Letter From The Founder
Of course we have everything that regular readers have come to expect. We have over a dozen great essays (of course), we have fiction, we have poetry, we have podcasts. We even have a hymn for this fine Sunday.
So rather than elaborate on the fine work that is collected here (after all the proof is in the pudding and you simply need to settle into a comfy chair and start reading to see that we have collectively hit it out of the park yet again) I’m going to tell you about something else.
See, as well as these weekly Omnibus emails we have a new thing in store. We call it the Symposium. On the first of the month you are going to get a bonus email of STSC work (both old and exclusively new) all on the same set theme. This month we are kicking it off by all taking turns to talk and write and record and create around the theme of beauty.
This completely free email will be in your inbox on the first of June, a further free gift from us to you. Keep an eye out for it, and let us know what you think.
And in the meantime enjoy another outstanding issue of the Omnibus.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
bookmark #402 by Deepansh
Two paragraphs and not a capital letter in sight. You know the drill by now. And even though each of these 400+ meditations are all similar in form, every single one is a unique delight. Quality as always from Deepansh.
Paper Wallets and the Real World(s) by Pr0ph3t
This piece feels as if I were custom made for me. Optimistic but tempered by realism, intrigued by web3 but not seduced into sycophancy by it, and laying with ideas of how the physical and the digital can and do meet. This might be one of my favourite Pr0ph3t essays to date.
Today by Clint
Clint is becoming more and more of a regular fixture around these parts, building his body of work and setting out his shingle as a writer of note. I’m really enjoying seeing his style blossom week after week.
Travel Diaries #28 - Barber by Gavin
Interesting how certain experiences can be both culturally specific and also universal. Getting your haircut is a prime example as Gavin’s latest piece shows. I also like how in this internet age, a man can travel the world, write about a barbershop in Hanoi, post a link to it and how I, who have never been to Vietnam can link you to it. There’s something beautiful about being able to create a worldwide network of independent art and business, don’t you think?
Notes on Budapest by Thomas Kealy
I like the elliptical, Roman numeral strewn format, I liked the photography and I liked the voice and the insights I learned. In fact I think if anyone wants to post about a place they have travelled to they would do well to learn from Thomas’ ‘notes’ format here. Great stuff.
Hell is 'Fan Support' by Cody Clarke
Filmmaker Cody Clarke has entered into the Substack realm. Finally. Knowing his prolific, passionate nature you can expect to see a torrent of writing, creativity, opinion and insight from a true skin in the game practitioner and one of the most interesting filmmakers alive. Cody’s way of doing things is the future. We can all stand to learn from his example and his energy. Subscribe to his Substack immediately.
Don Logan in a hot tub by Adam
Adam’s run continues. I was spolied for choice as to what to include this week. But this one won out because the Don Logan doodle amused me and anything that references the rabid Sir Ben Kingsley performance in Sexy Beast deserves to be showcased. It's that simple.
Inspired Interludes by Paul Publisher
Astrology, Debussy, weird carnival analogies and imagery, actual useful practical information. It’s another classic Paul missive. If you know you know and if you don’t you really should take the effort to dive in
The Anxiety of Influence by Charles Schifano
A simple premise perfectly executed. How the literary greats inform city planning and the distinction between the confusion of Old World cities and their grid-like orderly cousins in the New. Beautiful work as always from Charles.
The 4 Specters of Modernity by Vita
This isn’t your regular listicle. Yes it has a number in the title but in truth it is so much more. This is philosophical and razor sharp in its insights but also brave enough to offer concrete solutions rather than vague complaints. Up there with Vita’s very best.
The Beauty of Everyday Things by Thomas J Bevan
Third time’s the charm. After losing the draft of this two weeks ago and then some how sending out a blank document last week I was finally able to send this intact yesterday. I hope you enjoy it and that it was worth the wait!
Life's Infinite Paths by Mark Koslow via Lyle
This Omnibus is all about spreading the word and showcasing new voices. Honestly I hope people rip off this model and start doing similar collaborations and creative initiatives themselves. I mention this because here we have Lyle giving the reins of his Substack to Mark Koslow to provide a guest post. This worked in the heyday of blogs and it still works now. We all need to share out platforms and share the wealth just like Lyle here.
The Local by Craig Burgess
Third-person Craig is getting dangerously close to writing fiction here. Always a pleasure to se people pushing their creative comfort zones and trying new forms, approaches, genres and mediums. This is a fine example of that in action. Good stuff.
Fiction
War and Warmth by Brady
This was fantastic. Beautifully observed low key realism and imagery is right up my alley (it’s how I would describe my own fiction- or at least what I attempt to do) and this is a great example. It takes a lot of craft, skill and effort to write like this. And I hope more people follow Brady’s example here.
From An Idealist's Memoir by Chekhov (Translated by Ivan)
For purely selfish reasons I am all for Ivan’s on going project of translating previously untranslated Russian works. He’s got a great knack for it and the explanatory footnotes are always witty and informative too. This was a delight to read.
Poetry and Song
Sinful by David Torkington
A short, snaking, seething, sibilance filled verse about the nature of evil. Very, very effective work here from David. I’m hoping for more in this vein from him. Excellent.
Be Strong In God’s Great Might by James
To contrast with the above evil we have a slice of the good. A hymn by our resident hymn writer James. Some people read their work aloud to edit it. James gets a choir of people to sing it back. Quite a flex. And of course a lovely, lovely piece here.
Podcasts
Twitter Bad, Alcohol Good (Tragedies of Modernity #7) by Thomas J Bevan and Craig Burgess
After a few months of scientific experimentation I have concluded that two vodka tonics is the perfect volume of podcast preparation libations. I hold up this recording as proof. Definitely our best to date. Enjoy.
One Take, No Edits (The Wednesday Audio #54) by Craig Burgess
It’s here at last, as promised. A completely unedited, one take, 30 minute plus episode of the Wednesday Audio from Craig. Quite a feat and yet he manages to deliver. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but then I always do for some strange reason.
The Broth by Madspace
He’s back. I don’t know whether the Big Korean Restaurant Cartel got to Matt during his absence and tapped him on the shoulder and said ‘You work for us now’, but all I know is that when Matt talks about Korean food or posts pictures of it in our Discords #food-and-drink channel I want some immediately. Glad your back, Matt.
TJB Film Recommendation
The Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
D. Alexander Mackendrick
W. Ernest Lehman Clifford Odets
S. Burt Lancaster Tony Curtis Susan Harrison
How can you love something so nasty? Well I’ll tell you. For all of its loathsome, perhaps irredeemable Broadway newspaper columnist characters and their machinations, this is simply a breathtakingly well put together film. Razor sharp, deadly writing, lean direction, pitch perfect performances from the panther-like Lancaster and his hyperkinetic stooge Tony Curtis. What more can you ask for?
The 97 minutes whizz by and the film manages to simultaneously feel timely, timeless and ahead of its time all at once. All of the back and forth exchanges and the brutal one-liners hit home. Man, I wish they still took as much pride and care in the craft of dialogue in movies as they do in this one. So many great quotable lines.
Watch it and see what I mean…
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 button below and choose either monthly, annual or founder member.
I look forward to seeing you over at the Social Club Discord.
Cheers!