This Omnibus is brought to you by The Soaring Twenties Social Club. Everything you want to know about our community and why you should join is contained within this post ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Letter From The Founder
Though it becomes more and more enjoyable to read the STSC gangs work each week and see how people are developing, these Omnibuses (Omnibi?) are becoming somewhat more difficult to compile. Because several people are posting multiple pieces each week that are all worthy of praise and inclusion.
In fact each week I am told that I am nearing the email length limit or worse that the email is too long, and so I have to trim down my praise to hit the limit.
This is one of those good problems as Marlo Stanfield in The Wire once said. So this week, we once again have an embarrassment of riches on offer (although I am not yet embarrassingly rich) which we hope you enjoy as part of a peaceful Sunday.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
Commuters - an art project by Oleg
A beautiful reminder of the extraordinary nature of the ordinary and that everyone has a story. Also the accompanying audio read by Alex is perfect too.
You've Got That Infinite Feeling by Edward
Mood-boards, William Blake, infinity and much much more. Edward is a unique writer and evidently a very prolific creator.
Curious Realizer - what's in your creative limbo? by Mark
A great topic of discussion this. We rarely talk about all of the projects we’ve abandoned or never fully seen through to completion. And perhaps we should. Perhaps there is something there- lessons if not still salvageable work. A great piece from Mark.
Week in Review: October 2 - October 9, 2022 by Frank
Franks posts are always worth reading for the reading and film recommendations sprinkled in them alone. This round up is no exception. Personally, I really enjoy this format of his that simply says what he has done on his journey to pulp greatness.
bookmark #546 by Deepansh
traffic reminds me of many things. it reminds me of unfulfilled dreams in middle-class homes and lovers waiting for someone who never intended to return; in short, it reminds me of helplessness, and not just any helplessness, but one inflicted onto the self.
As always Deepansh is able to articulate whole moods in just a couple of sentences.
I want you back (and other films watched) by Kieran Majury
Kieran is back with this appropriately named collection of thoughts on te movies our man has recently been watching.
Elizabeth Mountbatten-Windsor, Matriarch by Maya
This excellent pieces uses the recent death of the Queen (you may have heard about it) as a jumping off point to discussing the nature and role of the matriarch, something that I suspect we too seldom give serious thought and appreciation to.
The Brinksmanship of Grace by Pr0ph3t
I’m going to go ahead and state what I have said before and no doubt will say again in the future: this may well be pr0ph3ts best essay to date.
When History's Narrators Are Unreliable: Luxor Part I by Samantha
What really interests me is how outward journeys affect the trajectory of our inner lives. What does travel force us to discover about ourselves? How does it change our understanding of history? Of how the world works? Of our individual roles in it?
This is Samanthas mission statement and here, as elsewhere, she absolutely delivers on the promise of it. Outstanding photography here too.
Establishing an Elite by Cody Clarke
Cody is writing which means he must have wrapped on his latest film shoot. And rather than resting on his laurels or taking a breathe he is here at his incendiary best. Essential reading for all who grumble about the state of cinema today.
It's time for me to apologize and also ask for your help by Alex
How when your obsession with making the numbers to up makes you develop a split personality. I must confess I found this worryingly relatable.
Reflection #15 by Clint
A very poignant moment simply, yet perfectly captured.
Getting Out of the Way by Lou
On ‘little standing me’, fear, IFS, perfectionism and more. A very, very thought provoking read here.
A Palate Cleanser for Our Gouty Hearts by Trilety
From the title alone you know you are on to a winner and so, as always, it proves to be. A wonderful piece in an archive of wonderful pieces.
Travel Diaries #35 - Myrtle Beach by Gavin
Large fuzzy bellies and mullets, in beach bars obese tourists shovelled hot dogs slathered in chili sauce and liquidised cheese into their mouths and faces, weed was smoked freely on the streets, and locals with handlebar moustaches and Confederate flag tattoos told us that Black Biker Week would be happening the following week, and warned us that this is when people tended to ‘get shot’.
This, my friends, is travel writing.
To The Smallest Particle by Charles Schifano
Charles has a real gift for taking pretty complex literary theory ideas and discussions and make them not only comprehensible and genuinely interesting, but even more impressively he makes such topics a genuine joy to read.
On Silence and the Inner Voice by Thomas J Bevan
In a world of perpetual headphones, podcasts, noise and chatter, silence is more important than ever. I get into that and the inner voice that arises in silence here.
A marketing nightmare by Lyle McKeany
“I’m supposed to be the vulnerable stories guy, not the ‘here are my thoughts on crypto’ guy.”
In this short statement Lyle lays out how he- like all good writers I would say- contains multitudes and should write what comes rather than stick to limiting and ore defined topics for the sake of keeping to a brand. A timely reminder for us all.
Fiction/Poetry
A Passage to Kerala by Sajan
Fiction, footnotes and photography, all beautifully executed. This was a delight to read. Enjoy.
IN TOO DEEP by G. K. Gaius
Entry #2 of this ongoing work. You can find the first instalment here. This’ll have you hooked.
The stick is mightier than the pen by Timothy
Almost as nice as the poem itself is the little preamble image of composing children’s poetry at a learning community in a yurt. Timothy joins the growing number of STSC people who dabble in poetry.
The Shadow of the Sun by Adam Kozak
Come, take my hand and run with me to find
A place unknown, and hand in hand we’ll cross
Through skies so clear and bright, wide seas and deep,
Running against both time and fate to where
The mist lies deep in valleys and the high
Mount calls, where deep things wait in places
We forgot. We ride to battle, drums and horns,
Clarion call to glory, but we laugh
And dance and sing, escaping thund’rous din
To wander moonlit shores and drive our ship
Into the blazing shadow of the sun.
Podcasts
ALL A BIG JOKE (AD FREE PREVIEW)(The Wednesday Audio #74) by Craig Burgess
The king of the pudcast (yes, you read that correctly) rides in on a promotional Peloton to once again seize over half an hour of your life with his soundboard enabled nonsense.
TJB Film Recommendation
The World’s Greatest Sinner (1962)
D. Timothy Carey
W. Timothy Carey
S. Timothy Carey, Gil Barreto, Betty Rowland
This is the cult film to end all cult films. Written, directedand starring manic on-screen nutcase Timothy Carey this film is deranged, captivating, unique and either terribly brilliant or brilliantly terrible.
We have here the story of frustrated insurance salesman turned rock star/ would-be dictator who climbs the ladder of political success on a ticket of blasphemy, transhuman promises and young Elvis inspired costumes and rock and roll.
A pre Mothers of Invention Frank Zappa provides the soundtrack while Carey provides the diabolical, hysterical (in both sense of that word) and strangely mesmerising central performance of God Hillard, a man formerly known as Clarence.
This film never had a commercial release (what a surprise) and Carey would carry it around and screen it at various midnight movies in LA throughout the 60’s. I have never seen anything like it- from the visuals, to the idea, to Carey’s hood eyed to screaming and back again central performance.
There’s a reasonable chance you will hate this film. But I had to recommend it anyway because I would rather recommend something jaw dropping (whether for the right or the wrong reasons) than something merely staid and safe. Enjoy.
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 I can again confirm that Craig and I will be recording a new episode of the Tragedies of Modernity podcast tonight at 8pm GMT. We’ll host it and record it 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!