent episode of 'My Haunted House' ('Route 160'), the issue of "clown night terror" was featured... however, in a more supernatural way. Still, even a young smallish blonde woman in a creepy clown mask.. staring at you in the dark of night, was somewhat unnerving. That "intent" thing... creating confusion for the unknowing. Is it a joke? Is it just for fun? Maybe not..

Probably the best creepy clown in recent years was Captain Spaulding, played by Sid Haig in 'House of 1000 Corpses' (2003) and in 'The Devil's Rejects' (2005). For a killer clown, he was rather sensitive about the issue of clown status in general, which made for one of the odd, scary, and funny sub-plots. Sid Haig has been one of the underrated off-beat character actors over the years. At one point, while being robbed at gunpoint, Captain Spaulding didn't even take the robbers very seriously.. until one of them said the wrong words: "I.. HATE.. C-L-O-W-N-S!!!"; at which point he responded with the funniest "low growl"... before dramatically getting even. I thought that first movie was so brutally artistic.

Those movies were written and directed by heavy metal singer and horror movie director Rob Zombie. Rob Zombie is directing another movie due for release in 2016, which promises to be another "1000 corpses," entitled simply '31'. Five people are kidnapped on the days leading up to Halloween and held hostage in a place called Murder World. While trapped, they must play a violent game called 31 where the mission is to survive 12 hours against a gang of evil clowns.

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Saturday, May 3, 2014

'The Last Samurai' (2003) - movie review

'The Last Samurai' (Wikipedia)

The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic war film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Logan. The film stars Tom Cruise, who also co-produced, as well as Ken Watanabe, Shin Koyamada, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, Timothy Spall and Billy Connolly. Inspired by a project by Vincent Ward, it interested Zwick, with Ward later serving as executive producer. The film production went ahead with Zwick and was shot in Ward’s native New Zealand.

Cruise portrays an American officer, whose personal and emotional conflicts bring him into contact with samurai warriors in the wake of the Meiji Restoration in 19th Century Japan. The film's plot was inspired by the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion led by Saigō Takamori, and on the westernization of Japan by colonial powers, though this is largely attributed to the United States in the film for American audiences. It is also based on the stories of Jules Brunet, a French army captain who fought alongside Enomoto Takeaki in the earlier Boshin War and Frederick Townsend Ward, an American mercenary who helped Westernize the Chinese army by forming the Ever Victorious Army.

The Last Samurai was well received upon its release, with a worldwide box office total of $456 million.[1] It was nominated for several awards, including four Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and two National Board of Review Awards.

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'The Last Samurai' was based on a true account, in which the protagonist was a French officer, and you can find a documentary of that on YouTube. However, this movie was realistic and its sentiments genuine. The first scene was in 1876 San Francisco I recall, and U.S. Captain Nathan Algren (Cruise) was engaging in a promotional tour for Winchester Company... "how Winchester rifles were winning the west." He gave his speech drunk, and was clearly a man who was broken by his participation in certain misdeeds during the Indian Wars under the infamous Lt. Col. Custer. Apparently one of the worst offenders of some of the slaughtering of women and children was Col. Bagley, whom is Algren's sworn enemy from the beginning. The gist of the story is Bagley approaching Algren to recruit him to into an American industrial effort to provide Japan with the training and weapons to subdue the Samurai tribes.... as they had done with the Amerindian tribes of the west. The Samurai were very unhappy about the sudden rapid transformation of Japan. Algren and Bagley meet with Japanese businessman Omura, and Algren agrees to participate after he is offered a lot of money for the mercenary effort. Omura and Bagley make quite a duo of antagonists, with Omura being even more unsavory than Bagley... which says a lot.

This movie contains quite a number of very interesting quotes about Japan, Japanese mythology, and Samurai tradition; but gathering them here is more effort than I want to give for this review. A major theme in the movie is the Shintoist culture... which is essentially the Samurai culture... much the same as Odinist culture was tied to Teutonic tribal tradition. Another theme of this movie was "Ancient vs. Modern." Actually I don't always buy this perception, and these conflicts usually stem from something ancient, sacred, and wise... which happens to be in the way of contrived social, political, and economic change, and this is not always "progress" by dictionary definition. The word "Samurai" is plural, as like "Samurinians." It basically means "warrior" and "to serve"... and probably other meanings. As Algren is crossing the Atlantic Ocean... there seems to be a symbolic/spiritual period amid the lonely waters. During this period of apparent "transformation," Algren says in narrative-style: "There is some comfort in the emptiness of the sea. No past. No future." This seemed to be his personal journey from a broken state, towards redemption.

Upon meeting the twenty-four year old Emperor Meiji, the Emperor saw clear parallels between their situation and the American situation with the Amerindians. However, he was torn between his love for this "teacher" Lord Katsumoto who was the leader of the Samurai, and this effort towards so-called "modernism." After the Army conscripts were rushed into service, against Algren's warning that they were not ready, they finally meet up with the Samurai. As they come face-to-face with the Samurai, who emerge from the midst on horseback, it was like an army of legend returning to the world. As if they were Spartans, Romans, Vikings, or Langobards coming back from the dead against a modern army. The horns of the Samurai helmets reminded me of Viking or Gaulish helmets... as if they were the horns of Cernunnos. The fierce expressions and bearded faces of the Samurai also reminded me of Odinic warriors. After the Japanese army is slaughtered, Algren shows tremendous heart in fighting to the end.. and Katsumoto witnesses this and decides to take him prisoner instead of the apparently usual method of putting their adversaries to death. As Algren fights off Samurai warriors with a pole-flag with a tiger emblem, an impressed Katsumoto sees the spirit of the tiger in his actions.

Katsumoto begins a series of dialogs with Algren in a Shintoist Temple, which he says his family constructed a thousand years prior. The temple reminded me of an Odinic hof in that it was less gaudy, and more spiritually "of the Earth." One theme of Samurai culture was that a Samurai warrior "cannot stand the shame of defeat," at which time they either take their own life or someone else takes "the honor" of taking his life. That concept is in total contrast with Vehmic tradition of "dogged resilience," or many other traditions that allow for "redemption." The Samurai tradition was more focused on "fate," "honor," and dying "a good death," customarily in battle. "Honor" seems a word that can be interpreted many ways. After being told the numerical odds that Custer faced at "the Battle of Little Big Horn," Katsumoto was impressed... "I like this Custer"... at which time Algren strongly disagreed, but did eventually understand the concept. Eventually they did share the vision of glory as they verbally and allegorically carried out "the Battle of Thermopylae." Another theme of Shintoist/Samurai culture was "perfection." Everything should be done with the intention of perfection.. or at least the process of achieving perfection, which was often in relation to various forms of warfare... usually the distinctive Samurai sword (using wooden sticks in mocked-training). The tribe was in constant training for war, similar to the ancient Langobards. A whole culture based on a military tradtion, maybe more similar to the Spartan ethic.

At one point earlier, Bagley said to Algren: "What is it about your own people that you hate so much?" I didn't think that that projection fit Algren, and his eventual love for the Samurai culture seemed hard-earned and genuine. Eventually, after a long process, they accepted him as a man of honor... a "quasi-Samurai" I guess. Later in the film, Katsumoto--feeling that he had betrayed his people since this had all happened on "his watch"--said to Algren: "The way of the Samurai is not necessary anymore." Algren responed: "Necessary? What could be more necessary?" I was just thinking the other day, what makes a great movie? I think one with many great scenes, and this movie had them. One aspect of the film which caught my eye was the Samurai architecture. The basic houses seemed advanced, with an almost old European-like square structure, made of wood, hardwood flooring, with what we may see as a Japanese style to them. I skipped a lot of the interaction as Algren interacted with this community, but his journey to acceptance was not easy. I guess maybe part of the theme could be that "good things aren't easy." The ending is very dramatic. I would highly recommend this film. After watching this film, it seems to me that an old question... what is honor?... is begging for a new answer.

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