Watching Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972) I haven’t seen this in a while but there’s a lot of the Mandalorian interactions with now Grogu that are somewhat familiar to this film,

https://t.co/PP7HHfKhQ1

Ittō pushes the baby cart, and Daigoro observes scenes of nature, chooses between a ball and a sword, And eventually will take path of the ronin with his father, to “live like demons at the crossroads to hell”

How Star Wars: The Mandalorian Was Influenced by Lone Wolf and Cub

“There are other obvious connections, like the Mandalorian and Ogami both being assassins for hire and Daigorō and the young alien both being far less weak and vulnerable than they first seem”

Even though both the chambara film version and the manga original were mega-blockbusters at least in Japan I’m still surprised that a non hero’s journey (not in a Campbell way) got greenlit by Disney and that the Mandalorian is pretty ok and will merit further viewings

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BadassAndBaby

https://imdb.com/title/tt0068816/… Watching Lone Wolf and Cub 2: Baby Cart at the River Styx: Great Ogami and Daigoro continue their quest for vengeance through meifumado, the spiritual way of “demons and damnation,” pursued constantly by the Shadow Yagyu clan and the shogun’s spies.

Walt Simonson, John Woo, Tarantino, Frank Miller, Rodriguez Genndy Tartakovsky (samurai Jack) and now Filoni and Favreau referencing, remaking, and rebirthing this, in all manner of new media. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/LoneWolfAndCub

I think Grogu is a little like a Japanese hakata doll in Lone Wolf and Cup and Gizmo from Gremlins more obviously and I’d be totally fine if the quest goes unresolved.

Lone Wolf and Cub 3: Baby Cart To Hades “Ogami Itto lets himself be tortured by yakuza to save a woman forced into prostitution and then accepts a contract to assassinate a corrupt feudal governor” https://imdb.com/title/tt0068817/?ref_=tt_mv_close

Ogami Itto: The true way of the warrior means to live by death amirite?

There was a time I could do 5 films in a day. Now I do 1 film in 8 hours

I’d be lucky if I finish the re-watch of the baby cart series by Friday. Golden opportunity in The Mandalorian to have a blind main character. We’ll do Zatoichi next week.

Buddhist-sutra-spouting samurai fiction. Impressively violent. The plot in this one not so different from Eastwood’s Unforgiven which seems to have gotten its own Japanese remake with Ken Watanabe Batman Begins, Inception This seems a little incestuous https://youtu.be/U5-503ia7nU

This series is better than I remember. It’s no cheapo explotation but funny, serious, lyrical while delivering.

https://imdb.com/title/tt0143348/… Watching Lone Wolf and Cub 4: Baby Cart in Peril Itto Ogami is hired by the Owari clan to assassinate a tattooed woman who is killing her enemies. Meanwhile, Baby Cart is separated when he follows a pair of traveling street performers outside of town.

Men-at-arms like the knights in Barbara Tuchman. Cowboys and samurais value loyalty, forbearance and “Contemptus mundi”

https://discogs.com/Hideakira-Sakurai-And-Kunihiko-Murai-Lone-Wolf-Cub-Music-from-the-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/release/7438223… It’d be interesting to own a copy of this. By part 4 in the series: Baby Cart in Peril, the Japanese influences disappear almost entirely to be replaced by 60s jazz and funk. Samurai “Shaft”

Weapons are introduced as if they are characters in their own right but this is the weakest entry so far http://historyhit.com/weapons-of-the…

Not the Mandalorian

Itto and Gunbei now have a rematch, but Itto is much improved and is ready. With a swift stroke, he chops off Gunbei’s right arm. Gunbei then begs Itto to kill him, but Itto refuses, saying there is nothing to be gained from slaying a man who is already dead

https://martialartswords.com/blogs/articles/what-are-japanese-dotanuki-swords… Dotanuki swords could cut through most targets, allowing for superior performance that wasn’t found in other swords at the time (and even today for that matter).

“Samurai warriors who used a Dotanuki sword in battle would typically find their sword unscathed. Other swords would break or sustain damage in battle, but the exceptional quality of Dotanuki swords allowed samurai warriors to use them time and time again”

Watching again the remarkable standoff in Baby Cart in Hades

Severed head rolling down the hill POV is something

https://imdb.com/title/tt0143428/… Watching Lone Wolf and Cup 5: Baby Cart in the land and of demons. Five warriors challenge Ogami to duels. Each holds a part of information needed to complete the assassination of a mad clan leader.

Baby Cart finally gets his close-up and proves to be every bit as determined, soft-spoken and unflappable as his father. Buddhist musings on life and death, this is the most spiritual-stylized comic-book violence cum existentialism of the whole series

This is the way, and it’s much darker, intense and nihilistic way.

https://imdb.com/title/tt0071695/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_58… Watching Lone Wolf and Cub 6: White Heaven In Hell With most of his family already dead at Ogami’s hands, Retsudo launches one last plot to destroy him, and when that fails, unleashes the fury of every remaining member of the Yagyu Clan

Retsudo (wearing a black eye-patch since being wounded by Itto in the fourth film ‘Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril’) sends his daughter and last remaining child Kaori to kill them. Kaori tries to ambush Itto, but the stone-faced ronin kills her with little difficulty.

After she is killed, Retudo attempts to use the Tsuchigumo, a secretive mountain clan that practices black magic

Faced with supernatural enemies, Itto (for the first time in the film series) fears he’s handling more than he can chew. He flees north to the snow-covered area of northern Japan during the winter season, during which the Tsuchigumo would be at a disadvantage

White inherently denotes death and mourning too in Japanese culture, I understand.

Itto defeats the entire army, shooting, but the one-eyed Retsuto once again escapes by fleeing from the scene on a sled, vowing to kill Itto some day.

https://mercari.com/us/item/m23906387502/?gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=11236147821&utm_content=t0&adgroup=110215552077&network=g&device=m&merchant_id=126358573&product_id=m23906387502&product_id=527918100133&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiaa7ru_H7QIV0yCtBh0hJA3DEAQYAyABEgKNiPD_BwE#… Must resist this

The film doesn’t end in the same way Koike planned for the manga to end. Wakayama lost his temper when a watered-down TV series went into production. He refused to play the role if someone else was also doing it and that was that. Some may find the ending little unsatisfying but maybe the fact that it doesn’t have an ‘ending’ is the only true ending. A suspended animation

In the ever-shifting cosmos of comics and graphic storytelling, the enigmatic concept of “reverse polarity” emerges as a tantalizing and visionary trajectory that might forge the destiny of the medium. Reverse polarity, dear reader, delves into a realm of departure from the age-old norms of storytelling, daring to traverse uncharted territories, and beckoning the adventurous spirit of the reader to embrace this novel odyssey.

A revelation of unprecedented intrigue, reverse polarity defies the linear path, where tales unfurl in a linear ballet, waltzing from the beginning to the end. Nay, in these narratives, time and perspective dance an enthralling duet – for they may plunge into the heart of an ending, then resurface to divulge the enigmatic chain of events that begot such a conclusion. It is an unorthodox tapestry of mystery and enigma, where the pieces of the story’s puzzle beckon readers to assemble the shards of truth in a kaleidoscopic frenzy.

Behold, it is not just the narrative structure that undergoes this strange metamorphosis – even the characters dare to traverse the realms of time’s enigmatic ebb and flow. Traditionally, our heroes tread a linear path of growth and challenges, culminating in their eventual transformation. Yet, in this bold traverse of reverse polarity, the players may first reveal their fully-formed selves, only to retreat and reveal the genesis of their existence, dancing back and forth between stages of their evolution. A complex symphony of character exploration, where the past and present intertwine to offer a symphony of depth and emotion.

The canvas of art, where strokes paint the tapestry of the comic realm, becomes a playground of experimental wonder. For behold, the sacred panel layouts that guided our eyes through the story are transmuted into avant-garde masterpieces. Diagonal and circular designs emerge, leading the wayward eye to unexpected vistas and interactive realms of storytelling, forging a profound connection between the reader and the tale.

But it is not just the structure and characters that are beguiled by this reverse current, but the very essence of the tale itself. The themes that unfurl are not the clichéd heroes conquering adversity, but a tempest of subversion and deconstruction. The moral terrain becomes a labyrinth, where the heart of humanity’s complexity is laid bare. A metamorphosis of expectations transpires, challenging readers to contemplate profound philosophical queries that ripple through their consciousness.

In the digital cosmos, reverse polarity finds its apotheosis. Through interactive comics and webcomics, we delve into a portal of multimedia enchantment. Animations dance, soundscapes resonate, and hyperlinks beckon, immersing readers in a symphony of sensory wonder – where the cosmic narrative unfolds before their very senses, transcending the boundaries of space and time.

The future, my intrepid seekers, is bathed in the luminous glow of reverse polarity. As we stand at the precipice, gazing into the unknown, a symphony of creative possibilities unfolds. No longer confined by the chains of convention, the creators soar on the wings of experimentation. A new era dawns upon the horizon, where storytelling sheds its shackles and leaps into uncharted realms of imagination. Let us, dear reader, embrace this cosmic journey, for in the realm of reverse polarity, the future of comics dances with infinite possibilities – a testament to the boundless human spirit that thrives on exploration and creative exuberance.

Beware, dear reader, for in the wretched world of consumerism, a sinister underbelly lurks beneath the glossy facade of marketing and advertisement. Just as William S. Burroughs once traversed the dark alleys of the human psyche, we must now navigate the treacherous terrain of warning signs that betray a truly shitty product. As we delve into the twisted prose of this surreal exploration, let us prepare to confront the tactics wielded by manipulative merchants and corporate charlatans.

1 – Forced Teaming: Bogus Shared Predicament

The art of deception unfolds when unscrupulous marketers employ the tactic of forced teaming—a deceitful display of camaraderie, pretending that both seller and buyer are trapped in the same dire straits. They weave a tapestry of false kinship, exploiting our inherent desire for connection and understanding. Beware when they say, “We’re all in this together,” for behind this facade of unity lies a mere ploy to ensnare the unsuspecting into their web of profit.

2 – Oversell the Polite and Friendly

In the carnival of consumer deception, the mask of politeness and friendliness conceals a venomous intent. Smooth-talking salespeople, donning their beguiling masks, shower you with sugar-coated words and feigned warmth. Yet, beneath this saccharine veneer lies a lurking motive—to lure you into purchasing a product that may well be as hollow as their smiles.

3 – Excessive Details

Beware the serpent’s tongue, dear reader, when it slithers through a labyrinth of excessive details. The art of obfuscation lies in inundating the buyer with a deluge of information—often irrelevant and bewildering. Like a drug, they inundate your senses, leaving you overwhelmed and susceptible to manipulation, obscuring the product’s true worth in a fog of superfluous facts.

4 – Typecasting – Seeing Like a State

As you peruse the marketplace, be vigilant of the master puppeteers who cast you into narrow roles. They see you not as an individual with unique needs and desires but as a mere archetype—a statistic to manipulate. They conjure an illusion that you belong to an exclusive group that can only be served by their product, preying upon your vulnerabilities and insecurities.

5 – Unsolicited Promise

Amidst the cacophony of commercialism, the unsolicited promise emerges like a siren’s call. Unscrupulous peddlers make grandiose claims, tempting you with visions of utopia that their product will supposedly bring. Yet, beware the allure of their silver-tongued assurances, for behind the glittering facade may lie naught but disappointment and disillusionment.

6 – You’re Standing on the Tracks of an Incoming Train

Finally, heed the most ominous sign of all—when the gut feeling warns you that you stand upon the tracks of an incoming train. Deep within, your instincts sense impending disaster, urging you to step back from the precipice of purchasing remorse. Trust this gnawing sensation, for it is a beacon of clarity amidst the fog of consumer manipulation.

In the spirit of Burroughsian contemplation, we have unveiled the warning signs that herald a truly shitty product. Armed with this knowledge, we can navigate the labyrinth of commerce with greater awareness, shielding ourselves from the snares of those who seek to exploit our desires. Embrace your inner skeptic, dear reader, and let not the flashy gimmicks blind you to the truth.

In the desolate landscape of American politics, the business of the nation thrives on a sinister trade—the trading of experience in public office. This chilling truth, obscured beneath a veneer of democracy and patriotic fervor, is a product of the very system that claims to represent the will of the people. In the mind-bending prose of William S. Burroughs, one can perceive the shadows cast by this corrupt exchange, where power, deceit, and influence converge in a macabre dance.

The political machinery, adorned with the stars and stripes, churns relentlessly, fueled not by noble intentions but by avarice and ambition. The seduction of power, like a dark narcotic, lures those seeking control and domination into its addictive embrace. They are enticed by the promise of shaping the destiny of a nation, yet the price they pay is their very humanity. The once righteous idealists find themselves transformed into cogs in a remorseless engine, bartering their souls for a taste of authority.

As the American dream is tainted by the stain of unscrupulous dealings, the trade in experience becomes a currency unto itself—a perverse means to an end. The corridors of power, stained with the remnants of shattered promises, echo with the whispers of backroom deals and whispered conspiracies. The collective consciousness, intoxicated by the opiate of political spectacle, remains blissfully unaware of the puppetry that guides their destinies.

In Burroughsian fashion, we witness the grotesque spectacle of politicians navigating through the swamp of deceit and deception. They become actors in a grand theater of illusion, skilled in the art of manipulation and deception. Words, once the tools of communication and understanding, are now twisted into weapons of mass manipulation, leaving the masses in a state of perpetual disarray and confusion.

Yet, beneath this grim tableau, there exists a glimmer of resistance—the voices of those who have not been silenced by the cacophony of power. In the forgotten corners of the nation, the truth-seekers, rebels, and outcasts gather, clinging to the hope of a better tomorrow. They see through the charade, attempting to tear down the façade of democracy to reveal the hidden mechanisms that control the strings of power.

Burroughs, like a literary shaman, beckons us to see beyond the veil, to peer into the dark heart of the American political landscape. The business of America, in his eyes, is not one of liberty and justice for all but rather a nefarious barter in the currency of experience. The haunting echoes of this truth reverberate through time, urging us to awaken from the collective slumber and reclaim our destiny from the hands of the power-hungry elite.

In conclusion, within the style of William Burroughs, we find a potent allegory for the business of America—where the trading of experience in public office becomes a nightmarish dance of deception and corruption. As we navigate the labyrinthine halls of power, let us remember his warning, lest we succumb to the same fate of surrendering our ideals at the altar of political ambition.

A Path to Sustainable Decarbonization

Introduction:

Carbon quantitative easing (CQE) is a novel approach that proposes the creation of new money by big central banks specifically for financing decarbonization projects. This innovative concept aims to address the urgent need for sustainable development while tackling the challenges posed by climate change. Under the CQE framework, central banks issue long-term bonds to investors, allowing the corresponding carbon coins to trade on currency-exchange markets with a predetermined floor value. This essay explores the potential of carbon quantitative easing as a mechanism for driving global decarbonization efforts and fostering a transition towards a more sustainable future.

Body:

1. Addressing Climate Change:

Climate change poses significant threats to our planet, demanding comprehensive actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources. Carbon quantitative easing offers an alternative tool for central banks to actively support decarbonization efforts. By injecting new money into the economy specifically designated for sustainable projects, CQE recognizes the importance of tackling climate change as a fundamental challenge of our time.

2. Financing Decarbonization Projects:

One of the primary benefits of carbon quantitative easing is its potential to provide substantial funding for decarbonization projects. The issuance of long-term bonds allows central banks to attract investors interested in contributing to sustainable development. These investments serve as a catalyst for funding renewable energy infrastructure, sustainable transportation systems, and initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions across various sectors.

3. Currency-Exchange Markets and Floor Value:

Under the CQE framework, carbon coins are traded on currency-exchange markets. Central banks play a crucial role in setting a floor value for these coins, ensuring their stability and preventing excessive speculation. This mechanism provides investors with confidence in the carbon market, encouraging long-term commitments and bolstering sustainable investment portfolios.

4. Encouraging Market-Based Solutions:

Carbon quantitative easing introduces a market-based approach to decarbonization. By creating a tradable asset in the form of carbon coins, CQE leverages the power of market forces to drive sustainable development. Investors can make informed decisions based on the potential returns from participating in decarbonization projects, while governments and organizations are incentivized to pursue innovative and environmentally friendly solutions.

5. Balancing Economic Growth and Sustainability:

Critics of traditional quantitative easing often argue that it can lead to inflation and distort market dynamics. However, carbon quantitative easing presents an opportunity to address these concerns. By channeling newly created money into decarbonization initiatives, CQE supports both economic growth and sustainability. It ensures that funds are directed towards projects that align with environmental goals, thereby promoting a more balanced and equitable development paradigm.

Conclusion:

Carbon quantitative easing represents an innovative and forward-thinking approach to financing decarbonization projects. By enabling big central banks to create new money for sustainability initiatives, CQE harnesses the power of market mechanisms while addressing the pressing challenges of climate change. Through the issuance of long-term bonds and the establishment of a carbon coin system, CQE provides a framework that encourages sustainable investments and fosters a transition towards a low-carbon economy. While further exploration and evaluation of this concept are needed, carbon quantitative easing has the potential to drive global decarbonization efforts and shape a more sustainable future for generations to come.

In the mazes of modern society, the siren call of authoritarianism echoes louder than ever, an eerie melody that lures even the most unlikely of allies. Among these enigmatic figures are the mortgage prisoners, bound by the chains of debt and surrendering to the allure of strong-handed leaders over the messy tapestry of democratic politics. The “end of history” has reshaped our perception of debt, turning it into an insidious dance of dependence, one that the defenders of this worldview cling to with a fervent passion, for they are the greatest beneficiaries of their own captivity.

In this era of supposed progress, the pursuit of material gain and prosperity has thrust debt into the limelight of societal discourse. Mortgages, once hailed as gateways to a brighter future, now imprison those who dared to dream. Within the labyrinth of financial institutions’ machinations, the mortgage prisoners find themselves entangled, gasping for a lifeline amidst the suffocating burden of their debts. The dream of homeownership turned nightmarish, driving them into the arms of the autocratic promise of salvation.

As democracy stumbles, a cacophony of discordant voices echoes through its hollow chambers. Mortgage prisoners, weary of the cacophony, yearn for a firm hand to guide them through the turbulence. The allure of an authoritative leader, one who offers swift solutions and a clear path forward, becomes irresistible. In their thirst for expedient resolutions, they willingly gamble their freedom, bartering it for the precarious promise of security under the rule of a captivating despot.

And so, the paradox unfurls in the shadow of the “end of history,” a tapestry woven with threads of deception. The notion of debt has morphed into an accepted norm, a seductive melody that reverberates through the minds of the imprisoned. The mortgage prisoners, resigned to perpetual indebtedness, hesitate to question the very chains that weigh them down. In a surreal twist, they embrace the very system that ensnares them, clinging to their comfort as it veils their cognitive dissonance.

Defenders of the prevailing dogma, driven by self-preservation, form an unyielding bulwark against any alternative vision. They lash out against “different,” fearing the tectonic shift it might bring. But in their rejection, they stifle the very essence of progress and innovation. Their staunch defense of the status quo becomes a masquerade—a dance with shadows to preserve the sanctity of their constrained world.

This enigmatic dance continues, as the defenders of the familiar perpetuate a cycle of intellectual stagnation. As the paradox deepens, mortgage prisoners yearn for liberation from their financial burdens, unaware that they have become the unwitting guards of their own cells. A web of contradictions entangles them, thwarting the pursuit of progress and emancipation.

The challenge lies in breaking free from this spiraling paradox, in daring to traverse the unknown, and in embracing the multifaceted journey of change. Only then can we exorcise the ghosts of authoritarianism, and in that moment of emancipation, the true symphony of democracy will resound. The melody of liberty shall soar beyond the dissonance of confinement, weaving a new cadence in the surreal landscape of possibility.