Letter From The Founder
It’s becoming like a catchphrase now, a cliche. ‘This is the best Omnibus yet’. But I truly think it is. This is what creative growth should look like- every new creation a clear improvement over the last, each new thing a reach, an attempt for something new or different or better.
Look at this weeks issue: newcomer Rob with his fully formed and incisive manifesto, Tony completely out in his own lane, Brady flexing on everyone by dropping a last minute gem that he wrote in seemingly no time flat. Then you’ve got Pr0ph3t, Paul, Deepansh and Charles all building on their own personal bodies of work. And that’s just a sample. I can praise every single submission here as a personal evolution. No one is slacking.
This is the power of collective projects like this. People can go their own way and work on their own thing in solitude, they can seek help and feedback from the group or they can do whatever mixture of the two suits them. Art shouldn’t be a lonely pursuit. And I think that with every passing issue we are proving that our way is the way that things should be created in the 2020’s.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
bookmark #388 by Deepansh
‘i now know how this and only this is the solution to living life—this immersion, this dive, this permissiveness; to let things destroy you was the only way to enjoy them.’
Another gem from Deepansh. Regular readers know the score by now. Every short, capital letter free meditation is a little sanctuary from the world. And this one is no different.
How I learned to eat less bad by Lyle
Now a cynic would say that this piece is merely a plug for Lyle’s wife’s new newsletter. Maybe so. But I don’t care because food is both a vital part of the good life and I believe that we should all share our audiences and influence for the greater good (this after allis why the Omnibus exists). So share, always eat the good stuff and put your food to work.
Principles of Posture: a Practical Guide for Self-Experimenters by Kevin🔒
Now this too is ostensibly a plug. But again I don’t care. Because plugs mean STSC members are creating things, are producing products and services and art. Which is as it should be. And so our man Kevin has released his new posture course. He is an absolute expert in his field and given this hunched-shouldered, crick-necked, phone-scrolling times we live in we could all do with seeking his expertise.
The Ungated Manifesto by Rob Hardy
Rob is fairly new to the fold here. This, I believe is his first Omnibus submission. And what a work it is. What we have here a 5000+ word manifesto on the state of online creativity (it’s not good), the insidious and spreading nature of The Pattern and how we can fight this and win. This is absolutely vital reading and I am proud to be able to share it here with you all.
The Philosophy of Zero to One: #1 by Luke Burgis 🔒
I’ve never read Zero to One and know next to nothing about Peter Thiel. But what I do know is that Luke is an outstanding teacher and explainer of texts and judging by this opening piece, this ongoing series promises to be an extremely enlightening and entertaining look at one of the most influential business philosophy books of recent times.
Be Not Afraid by Pr0ph3t
‘Fear and anxiety were not invented with the dawn of the smartphone and the social network. But our environment has contributed to our weakness, as if we lived in a cave and were then called upon to use our eyes in the noonday sun. As we recognize our need for steadiness, we cannot afford to be afraid of fear.’
Our man Pr0ph3t presents us with a wise, level-headed, perspective-giving meditation on fear and anxiety. Ideal reading material for the present day and a way- as always with his work- of helping us move into the future.
Charlie Becker- Playing the Game of Ideas
There is a simple but extremely effective technique within this piece for those who are sick of hearing about ‘frameworks’ and ‘mindsets’. And it works too. I’ve tried it. Funny the ripple effects a slight change in perspective or wording can have. Read this and you’ll see what I mean.
Restless/Reckless by Tony
It’s been a little while but our man Tony is back. With a shorter but still equally vivid, mercurial, debauched, introspective, reckless, confusing-yet-completely-clear stream of conscious (or should that be stream or conscience?) piece. Tony is a unique voice among a gang of unique voices. Never a dull moment.
Learning from rap lyrics by Andrew
In the internet age, virtually all culture is American culture. And in this era American culture is predominantly rap culture. So it make sense to contemplate some rap lyrics, which is exactly what Andrew does here. I wonder if this is the beginning of a series as this concept has seemingly infinite scope. Give this piece a read and let Andrew know what you think and if you want more.
Pressure Release by Paul Publisher
‘What will happen first: will you starve of oxygen and pass out—or will the coals of anger starve and extinguish first? That’s why you get out in front of it, like a politician the day before a scandal breaks on social media. Do the very thing that will feed the beast, bring it to a fever pitch and watch your fear extinguish because you’ve burnt through all the deadwood in a hot instant.’
Paul is one of the great chroniclers and interpreters of these times (I see allusions to his post-monoculture ‘Patchwork Age’ idea everywhere but Paul was there first) and this piece show’s both his writing chops and depth of insight. Essential reading.
The Gift of Disappointment by Brady
The subtitle to this piece reads: Why It’s Good That Everything and Everyone in this World Will Let You Down. That’s a bold statement, a brave thesis to attempt to prove. And yet Brady pulls it off with his usual wit and wisdom. No mean feat that. Hat’s off.
There Won't Be Any Covid Novels by Charles Schifano
‘Despite the desires of some readers, nobody should expect any good novels about Covid.’
How does he do it. 99 weekly essays in and not only is Charles not out of ideas but this may well be his best essay to date. Absolutely remarkable. The breadth of Charles reading (which is wore lightly) and the depth of his insight into both literature and the human condition that great books describe is in full force here.
On Beauty by Vita
‘Creating beauty is not efficient, in any sense of the word. Yet, so many obsess about efficiency and productivity. I'm not against productivity in principle. Compared to easy distraction, it's preferable. It means doing something, creating, producing. I'll take that over TikTok scrolling any day of the week. But... productivity is still transactional, predictable, awe-uninspiring. Input, output. Clock in, clock out. That's not how beauty is created. The creation of beauty is not done on an hourly rate.’
What more do I need to say now you’ve read this extract? Just go and read the whole thing immediately.
On Losing Work by Thomas J Bevan
I wrote a decent essay. I lost it. Once my rage subsided I immediately wrote this piece on the sadly all too common phenomenon of computers destroying your work.
Fiction
The Blue Pill Of Atlantis by Ivan
A short, short piece of magical fabulist fiction with that trademark Ivan twist at the end. His stories are always a (sometimes dark) delight to read and this one is now exception.
Next stop by Adam
A dream? A parable? As with so much of Adam’s stuff (especially under his new Kaleidoscopic Hotel) this is of a form and genre unto itself. But it’s very, very good and well worth reading. Great run of creativity from out man right now.
Poetry
Time by Adam Kozak
The poet Adam K is back with another beautiful, resonant, technically deft piece. Nothing else to say other than enjoy.
Twinkles of Truth by David Torkington
An excellent companion piece to the above poem. (Interesting how STSC members work independently and then create are that all compliments and intermingles with each other). I like David as a poet and want to see more verses from him. He has something.
Podcasts
Veni, Vidi, Vinyl (Tragedies of Modernity Episode #5) by Thomas J Bevan and Craig Burgess
The Dawkins Sandwich debacle is cleared up once and for all via Tim calling in before Craig and I discussed tangible media, especially vinyl, at length. Pleased with how this one turned out. Maybe we are getting better…
AN ENTIRE YEAR OF WEDNESDAYS (Wednesday Audio #52) by Craig Burgess
52 weeks. One year. One entire full calendar year of the Wednesday Audio. And Craig doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of stopping. If each show is around 30 minutes long and the average community service term is 100 hours then I guess Craig is about a quarter of the way through his sentence/podcast run. Anyway this is a good one. Enjoy.
Dancing with Ghosts by Madspace
‘This’ll be a short one.’ When Matt says that you know that it’s absolutely not gonna be a short one. So what we have hear is our man- at the cusp of 38 years old- sat in his car, grifting for homeostasis inducing cappuccinos and talking about human folly and everything under the sun. Broccoli and cake combo, tech neck, pretending crypto doesn’t exist, home movies, beauty and more. Thaaaank yoooou.
TJB Film Recommendation
Control (2007)
D. Anton Corbijn
W. Matt Greenhalgh
S. Sam Riley Samantha Morton Alexandra Maria Lara
As a rule I don’t like musician biopics, even if I like the artist in question. But this one is a notable exception. Looking back I thought I may have enjoyed it when I first saw it at the cinema in 2007 because- like Ian Curtis himself- I was a raincoat wearing, pale, ciggie puffing, would-be intellectual sourpuss. I was studying philosophy at a shit-tier university. I was writing essays on Camus ferchristsake. If there was ever a film designed to match my post-teenage aesthetic and sensibility this was it.
However, I’m pleased to say that upon rewatching Control it turns out that it is simply really, really good. It holds up. Noted Joy Division photographer/ music video pioneer (see all of those iconic Depeche Mode promos) Anton Corbijn does a remarkable job in his feature length directorial debut and fellow cinematic newcomer Sam Riley is the perfect Ian Curtis, capturing the wirey jerky stage mannerisms and subdued off-stage demeanour without ever falling into pantomime. Following the failure of his own rock star dreams you can tell that Riley knows he has come across the role of a lifetime with which to restart his life and he gives it absolutely everything he has.
Combine that with a great script, excellent supporting performances ( Toby Kebbell stands out and that Samantha Morton is great should go without saying) and of course phenomenal music performed by actors who are actually playing their instruments in real time and you have one of the all time great music films. Not a cheery film mind, but a genuinely powerful one.
Thank you for reading/listening. Feel free to share this email and the individual authors work and also feel free to leave comments either here or on the authors own sites.
Finally, Craig and I will be recording another episode of the Soaring Twenties Podcast tomorrow at 8pm GMT. We’ll host it and record it live from the Discord and then post it onto this Substack on Monday.
All exclusive for STSC premium subscribers.
So if you want to hear that either live or via recording (and if you want to join our ranks and contribute your work) then click the subscribe button below and choose either monthly, annual or founder member.
I look forward to seeing you over at the Social Club Discord.
Cheers!