Everything Everywhere All at Once is an absurd yet intelligent dramedy with a hint of sci-fi, fantasy, action, pinatas, and hot-dog fingers. If that doesn’t help, you can refer to it as Loud News Net’s best movie of 2022. Spoilers ahead.
The film stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and former Indiana Jones Temple of Doom sidekick, Ke Huy Quan (Short Round). Both slay this role as they navigate the multi-verse only to return to a simple dichotomy: There is meaning to life or there isn’t.
This Machiavellian premise is a running theme underneath all the fantastic film editing and visual effects. The A24 film is written and directed by “The Daniels” (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert). These guys are known for their absurdist films, but Everything Everywhere All at Once is more than just a bunch of funny moments, special effects, and provocatively shaped Auditor of the Year awards.
EEAAO Plot Summary
The film follows the Wang family as they struggle to make ends meet as they manage a crowded laundromat. Evelyn’s Quan Wang and Waymond Wang decided to get married at a younger age against her father’s wishes. They move to a city, purchase a dusty laundromat, and have a daughter, Joy. Now as Evelyn reflects on what could have been, she struggles to connect with her daughter. She is also estranged from her husband and views him as a goofy loser. She chooses to control Joy with an iron fist out of fear of losing her and becomes more distant from Waymond by the day.
The Wangs end up being audited by the IRS early in the movie and that is where the excitement begins. The next two hours are filled with “verse jumping”, costumes, and Racacoonie. In one area of the multiverse, Evelyn is in a serious relationship with the woman who was just auditing them (played by Jamie Lee Curtis). This isn’t unusual at all, except for the fact that in this universe people have hot dogs for fingers.
In the end, it is a battle to save their daughter, Joy, from the joyless future of nihilism. The only choice Evelyn has to make is to fight out of fear, or finally understand Waymond is not a wimp, but a true warrior who fights with love.
In the era of mostly comic-book movies, this film is refreshing as an original concept and story. That alone helps vault it ahead of many Marvel offerings this year. However, Everything Everywhere All at Once is certainly not short of action and excitement. It seems as if much of the visual amazement, is created by slick editing and fantastic writing rather than an overdose of CGI.
Sure the film has moments that might make some viewers question the film altogether. For example, when verse jumping characters need to perform an entirely random act to navigate to the appropriate universe. This makes for some absurdity when those random acts involve the aforementioned Auditor of the Year trophy.
Our Favorite Universes in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Raccacoonie
In a spin on Ratatouille, Evelyn is a struggling hibachi chef. A coworker who is working wonders on the hibachi grill is getting all the accolades. After becoming frustrated with him, she ends up exposing him for what he is: a fraud who can only cook because an expert chef raccoon is helping him. Yea, you have to see it.
Hot Dog Fingers
Everyone has hot dog fingers. Evelyn has a romantic relationship with the IRS auditor in this verse. The lankiness of the Oscar Meyer digits makes the scene incredibly hilarious. However, it’s problematic for base verse Evelyn as she struggles to open doors with the hot-dog hands.
Rocks
In this universe Joy and Evelyn are rocks. The dialogue is presented through subtitles in a clairvoyant form of rock communication, since rocks don’t speak, of course.
Conclusion
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a visually fun movie to watch with profound themes. Although some might lose sight of the core themes underneath some of the absurdity, it’s a film that pushes the envelope to deliver across many different angles.
Part of the cannabis industry supported the new president, betting he was going to move and move quickly on cannabis – the White House finally commented.
The cannabis industry has been a boon for consumers, medical patients, veterans and legal states, but for the thousands of mom and pop businesses is has been a roller coaster. With a huge demand, it would seem to be easy money, but the federal, tax, and banking restrictions have made it difficult to grow and expand. Part of the industry were all for the new administration assuming they would support positive change, but many in the new cabinet and the House Speaker Mike Johnson are foes. Now the White House finally comments on marijuana industry…and it doesn’t show a clear path.
The administration’s current stance on marijuana reform is marked by inaction, despite campaign promises and earlier signals of support for cannabis-related reforms. A White House official recently confirmed that “no action is being considered at this time” regarding marijuana policy, leaving advocates and industry stakeholders uncertain about the administration’s priorities.
During his campaign, the resident expressed support for rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which would move it from Schedule I to Schedule III, easing restrictions on medical use and enabling cannabis businesses to access banking and tax benefits. However, since taking office, no concrete steps have been taken to advance this initiative. A DEA hearing on rescheduling, initially planned for January 2025, was postponed due to procedural appeals and remains unscheduled.
The president has also voiced support for state autonomy in cannabis policy and endorsed state-level legalization initiatives, such as Florida’s failed 2024 ballot measure for recreational marijuana. While this reflects a more favorable stance compared to his first term, his administration has yet to prioritize federal reforms like the SAFE Banking Act, which would facilitate banking services for cannabis businesses. Efforts to include such measures in a government funding bill late last year were unsuccessful.
The delay in federal action has significant implications for the cannabis industry. Rescheduling marijuana could alleviate financial burdens by eliminating restrictions under IRS Code Section 280E and promoting medical research. However, the stalled process leaves businesses navigating regulatory uncertainties and limited financial access.
While stakeholders continue lobbying for reform, the administration appears focused on other priorities such as immigration and foreign policy. Advocates hope the President will leverage his influence to advance cannabis reform, but for now, the issue remains sidelined. Until then the industry struggles and waits.
Love it or hate it – April Fool’s Day is here to stay…and here is the history behind this unique tradition
From Britain to India, it is a popular day of pranks, laughs and silliness. From Google to Burger King has participated and some people spend endless hours planning the perfect joke. But what is the history behind April Fool’s Day? It is celebrated annually on April 1, is a global tradition marked by pranks and jokes. Despite its widespread popularity, the origins of this playful holiday remain uncertain, with several theories tracing its roots to different historical events and cultural practices.
Both April Fools’ Day and Día de Los Inocentes mark days when people play practical jokes on one another. April Fools’ Day is primarily celebrated in English-speaking countries, while Día de Los Inocentes is more widely marked in Spanish-speaking countries. A key way Día de Los Inocentes differs from April Fools’ Day is it celebrated on December 28th every year
Some of the most famous April Fool’s pranks include The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest, where the BBC broadcast a segment showing peasants harvesting spaghetti from trees in Switzerland. Another notable prank was when radio station KGB-FM in San Diego announced that the Space Shuttle was landing at a local airport, drawing over 1,000 people. Google has also been known for its annual April Fool’s jokes, such as the “Hyper Text Coffee Pot Control Protocol”. Additionally, brands like Pornhub have participated with humorous site name changes, such as “Cornhub” and “Hornhub”
One popular theory links April Fool’s Day to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, initiated by Pope Gregory XIII. Before this change, many European countries followed the Julian calendar, where the new year began around late March or early April. Those who continued celebrating the old New Year date were mocked as “April fools,” giving rise to the holiday’s name and customs.
Another theory suggests that April Fool’s Day may have originated from ancient spring festivals such as Rome’s Hilaria or India’s Holi. Hilaria, celebrated in late March, involved games, disguises, and mockery of neighbors, while Holi featured playful pranks and joyous festivities marking the arrival of spring.
The first definitive reference to April Fool’s Day comes from a 1561 Flemish poem by Eduard de Dene. In this humorous tale, a nobleman sends his servant on absurd errands for nonexistent items, a prank still known as a “fool’s errand.” This poem solidifies April Fool’s Day as an established tradition by the late Middle Ages.
In France, the day became known as poisson d’avril (“April fish”), where children would pin paper fish on unsuspecting friends’ backs. This tradition symbolizes gullibility, likening victims to young fish easily caught.
By the 18th century, April Fool’s Day had spread across Europe and North America. In Scotland, it evolved into “Gowkie Day,” where people were sent on wild goose chases. The following day, “Tailie Day,” involved pranks like pinning “kick me” signs on others. Media outlets also began participating in the holiday by publishing fake headlines and stories—a tradition that continues today.
While the exact origin remains debated, April Fool’s Day thrives as an opportunity for lighthearted fun worldwide. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to bring laughter and mischief into everyday life, transcending cultural boundaries and historical uncertainties.
When sick or sad, people gravitate to comfort food – but does it make a difference?
Everyone gets down, stressed or just in a mood, and a number of people wants something to make them feel good. Comfort food is a go to indulgence which lifts the spirts. In North America, some top comfort foods include pot roast, lasagna, chocolate, ice cream and cookies….around the world it includes rice, yogurt, pizza, ramen, and boeuf bourguignon. It is an excuse to enjoy favorite flavors, but does comfort food actually help?
The answer is nuanced, as comfort foods can provide both emotional relief and potential drawbacks depending on the individual and circumstances. Comfort food has been shown to improve mood temporarily, especially for emotional eaters. Studies suggest that the palatability of food plays a significant role in mood enhancement, with tastier foods providing greater comfort during moments of sadness or stress. Emotional eaters often experience satisfaction and mood improvement after consuming comfort food, while non-emotional eaters may not derive the same benefit, particularly under stress. Additionally, comfort foods can evoke nostalgia and positive memories, acting as social surrogates that remind individuals of meaningful connections and moments of belonging.
From a physiological perspective, consuming sweet and fatty comfort foods can release dopamine and serotonin, chemicals linked to pleasure and mood elevation. This process can dampen stress responses in the body by reducing cortisol levels and activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, these effects are often short-lived and may lead to unhealthy eating habits if relied upon excessively.
While comfort foods can provide immediate emotional relief, they may also contribute to negative health outcomes if consumed excessively. High-calorie comfort foods rich in sugar and fat are associated with weight gain, metabolic risks, and increased likelihood of depression over time. This creates a feedback loop where individuals turn to unhealthy food to combat stress but experience worsening mental health as a result.
Interestingly, studies show that healthy alternatives like fruits and vegetables can offer similar mood-boosting benefits without the health risks associated with traditional comfort foods. Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids or dark chocolate in moderation can also enhance mood while supporting overall health. Social aspects of eating—such as sharing meals with loved ones—can amplify the emotional benefits of food without overindulgence.