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Letter From The Founder
As was perhaps inevitable, one entry ended up being left off last weeks Symposium. So by way of apology, and to give me something to write about in this introduction, I am going to recommend that everyone reads THIS PIECE BY TIM. It’s very good. And yes for the eagle eyed that is the same Tim who was eyewitness to the Richard Dawkins sandwich holding debacle as featured in an earlier episode of the Tragedies of Modernity podcast (for which there is a little announcement at the bottom of this missive).
So with that out of the way welcome to Omnibus #28. It’s a bumper on with all of the high quality essays, fiction, poetry- and nos photography too- that regular readers have come to expect.
Also hello to all of the new sign-ups here and at my personal Substack. We now have 229 Soaring Twenties Social Club members which means there are only 71 spots left. Can’t wait to see what other great creators join our ranks and start having their work featured here in the near future.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
Procrastination and Intrinsic Motivation in Self-Directed Education by Tim
For those who didn’t read the opening letter, this essay should have been in the last Symposium but I missed it out (sorry) and it is extremely good and you should read it immediately and then subscribe to Tim’s Substack.
On environment and creativity by Simon
On the Socrates of San Fransisco and how to approach each creative project a new. This is without doubt Simon’s best piece to date (and that’s a high bar). Really in-depth, insightful and original stuff here.
bookmark #476 by Deepansh
august: the jealous son of july; the undoing of all we build.
For the opening line alone this is worth a read. Deepansh somehow just keeps getting better and better.
Movie Serials: In Search of Lost Treasures by Frank
Hot on the heels of Frank’s excellent piece on radio dramas comes this look at cinematic Chapter Plays from their silent origins to their 1950’s peak. An absolutely fascinating piece of cultural history this. Frank is doing a real service by digging up these forgotten gems.
(N.B- Frank’ weekly accountability posts is also outstanding and an initiative that would be of benefit for all new writers to emulate. If they are brave enough.)
Things I liked in July 2022 by Thomas Kealy
This time of year seems to make people stop and slow down. Perhaps because there’s not a great deal else you can do in this heat (Unless you are one of our Australian readers currently having a snowball fight). So here Thomas reflects on what he’s been watching, reading and playing as of late. Real ‘avoid the middle’ behaviour here.
O by Huw
On O’s, circles, moats, languages, solidarity, compound interest and more. I’ve never read anything quite like it. Incredible piece.
weekly digest: in which I slowly return to work by MaryAnn
Seems like MaryAnn is on the mend and back to here usual mind-boggling film review schedule. She’s an absolutely essential resource for anyone who is thinking of an evening out at the cinema.
A Curious Realizer Guide to Freewriting by Mark
This is a fantastic, exhaustive dive into the practice of freewriting and a vital resource to anyone who wants to take up the practice to improve their own craft. Also I’m pleased to say that a print interview between Mark and myself will be posted soon. Subscribe to his Substack so you don’t miss it.
Carrying the Weight of Glory Together by Pr0ph3t
In a new feature on his Substack, Pr0ph3t pulls a book from his shelf and takes us on a journey through it. He has chosen Zaleski and Zaleski’s The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of The Inklings which on the strength of this write up looks to be a must read.
Goodbye Dry July by D.B.
I also participated in Dry July last month, but I will have to drawn the line at Fleshless August. But that being said this personal update post from our man D.B. gets into the whole practice of ‘self-deprivation gaming’ in a way that I found highly relatable and useful. D.B. is always a worthwhile read.
Hace Calor & Underwear's Evolution by Trilety
The heat does strange things to you. Including compelling you to write outstanding and poetic short essays on underwear it seems. Essay isn’t even the word at this point, Trilety is a genre unto herself.
The effective chaos magician believes everything by ?!
Magic, perception, mindfulness meditation, the artists brain and more. ?! is absolutely in his element with this one. Loved it.
Reflection #8 by Clint
Writing is a miracle and reading is wizardry. While reading the books on that shelf (and many others) I am, or, rather, my consciousness is, quite literally, no longer in Texas. I’m not even in the 21st century.
A lovely discourse on the magic of reading here. Another fantastic Reflection from Clint.
The Investigator by Paul
I wonder how long it will take for the astrology intrigued masses to realise that Paul is one of the best in the world when it comes to understanding the stars and planets? He should be the court astrologer to the great and good by now. Simply waiting for time to catch up to him.
A preliminary introduction to Neopantheism by Felix Kammerlander
As the title suggests this is a philosophical dive into religion and Neopantheism in our time. I could see this developing into a full book. This is not the lightest or breeziest of reads but I hope in our low attention age that there are still those who will dive into this one.
Distant Memories by Charles Schifano
A consideration of Belgrade via works by Téa Obreht and Rebecca West. The prose is as fluid, sharp and resonant as long term Schifano readers have come to expect. Another delight.
Maintenance vs growth by Vita
Vita takes a minute to leave the dance floor and get back to the desk to write another of his signature essays on the practicalities of performance with this consideration of maintenance versus growth. When it comes to getting meaningful work done and improving in life Vita is your man.
Snooker, Or, Sports Vs. Games by Thomas J Bevan
In this one I look at the gentle art of snooker as a springboard to talk about optimum drunkenness and the benefits that stepping up to the baize has on ones mental health.
At least some numbers go up by Lyle
This is issue 100. And as with Thomas and D.B. above Lyle is in a reflective mood. He shares the ups and downs of his journey to date. I should also note- for the crypto/web3 inclined- the Invisible College project that Lyle is a part of. One of the few genuine future focused NFT projects around. Using the tech for good and not mere speculation.
Fiction/Poetry
Love in a Nanosecond by Victor
This is a second piece that I missed off the roster last week (compiling an Omnibus and then a Symposium on consecutive days was a bit of a mind-bender to be honest). Which is a shame as this is a great piece of microfiction. But it’s here now. And you should absolutely go and read it.
First Contact by Richard
Richards microfiction-based-on-prompts project continues apace. Another sterling entry into the growing body of work.
August is the only summer month by Katavasis
Fiction, poetry, essay? Genre is of little concern to our man Katavasis but I put it here because it’s lyrical nature made it seem fitting. I hope this signals a return of him being a regular fixture as his writing chops are outstanding.
Fate by G.K. Gaius
Packs a lot of punch into a short amount of sentences. When it comes to fiction, this seems to be the STSC way. Art for the internet age.
The Digital World by David
Three more excellent poems by David. I have reprinted one of them below but you must read them all.
The Fall
Stiff and steep, the fall of man
Bowing to mechanical might
Wrought calculation and schemata
Leveraged but to outsmart the light
Serpent’s lure is data-driven
Apple’s job, rotten to the core
The garden, rife with seduction
Lilith in every digital whore
Samael, the viper of mystery
Dangles death, the corners of the web
Tindalos waits within the numbers
Feasting till we decide this tide to ebb
Photography
10 photos by Sam
When he’s not performing standup with such skill that women (or one woman at least) has to flee the room for fear of mirth-induced urination, our man Sam practices the noble art of analogue photography. The link takes you to an album of 10 of his shots. Now, I don’t know if he’s in cahoots with Kodak but I predict people are going to go out and but cameras and film after looking at these shots.
Podcasts
Rubik’s Cubes and even Stranger Things (Tragedies of Modernity #13) by Thomas J Bevan and Craig Burgess
Craig said he wanted to talk about the Lesley Nielson spoof Airplane! and the Netflix sensation Stranger Things. I failed to see the link between the two but seemingly old Craig knew what he was doing. We also talk about Rubik’s cubes for a surprisingly long length of time too.
THE PODCAST OMBUDSMAN COMETH (Wednesday Audio #64)
Craig has some new kit. Which means he can make his voice go very high (aka the Podcast Ombudsman) or very low and rumbly. Is it a little disturbing? Yes. Is it very, very funny? YAAAAWWWWWZ
TJB Film Recommendation
KING OF NEW YORK (1990)
D. Abel Ferrera
W. Nicholas St. John
S. Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne
Another week, another 90’s neo-noir film recommendation. But, man, Christopher Walken is ice cold in this one. Possibly the best performance of his long career. It’s crrtainly up there anyway.
Now I won’t outline the plot (I don’t think I ever do, really) because on the page it sounds hackneyed and awful- gangster fresh out of Sing Sing tries to take over and tussles with the police and the Triads- but on screen it simply works.
As well as the ensemble cast led by Walken and the gold toothed scenery chewing Larry (before he was Laurence) Fishburne, this film works because of it style. This is a nocturnal, decadent, fabulist version of New York- part Light Sleeper, part Batman: The Animated Series (though this predates both of those)- which is captivating on screen.
I don’t know if it was insomniac reruns on television that did it, but this 80’s meets the 90’s crime drama aesthetic has always captivated me which is probably why I always seem to come back to recommending something from this time and place. But I stand by it. This is a visual treat and a lot of fun too. I bet you Tarantino knows it by heart.
Thanks as always for reading/listening and thanks in advance for pressing all of those various buttons at the bottom which help the Omnibus spread further.
Also in exciting news Craig and I will not only be recording a new episode of the Tragedies of Modernity podcast tonight at 8pm GMT, we will also be joined- hopefully- by special guest Jim Clair, direct response copywriter, flaneur and internet huckster exposer. The plan is to wind him up and give him space to rant. Should be fun. As always we’ll host and record the podcast live from the STSC community and then post it via this Substack tomorrow.
If you want to join us live and listen in and post questions/comments/heckles in the podcast channel chat you are more than welcome. You simply have to sign up to the community first.
I look forward to seeing you over at the Social Club.
Cheers!
Another solid Omnibus!
Another solid Omnibus!