https://youtu.be/MjvYxafHFoo Here's the first video of 2022! Welcome back, and to kick things off we're going to start with this little micro review of the novel Authority, from the Southern Reach Trilogy. Here we will go over one single scene in the novel and break down how it nails everything a scene can and should… Continue reading AUTHORITY Scene Review
Category: Thoughts
Idea pieces I post.
Scary Stories
https://youtu.be/yqffZQ5ebCI Evening ghouls and ghosts, and welcome to another special Halloween episode from me, ya boy, Joe Van! This year we shall dive into three chilling scary stories that were told to me in my youth. Enjoy! And let me know if any of them got to you 👻 PLAYLISTS- SPEECHES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyW0IXUsqiMVngmiBwHfhWFwLgfLcfRWU MONKE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyW0IXUsqiMX_doqCZdBtnAttTVzQVlxH MOVIE… Continue reading Scary Stories
Kanzi 太
https://youtu.be/CbWk-KKACUs Hola Primate Nation! Welcome to another addition of Monke in Review, where we go over monkes both big and small across history! Today I present: Kanzi the bonobo! Kanzi is known to this day as the world's smartest bonobo. Let me know below if you've already heard about this monke or just learned today!… Continue reading Kanzi 太
Pigs
https://youtu.be/3Q-WFUcIKHc So, what the heck are pigs, I hear you ask. A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the even-toed ungulate family Suidae. Pigs include domestic pigs (Sus domesticus) and their ancestor, the common Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), along with other species. Pigs, like all suids, are native to the Eurasian and African continents, ranging from Europe to the Pacific islands. Juvenile… Continue reading Pigs
Georgie Boy
https://youtu.be/nor_DoOBLLE Hola Primate Nation! Welcome to another addition of Monke in Review, where we go over monkes both big and small across history! Today I present: Georgie Boy the capuchin monkey! Georgie Boy found incredible fame on TikTok during the 2020 lockdowns by opening presents, and by he himself just being a present to be… Continue reading Georgie Boy
Harambe
https://youtu.be/RlNLMet5IY4 Hola Primate Nation! Welcome to another addition of Monke in Review, where we go over monkes both big and small across history! Today I present: Harambe the gorilla. He changed the world, sadly, in his martyrdom. But with his loss the collective internet began paying more attention to primate treatment in captivity. However, it… Continue reading Harambe
Crystal the Monkey
https://youtu.be/7H0hnUoZy2w Hola Primate Nation! Welcome to another addition of Monke in Review, where we go over monkes both big and small across history! Today I present: Crystal the Monkey. She is as famous as she is talented.
Monke’s Revenge
https://youtu.be/oArqIo9qIpU There is a old tale long told of a thief, and a boy; or: a tale of two gibbons. Now that the mysterious, wise traveler has been wronged, there's a price to pay. It's judgment day.
PART III
https://youtu.be/T3qAa4_zsRE Welcome one and all to PART 3 of the 2000's MOVIES TIER LIST! Met with special guest host Samantha, we dive deep into our decade of young movie fun! Enjoy the final chapter!
PART II
https://youtu.be/K5jnCP8qIco Welcome one and all to PART 2 of the 2000's MOVIES TIER LIST! Met with special guest host Samantha, we dive deep into our decade of young movie fun! Enjoy.
2000’s Movies Tier List: PART I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kYXDNTAzzo Welcome one and all to the 2000's MOVIES TIER LIST! Met with special guest host Samantha, we dive deep into our decade of young movie fun! Enjoy.
Hubris: The Gorilla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcnCdyaWm7A There is another tale to be told by our wise, mysterious ape traveler. This one is about the dangers of flying too close to the sun: The Tale of Hubris the Gorilla. Enjoy!
Another Ape was Made
https://youtu.be/Mj5zQ4bopK0 Forged in secret, on the savannas of Africa, mutations saw fit to make another primate; one more powerful and cunning than the rest. In this ape, evolution poured its brutality, it malice, and its will to dominate all life! WEBSITE: https://thejoevan.com/ PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/jd-streams/id1541025716 BOOKS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/38534 KONG IS BEST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4JYmM-86PE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwmAfQyH-NmPbOsDesbyksg
Primate Nation
https://youtu.be/cBB6G7uSxXg I come to you, a mere Diddy Kong among kings, to present: Primate Nation! Home to King Kong, big foot, IKEA monkey and more! Come with me, fellow primates, to the promised land! Return to monke, and welcome, to thejoevandotcom! WEBSITE: https://thejoevan.com/ PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/jd-streams/id1541025716 BOOKS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/38534 KONG IS BEST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4JYmM-86PE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwmAfQyH-NmPbOsDesbyksg
Z o n e s: 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZgwP6-K8DI June 16th 2134 It’s time… time I told someone else about the tunnel. Or maybe not- I- I don’t know… No, no, I do. It’s been days now and I haven’t been able to make any head way as far as identifying the soldier that talked to me. I need help. Out of anyone… Continue reading Z o n e s: 4
Experiences
https://youtu.be/2cJx1JOHMcs Chilling, tingling, hot sensations of bubbly, proud, shocking but sad, boring, scratchy, pungent, exhausting happiness. EXPERIENCES are the tether with which we can all find common ground. It doesn’t matter what beliefs you have. If you’re shy, confident, sadistic, depressed, or think this reality is a simulation, we are all still existing through experiences.… Continue reading Experiences
Halo 5: Guardians: Retold: Part 2
https://youtu.be/vv-86mIQyM0 Welcome one and all to my official retelling of Halo 5. Enjoy!
Halo 5: Guardians: Retold: Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLFTtAosKvw Hey everyone! Check out my latest YouTube video project ^^
The Final Frontier
https://youtu.be/eTK5G2npZl0 It's hard to articulate, but the void; a word to describe nothing... Nothing, that isn't a thing, but a lack of, like the space between atoms, is the only thing that existed for all of us before we were born. This milestone edition of Thoughts is on the topic: the Final Frontier. None of… Continue reading The Final Frontier
Halloween
I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.(The Rocky Horror Picture Show) Be afraid... Be very afraid.(The Fly) It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare.(Halloween) Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble!(Macbeth) The ghosts are bad but the one that’s cursed, is the headless horseman; he’s… Continue reading Halloween
Work and Happiness
Welcome back everyone to another thought piece by me, ya boy, Joe Van. Today we will be covering work life, and general daily happiness. I first named this piece 'Work', but considering most peoples' work takes up a majority of their life, I had to include happiness. Imagine if humans had the same sleeping cycle… Continue reading Work and Happiness
Life in One-Hundred Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdV1QPfoq4s&t=67s Hello everyone and welcome back to another thought piece by me, ya boy, Joe Van! Today... well, today we will be doing a thought experiment. It's one that has been done a million times before by a million people, ad infinitum, and it's one I want to encourage all of you to do with… Continue reading Life in One-Hundred Years
Where Did We Come From? Part Two
What Is It Like to Be a Bat? is a paper that was written by American philosopher Thomas Nagel, first published in 1974. It was the public's introduction to the idea of, not only, 'I think; therefore I am,' but, 'there must be ways in which it is like to be something, other than our… Continue reading Where Did We Come From? Part Two
Aliens
What's that, in the sky? It's a bird! A plane! No, it's a U.F.O. BRO! Holy S**T Bro WHAT THE F**K?! Hey everybody and welcome back to another thought piece by me, ya boy, Joe Van! Today we will be going over the topic of aliens! Whether you mean people from another country, an unusual… Continue reading Aliens
Where Did We Come From?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCY_NR-Ti5Q Well, once upon a time, Adam and Eve were made by God. According to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, they were the first man and woman. Okay, okay, I'm just messin' with you, but for the longest time this story and others (where we all came from one pair) was the only answer we would get… Continue reading Where Did We Come From?
Filberts
Great Value Deluxe Mixed Nuts (with 40% cashews) houses many nuts, one of them being hazelnuts... but on the packaging they refer to hazelnuts as filberts. My girlfriend wondered at first what filberts were and why they didn't put hazelnuts on the can. Great Value isn't a Canadian brand as it is owned by Walmart,… Continue reading Filberts
States of Consciousness
When I put together my visualized Thoughts piece: Reality, (that you may or may not have seen yet depending on when you're reading this,) I used psychedelic visuals to start the video, yet at no point did I talk about the mind in that altered state, only that hallucinations are to be taken with care...… Continue reading States of Consciousness
Reality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI_DSEB62pE What starts as something almost too simple to even think about, reality is so secretly perplexing that doing a deep dive into what we know will leave one floored. The truth is, we know very little about how we are here. The Big Bang theory is still the best possible take on how our… Continue reading Reality
Astrology
Before getting into it, I just wanted to preface this piece by saying that if you believe in astrology, turn away now! I come at it with my biases and am rude to the subject. Now, with that said... Ahh the reading of one's psychology through the motion of planets and stars, peak science. Welcome… Continue reading Astrology
Ending Adolescence
Adolescence itself is the period following the onset of puberty, during which a young person develops from a child into an adult. We all know about adolescence. Aside from us personally experiencing it, countless coming-of-age movies and shows cover it. Most of the other major life changes are covered as well. Growing up is a… Continue reading Ending Adolescence
Proper Introductions 2020
https://youtu.be/Am2x4AGUzp0 Hello one and all! Check out my YouTube channel found through this video here or in my CHANNELS page. I'd love to have a conversation with you about any of the topics I've talked about, and the others I have yet to! Let me know what you think anywhere you can comment, and enjoy!
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is a video game franchise where you play a silent-type heroic character clad in green, that fights the flood- wait! Wait waitwait, wrong franchise. Sorry. In the Legend of Zelda, you play as a character appointed by your commanding nation to quell the forces against your kind, harnessing little more than… Continue reading The Legend of Zelda
Tolerance
When you think of tolerance, do you think of physical tolerance, or philosophical tolerance? The capacity to endure continued subjection to something, be it a drug, transplant, antigen, or environmental conditions, without adverse reaction, is physical tolerance. The ability or willingness to forbear something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does… Continue reading Tolerance
Late Nights
I gave you guys a late night thought of mine in Transient Thoughts, and here I just wanted to talk about late nights in general. They are the time of a 24 hour cycle where most people are asleep. It's when it's quietest in your corner of the world, and it's when deep thoughts can… Continue reading Late Nights
Joe Van Recommends
https://youtu.be/J42QWgMhFcU Hey everybody! It's ya boy, Joe Van, comin' back at ya with another piece, but this one's different from the rest. In this piece I wanted to recommend some YouTube channels to you guys. These channels are ones I've come across over years of binge-watching YouTuber content. So, they'll come in no particular order,… Continue reading Joe Van Recommends
Fame
Shamans and heroes! Serial killers and singers! Fame. The subject of fame is cool as hell because it's one of those other things that's completely unique to humans. It's the state of being known or talked about by many people, especially on account of notable achievements. People the world over know who Tom Cruise is.… Continue reading Fame
Language
At my elementary school, when you rose to grade five, you were inducted to the fictional island of Foo. You learned their language and pastime sports, and near the end of the year you would compete with your peers to claim victory in each category. That was the first and only time I truly learned… Continue reading Language
The Conflict with Conflict
Does life need conflict? More specifically, do humans need conflict in our lives to keep things interesting? Just look at animals in zoos for Pete's sake. They got no worries in the world, but also nothing to do. Good stories certainly need conflict. And states of higher consciousness or enlightenment are merely momentary, so it… Continue reading The Conflict with Conflict
Halo
https://youtu.be/JUIsH7grZW0 When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by its majesty? Before I jump into the video game that I'm actually referring to, let's cover the other uses of the word. A halo is a disk or circle of light shown surrounding or above the head of a saint or holy person to represent… Continue reading Halo
Love
Love is compassion and attraction. It's kindness and well wishes. It's hidden magic, being in it, and something worth fighting for. If life is a game, love is the prize! It's the one thing everyone wants. But does true love really exist? Sorry to keep playing the word game with you guys, but let's look… Continue reading Love
Strength and Power
Strength! Power! Austin POWERS. What is strength, and what is power? Strength is physical, and strength is emotional. Power is external control and authority, and control is an illusion. So what does that say about the people seeking power? One could say they're chasing a fleeting dream, like chasing the pink dragon- something they might… Continue reading Strength and Power
The Follies of Consciousness
There will be people that can argue to a good point that human consciousness is a part of evolution, but my intuition says it just ain't! Hence my title: The Follies of Consciousness. First, what is consciousness? Consciousness is the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world. In shorter words; self-awareness.… Continue reading The Follies of Consciousness
Determinism
Is determinism the truth of reality? For starters, what is the idea of determinism and what are its counters? Determinism is the philosophical belief that all events are determined completely by previously existing causes. Causal determinism in physics is known as cause-and-effect. It is the concept that events within a given paradigm are bound by… Continue reading Determinism
Fear
Fear is tucking your daughter in for the night only to realize once you've closed the door that you don't have a daughter. Fear is laying in bed as a figure walks into your room from the hallway and you can't move. Fear is being three hours into a hike and hearing a crunch beside… Continue reading Fear
Album Covers of our Cosmos
This is visual poetry, not brought to you by myself but by NASA. I just thought I'd share it on my website. These images have been rendered in all their beauty for free to the general public; the ones below are my favourites of the bunch. You can find all of the posters by searching… Continue reading Album Covers of our Cosmos
The Good Life
What constitutes living a good life? While individual happiness is particular to each person, general well being is quantifiable. A good life includes a healthy diet, or healthy enough for you to still enjoy what you're eating, a moderate fitness regiment, an open dialogue with your inner circle of loved ones, and having a life… Continue reading The Good Life
Time
What is time? I'll let you guys answer this one. For real, I'll wait... and wait... and wait. Even if it takes a lifetime. Even when the stars burn out and matter is dissipated into a heat death of the universe. All will be dark, but you'll still have time. Time is known to do… Continue reading Time
Substance Abuse
How does someone find themselves at the receiving end of a destructive habit? No one plans to live a life of degradation. It's something that happens slowly, like a frog in boiling water. One doesn't notice that certain actions have a predictive outcome of addiction until they reach that point down the line. It can… Continue reading Substance Abuse
Identities
Identities! Also known as personalities made from a collection of memories. I've written about the concept of identities in bits and pieces throughout my blog, like in Duality and Perspective, but I think it deserves it's own work down. Would the ninth grade version of yourself even recognize you? Are you still you if you… Continue reading Identities
Dyson Spheres
One one-billionth of the Sun's total energy output actually reaches Earth. Of all the energy that does reach Earth, 34 percent is reflected back to space by clouds. The Earth itself reflects another 66 percent back to space. Wouldn't it be great if we could harness even one percent of the Sun's energy? That thought… Continue reading Dyson Spheres
Sexuality
Sexuality is both praised and abhorred in society. It's either handled with exuberance or repression, the latter form there arguably running both the show and amok in the western world. The current dominant religions are clearly against it, yet have their own twisted viewpoint on what it even is. Everyone remembers when puberty really changed… Continue reading Sexuality
Attention
"Adults with ADHD who are undiagnosed and untreated in childhood are at greater risk of low self-esteem, substance abuse, anxiety and depression," Labour’s shadow minister for mental health, Barbara Keeleyshe says. "Despite the serious problems that adults with undiagnosed ADHD face, many living with the condition say it has had a positive impact on their… Continue reading Attention
Back
Allow me to take you on a retrospective journey... thinking back to who I was at the turn of my second decade. God, I'm still so stupid. No, I shouldn't use that word. I'm learning and will learn for the rest of my life, there's nothing wrong with that. I was just so lazy and… Continue reading Back
People
Clambering for some kind of resolve negates the point. Will you forgive me? Cracking down often does the opposite. It's not a fad! Knowing for certain shuts off your brain. Whatever helps you sleep at night.
How Hollywood Moves Ideas
Culture: Reflected and Shaped by Movies Joseph Van Landschoot The Matrix changed how mainstream audiences thought about reality. Through Star Wars, a fan community formed where people made life-long friendships and even families. Us now holds the record for highest grossing original horror film on opening weekend, (Box Office Mojo,) ushering in new… Continue reading How Hollywood Moves Ideas
Why Care About The Movies You See?
How the Average Moviegoer Votes with Their Wallet Over 48% of the U.S./Canadian yearly box office income is from moviegoers that frequent the theatres one or more times in a month, (source: M.P.A.A. theatre market statistics 2016,) so it’s safe to say that the rest of the money made comes from blockbusters. The top five… Continue reading Why Care About The Movies You See?
Imagine
Imagine that every person had inside them a blob. This blob would move about throughout their larger life-force, dark and destructive. It would give them sensations to run, or to fight. It would make them see red, or give them tunnel vision. The blob would do its best to create downward spirals. It was all… Continue reading Imagine
A Slice of Land of Ene: Birth of A King
This is a little something from the beginning of the book to let all know what kind of story the third chapter of the True Volition Hexalogy will be. I hope you enjoy! Light from the night sky shown on an abandoned shack that sat by itself in a flat grassy plain just south… Continue reading A Slice of Land of Ene: Birth of A King
Twelve Certainties and Suggestions
The twelve things of life: You were born of a consequence of programming, not of divine intention. Just because nature has instilled instincts in you, does not mean those instincts are rightful. Moderation in all affairs is not only the key to longevity, but healthy prosperity. Letting go and moving forward is the only way… Continue reading Twelve Certainties and Suggestions
Snitches Get Stitches
The common phrase, 'snitches get stitches and end up in ditches,' is currently used in schoolyards, though it originally came from urban communities regarding illegal activities. They would say it to someone they considered potential police informants, as a form of intimidation for their own self-serving reasons. Since then it has been used in jails,… Continue reading Snitches Get Stitches
It’s Worth It!
Damn does life throw curve balls sometimes. I'm not a sportsman, no more specifically a follower of the baseball, but meanings mean some things. Fighting is so often something we all try to avoid, and for good reason, because it does nothing but hurt. Though, in many situations, we fight because we need to, to… Continue reading It’s Worth It!
Photoshop 01
I recently bought Photoshop. Here is what I have done with it so far... The first pic here I took out the window of a plane on its way to Edmonton. Here my friend dropped his phone on a rock and it landed perfectly upright. This is just me. Finally this is my car before… Continue reading Photoshop 01
Being In It
Certainty is an issue with some people. They say that the more you know, the less certain you become about things. Once your perspective broadens from information; academically or otherwise, on whatever subject, the more open-minded you might become. Certainty is something innate. You are either into something, or you're not. And there are many… Continue reading Being In It
A Slice of Blood Redemption
Nathan found himself at the heel of some sort of festival or celebration happening in the trees leading to the mountain. There were hundreds of people all walking in a line. Some people were dressed in robes, others just regular clothing. Some people were holding candles, and some were tweeting. Time passed in the woods.… Continue reading A Slice of Blood Redemption
Importance
This will be a hot button topic unlike any of the other topics I've written about so far, I feel. What people find important or not important vary radically depending on the individual. Some people find many-a-thing important and therefore sensitive or sacred, while others care so little they couldn't be bothered to know it… Continue reading Importance
Longevity
What would you say is the deepest sensation? An orgasm? True happiness? Peace? You might say 'sleep' sarcastically, but no. It is purpose. It is the absolute and ultimate drive of intelligent life. It is what lies behind our every action and reaction. Every want, every need is predicated by our life purpose. It is… Continue reading Longevity
New Terrain
We've been doing it from birth; taking in new sights and sounds, places and people, things and thoughts. No place is too comfortable when you are young. Attachment only happens with time. In that regard, our ability to stay open is a double-edged blade, as the saying goes. I'm sure we all know of someone… Continue reading New Terrain
A Slice of Deviance
Here is an excerpt from my first novel: Deviance. You can find a link to its Amazon page 'Here'. * V took a seat. She looked a little bewildered. “You feeling anything?” asked Nathan. “I don’t know… maybe? I think I feel something.” He took a seat next to her. “It’ll probably take a while… Continue reading A Slice of Deviance
Perspective
Perspective is in my opinion one of the most incredible assets any person can have. It gives the ability to fully actualize yourself in whatever way you see fit. And the thing about this claim, is that having perspective gives you your way of seeing. So you can’t even be in a situation… Continue reading Perspective
Links!
Where do they go? Who knows? Don't worry, none of them are troll links. Each one sends you to an interesting place on the internet. Some are profound. Others are silly. What will you find? Take a gander!
Being Alone
I have to start this by making sure everyone knows as a basic fact that we are all alone, at every moment, inside our heads. Now, with that being said I will begin with a question. When you imagine being alone, are you sad? Or are you relieved? As an evolutionary fact we humans are… Continue reading Being Alone
Hidden Magic
There's a hidden magic in people. It comes out like fire as a child. Like a smile on an old face, or the fury in a friend seeing you get beat up as they come to help. There need not be any enemies. A kid can make friends with a rock but two old friends… Continue reading Hidden Magic
If We Could Live Forever
We all know there are certainties about the human race. We were built to survive. To know the enemy, and strike them down. We yearn to live not only in the short term, but honestly to the majority of people, forever. Religions give so many people the hope. But in that context however, many troubles… Continue reading If We Could Live Forever
Circle K Rounded Up Mac’s Milk!
Vancouver is a nice place I hear. I’ve never been, is what I’m inferring. Though I’ve lived in this country of Canada for 25 years now, I’ve never traveled west of Ontario. However, there is a connection Vancouver now has with the city I was born and raised in: Burlington, and it is for what… Continue reading Circle K Rounded Up Mac’s Milk!
Duality
There are always two sides to things. There is this and that. There is me and them. There is will and won't, is and isn't. Here and there. Right and wrong. Will they, won't they. How and haven't. Why and why not. Two extremes; light and dark. Dimorphism. Males and females split things rather cohesively,… Continue reading Duality
Intentions
There was once a naive wish that was lost. The wish, was that we lived in a world where it was easier for everyone to express themselves without fear of holding back, instead of the world we live in now where we tow the line. The social psychology of humanity today is the same as… Continue reading Intentions
Introspection
In all my mind that my eyes can’t hide is who I am when I’m alive, but I know something bigger is happening. I know it as a basic fact of the world, but I can also feel it. Things behind the mirror. He he/she lying? Maybe it hasn’t happened yet. Maybe it already has,… Continue reading Introspection
Transient Thoughts
Everybody at my work has a duty to wake up earlier than what would feel natural, to get production going. I can't speak for all of them but I am what many would say is the farthest thing from a morning person. I spend many-a-nights contemplating existence. Not my existence personally but the existence of… Continue reading Transient Thoughts
Retrospect
We humans came from such deep seeded life... We came from single-celled organisms, to multi-cellular. From that, to plant and animal life. We evolved from aquatic, to insect, reptile and mammal life. Mammals evolved from rodents to primates. There they continued, to complex structuring; being thumbs, and using tools, to shedding of fur. Culture out… Continue reading Retrospect
The Journey Begins
Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
The Joe Van 