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Letter From The Founder
I thought this was a slow week, to be perfectly honest and that the collective output was a little low. But now that I have come around to compiling this newsletter I can see that it’s another monster issue.
We’ve got travelogues, people-watching reportage, technical subject discussions, cultural analysis, heartfelt and evocative prose, absurdist fiction, sonnets and technically proficient poetry. We’ve got newcomers and old hands doing what they do best. We’ve got podcasts and piracy and astronomy.
What more can you ask for?
Incredible work as always from the gang here. I’m sure you’ll agree as you sit down, get comfortable and sink into this weekends offering here.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
Fictitious vol. 19: Piracy as a form of music appreciation by Oleg
I can’t claim that I had listened to all the albums stored on my hard drive but I 100% knew what I had. Like Umberto Ecco’s library, it was as much about the music yet to be listened to as about the go-to listens.
As someone who very much went through a phase like this I found this hugely relatable. Great piece.
This is your brain on exhaustion by Yardena
Understandably short this one. Yet still very good even given the circumstances. And there is also a link to a soon to be paywalled piece that I highly recommend you check out ASAP
Keepers of Secret Glories by Pr0ph3t
Have you ever considered the possibility that every facet of your earthly existence was not meant to be known by everyone?
Why yes, yes I have. And this is why I never miss a newsletter from Pr0ph3t because he truly ‘gets it’. Outstanding stuff here.
When Past Becomes Present: Luxor Part II by Samantha
A worthy follow up to Samanthas excellent piece last week. Her Substack seems to be going from strength to strength, both numbers and quality wise. Love to see it.
The Case for Silence by Luke Burgis
Possibly one of Luke’s very best to date. And that is saying something. I loved it and not just because I agreed with everything he was saying here!
A drama unfolds at the UPS store by Alex
Purple Camp and Generic Maron. Hilarious. I want more of this.
Rediscovering Myself by Lou
I’m not going to tell you to quit social-media and pick up spiritual practices. I’m just reflecting on my experience with quitting social-media and rediscovering myself. Although, if any of the following speaks to you, I encourage you to experiment.
I second everything said here. An important piece filled with ideas many, many people need to here.
Is It Better to be Bitten by Teeth of Wood or Bone? by Trilety
As people in the comments to this one have astutely pointed out the closing line to this one is quietly powerful. But you’ll have to read this through to get to it. But fortunately the piece as a whole is a pure pleasure so that is no hardship.
Emerging Risks and Smart Regulation by Stephanie Losi
Maybe it is my tendency towards degenerate gambling that mad this piece on risk so enlightening. Technical stuff here but I definitely learned something with this one. Why couldn’t school be like this?
Staring at the wall. For 9 years. by Simon
Kurosawa, Lynch and Shaolin Monks? Yes, please. Thoroughly enjoyed this latest from Simon.
Curious Realizer - Where Did The Moon Come From? by Mark
A fascinating astronomy lesson from Mark. One of his very best pieces to date and the way he tied it all back to his regular themes of creativity was masterful.
It's Memories All The Way Down by Edward
There are some very, very prolific people here in the STSC but Edward might well be the champion in this regard (It’s between him an the man directly below in this roundup).
The line in this one- Dreams become sneak preview trailers for a waking world’s greenlighted releases- has been running through my head ever since. Incredible.
bookmark #555 by Deepansh
555! And as someone who has read a lot of these pieces (every one since Deepansh joined us and a good chunk of his vast archive) I can say that this one is up there with the all time best of his. Fantastic.
The Power of Democratic Meetings by Timothy
This was great. Anyone who writes about doing things in the real world is a force for good in this time of internet echo chambers on internet ‘discourse’. Timothy is always a delight to read.
A Private Notebook by Charles Schifano
Few people actually possess secrets about nuclear codes or unsolved murders or clandestine affairs, but they are busy concealing, well, more underwhelming secrets. About inadequacies. Failures. Whether they’re actually undesirable. And perhaps you, too, might be inadequate, a failure, or even undesirable. Isn’t that at least possible? Right?
Charles is one of the greatest essayists writing today. It’s that simple.
New Game: Node Vice by D.B.
As much as I try to not play favourites, this one was my favourite this week. I have to be honest, here. I think that everyone should play D.B. ‘Node Vice’ peoplewatching game. It would quietly make the world a slightly better place I believe.
Recreational Dystopia by Thomas J. Bevan
After the 50,000th time you see someones brains get splattered across a wall on screen you get a little bored of it. Or I have anyway.
the thaw after the snow by Yuelian
Heartfelt, real, beautifully observed. A model of good writing here.
Gin Joints by Gavin
Man, Gavin is an unbelievably rated writer. Deserves way more subscribers and recognition in my opinion. Read this latest one and tell me I’m wrong
I call B.S. by Lyle McKeany
Personally, I hold Lyle as a model for honest in writing. The ability to unflinchingly examine yourself like this is a powerful thing to cultivate and I think we can all stand to learn from Lyle’s example here.
Fiction/Poetry
The Three Commenteers by Craig Burgess
He’s writing fiction now! And he’s… good at it. Very good. Excellent absurdist writing here that feels both a part of a comic modernist tradition and also fresh. He’s onto something, is Craig.
The Visitors to Everwood Keep by AJ
Beautiful stuff here. AJ is another writer who’s work needs to be compiled in print so I can proudly display it on my bookshelf. Excellent.
OTHERS by G K Gaius
Along with the third instalment of his ongoing In Too Deep , G K has also this extremely evocative bit or poetry. Very, very talented.
My antiques scatter & screech. To learn ( to be set by James Maynard
The latest in James’ crown on sonnets. Click the link and enjoy this fine, fine bit of poetry. They say that real, technical, powerful poetry is dead. James and our other poets here prove this is simply not so.
A Poem for You, Part 2 by Adam Kozak
Love the interplay between the dialogue and the verse. Adam is outstanding at what he does. A real artist and a unique voice.
Podcasts
A.I. Podcast Accelerationism (Tragedies of Modernity #21) by Thomas J Bevan and Craig Burgess
This was a good one, if I do say so myself. Yeah, it can get mean-spirited but these people deserve it and I would argue we are pretty consistent with hitting our one genuine laugh per hour target. But ultimately you will be the judge.
A completely typical episode (The Wednesday Audio #75) by Craig Burgess
He says he’s sorry but I’m not sure I believe him. I also suspect that the acting a bit crazy and unhinged schtick has tipped over into the real thing. A bit of a Jim Carrey playing Andy Kaufman type of situation. But you be the judge.
TJB Film Recommendation
Freaks (1932)
D. Tod Browning
W. Willis Goldbeck, Leon Gordon, Clarence Aaron, 'Tod' Robbins
S. Harry Earles, Olga Baclanova, Daisy Earles
I saw a DVD extra about this carnival freak show set film many years ago which told of how the man with no arms and no legs not only managed to light his cigarette (as seen in one of the many, many unforgettable scenes in this film) but that prior to that he had rolled it too!
That’s all I’m gonna say about this cult classic film, other than it is great and that you have to see it.
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!
Popped by to second the “Freaks” movie tip! Be prepared, is all I’m going to say.