![]() Google Cloud AI Platform provides robust tools for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) – AI Platform: GCP is known for its AI capabilities and offers a range of services to facilitate AI development.Azure Bot Service enables the creation of intelligent chatbots. Azure Cognitive Services provides pre-built AI capabilities for vision, language, and speech recognition. Azure Machine Learning allows users to build, train, and deploy AI models efficiently. Microsoft Azure – Azure AI: Microsoft Azure is a prominent cloud platform for AI, offering a comprehensive suite of AI services.AWS ensures high levels of security for AI models, making it a popular choice for businesses. ![]() Amazon Rekognition provides image and video analysis, while Amazon Comprehend offers natural language processing capabilities. Amazon SageMaker, for instance, allows users to build, train, and deploy machine learning models easily. Amazon Web Services (AWS): AWS is currently the leading cloud provider for AI, with a wide range of AI services that cater to different needs. ![]() Let’s look at some of the top AI cloud service platforms of 2023. This has fostered innovation and opened doors for startups, small businesses, and individuals to drive digital transformation through AI. Previously limited to large organizations with specialized expertise and infrastructure, AI cloud platforms enable businesses of all sizes to leverage AI technologies without extensive investments or expertise.
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![]() “How Deep” is probably one of the coolest old hymns that they’ve pumped, beginning with simple piano and voice, slowly the instrumentation builds and fills out the song layer by layer and builds in power. I know I will dance and sing and bow before the throne I know I will run through Heaven’s brilliant streets of gold As soon as the chorus hits, you know that you’re experiencing something special. ![]() And a King’s K spin on Dustin Kensrue’s “Grace Alone” is another cool addition.Ī song I just can’t get enough of is “I Know, ” with its big gang vocals, an infectious beat, and brilliant instrumentation. I love the rawness and expression in the live versions, but the precise engineering and polish of being in studio brings out even more life in these tracks.Ī slightly different rendition of “All Creatures” from their Asaph’s Arrows EP also makes its way onto this album. This album includes studio versions of the Live in Color songs that were recorded and filmed live in one evening. īecoming Who We Are is an intriguing, exciting, and entertaining listen the entire way through. The band has already released 4 EP’s of wildly creative and innovative music, and Becoming Who We Are is certainly cream of the sonic crop. But King’s Kaleidoscope’s eclectic sound is the extreme opposite – they are a group of musicians fashioning masterpieces. When a genre-bending band is described as “organized chaos” and includes trumpets, strings, woodwinds and hip-hop beats alongside your typical bass, guitar, drum combo, you might be expecting some kind of experimental cacophony. King’s Kaleidoscope is a 10 piece band that melds multiple genres and styles in a manner unlike anything you’ve heard. Without a doubt, King’s Kaleidoscope’s Becoming Who We Are is an unforgettable 5/5! Then a group like King’s Kaleidoscope comes along… and it quickly becomes clear that they are in a world of their own. It sounds harsh, I know, and I can respect the worshipful heart behind the music, I can respect that someone is using their gifts and all that, but it just feels like it could be so much more. ![]() Sometimes, with a typical worship act I can get bored in about 37 seconds. Tooth and Nail Records artist King’s Kaleidoscope has just released their incredible full-length album, Becoming Who We Are. ![]() ![]() ![]() Born out of our passion for classic JDM cars, our goal is to improve knowledge and accessibility to these wonder pieces of history and machinery and assist in the enlightenment of the collector market of the true values this vehicles possess. Please check by time to time to see if opportunities do open up.JDM Legends was founded in 2009 by Eric Bizek and Trey Cobb, who is also the owner/founder of the aftermarket tuning company Cobb Tuning. We love and work on JDM cars of all makes and models.Īre you guys currently hiring at JDM Legends? But truth be told, we have also restored Celica's, Impreza's, RX-7's, and countless others. Our builds and restorations on them have certainly got a lot of attention, and we love them like our own children. We would love to create and share new content with our fans but the decision is ultimately up to the network.ĭo you guys only work on Datsun and other vintage Nissans?ĭatsun and Nissan are very popular at the moment in the retro import scene. Season 1 is currently available on many on-demand and apps for viewing. There is still no confirmed plans either way. Will there be a Season 2 of the "JDM Legends" tv show? ![]() Please be sure to provide an valid email at checkout to get this information. You will receive email updates with tracking numbers once your order is preparing for shipping and has left our fulfillment center. Please read each product description carefully for variations between items. Most items are preshrunk unless noted in the product description. We reserve the right to refuse orders for any reason without explanation.Īll JDM Legends apparels follows standard sizing. By placing your order, you certify that you are purchasing products for personal use only and not for resale. Buyers may purchase products only for personal use and not for resale. If there are purchase limits that are violated through the use of bots or other methods, your order may be cancelled. If we suspect that fraud is involved with payment or ordering process, we may cancel your order. We reserve the right to accept, decline or cancel your order for any reason. Items sold from our "Parts" collection or any special order wheels are FINAL sales and no refunds will be accepted. Please use our contact page to request an exchange. If item(s) are defective upon arrival and not related to shipping issues, we will offer an exchange and replacement at no cost to you. Lost packages or damaged items due to shipping issues must be claimed with your carrier. Please carefully review your order and verify your information before finalizing your purchase. There will be no returns or exchanges unless the item is defective. We are not responsible for return shipping, return costs associated with late arrivals, or undeliverable packages.Īll sales are final. If your package says delivered and has not arrived please consult your local shipping carrier and postal outlet for further assistance. Please note that it is not uncommon for an item to say delivered and arrive a few days later. Please check with your local shipping carrier and postal outlets for details. However due to the current global pandemic, please expect longer than expected ship times as shipping carriers and postal services are dealing with increased volumes and have increased safety measures which may cause delays. You as the buyer will be accountable for all restrictions, duties, taxes, and any other fees collected at receiving their order at the destination country.ĭuring this time, we are shipping orders as usual. JDM Legends will not be held responsible for any duties, taxes, or customs fees under any circumstance. Tracking updates on your order will be provided to the email you provide at checkout. Any error in delivery made on the buyer's end will be your responsibility. Please verify your information prior to finalizing your order. We will only ship to the mailing address provided at checkout (no exceptions will be made). ![]() We make zero on shipping or handling fees and pass along our discounted rates with carriers to you. ![]() We offer many cost effective options through most reputable carriers. In stock items are usually shipped within 3 business days. ![]() ![]() You may have more than one ad-blocker installed. You’ll usually find this icon in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. Click the icon of the ad-blocker extension installed on your browser.When it turns gray, click the refresh icon that has appeared next to it or click the button below to continue.Click on the large blue power icon at the top.Click the UBlock Origin icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.It will turn gray and the text above will go from “ON” to “ OFF”. Click on the “ Ad-Blocking” button at the bottom.Click the Ghostery icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.Switch off the toggle to turn it from “ Enabled on this site” to “ Disabled on this site”.Click the AdBlocker Ultimate icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.“ Block ads on – This website” switch off the toggle to turn it from blue to gray.Click the AdBlock Plus icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.Under “ Pause on this site” click “ Always”.Click the AdBlock icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.In other music news, 21 Savage announced a North American tour with DaBaby this Summer.Īdblock Adblock Plus Adblocker Ultimate Ghostery uBlock Origin Others Check out the poster below for more details. ![]() The Cult Records 10th Anniversary celebration is happening on May 28 and 29. So far, the five-piece has only released one project under the imprint, the Future Present Past EP in 2016. While the term “featuring” is still unclear, the enlisted Cult Records signees are bound to make appearances during the two-day pop-up.Ĭasablancas formed Cult Records in 2009 initially to release his solo music but it quickly turned into a standalone label, eventually entering an agreement with Kobalt. As of 2019, they have a total of 20 signed artists, including The Strokes who signed with Cult Records upon the completion of their five-album deal with RCA.
![]() I actually expected the cleric Bonk to Turn Undead but he didn’t, they just went straight at the pair of rotting eyes. Well the effect worked they were certainly engaged, but they did not hesitate to attack it. The little eye stalks on its head swivel toward the players and I put down the color picture of a zombie beholder. Two large orbs of rotting flesh drift out of the wagon’s interior, a large white eye opening in the center. I let them prepare any spells or weapons before we rolled initiative as the driver pulls a latch and drops the side of the wagon. As the players watch the Guunt decides to charge forward, hoping to grab the carriage. The vampire women laugh louder this time and the carriage pulls away. “Welcome to Barovia!” The man says, waving his glass of wine. Behind him is a beaten old carnival wagon, with a driver hidden beneath a large hat and long coat. Inside the carriage with him were three vampire women, scantily dressed, a red-head, a blonde and a brunette, who laugh and mock the players. ![]() Inside they could only see the hand of a pale man holding what appeared to be a glass of wine. The party gathered together in front of her tent as a beautiful black chariot appeared. Just as the reading was finished, Madam Eva jumped up, sending her crystal ball crashing to the floor. He failed, so all he heard was the sound of wagons approaching down the dirt path. Midway through the reading, I had Thalamir make a perception check to figure out what was going on, as the mood in the camp suddenly took a dark turn. I won’t put the results here, because some of them might read this and know where the clues are pointing to. I did the deck reading before the session, so I had one of them flip the cards that were pre-arranged to fit with the results. Not all of them could fit into the tent, so half the party went in while the others waited outside. Once this tale was told, they were invited in to meet Madam Eva. This is actually the story used in the “Story Hooks” chapter to get the players to Barovia. Stanimir told them the story of a wounded warrior that the Vistani protected, a warrior who was now cursed. Guunt wanted food, but alcohol was all the Vistani were serving. When they arrived at the Vistani Camp, they were welcomed as friends, invited to join the party, where the wine flowed freely. I think it had a good effect on them and was a eerie start to the session. As soon as they touched the corpse with their holy hand it faded to smoke, which I described as similar to dry ice. Finally the paladin Sam decided to lay on hands, even though it was clearly a corpse. They could all see it, and described it to her. It was identical to Ombra in every way, even the eyes. Guunt the barbarian cut the body down and held it. Ombra told the party about it and they all gathered around, telling her that it was HER hanging there. She could hear the body swinging and smell a familiar scent coming from it. How do I get a blind character to see their own dead corpse? This is how I did it: As the monk passed the gallows, in the rear of the party, they heard a sudden thud of a weight behind them. Of course I rolled Ombra, the blind Tabaxi monk. ![]() ![]() As they passed by the creaking old gallows, I rolled randomly to see which player would see their character hanging there. Travelling to the Tser Pool, they came to the crossroads. Other members of the group picked up winter gear, as it was getting very cold in Barovia, then they rested for the night. No one visited the church and it was haunted by ghosts, so Sir Saggamore and a couple others helped him burn the building to the ground. After laying his son’s destruction, there was no reason for the old pastor to stay there anymore. Ireena’s father was laid to rest in a simple ceremony, after which some of the adventurers helped Donavich burn the church to the ground. I did not want to send them out again without getting a long rest, so they spent the day getting acquainted with the new members of the party. The party had rested earlier that night, in fact they had only just woken up, taken the dead Burgomaster’s body to the church and killed the vampire spawn in the basement. Two new players joined this week, a Paladin dedicated to trade and commerce named Sam and a Viking Barbarian from the Nocturnal Sea who came to Barovia to find meaning to the dreams he was having about places he had never been to. ![]() In the end I decided to use two Zombie Beholders, which I felt were “thematically appropriate” to Ravenloft. A bare knuckle fist fight, surrounded by Vistani, it would have been a scene straight out of Snatch. What monsters could I throw at them that would be a challenge? At first I thought of having Strahd challenge them to a fist fight, teaching the players humility with his own hands. For most of the week I tried to figure out how to make their first encounter with Strahd a memorable one. What a crazy session this turned out to be. ![]() ![]() ![]() The superior constrictor muscle originates from the pterygoid process, posterior end of the mylohyoid line of mandible, and the pterygomandibular ligament/raphe. The outer circular layer consists of the superior, middle, and inferior constrictor muscles. The sensory fibers of the pharyngeal muscles come from the vagus, glossopharyngeal, and the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve. The vagus nerve and its branches provide motor innervation to all other muscles of the pharynx. The glossopharyngeal nerve provides motor to the stylopharyngeus muscle. The motor branch of the pharyngeal plexus comes from the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve. The motor and sensory innervation of pharyngeal muscles is provided primarily by the pharyngeal plexus. Lymphatic drainage of the pharynx first goes to the retropharyngeal lymph node then into the deep cervical lymph node. Venous drainage of the pharynx is into the pharyngeal venous plexus that eventually drains into the internal jugular vein. The branches of the external carotid artery include the ascending pharyngeal, facial, lingual, and maxillary artery. Blood Supply and LymphaticsĪrterial supply to the pharyngeal muscle is from branches of the external carotid artery. Subsequently, the vagus nerve innervates most of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles. The fourth branchial arch forms most of the pharyngeal constrictors as well as the superior laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve (CN X). The third arch also forms the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), which is the nerve that innervates the stylopharyngeus muscle. The third branchial arch develops into the stylopharyngeus muscle. The muscles and nerve innervation of the pharynx derive embryologically from the third and fourth brachial arches. These muscles work together to help move food bolus from the oral cavity into the esophagus. The palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus muscles are the inner longitudinal muscles that contract to raise the pharynx and larynx. The superior pharyngeal constrictor contract to narrow its lumen to assist with bolus transport as well as seal the nasopharynx to prevent food from going up - the middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors contract to narrow its lumen to assist with bolus transport. These constrictor muscles originate from bones and cartilage anteriorly and insert posteriorly to a tendinous seam called the pharyngeal raphe. ![]() The outer circular layer consists of the superior, middle, and inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscles. ![]() The pharynx extends from the posterior nasal and oral cavity to the cricoid cartilage before blending into the esophagus. The inner longitudinal layer consists of the palatopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and stylopharyngeus muscles. The pharyngeal muscles receive innervation from the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve to work in sync to propel food from the oral cavity into the esophagus. A group of muscles called the pharyngeal muscles, which consist of the outer circular layer and the inner longitudinal layer, forms the lumen of the pharynx. The pharynx is the digestive system posterior to the nasal cavity, oral cavity, and larynx and divides into the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and laryngopharynx. ![]() ![]() ![]() While the gel is still tacky, sprinkle glitter over it, trying your best to get an even coverage. Step four: Apply a second thin layer of colour polish, just to your thumb this time. Step three: Apply a thin layer of your chosen colour polish to every nail on one hand. Gross.Ĭure under the LED lamp for 1-2 minutes (I’ve found that the longer you cure each layer for, the longer the manicure lasts). If you don’t, you’ll get big gloopy bits of gel hanging off your nails once it’s hardened. If you do smudge any, use the orange stick to clear up the edges. Step two: Apply a thin layer of base coat to all the nails on one hand, being careful not to get any on your skin. Prep the nails by wiping with the gel cleanser and then apply a thin coat of the pre-gel primer. Step one: Trim and file your nails to the desired length. ♥ Pot of glitter, mine was from Hobbycraft OK, so enough gassing, on with the tutorial! Supplies Needed The one I’m using in this tutorial is Neon Cherise, a super hot neon pink. There are so many in fact that it’s a little overwhelming. You can buy them on Amazon, they’re only £5 a pop and there are literally hundreds of colours to choose from. In terms of the colours, Bluesky is the best non-professional brand I’ve found so far. The starter set costs £69.99, which may seem like a lot initially, but when consider that getting them done professionally costs upward of £30, it pays for itself after just a few uses. The first time I did it my nails started to peel within 2 – 3 days. ![]() That simply would not do! I also found the top coat to not be very effective. I bought ‘Rose’ which was the brightest pink they had in stock but the results were baby pink, almost nude finish nails. While the lamp does the trick I was disappointed with the colours available. ![]() It comes with the lamp, nail primer, cleanser, base and top coat, and your choice of colour polish. I bought the SensatioNAIL Starter Set from Boots. I left some gel polish on a piece of paper and 24 hours later it was still sticky. I did a little test to see if it was possible to do it without one and it’s just not. The first thing that you’ll need is a UV LED lamp, which cures (hardens) the gel. Refusing to be beaten I kept on searching high and low, and I think that I’ve now not only finally uncovered my perfect formula, but I’ve figured out how to do a DIY glitter manicure too! Even the professional manicurist I went too didn’t have glitter options with as much coverage as this method gave me. Everywhere I looked you needed a trade card to be allowed to buy them. Unfortunately I quickly found out that the gel brands used by the professionals (Gelish, Shellac etc) aren’t available for purchase by us mere mortals. And so I uncovered a brand new obsession. After realising what a dent in my bank balance my love affair was having, I decided to see if there was a DIY option. However getting them done professionally all the time can be really blooming expensive. I find nothing more annoying than nail varnish that chips the first time I wear it, so I love that gels last up to 4 weeks and without damaging your nails underneath. I’m slightly obsessed with gel manicures. ![]() ![]() ![]() Retirement accounts aside, you can also invest through a regular brokerage account. They can help female entrepreneurs save for their future in a tax-efficient way. Self-employed? Consider a solo 401(k), SEP IRA, or traditional or Roth IRA. Most programs will match up to 3% of your salary, and some will go even higher. Try to contribute at least enough to secure an employer match. An ideal target is 15% of your income, but saving even 5% to 10% can have a huge impact over time. ![]() If you’re already investing in a 401(k) or other retirement account, that’s great! Take a step further and see if you can dial that up a bit. You can also use your next tax refund to strengthen your savings. To increase your emergency fund, funnel a portion of every paycheck into your savings account. If your emergency fund is tied up in your 401(k), for example, you’ll pay taxes on any distributions-plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you’re under 59 ½. This money should ideally be held in a high-yield savings account that’s easy to access should you need it. The rule of thumb is to have three to six months’ worth of expenses in your emergency fund, but you might go higher if your income fluctuates. An unexpected job loss could turn your finances upside down if you aren’t prepared. That might be a small-scale hiccup like a minor home repair or medical bill-or something more substantial. It’s only a matter of time before you run into a surprise expense. If you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will. When you research average compensation in your area for your position and experience, how does your current pay measure up? If there’s a gap, it may be time to negotiate a pay raise or look for a new employer. The idea is to clarify your spending habits. You can do this easily with an app or by reviewing your recent credit card and debit card statements. Begin by tracking your spending from the last few months. After meeting all your monthly financial obligations, how much is left over for saving and investing? Eliminating unnecessary expenses can free up more cash to put toward your financial goals. Now is an ideal time to review your cash flow. Here are five simple action items to help you get there. Doing so can reduce financial stress, increase well-being, and set the stage for long-term financial strength. With a new year ahead, now is the perfect time for women to review their finances. I’m a financial advisor who’s dedicated to leveling the playing field and helping women overcome financial adversity. On a positive note, a record number of women are investing outside of retirement-and outperforming male investors by 40 basis points, according to a 2021 Fidelity Investments analysis. Meanwhile, women are expected to live longer, which means we’ll likely need more money in retirement. The CDC reports that two out of every three caregivers in the U.S. A woman’s income and ability to save for retirement may also be impacted by caregiving roles. We earn 82 cents for every dollar a man makes, according to a recent PayScale report. It can sometimes feel like the financial deck is stacked against women. ![]() ![]() ![]() We have had a chance to review your application in consideration for the role, and while your skills and experience are impressive, they are not the right fit at this time. ![]() You have a great background but unfortunately, we’ve decided to move forward with other candidates who more closely match the requirements of the role.It looks like this role would not be the best fit for your talents, but know we are continually adding to our world class team and that our door is always open for you to explore other opportunities.Here are some of the action statements I've received related to fit: Instead, they "know it when they see it" AKA look for "fit." I'm convinced that the majority of people (approximately 100%) in charge of hiring don't do enough diligence to comprehensively define their job needs, learn about their candidates, and see potential instead of past experience only. Rejection statements tend to fall into the following categories: Fitīy far the most popular sentiment utilized in rejection emails is the nebulous specter of "fit," the be-all-end-all to hiring decisions worldwide. When you scrub away the bromides of thanking the applicant for her resume, explaining how impressed the company is with her experience, and promising to be in touch should another job come up (I've never, ever received such follow-up in 20yrs of jobs), there's typically just one sentence laying out the cold, hard truth: you've been rejected. To find out I collected the action statements from the last batch of rejection emails I've received over time. There's typically just one sentence laying out the cold, hard truth: you've been rejected Who calls to give a rejection? It felt against protocol, and cruel somehow, even though I loved the woman and her genuine sympathy.īut was a call against protocol? What's the alternative? Is a form email after weeks (or in some cases, months) better than a personalized rejection? And if so, does the actual language within make any difference on how crummy it feels to be rejected? Surprisingly, though, when I called her I was informed that "unfortunately" my application was no longer being considered. Even better, I'd get to make arrangements on the phone. Instead it was the HR recruiter asking me to call her. I looked at the unopened voicemail like a gift that I was waiting all afternoon to unwrap.Įventually I got a coffee, got comfy, and listened to the inevitable good news. It was from a company I had been interviewing with for several weeks, and I was expecting either a rejection email or a phone call informing me of next steps moving forward. We regret to inform you that your condolences cannot be accepted at this time.I received a call yesterday that I let go straight to voicemail. We closed our mouths against hunger and anger we knew and did not know our families, friends, fellows, and leaders, who hunted us, ran with us, and died with us. To survive, we had to shut our eyes, with which we would have seen what was in yours. In the rush to escape this bloodletting, which has been its own kind of war, our ears fell to the ground, and so we cannot now hear your condolences. Some of us did, but some of us lived, and so the memory of this will outlast even the children we fought to save. They were torn from our hands we fought to keep them with us we pushed them away from us to save them we held them close in the hope that we might take their bullets and thereby die before them. We lost our children willingly and unwillingly. Some of us had little money and little food we had children. We perished and survived and were less and also more for it. We could not wait for you to remember us. In a small world, we felt far away from you. In a small country, we felt far away from you. We were incidental we were vital we were enemies we were friends we were disputed we were uncounted. We joined others’ battles, willingly and unwillingly we walked forward on paths not our own when the paths we would have chosen were closed to us. By both dying in and surviving this place, we will live here long after your condolences become a ghost in your throat. Our bodies entered the earth in places we cannot now identify, and so we are everywhere, blown to dust. We evacuated our homes in the light we vanished from our homes in the dark we walked away from our families, toward the weapons, and wished that we could turn around. We find the word condolences stunning in its insufficiency for past and future. At present, both our pain and our hope defy that word, which has been offered and denied us, which we need and do not need, and which in any case we cannot accept, because they (your condolences) will not reach from what has happened to what will come. We regret to inform you that your condolences cannot be accepted at this time. ![]() ![]() ![]() Hit me up on Twitter with yours - I need some new recommendations.The list of best shows on Netflix just keeps growing. Well, that was pretty much my year on the sofa. It’s just … good a perfect balance of humor, drama, and pathos. ![]() Unlike some of the more … experimental shows on this list, GLOW is accessible, easy to watch, but boasts a great deal of depth. The characters are all perfectly fleshed-out, with much of the humor and plot twists coming from the neverending series of conflicts between the gorgeous ladies, and their chronically intoxicated mentor. ![]() Entertainment might be a brutal, misogynistic and exhausting line of work, but it provides a challenge unlike any other. The series isn’t really about wrestling (which is kind of a boring subject), but a team of outcasts coming together to create a compelling narrative, trying to retain an audience while retaining their sanity. When I try to convince my friends to watch a show about ladies in the eighties learning how to wrestle, they look at me with an expression that can best be described as “sympathetic.” But I swear, it’s really good. Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, continued with its second season on Netflix this year, and it remains, in my opinion, the best live-action drama to be found on the streaming service. This season of Bojack Horseman is the best take on the #MeToo era that I’ve seen on television so far, which is really quite strange for an animation starring unhappy animals. This season takes a long, hard look at profession pervert Harvey Weinstein, not directly, but by exploring the toxic facade of fake apologies and scripted forgiveness that pervades the entertainment industry. This show has been one of my favorites on Netflix for years now, and if you haven’t seen it yet, why not?Īnother animation which pushes the art form in new directions, the show follows Bojack, the 90’s sitcom star turned depressive, as he desperately attempts to get his life in order, and fails, every single time.Īnyone who has ever struggled with a bad habit that they can’t quite shake, which is most people, can relate to Bojack and his genuine, if seemingly hopeless attempt to improve. Humanity’s terrible tendency to follow deeply unqualified leaders into chaos is illuminated here, and it makes for pretty sobering viewing. Even he knew how utterly ridiculous the whole charade was, it seems. There are several shocking scenes on display here, but my personal favorite was a clip in which the narrator is describing Rajneesh’s penchant for recreational substances, and the footage actually shows the guru giggling, high as a kite, while being worshipped by deluded cultists. Oddly, there are a lot of strange parallels to the Trump phenomenon with this story, as a bunch of drifting westerners seeking direction flock to the most questionable guru imaginable, and proceed to accomplish a frightening amount of territorial grabbing. All I could think about while watching the town descend into madness was “Why didn’t I already know about this?” This documentary series was another unexpected treasure of 2018 - how did such a bizarre event occur, on such a large scale, and seemingly never get acknowledged again? How often do cults blossom in small town America?Īnd with such an impressive amount of footage documenting the whole damn thing, to boot. The show has a lot of interesting, amusing points to make about society, and how weirdly prudish and awkward we can be regarding sex, no matter our age. The dreadful sense of shame that accompanies perversion even takes a form, and he’s one of the most powerful and persuasive characters on the show, unfortunately. The physical embodiment of puberty takes the form of a monster (what else?), always tempting the tweens into giving in to their animalistic urges (Constance the Hormone Monstress is just glorious). The pillow currently being using as a masturbatory aid can be a character, as can the ghost of a jazz singer that randomly inhabits the attic. I use the term menagerie, because the creators of Big Mouth very much understand the limits of animation, in that there are no limits whatsoever. While Big Mouth can be kind of repulsive in its depiction of angsty, prepubescent sexual exploration, it’s a surprisingly intelligent series that has a lot of good punchlines, with immensely relatable themes and a menagerie of insanely inventive characters. I really would never have expected a crude cartoon that explores the worst aspects of adolescence to be one of my favorite shows of 2018, but here we are. ![]() |
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