The Ghost of Substacks Past
It's been a while. A little while, you say? Try one year and sixteen days. A pathetic holiday shopping list was the pinnacle of my literary output in 2023. Who cares, right?
2024? Let's just say it wasn't kind. Not just to me, mind you. By the end of it, post election, half the country was reeling, and the rest of the world is sure to follow. But that's the big picture, isn't it? As Dean, the WUPS delivery guy in Jim Jarmusch's "The Dead Don't Die," wisely said: "Life is perfect, appreciate the details." And there are details worth appreciating, even amidst the chaos.
This year, I'm aiming for focus. A word sorely needed in this age of hyper-distraction. And with that focus, comes the things I'll be writing about:
Music
Photography
Watch-collecting journey (so far!)
They seem like broad subjects, but trust me, I'm guilty of making broad strokes too. There will be more topics on the side, but keeping it concise might help me escape the crippling Paradox of Choice.
Before I close, I would like to share the best things that caught my ear, eyes, and :
Best Music: With the exception of the latter, who hails from down under, I am a proud and loud music anglophile! With that said, we need more bands like Amyl and the Sniffers. Time to ditch the computers and synths! Strap that guitar on and make music dangerous again!
Wall of Eyes - The Smile
Natural Magick - Kula Shaker
>>>> - Beak
Cartoon Darkness - Amyl and the Sniffers
Best Movies: I’m sure I missed a few but these were the films that possibly made an indelible impression on me.
Kinds of Kindness
The Substance
Longlegs
Wristwatches: There have been a slew of great timepieces released this year, but the one that I got to try on during a watch meetup was a discontinued model by Patek Philippe, the Aquanaut 5064A-001 in 36mm. It’s a simple, sporty design, with a ludicrous price tag. Not ostentatious, this watch is best admired from afar. And I’m fine with that!
Let's see what this year brings. Hopefully, more words, fewer distractions, and a renewed sense of purpose. Cheers!