And, going now in reverse with writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos of "The Lobster" and "The Favorite" - we here have a director - while getting more polished in his technique by coming to Hollywood, losing his edge...

His films have grown more mainstream, which is - while better for him, worse for me. 

Dogtooth (Dente Canino) - a completely surreal satire on (? and here I'm not sure? Greece & Government? OR The Middle Class? It works either way) - and it's amazing. 5 Stars in the first 15 minutes, more as the film goes on. Brutally funny, incisive, he annihilates the conventions and morals of the middle class, touching upon the contagion of home-schooled crazy, it's insane and works on more than a few levels...

Apparently he's done a few others, I will have to look for them and rescue them from obscurity, this is terrific stuff.

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Category: Film

The premise - A man's life forks when he's attempting to board a train, and the movie traces each possible destiny from the fork. That is the plot. It's set against Communist Poland, and as such is worthwhile just for the reminder of how devastating the Soviets were to culture (and - in different ways, still are today), but it has some of Kieslowski's signatures, uncomfortably intimate moments, atmospheric, haunting.

Overall, my least favorite of his movies. Which is to say it's a damned good film by any standards, but what followed was breathtaking. If you're just discovering him maybe view the Dekalog first, then go back to the first two, then forward to the Blue, White & Red trilogy & La Double Vie de Veronique.

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Category: Film

"Take what you like but leave some for others". I thought it was a kind thing, free rocks & dinosaur bones, but I was inundated. 700 views in 12 hours, 2 dozen messages, then the first 2 bright and squirrely...

First guy wants to take them all. I gently tell him - "Pick what you like but leave some for others, there's plenty there...". And he agrees and grabs a couple of buckets and leaves. Half are gone. The next, the same, and it's done, there's a few left - but not worth anyone driving over for.The second picker, he's Asian, and a bit despairing he got there 2nd, the first took all the good ones, the big ones, and I don't know why he wants them but - catch his eye - "Chinese Medicine?" - he doesn't answer, just looks at me. Maybe. Or maybe I'm being a racist prick, I don't want to be that but his taste isn't discerning in terms of quality or shape or structure, it's all about size, and I'm curious is all...their culture - to me at least - is still largely inscrutable.

There was plenty enough for everyone who responded to fill a medium canvas bag full, now there's none. 

Offer something for free - whatever - and you can see the worst in people. I was half tempted to suggest that air was free, but I didn't want them hyperventilating and passing out in my hall. And if they paid? What are they like at an all-you-can-eat buffet?

Never again, and I can only despair at the state and future of humanity.

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Category: Calgary

It's crazy. Post an ad for free dinosaur bones - I have at least 4 5 gallon pails full, and a dozen responses in 5 minutes. 1 Girl wants them all, will pick them up, and I'm a bit annoyed - there's plenty enough to go around, and people that want "ALL" the free stuff are generally like locusts. Plus it makes me suspect they are hoping to flip them on the black market, which - if I can't do - they shouldn't be able to either.

So she gives me a time and I say "sure, just text first to ensure there are some left..." and she gets annoyed - well, if I can't save them she can't be bothered...

More, terse 1 word questions, "Where?!!!!", free, it brings out the - well, bottom feeders. And then there was this:

I couldn't make this stuff up.

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Category: For Sale
  1. Timex Bait
  2. Old Tire from a 240 DL Volvo
  3. Bez Konca - Krzysztof Kieślowski
  4. Pellet Gun