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Jim Henson: Idea Man, Ron Howard
Had the pleasure to see the Muppets in a wonderful exhibit in Grand Rapids last year and this film served as an excellent reminder of that inspirational day. In his own words: “Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.” I will likely always be more of a George Carlin or…
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Me and Rigby watching a Ghostbusters and Gremlins double-feature in honor of both movies coming out June 8, 1984.
Truly the day cinema peaked.
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Joey Ramone would have been 73 today.
(Photo by Howard Barlow) As heard on Little Steven’s Underground Garage: The renaissance had come and gone. It ended with either Who’s Next in August, ’71, or The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St., May of ’72. You can argue all night about which record began the renaissance, but nobody’s going to argue that starting…
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The Creative Act: A Way of Being
“All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now.” Was hoping for a few real world examples from Rubin’s illustrious music career, but this is still an inspiring book on the creative process. Here is something I need to remember: “Living life as an…
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Rest in Peace, Steve Albini
I know there’s “cooler” albums to talk about, but In Utero and Surfer Rosa were profoundly important to my teens, and I haven’t stopped listening to Mclusky Do Dallas since seeing them in San Francisco this past March. My friend Tom had the good fortune of studying under Albini in the early 2000s and had…
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20 Years Ago I Was At Coachella
So were the then recently-reunited Pixies, whom I interviewed. And Air, also interviewed. And Tommy Lee, whom I had a drink with in the VIP lounge. Which is where I also Mike Watt. And Fred Schneider. And Wayne Coyne, who would debut the Space Bubble the next evening. And Kraftwerk, who I managed to get…
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You Don’t Know How to Drive
If I never share a pixelated meme again, it will be too soon. But this one is important. Otherwise, it’s gonna be a looong summer. It’s quite simple, really: “When most drivers see the first “lane closed ahead” sign in a work zone, they slow too quickly and move to the lane that will continue…
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American Moviemakers on Letterman
Rewatching American Movie unlocked fond memories of Mark and Mike on Letterman. I cannot stop laughing.
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Brain Scans of Jazz Musicians Reveal Secrets to Creative Flow
As reported in The Conversation: “Flow, or being ‘in the zone,’ is a state of amped-up creativity, enhanced productivity and blissful consciousness that, some psychologists believe, is also the secret to happiness. It’s considered the brain’s fast track to success in business, the arts or any other field. But in order to achieve flow, a…
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Charles Schulz Drawing Peanuts
“I wish I had a better education but I think that my entire background made me well-suited for what I do. If I could write better than I can, perhaps I would have tried to become a novelist and I might have become a failure. If I could draw better than I can, I might…
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Recently Read
Two massive tomes I finally conquered: The Stand and The Pale King. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend either but I am glad I read both. Of course I love reading about movies. After making a list of my favorite (read: not the ones I think are the best) films, I realized two filmmakers had four films on…
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TV Reviewed
(Previously on Hackneyed) The Bear (Seasons 1-2): Second season surpassed the first. The bottleneck episodes, “Fishes” and “Forks,” were easily my two favorite single episodes of a show the last year. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Seasons 1-8): Just what I needed. Not quite Parks or The Office, but a solid sitcom from start to finish. Better Call…
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American Movie, Chris Smith
Re-watched this wonderfully weird film last night and still love it as much as I did 25 years ago, but agree that it now hits different: “Today Mark Borchardt looks less like an amusing hustler, and more like a poetic and even tragic hero; the living embodiment of unfulfilled dreams. Even that scene with the unforgiving cabinet…
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From The Journal of Kurt Cobain, Gone 30 Years Ago Today
Don’t let your opinions obstruct the aforementioned list.
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Amoeba Music, San Fransisco
Didn’t actually pick up any tapes, but did fill my bag with jazz records: Weather Report’s self-titled debut, The Jazz Experiments of Charles Mingus, Tomorrow Is the Question! The New Music of Ornette Coleman! and Alice Coltrane’s Journey in Satchidananda.
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Greetings from Detroit
So nice, I went and turned 21 twice. Spent the birthday with Adri in Detroit, getting prayer beads from Dabls, strolling thru Heidelberg, having drinks with DJ Ladylike at Spot Lite, and stopping by my favorite tiki spot Mutiny before getting grooves on at Boogie Fever. Pretty close to a perfect day.
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Pop (T)art(s)
From Wikipedia: “Introduced in 1964 and initially called Fruit Scones, the name was soon changed to Pop-Tarts as a pun on the then popular Pop Art movement.” (File under “things learned watching Jeopardy!)
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2024. Day One. So Far, So Good.
Got eight hours sleep. Sent the first newsletter of 2024 and spent my morning at the club. Played basketball, soundtracked by Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter radio on Spotify. Ran for a bit, swam for a bit longer than I ran, then ended the trip in the hot tub and sauna. Went grocery shopping and…