Hackneyed

  • This is what a decade on Last.fm looks like.

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    Luke
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    Listened to 315,504 songs, spread over 10,147 artists, according to my (second) account. Looking at my top artists, if you were to ask if those were my favortites, I would say, “Close enough.”

  • Eight Ways to Not Get Hit in the Face with a Brick

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    Luke
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    Wrote this for McSweeney’s back in 2004 but it’s just as relevant today. “If someone asks if they can hit you in the face with a brick, say no. Any other response guarantees you’ll get hit in the face with a brick.”

  • Story of an Artist

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    Luke
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    Listen up and I’ll tell a story, about an artist growing old. Some would try for fame and glory, others aren’t so bold. And everyone in friends and family, sayin’ “Hey, go get a job. Why do you only do that only? Why are you so odd? “And we don’t really like what you do.…

  • “The ancient commission of the writer has not changed…

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    Luke
    in

    He is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improvement. Furthermore, the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man’s proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit — for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and…

  • “Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space…

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    Luke
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    …Every one of us is a part of that jewel. A facet of that jewel. And in the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not.” –Fred Rogers

  • 63 Up

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    Luke
    in

    Realized a day or two ago: 63 Up will be coming out this year and I am tearing up just thinking about it. This series tugs at every heart string. I could barely hold it together (read: could not hold it together) just watching the trailer for the previous installment. We should also be what,…

  • Writing Advice to Myself

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    Luke
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    Don’t say something is good or bad. That’s subjective. Instead, describe what about it you like or dislike. Probably still subjective. But less so.

  • The Last Time Tiger Won a Major

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    Luke
    in

    I had just returned from a long weekend in my hometown. My buddy Frush had picked me up on his way from Detroit. Our friend Annabelle came with. We didn’t go for any other reason than to be young and dumb. The trip was a success. We crashed with our friend Rob. Annabelle was supposed…

  • Streaming Music Raises Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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    Luke
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    Here is something I’ve never thought about. From Pitchfork: Though the overall plastic production in the recording industry has dropped, greenhouse gas emissions caused by music consumption have reached an unprecedented high, a new study from the University of Glasgow shows. The changes in environmental impact are due to the decreasing popularity of physical music…

  • If a star was born in 1937, 1954, 1976 and 2018…

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    Luke
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    … the mid/late 90s Mariah Carey/Diddy R&B/hip-hop remake must have gotten lost in a time warp.

  • #52Films By Women

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    Luke
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    I made a pledge to watch at least one female-directed film per week that I hadn’t seen prior in 2019. I will log them as I go, and likely rank them in the same list when I am done. Did the same thing in 2016. *** Speaking of movies. This is going to get discussed…

  • Dealing with People On the Internet

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    Luke
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    This issue of The Discourse has some great advice on dealing with people online. Reward your “enemies” when they agree with you, exhibit good behavior, or come around on an issue. Otherwise they have no incentive to ever meet you halfway. Accept it when people apologize. People should be allowed to work through ideas and…

  • So I have been reading. A bit.

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    Luke
    in ,

    I was very slowly working my way through Jude the Obscure, but I put that down for the Beastie Boys Book. I am aware I am the only person in the history of civilization that will ever say that. I’ve been missing Bob lately. I was hoping to see his name in the photo credits.…

  • Hallmark & Chill

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    Luke
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    If you ever find yourself looking for a Christmas movie involving a grown woman trapped in a magical snow globe, I’ve seen two. Also, Holiday in Handcuffs, the Buffalo ’66 of the genre. PS: Luke, read more, you philistine.

  • Sunday Morning/Early Afternoon Not Live

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    Luke
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    Last night ‘s episode had some fun moments. Really related to the bit in Matt Damon’s monologue about staying up late with his dad to watch the show as a child. And somehow related to the Weezer sketch even more. #TeamLeslie Also, say what you will about Miley (I have), but I enjoyed her performance and…

  • Favorite “Live” Dead:

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    Luke
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    Bear’s Choice The Closing of Winterland Cornell, 5/8/77 Dick’s Picks, Volume 8 Europe ’72 Grateful Dead Ladies and Gentlemen…

  • Welles

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    Luke
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    Been devouring Orson Welles the past week or so. Started with watching The Other Side of the Wind, which I would not recommend to another human being. Still, I found it fascinating. Since, I’ve watched/rewatched eight films either by him, and/or starring him, or about him. Plan on keeping that up while I await next…

  • Vonnegut’s 7 Commandments

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    Luke
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    Reduce and stabilize your population. Stop poisoning the air, the water, and the topsoil. Stop preparing for war and start dealing with your real problems. Teach your kids, and yourselves, too, while you’re at it, how to inhabit a small planet without helping to kill it. Stop thinking science can fix anything if you give…

  • #FrasierFriday

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    Luke
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    Frasier Well, actually, we’ve been out a couple of times. I’m really rather taken with her. She has a very playful side.  She took me miniature golfing last night. Martin Oh, sure, when she takes you, it’s playful. When I take you, it ends up as a short story in the high school literary magazine.…

  • The MFIC

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    Luke
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    Luke, it was great meeting you and hanging out, although we could have spent more time together. I was planning on working on my enigma persona, but you were too much fun. MFIC, RM. That was the first of thousands of emails from my then “new boss” (MFIC stood for “Mother Fucker in Charge,” borrowed…