We sat down with @BarmanJB for a lengthy discussion on pop-up bars, bartender etiquette and some Waterworld chat. Also, Mickey goes on a Burger Binge and we discover some great new spots:
https://t.co/USox9iPx3A https://t.co/zvAG6OQtd3
Over the weekend I read through this Verge article on The Oscar Wilde of YouTube, aka Natalie Wynn aka ContraPoints. It's a worthwhile read for some background on how her channel came to be, what the various characters are she represents and who she is trying to reach. Having that bit of insight before diving into the channel certainly aids in the understanding but it's not essential.
Basically, just give yourself 30 minutes and watch her piece on Incels, the subculture of individuals who define themselves by their celibacy, which often breeds a hatred for the opposite sex. This is, by and large, a toxic masculinity problem.
She makes the topics entertaining despite their troubling nature. The pieces are longer than most typical YouTube fair but these aren't topics that can be covered quickly or lightly.
Awhile back, a project by the name of Switched on SNES popped up on Bandcamp with a tribute album to A Link to the Past, songs from the Zelda classic all performed on analog synthesizers and drum machines. The conceit was simple:
The goal of the project is to expose listeners to the musical masterpieces that have been overlooked - mostly because of the 16bit instrumentation.
There are plans for future soundtracks that include Earthbound, Donkey Kong Country, Secret of Mana and plenty more. However, the latest release to surface from the project is The Lost Levels, Vol 1, a collection of songs where the "sounds and aesthetics are heavily inspired by 16bit video games, but the writing and arranging is all original."
You can hear the entire album on YouTube, Spotify, etc. or buy it on Bandcamp. It is, to say the least, a very pleasant listen.
Apocrypha is a zine published from 1997 to 2007 documented the universe of Law & Order and providing original fan fiction about the characters involved. I haven't indulged into the fan/fic portion yet but I am loving these character deep dives that include exhaustive documentation on known facts drawn from the show. Of course, the Jack McCoy entry is massive. I won't deny that read this for a good half hour, just soaking in nuggets like:
Has a model sailboat and photo of a dark-haired woman on the cabinets behind his desk (EADA office); in earlier episodes there is a cluttered billboard prominently shown, later ones feature a charcoal rubbing of a genealogical coat-of-arms framed and hanging.
Please take note that no part of me is sarcastically complimenting this. I am truly impressed at the dedication and preservation of the information from one of the best procedural's to grace the TV.
Time for another We Own This Town Music podcast, the bi-weekly show I curate of Nashville area music. I decided to focus on cover songs for this episode - not only because it's an easy gateway for enjoying a new band but because there's so many great covers by so many great local bands that need to be spotlighted. So, that being said...
It's a bit longer of an episode than I usually produce but I'm happy with how it turned out. If you know of any other Nashville area covers that need to be included in a second volume, get at me.
Great short film from Stella McCartney featuring David Lynch speaking on the art of film and the power of transcendental meditation. Curtains is slow paced and beautifully directed by Austin Lynch and Case Simmons (under the name Tete-a-Tete) and is a fitting visual aid to the contemplative words of the famed filmmaker.
Oh, and if you're still feeling cagey on Lynch because of that Trump quote that was floating around, fear not - it was out of context.
the @protomen's ACT II - THE FATHER OF DEATH vinyl packaging has been nominated in four categories at the @MakingVinyl packaging awards. we've been nominated for 'best cover', 'best gatefold', 'best in show' and 'they said it couldn't be done.' not bad.
https://t.co/cgDuTSqML5 https://t.co/AGcNjHFYDo
Personal news, I finally finished my taxes this week. Impressive, no? It's only August.
As a celebratory release for us all, enjoy the following:
Wednesday Finale - I've probably posted too many of these videos but this is the last one. As in, the last one to be made. ZimoNitrome made one of these every week for a year. Insane. The Internet thanks you.
Paul Flart Loses His Job - this requires a little context. First, know that Paul Flart is a Security Guard who has been documenting his farts for six months. It's not particularly entertaining but he did it. He also gets fired for it since he posted each one online. The firing is the best part, hands down.
Stumbled across this tweet the other day that led me down a path of full immersion into the works of Erica Anderson. She calls herself a GIF artist but that's underselling the visuals that she creates. They're "abstract moving paintings" and there's a ton of them on her blog or her Instagram.
Brilliantly, she also offers many of the creations as looping videos if you support her on Patreon.