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Letter From The Founder
Christmas is early upon us- the first Christmas for us as a collective here. So that means that we are still pretty new to this and feeling our way through how to make these weekly (and monthly) newsletter compilations as outstanding as possible.
So rather than use this space to discuss the work presented below (I feel that now more than ever the work that people are putting out speaks for itself) I am going to lay out the release schedule for this holiday season.
Firstly you may have noticed that there was no Symposium released on the first of December. This was to allow our writers extra time to work on the upcoming exclusively fiction issue.
This will be released on Friday 23rd December at 3pm GMT and it is our little Christmas gift to you. The first of the monthly release schedule will then resume on February 1st 2023.
As for these weekly dispatches there will be a release next Sunday (the 18th) as usual and then we will skip Christmas Day and also New Years Day (you will have all of that excellent fiction from the 23rd to enjoy) and then return to business on Sunday January 8th.
I’m already extremely excited for the evolution that 2023 is going to bring to the STSC and all of the wonderful creators here who make this all possible.
Until next week,
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
Letter to Rebecca #1 by Terry Freedman
I suspect we will be seeing more STSC members using Substacks new letter feature in coming editions of the Omnibus. It simply makes sense. There’s a certain type of discussion and revelation that comes from the epistolary format alone, which is why The Collected Letters of X Writer remain a source of fascination for some many of us bibliophiles.
Killing Them Softly by Kieran Majury
I very much agree with Kieran’s assessment here. 2012’s Killing Them Softly is an underrated film that unjustly bombed on release. I’d recommend reading this review either before or after you (re)watch the film and see for yourself.
rest in peace to the relationship, as it was once warm and blossoming, but now it is cold and withering by Tony
I’ve been waiting for this. And it was worth the wait. Tony is back and if you don’t know what that means you should read this and get up to speed with our mans burgeoning cult of personality.
Teaching behind bars -- with a postscript by Terry Freedman
Terry is so prolific as of late that I had several pieces to choose from, all of which were worthy of inclusion here. But for me personally this one is the winner, as I always enjoy reading of real life experiences such as this.
It’s sobering to reflect that, all these years later, my prison students are almost certainly holding down ordinary jobs, enjoying family life, living normal lives.
Excellent stuff.
Heads, hands or hearts? by Timothy
As always Timothy presents a compelling, heartfelt and persuasive argument in favour of autonomy and agency in education and by extension in life. Timothy is quietly building an important body of work here.
The Debut Project: Post scriptum by Vanya Bagaev
I am including this peice for two reasons. One because it is a perfect excuse to once again plug Vanya’s outstanding novella (read it here) and two because in and of itself this is an illuminating piece into the process of writing and how all creative work involves more than just the artist themselves.
Creator Spotlight - Terry Freedman by Mark Dykeman
Yet more Terry! The rules is one piece per person per genre which Terry has expertly utilised by putting out an essay, a letter collaboration and now an interview with Mark, a man who has a way of asking just the write questions to tease great insights out of his subjects. This is yet another excellent collaboration between STSC mainstays.
A Year of Expat Life, Distilled by Samantha Childress
The sad truth is there is just too much for us to see in the time we have in Egypt. I view this problem as a microcosm of life itself: the world is too big and our days on Earth too few to do everything we want to do. We have to choose what to prioritize, then put our horse blinders on and be thankful for all the amazing things we do get to experience.
With everyone one of Samanthas travelogues I learn something, am amused by something and see at least one thing (either via a photograph or via the imagery in her writing) that is truly beautiful. Always a pleasure to read.
Unpacking the Fremkit by Pr0ph3t
It’s time for the New Fremen move beyond the avoidance of technological risk as a strategy. We have been calling for caution for decades. The great danger is known, and we are correctly warned. But the promise is not all negative. And abandoning such power to our enemies is foolish negligence.
There is nothing else like this anywhere. Pr0ph3t- as the name implies- is an essential voice and a must-read.
Bookmark #603 by Deepansh Khurana
I’m going to past in a paragraph in its entirety below as it demonstrates just how good Deepansh is better than I can via an introdutcory sentence:
recently, through things that have happened here and there, as things often happen, i have learned that we must feign action, even when it does not contribute much to anything. if things remain the same for too long, even when they are sailing smoothly, they call it stagnation. we must flail and moan about things not going well, even when they are on their way. most people want to witness only this: motion. i reckon this is why the world is such a hot mess. there will always be someone who mistakes smooth motion for still waters.
Curious Realizer - Transformation Through Curiosity by Mark Dykeman
On change, mastery and above all curiosity. This is Mark at his best here- insightful and a pleasure to read.
Enemy Agent by Paul Publisher
If you’re on twitter you must follow Paul. If you are on Substack you must check out Paul’s deep dives into the stars and planets. It’s that simple.
The Decision Dilemma - Chapter 4 by Victor Casler
The serialising of his book continues apace as Victor continues to build his body of work week by week. An example to us all.
The Wit's Guide to Gifts by Benjamin Errett
To quote the comments section: In this time of overwhelming consumerism, this post was especially refreshing!
I couldn’t agree more. I suspect many, if not all of you, NEED to read this one.
Vanessa by gkgaius
Is it an essay? Is it fiction? What I do know is that it is very good and G K is definitely a talent to watch out for.
10 Anti-Mimetic Ideas for 2023 by Luke Burgis
I have said it before and I will say it again. Though I am not usually a fan of the list format in essays and articles, Luke always proves to be an exception to this rule which in itself is an example of his anti-mimetic approach. An essential voice to read during these strange times.
COAL by Andy Coughlan
Andy publishes several times a week, virtually daily, and all of it is worth reading and one piece builds on the next. So it is always hard to pinpoint just one piece of work each week. But this one stood out to me. I’m sure you will like it too.
The Last Days of the Wild West - A Governance Story by Stephanie Losi
This is without doubt one of the most interesting and reasonable takes on the whole ongoing FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried debacle. Highly recommended.
ordinary extraordinary: on the everyday imprint of the divine by kimia
From the title alone I knew I would like this one, and that proved to be the case. Kimia continues to go from strength to strength with this ‘Spectrum of Belief
where do i go after twitter? by Alex Dobrenko
Agony Uncle Alex dishes out some excellent advice as always and also drops some links and insights on attention and the internet that are genuinely vital and eye-opening. A real public servant is our Alex.
Harry & Meghan: Vol I television review: royal rumble counterpunch by MaryAnn Johanson
It’s great to see MaryAnn back and firing with both barrels. This is the kind of unapologetic, to-the-point criticism I value. ‘Here’s who I am, here’s what I think and why.’ Simple, but rarely practiced in a time of sycophancy and image management.
The Power Struggle by Charles Schifano
The purpose of life, it seems abundantly clear, is to charge your devices. To always find an outlet, to always possess the right adaptor, to never lose power—it is your modern duty, akin to how the slyest of our primate forebears fashioned tools for their prey. And just as our ancestors are defined by their tools, we’re defined by our batteries.
At this point I am beyond being convinced that Charles can write about any subject and making it entertaining, witty, touching and/or profoundly true on a whim. A pro with a real gift for prose.
A Hibernation of the Mind by Clintavo
…perhaps winter is the white space of the year.
So simple, so obvious, so profoundly true and often unremarked upon. I wish I’d’ve written that.
The City Mother's First Christmas by Maya Sinha
Maya takes us through the year in the life of a debut novelist. Congratulations to her and what she has achieved. I suspect there is much more to come.
Fiction/Poetry
Fathom by Huw Tomos-Griffiths
He’s back and he proves- if further proof were needed- just how good a writer he is. The prose and imagery in this is just phenomenal.
Proving Him Wrong is Proving You Like Him by Trilety Wade
Trilety is a genre unto her self. She should probably have her own section, to be honest. Utterly unique.
What Hasn’t Been Said by Adam Kozak
A Shakespearean sonnet in iambic pentameter and he makes it look easy and feel completely natural. Adam is truly a gifted poet and a real craftsman with words
Podcasts
(These emails are now so long the fancy embedded Podcast links no longer fit. You will have to click on the titles to make the podcasts play. I insincerely apologise.)
Episode #27- More Holes Than Jeans, Them. by Thomas J Bevan and Craig Burgess
Your two favourite fashionistas return to talk about awful designer garb and continually hover on the edge of getting cancelled.
RETVRN by Madspace
‘Hello, hi, yes, hello’
It’s been nearly four months but I’m hugely thrilled that Matt is back recording. He’s a natural at this and is absolutely hilarious. This is what podcasting should be, none of this ‘insight’ and self-congratulatory nonsense. Just a real person talking about real things in a car.
L*ter*lly Ill Communication by Craig Burgess
Craig has morphed into the worlds most Yorkshire man. Congratulations if you understand what he is saying at any point.
TJB Film Recommendation
Rope (1948)
D. Alfred Hitchcock
W. Ben Hecht, Arthur Laurents, Patrick Hamilton, Hume Cronyn
S. James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger
There are so many Hitchcock films to choose from. During his half a century working as a director I’m not sure he ever made one truly bad film and he certainly made dozens of very good films and a few irrefutable masterpieces.
So today I’m going to talk about Rope, one of those very good films. I’m doing this firstly because what else can be said about the likes of Vertigo and Rear Window and secondly because I’ll never turn down the chance to mention costar John Dall and thus his turn in the cult classic Bonnie and Clyde riff Gun Crazy (1950).
So being objective, Rope may not be in the upper, upper echelons of the Hitchcock canon but it is worth mentioning for the technical daring and innovation (the whole film appears to be filmed in one shot), as well as the sustained tension, great performances and lean runtime. And yes I am aware of the subtext (how could you not be), which again speaks to this films innovative and daring nature, especially given that it was released in 1948.
Hitchcock was a true master or his craft.
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 don’t want to jinx it but I think there’s a reasonable chance that Craig and I will probably record 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!
The STSC Omnibus #46
Heads, Hands, and Heart by Timothy.
Comment. Wow. It was a difficult read for me.
One, two, three things maybe, to say.
1) it’s me not you that made it a difficult read…keep doing your writings.
2) don’t let anyone no matter how many studies are done let you believe that psychedelic drugs give a person control of their mind.
3) so true about timelines and learning styles and gifts not always meeting a teacher that recognizes how to instill inclusiveness, no matter how curiosity needs to be fed…hands on learning of the artistic and the engineers or a slower pace to get to becoming a reader, it’s heart that needs to be spoken of more in the school and counselors need to have their time taken up with learning about those in tge corridor and what excites them about their learning journey, and maybe a space in the classroom for those “deep learners” of a topic, for each group.
The learning differences should not keep the goal from being met, which is to instill a life long learner trait no matter the gifts of the head, heart or hands.
Now… I am going to Wonderland, and going to play at the build a bear v center to make a gift for my pretty young great nephew!
It’s an experience that I’ve never done and I can tell you that even that experience, will build synaptic transmissions in my brain.
Another great crop of links - these'll keep me busy! Always a great read!