Tag Archives: Dune

The World We Live In And Life In General

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Spring is almost here! I know we did not have a massively harsh winter, but I look forward to warmer weather. While climate change is no joke, the warmer February and March have led to some great sunsets this month.

With the spring comes a lot of change! So much has happened since my last post. People have come and gone, some have disappointed, some have surprised, movies have come out, books have been read, a ton of music has been heard, and new places have been eaten at.

Life changes are weird and messy. I took a contract job near The Grove and I loved it. I worked with interesting professionals, did some meaningful marketing, got some serious writing done, and collaborated on interesting projects. I also loved being near The Grove during lunchtime. So many choices, especially the Gramophone sandwiches. My favorites are the Buffalo Soldier and the Crustacean Nation.

With this job, I got to explore all the stuff going on in Forest Park Southeast. Businesses are moving in and development is happening without kicking out residents. There is also some wonderful architecture in the neighborhood.

But change happens. After years of hustling and doing loads of contract work and various projects, I have accepted a marketing and communications writer position at Washington University. I am excited and terrified, but in the end, the stability will be great and the job perks are awesome. I also am enthused about collaborating with the same team for a long period. Plus, I will get to work remotely most of the time which I love.

I am thrilled to be shrinking my work load. I still will write for Broadway World St. Louis and FEAST Magazine, but beyond that, I will be cutting back.

I have accepted an offer to host a program on The Face Radio, which is headquartered in Brooklyn, but broadcasts globally. My show, The Free Design, airs on Mondays from 6-8 PM ET (5-7 PM CT) with a repeat on Tuesday mornings from 8-10 AM ET (7-9 PM CT). For this show I am still playing new music, older indie, electronica, and forgotten cuts. However, I am experimenting more with track selection and flow.

I also am still hosting Antics on Louder Than War Radio and (for now) my weekly in-town radio show here in St. Louis. While the situation there is insane, I have been moved by everyone who has asked me to say and commented on much having my show to listen to weekly means to them. Basically, it is a week by week situation.

While am not seeing as much theater as I would like, I loved the St. Louis Actors Studio production of Copenhagen. It was filled with angst and ethics and the ensemble was terrific. I saw Company and Funny Girl at The Fox. The former was just okay. It had a decent cast and everything but it just seemed a bit flat. Funny Girl was entertaining, its star Katerina McCrimmon, was astounding.

I also have spent the last few months catching up on television. In addition to my Star Trek The Next Generation rewatch, I have enjoyed the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The casting for that show how been well done and the stories are well written.

Masters of The Air has been terrific. I like WW2 history but find that a lot of tv shows based around it never really capture the scope of the conflict. This one does. It based on Donald L. Miller’s book about the the 100th Bomb Group, who conducted hazardous raids over Nazi Germany.

The drama is palpable thanks to a cast that includes Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Nate Mann, Rafferty Law, Barry Keoghan, Josiah Cross, Branden Cook and Doctor Who himself, Ncuti Gatwa. I also like hw the show captures the tragedy of war through stunning cinematography.

Season two of Silo is coming. It is pretty darn dystopian, but the performances are worth checking out. The plot surrounds a community of 10,000 people who live in a heavily regulated society. The chief rule being, do not question authority or you will be made to leave the silo.

With 144 levels, there is a lot of room for creating stories and developing characters. love have the characters all have shades of grey to them. They live in a gritty world where asking questions can cause major problems. Unlike other dystopian shows, this one has more of a heartbeat in how it executes the realities of living in a suppressed society. I need to read the book series the program is based on (Wool, Shift, and Dust).

The Dune sequel was just as staggering as the first film. The second film finishes off the first book in the series and sets the table for Dune Messiah and Children Of Dune to make it to the screen.

Just like the first one, this Dune looks incredible. It’s basically a lot of sand with big open skies. but then, suddenly the action switches to darker, more claustrophobic places. I love the look and feel of the film. it feels like a natural continuation from the first film.

I have been reading a lot of Japanese fiction. Generally, a lot of the titles I have read are ideal for brisk reading. They also have stories with charm and humor and a hint or three of melancholy.

Convenience Store Woman is the current read. As someone who has worked in retail, I can relate to the perils Keiko goes through in the book. She is a free spirit who has problems handling the forced conformity and strictures that society places on both her professional and personal life.

Satoshi Yagisawa’s Days At The Morisaki Bookshop is set in Tokyo’s massive bookseller district (heaven). The book centers on Takako, a young woman whose happiness is upended after she learns that her boyfriend Hideaki, whom she expected to wed, announces he cheated on her and is marrying another woman.

From here she is in an emotional freefall. She loses her job, her friends, and her acquaintances, and spirals into depression. In the depths of her despair, she receives a call from her distant uncle Satoru asking her to help him run his bookshop.

Charming, and filled with rich characters, the novel (which now has a sequel), plays on common themes of change, self-discovery, work and family. But it reads lightly and is excellently paced. This is pretty fantastic.

A nonfiction title I have enjoyed is Hunting The Falcon by John Guy and Julia Fox, it is about the marriage of Anne Bolyn and King Henry VIII and how it shook the geopolitics of Europe at the time.

Also serving as a biography of both figures, the narrative plays out with intrigue. The event of Hank’s wedding to Anne happened during a perfect storm of politics, lust, and greed as all around jerk Henry VIII becomes hopelessly obsessed with Anne. As a result, he loses his damn mind in a quest to woo her. However, he underestimates how independent and intelligent she is. The book also spells out how their marriage is a tragedy that shaped how the Tudors ruled and were perceived afterwards.

The last few months have had a lot of great music dropping. I love the new IDLES album and the new Yard Act is swell too. However, I discovered SPRINTS by accident.

They are from Dublin and their recent shows have created a big buzz around them. The four piece have released their debut album, Letter To Self.

This may be my favorite song on the record. there’s a pretty grimy dirge going on here. it is pretty clear that singer Karla Chubb was working through some things when the album was being recorded. There is a ferociousness at work in her vocals.

There is also angst, rage and a desire to move on, even though it is hard. The guitars seer and the percussion is tight too, making the album pop from start to finish.

I am a little tired of television insurance ads. They are all equally dreadful. Nothing makes me want to activate my life insurance policy than watching the Liberturl Mutual commercials. Those ads kill braincells.

I don’t really care where Kate Middleton is. There are bigger issues in the world than the convalescence of some entitled person. But I love all the gonzo conspiracy theories. Those are bonkers.

In appliance and home repair news, the bathroom window has been repaired. There was a hole in the window frame. Now it needs a new coat of paint because our property manager didn’t use a waterproof variety and it all just wiped off.

In other happenings, the LED lighting in the kitchen went out. Fortunately, after a laborious search, replacement bulbs were found. There is also new motion-activated lighting in the carport.

Finally, the newish dishwasher our property manager got is smaller than the space allotted for it in the counter space. So, now, there is a goofy-looking gap between the top of the dishwasher and the bottom of the countertop. Some imbecile didn’t do any measuring for space.

I cannot believe how many people went to see The Eagles concert here. Nothing cries of a boring night out like going to see The Eagles. Except maybe seeing Kansas, Foreigner, or Journey. Clearly, I have stopped believing.

I guess Dave Wakeling has nothing to do in his life because The English Beat has come through town for like the 9th time in two years. Okay, we get it, you own the name now, that doesn’t mean you have to jump on every new wave ’80s tour that comes around. Get a hobby! I can make this complaint too, because I love The Beat.

The boojie section has arrived. I am sorry to say that I have rediscoved the joy of having a really good fountain pen with ink. My reasoning is that the writing just looks cooler, even with my terrible cursive handwriting, which is almost unreadable, I wish more people wrote in cursive.

Moving ahead I will try to be less of a simpleton and do more posts. The length of time between them is all on me. I’ve been busy with life stuff and dealing with people disappointing me. Not very fun shenanigans I am afraid. Before recent events ( like the new job), my life was like going to live in a Frank Lloyd Wright house only have the joy shattered by the discovery that the roof leaks.

Throw MAGA from the Train

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The Doors sang about how people were strange. Well, if they did that now they would sing about people being stupid. These days, people are being just that. it soent matter what political affiliation they are or where they went to school or what they eat for breakfast, people today are just nuts.

Every day I get up and do my part, only to encounter a bunch of useless imbeciles who don’t do theirs. I might add they also have rubbish taste in films and music. it is all so maddening. Why have people suddenly reverted to pre-COVID 2019? It is like they forgot every lesson they learned and went back to doing everything they could be selfish consumerists again. It amazes me how many people are meandering around aimlessly like there was never a pandemic. I know folks are excited to get back out into the world, but in their excitement to do so they have become nuts.

Another thing is that it’s like there was no reset button. People learned nothing and adapted their post-pandemic behavior in no way at all. They still are rude, talk during movies, cut lines, and drive like imbeciles. They also care nothing about the environment. It’s like they’re feral.

A few weeks ago I took Amtrak to Chicago. It was so much of a change of pace from the insanity of flying right now. The train was clean and the seats were comfortable. Although it takes a lot longer to get there by train from St. Louis, it was nice to not rush and get some serious reading done and listen to music.

Unfortunately, there was a wild pack of assclowns in my car. They were older and going up to Chicago for a weekend. They were excited to smoke cigars, buy very, very pricy whiskey and pick up chicks in clubs. They were annoying! I didn’t have the heart to tell them. that were not going to pick up any “chicks” because they (a) were morons, and (b) no one is going to the disco right now.

But the biggest thing that got on my damn nerves is that they just wouldn’t wear a mask. A few of them half-assed it and wore it under the nose. However, one guy, a painfully tan Kenny Rogers guy, didn’t wear his on the entire trip. I spoke to the conductor about it after he sneezed a few times. But I got nowhere. Finally, I added a third mask and went on with my business pausing every few minutes to process the stupidity coming from his mouth.

It was a full train so I couldn’t move seats. But if I did I would have missed out on stimulating conversation from the Kenny Rogers guy. He would not stop commenting about the black fencing behind the train stations at every stop, saying “I bet the governor’s brother got that contract.” The repetition was friggin’ irritating. Clearly, this is someone who needs attention and has no sense of imagination. Other topics of conversation were Kid Rock, how big courthouses were, gambling, checking into the hotel early, hoping they wouldn’t get shot in Chicago, copy machines, and how nice it was to get away for a party weekend. Yuck.

Coming home was much better. The conductor on the train was snot screwing around you got two warnings about makes and then your ass got thrown off the train. It didn’t matter where. Our car was full but everyone seemed to be quiet and minding their own business. The best part is that they didn’t talk so loudly that everyone knew their business.

It was a quiet evening trip home until we reached Springfield, Illinois. There some moron pulled the emergency switch because he was upset he had t wear a mask. The train crew was apologetic. When this happens there’s a bunch of protocols that are in place they have to follow. It slows everything down. Luckily, they managed to get everything done quickly and threw the culprit off the train.

Despite all of this, I still would take a train now. It is comfortable and you can relax. I would however go, business class, since you don’t (normally) get all the dumbasses that ride in coach, and each seat has outlets for computers, phones, etc.

I had not been in Chicago for over two years. It was weird coming off the train and going into a deserted downtown at 12:30 on a Friday afternoon. Oddly, it was like this for the entire weekend the city was pretty empty. I went to Quimby’s and Myopic Books. Both are terrific, inexpensive, and independently owned. Quimby’s sells zines and a lot of cool indie books you cannot get anywhere else. Myopic has loads of really interesting stuff. Their music and film sections are very strong.

Overall, stores, museums, and businesses were closing early which was kind of weird for a city that is normally so busy. The weather was great so a lot of people were dining outside and walking around Millenium Park. People were wearing masks and being civil except there was not a lot of social distancing happening. I know we are supposed to be ‘coming out of all of this, but I am being careful and vigilant because there are so many morons out there.

One of the biggest things I’ve noticed about Chicago over the years is how the West Loop has gone bonkers. I used to go there for underground parties and concerts, It reminds me of Chelsea in New York now in that the gentrification has just gotten ridiculous and eliminated a lot of the character of the region.

While I still love the more Bohemian eats in Pilsen, I did have. a nice meal at Cabra. I wanted to go to a nice place fr my birthday weekend and this place did not disappoint. Their empanadas and ceviches. were great.

In addition to seeing some old friends in real life, it was great to get back to the Art Institute. In addition to seeing all my favorite works, I got to get a gander at the new Tiffany window that this pretty cool. It came from a church in Pennsylvania and was restored. it looks amazing.

I loved the André Kertész exhibition.

Although the exhibition is pretty small, there’s a lot of really wonderful stuff here. His postcards from Paris give you an idea of what the City of Light was like in the 1920s.

The weather was unseasonably warm which made it great for doing stuff outside. This is good since I was careful about where I was going with the pandemic going on. I did dine outside and wore masks whenever I was inside or around a lot of people.

It is interesting how seriously everyone there is taking mandates. The businesses are drawing in people despite the mandate and restaurants have mostly pivoted to this new world. It is a far cry from here where people bitch and moan about everything.

Every time I go there I find something new and unexpected. That is one of the reasons why I keep going there, even if a lot of the places I love have gone away.

Here are some other things that have bugged me over the last few months…

It has been my experience that people who own large boats, tend to be jerks.’

Law & Order does not need to return.

I have no idea why, but people who own cream-colored patio furniture tend to drive me nuts.

For decades people have bought newspapers, folded them neatly, and carried them under their arms. Now everyone wants them in paper bags. Mother Earth thanks you for doing this you lazy bastards. Newspapers are generally lightweight and foldable. They fit nicely anywhere, so why put them in a bag? Unless sit is raining. Otherwise, it is lazy.

Also, in our age of technological wonder why do people wait around for a receipt when they check out? In some cases, it is like they are waiting for the messiah.

I don’t mean for things that could be returnable or need tracking like a TV, clothes, mail, or groceries, I mean like one candy bar or a can of soda or a pack of smokes. Look in your online banking account. It’s there. why waste paper if you don’t have to?

Yes, I alluded to this earlier, but really, if you have been dying to go back to the movies then shut the hell up during the film. You’ve had 15 months to talk to the person next to you, you can be quiet for two hours.

I still am annoyed by pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes. I understand this makes me even more unpopular.

Candy Corn is just wrong!

People who don’t tip right now are evil and mean.

I have learned that the new season of Top Chef is going to be in Houston. While I have heard the city has an amazing food scene going on, I think they should pull out because of the state’s blatant attempts at voter suppression. I am surprised since Tom and Padma are so in tune with the world.

There’s a lot of music stuff going on. In addition to his recent Nightmare Before Christmas live concert, Danny Elfman has been actively making music! Now soundtrack, but actual noisy music.

While most of us were sitting on our couch during the pandemic Danny Elfman was making music. Not his wonderful cinema compositions, but real, agitated, rock and roll. Arriving 37 years after his debut, So Lo, Big Mess is loud, brazen, and raw.

Much louder and more visceral than his orchestral scores, the album illustrates Elfman’s skill at crafting melodies that mesh styles and forms. The record also is a reminder of Elfman’s terrific songwriting abilities, dusted off here, they have not gone stale.

Amongst my favorites are Sorry, Happy, Love in the Time of Covid, and True. Dark and brooding, We Belong is the perfect mix of the elegiac and the sorrowful.

Wet Leg are from the Isle of Wight. They have a few singles out and an album dropping soon on Domino. They also have some American live dates coming up.

Sonically, they have a terrific sense of melody and their lyrics are gloriously fun. They are going to be huge.

One of the things I did during the pandemic was read a bunch and learn more about the artists I had an interest in but not much knowledge of. I have always liked what I have seen from James Ensor but had not known very much about him. I saw an exhibition of his work at the Art Institute of Chicago a few years ago and ever since then, I wanted to dig deeper.

There was a cool book of his work at a local used bookstore and I picked it up. It was pretty interesting. As a side note, there is a They Might Be Giants song about him too.

His artwork uses distorted forms and features lots of masks and people hiding their true visages. He also has a lot of symbolic imagery going on which is pretty interesting.

As an artist and printmaker, he was a pretty big influence on the Dada movement as well as Expressionists and surrealists. He was pretty dark. His work has a macabre feel to it that celebrates the grotesque, while also satirizing upper-crust privilege. Artistically, lot going on in his noggin.

It was great seeing Dune on the big screen. It looks amazing. The acting was great and the cinematography is gorgeous.

I wrote about it for needcoffee.com!

Anytime you adapt a book it can be problematic. People have their imagery in their minds and trespassing on that will never live up to their concepts or imagination. However here, I don’t have any issue with how characters were depicted. The world building is awesome, and the costumes and effects are great.

I saw Filibus, a 1915 Italian silent film directed by Mario Roncoroni and written by science fiction writer Giovanni Bertinetti.

It has recently been restored, and although it has some glitches in the print, it looks fantastic. Running just over an hour it is formatted as a serial, it is filled with a lot of fun action and swashbuckling antics.

Shot on location in the Italian Riviera, Filibus is about a cross dressing sky pirate who uses her airship to pull off daring capers. Holding a grudge again the well-to do, her robberies and grandiose and bold.

It screened at Webster University and was sponsored by Silents, Please STL who are doing some really coolstuff around town! This makes me happy since I love silent movies!

As the fall moves into the winter the leaves are falling and the commercial wheels of Christmas have already began spin. A few places already have lights up. Ugh! I also don’t want to see that dumb TV commercial where the guy buys his grilfriend a car as a Christmas gift. Who does that?

All I really want for the autumn is to have a real break between Halloween and Christmas. it seems that now the stores just jump into the yuletide season on November 1st and it is kind of dumb. Call me old fashioned, but I like the break. I want some time to prepare for the holidays, or at least, develop an escape plan.