Joseph’s BrainWeek in Review [7/27/20]

READING:

I loved this quick essay (6 mins) by “proud ectomorph” (lol) Abe Callard: THE COMMUNICATION REVOLUTION <—click @CallardAbe @_theViewer

The 21st century is the age of the Communication Revolution.

 Previously, the powerful decided what would benefit the masses; now, the masses select their own entertainment.

That number -- 100 million subscribers -- is staggering. It's sometimes hard to fathom just how popular new media is. The season finale of Game of Thrones, one of the most important television events of all time, garnered around 13 million views, while Bill Wurtz, a man playing an electric piano in his bedroom and ranting about world history for under 20 minutes, got 92 million.

The internet is the real world.

from Other People: Takes and Mistake by David Shields

I’d also urge you to read Jeff Bezos’ statement to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary from July 29th.

Nota Bene: I don’t just divine this stuff, of course - I subscribe to The Browser and then I act like I know things.

In other reading, i’m STILL on my David Shields kick - this time Other People: Takes and Mistakes, meditations on otherness and connection, or lack thereof. I found the first chapter, comprised of excepts from letters his father wrote him about his writings, surprisingly moving and intimate. Here is one:

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LISTENING:

I’ve been transient, popping around from place to place and seeing family a bit. Normally I love to sing in the car, like it’s my favorite thing, and this week has been no exception - inappropriate repertoire only. BUT this record has been on constant play since it was released and when I put it on I’m very happy to drive, be quiet, and listen to the beautiful music my friends Will Liverman and Jonathan King make. As in Wither Must I Wander, hunger is also MY driver, but mostly just to the Taco Bell drive thru. OperaNews magazine featured it this month, so me loving it is not exactly a hot take, but both guys are major talents so give it a listen. I had Ten Thousand Miles (arr. Steven Mark Cohn) on repeat for a solid 50 miles somewhere in South Carolina. Beautiful arrangement, unreal gorgeous singing, super sensitive accompaniment. No really, I’m re-listening to it right now as I type and it’s so unbelievably gorgeous you have to do it. In fact, I’m even going to Spotify link to it so you have no excuse to not listen because of platform loyalties.

I’m one of those people who likes to recommend and be first to discover. I realize that it probably is an(one of many) annoying quirk(s) about my personality but in the moment of typing this, I the author would like to state that I the self-narrativizing protagonist wants to believe that this comes from a place of searching for connection and sharing; a want to find converging points of entry into common interests. [I do actually believe this is a great way to connect with people - specifically interested in operatic points of connection - more on that in a future blog post] This is all to serve as a disclaimer that BrainWeek might de facto become a record for me to hear cool new things, hit publish about them in a late night frenzy, and then be able to reference the date and time of my initial discovery in future conversation so I can prove that I know things to, I mean, so that I can connect with people.

Anyway, just listen to these songs, I just now heard them and rushed over here to add this to my draft edit. I present to you, and you are welcome: Lady Blackbird.

LADY BLACKBIRD JAZZ 2020

DRINKING:

2019 Gönc "Grape Abduction" Rosé

Made in: Štajerska-Slovenia, Eastern Slovenia

Imbibed and photoed in: Brevard, NC

I’m NOT the wine expert of the group (Marcus + Patricia are) but they turned me on to this Rosé and I’ve stocked up a bit and shared it with family since. I love this video from the winemaker. I’ve always been a casual appreciator but there is something very appealing to me in this high craft, super personal, personality forward, story driven, niche of a niche of a niche world of wine. Mostly, I’m hoping if I start writing about wine poorly, Marcus and Patricia will start doing it well. Also, Happy Birthday to Patricia - I have a bottle in the fridge chilling for you (ok for me, but in honor of you).