Earlier today I listened to Tim Ferriss’ conversation with Arthur Brooks. (Listen to it here) Much of the conversation was about happiness. Brooks is a professor at Harvard focused on the science of happiness. Happiness eludes me but I find pleasure enough to distract me. So I took notes. The two explored many insights into…
Category: Culture
Why Jackie Brown is Tarantino’s Best Film
With his unique style and over-the-top violence, Quentin Tarantino has crafted some incredible films over the years. But in my opinion, his most nuanced and compelling work is 1997’s Jackie Brown. Now available to watch on Amazon Prime, Jackie Brown stands out for its restraint and subtlety compared to Tarantino’s other films. I’ve always liked…
Should You Self-Publish Your Book? My Journey to Making a Decision
Deciding how to publish my book has been one of the biggest decisions I’ve faced as an author. I wrote a compilation of short stories set in Kansas, which can be a harder sell than other genres or settings. After researching my options, I realized self-publishing made the most sense for my book. As a…
The Man Who Hates Good Movies: Armond White
Among the most infamous contrarian film critics is Armond White, who seems to take particular pleasure in defying critical consensus and panning beloved movies. White pulls no punches when reviewing Oscar contenders and box office smashes alike.
Neill Blomkamp: The Director who Disappeared. (But he’s back)
I first discovered the work of director Neill Blomkamp back in 2005 when his sci-fi short film Alive in Joburg took the internet by storm. This was pre-iPhone and just at the inception of YouTube. Even today, over 15 years later, I still remember being utterly captivated by that 6-minute short. The innovative CGI, the…
A College Campus Finds New Life as a Distillery
Yesterday I attended a wedding at the historic former Green Mountain College campus in Poultney, Vermont. The reception was held in Withey Hall, one of the original buildings on campus. As a guest, I had the chance to explore this beautiful riverside campus along the Poultney River. Though I never attended Green Mountain College myself,…
The Best Mid-Century Design Documentaries to Stream Now
I have a wedding tomorrow and I’m tired so it’s a quick post, but contains several hours of enjoyment if you’re into it. I’m obsessed with midcentury Modern Design. The clean lines, vintage appeal, functionality, and flexibility of midcentury modern design feed my soul. The style offers sensory stimulation while still maintaining order. You can…
Remembering the Sand Casino: Uncovering Lost Frank Sinatra Footage
I worked as a marketing manager at the Sand Casino in Atlantic City back in the late 2000s, shortly before the iconic casino was demolished. The Sand was one of the early Atlantic City casinos, opened in 1980, and featured frequent performances and appearances by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was extremely popular…
Damon Albarn: Decades of Hits Sometimes Under the Radar
Back in January 2022, Damon Albarn stirred up controversy when he claimed in an interview that Taylor Swift “doesn’t write her own songs.” Swift immediately clapped back on Twitter, saying she totally writes all her own music and calling Albarn’s comments “completely false and so damaging.” Albarn quickly realized he’d stepped in it and apologized,…
Finding My Filmmaking Roots in Vermont
It’s been a while since I moved to Vermont, I was excited to join the Vermont Production Collective, a community of creative professionals working together to produce films and other media projects in the state. As someone who has dabbled in filmmaking over the years, I’m looking forward to collaborating with other local artists and…