"I’ve said before that our belief that nature is red in tooth and claw—and that all evolution is driven by fierce and ruthless competition—is more a tenet of the capitalist religion than the reality, but it is a hard habit for many of us to break. Like the man who can’t change his beliefs because his income depends on it, we have been told that humans are singular in deserving life, and ascribing emotions to any other living thing is “anthropomorphism,” and must be disdained if we are to be taken seriously, even if it means ignoring what we have seen with our own eyes since the beginning of human existence. The people who benefit from ruthless competition do not want it judged; it must be accepted as the one true way, lest they be made to make do with a little less than nearly all the wealth on Earth. "
... is almost, ALMOST, as good as the header photo on this post.
Happy New Year, sorry it started off with a case of Covid. If death & taxes are inescapable, COVID may very well be too.
I was in a media slump at the end of 2022 as well, but things are looking a bit up with the purchase of Desert Oasis in Joshua Tree -- a very quirky little book that I’ll probably end up writing about -- and I appreciate the nod towards Nope. I don’t generally do resolutions but I *was* hoping to kind of look around to try to get myself out of the slump & this helps a lot -- hope you and your MIL are out of your COVID slumps!
Thanks again. I'm slowing getting my recovery back. I can go for a bike ride but then I'm shot for a day or two. Yeah, I'm also past 50, but I wasn't dragging ass this bad before the 'rona got me. I'm thankful that seems to be the worst of it.
Yeah, it's the recovery that's the SOB. I think actually having an autoimmune disease is kindof a weird advantage here -- I'm used to things taking *forever* to get out of my system, but it seems like if you rush this, you end up making it worse. Glad you're paying attention and giving yourself a down day or two after exertion, and hope you're on the (slow) path towards full health.
I got a smart watch for Christmas, and it knew I had covid before I tested positive. I looked it up, and it's proven. Heart Rate Variability drops. Mine is just getting back to normal. I'm taking it easy, but I hope to get back to daily morning hike soon.
I loved Nope (also Get Out), and yours is one of the best commentaries I've read about it. The next time someone tells me they just don't get this movie I'll direct them to your substack. And I was so happy to see Keith David in this! I first saw him in The Thing (one of my favorite horror movies) in a little movie theater in Santa Fe when I was a teenager. It was so nice to see him all these (many) years later in Nope.
Thank you, Lise! Me too, with Keith David. It had to be The Thing. I saw it on stolen HBO, way too young, and I watch it every year. He's so good in it, too. A guilty pleasure movie for me is Men at Work, where he plays a grouchy garbage man who has to train Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen... You can't blame him! And he's so funny in it. It's not very good, but it's a fun watch. Thanks for the compliment. I started out as a movie blogger. I'll share my Thing essay with an update after I watch it again.
If I don't make it there during this whirlwind visit, I'll definitely visit Joan of Arc's statue, and pray she intercedes to forgive our awful puns, if not my actual sins!
Thanks. I went for a short hike this morning, and I think I'm getting my endurance back. "Banshees" is also on Netflix, if you don't want to brave the theater. I wish I still enjoyed going to the movies, but even when I've been in a theater with 2 other people, they manage to make a lot of noise.
This paragraph:
"I’ve said before that our belief that nature is red in tooth and claw—and that all evolution is driven by fierce and ruthless competition—is more a tenet of the capitalist religion than the reality, but it is a hard habit for many of us to break. Like the man who can’t change his beliefs because his income depends on it, we have been told that humans are singular in deserving life, and ascribing emotions to any other living thing is “anthropomorphism,” and must be disdained if we are to be taken seriously, even if it means ignoring what we have seen with our own eyes since the beginning of human existence. The people who benefit from ruthless competition do not want it judged; it must be accepted as the one true way, lest they be made to make do with a little less than nearly all the wealth on Earth. "
... is almost, ALMOST, as good as the header photo on this post.
Get well, friend.
Thanks, Chris. I'm glad I can still write half good when I try.
Happy New Year, sorry it started off with a case of Covid. If death & taxes are inescapable, COVID may very well be too.
I was in a media slump at the end of 2022 as well, but things are looking a bit up with the purchase of Desert Oasis in Joshua Tree -- a very quirky little book that I’ll probably end up writing about -- and I appreciate the nod towards Nope. I don’t generally do resolutions but I *was* hoping to kind of look around to try to get myself out of the slump & this helps a lot -- hope you and your MIL are out of your COVID slumps!
Thanks again. I'm slowing getting my recovery back. I can go for a bike ride but then I'm shot for a day or two. Yeah, I'm also past 50, but I wasn't dragging ass this bad before the 'rona got me. I'm thankful that seems to be the worst of it.
Yeah, it's the recovery that's the SOB. I think actually having an autoimmune disease is kindof a weird advantage here -- I'm used to things taking *forever* to get out of my system, but it seems like if you rush this, you end up making it worse. Glad you're paying attention and giving yourself a down day or two after exertion, and hope you're on the (slow) path towards full health.
I got a smart watch for Christmas, and it knew I had covid before I tested positive. I looked it up, and it's proven. Heart Rate Variability drops. Mine is just getting back to normal. I'm taking it easy, but I hope to get back to daily morning hike soon.
Just got around to reading your newsletter, enjoyed every word. Thanks
Oops! except for the covid part.
I loved Nope (also Get Out), and yours is one of the best commentaries I've read about it. The next time someone tells me they just don't get this movie I'll direct them to your substack. And I was so happy to see Keith David in this! I first saw him in The Thing (one of my favorite horror movies) in a little movie theater in Santa Fe when I was a teenager. It was so nice to see him all these (many) years later in Nope.
Thank you, Lise! Me too, with Keith David. It had to be The Thing. I saw it on stolen HBO, way too young, and I watch it every year. He's so good in it, too. A guilty pleasure movie for me is Men at Work, where he plays a grouchy garbage man who has to train Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen... You can't blame him! And he's so funny in it. It's not very good, but it's a fun watch. Thanks for the compliment. I started out as a movie blogger. I'll share my Thing essay with an update after I watch it again.
Glad I had a chance to read this tonight, since this time tomorrow I'll be "en roux(t)" to The Crescent City myself.
I will visit the Vieux Carée -- in fact, I'll be staying there. Shall I tell Ignatius you said "Hey"?
You gotta get a Lucky Dog when you make your pilgrimage to the statue. Them’s the roux(les)
It's on Canal Street right?
If I don't make it there during this whirlwind visit, I'll definitely visit Joan of Arc's statue, and pray she intercedes to forgive our awful puns, if not my actual sins!
Canal at Bourbon.
Ignatius J. Reilly Statue
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hfXizd9wTNYYQ8H19
Blessings to your valve and to Boethius! May you enjoy 12 inches of paradise...
Congratulations on surviving the rona relatively unscathed! I've been wanting to check out "The Banshees." Might have to schedule a trip the movies.
Thanks. I went for a short hike this morning, and I think I'm getting my endurance back. "Banshees" is also on Netflix, if you don't want to brave the theater. I wish I still enjoyed going to the movies, but even when I've been in a theater with 2 other people, they manage to make a lot of noise.
Oh that's the worst! There's always one person who can't stop talking or turn off their cell phone, isn't there?
Happy new year!