There’s no Chinatown here as such, but there’s a Chinese association, where they do tai chi and stuff. I might see if they’re open during Christmas.

I love spending Christmas alone when it’s my choice… and I have food and not being crushed with stress from all directions, and not living in a street full crazy people who won’t let me have any peace in my own home. It’s very different when you’ve been treated like shit all year, then have a super shitty Christmas lined up.

I had/have the same thoughts. IANAL but I think if no one claims your corpse, the government pays for its disposal.

Let’s just get through Christmas before tackling the other stuff in your post. One depressing lump of crap at a time! 🍻

Cat pics etc can be the presents haha.

If it’s meant to happen, it will find a way to happen!

Life is hard and stressful whether you’re kind or unkind, so be kind. I don’t mean be a doormat, but don’t be a dick.

Feng shui was originally presented as a mystical, “wive’s tale” system exactly because of this. If a sage told a young person to keep their windows clean because then your house will be full of “clean” light instead of “dirty” light, and this will improve your mood, the young person would tell him to shove off. But if he says cleaning your windows invites the lucky spirits to enter your home, it plants a seed in the person’s mind and they might actually try cleaning their windows.

Lantana, burnt diesel, petrichor, mango sap.

As a fellow lactose intolerant who was raised on soy “milk”, I say it should be cheaper just by virtue of how horrible it is.

A liquid isn’t milk if it didn’t pass through a nipple. Soy, oat, almond… they’re OK, but they’re not milk.

Yanni.

TherRussian movie The Idiot (released in 1960) had an actress (Yuliya Borisova) who repeatedly had a wildly maniacal laugh. The look on her face when she does it matches perfectly.

I watched season one of Rewrite, because I thought the Asian Kung Fu Generation song would be on it, but that was FMA as it turns out. I liked Rewrite though. I’m definitely going down an anime rabbit hole now!

I came to say this… in a land of humans with dog spirits.

The only reason I watched Sunset Boulevard was because I read a theory someone had that the Metallica song The Memory Remains was written about it. So I watched it out of curiosity and it fits. I didn’t notice any “plot points” because the overall theme and pathos of the movie gripped me. I agree that the woman who played Norma did a frighteningly good job. I might add some more to my list soon. I didn’t realise so many people would reply so I just did it off the top of my head.

nah i stil reed reel gud n stuff

It’s not meant to be revolutionary - he even said so himself in the introduction. He just collated the best bits of advice and wisdom on the topic, and presented it in an easily digestible way. It’s like an alcoholic asking a therapist for advice, and the therapist says he should stop drinking, and the alcoholic says “that’s not very revolutionary”. We all have things we screw up and we know how and why, and the answer is something obvious. I think considering the time he wrote it, it was a pretty innovative way of telling people things they already know, but in a way that they might want to start listening.

Just finished watching Tokyo Godfathers. It was really good! I’ll watch it again at Christmas!

Usually when I buy groceries, I’ll buy a snack to eat on the way home. A packet of crisps, a chocolate bar, something like that. I got tired of chocolate and crisps, so now my snack is a piece of fruit. Cheaper, healthier, tastier. It’s a simple thing but it makes a big difference.

I’ve been asking for a list like this for years, and anime fans, who I thought would want to help someone enjoy anime, were unhelpful jerks. So thanks for the list!

I tried to find a free online streaming of Tokyo Godfather but couldn’t find one. I’ll be sure to watch these ones. Thanks again.

It’s good to explore dark themes and be sad sometimes, I just wish Kes went for another 10 minutes and end on a different note. I’m bouncing off everyone’s suggestions to maintain the variety. Still exploring your list!