GRIZZLY PEAR
I seem to focus on everything around the characters.
Yet again, gorgeous art in high definition.
Graphical stylized backgrounds.
Intriguing raw linework.
And a clean concise story.
A modern movie would have added a half hour with two extra codas.
But this classic tells a clean concise caper love story.
Even though I dread the prospect of picking up after one hundred and one dalmatians.
䷅䷃
Shoutout to one of my favorite authors in childhood – screenwriter Bill Peet.
We lost the mobiles
but kept the music boxes.
He pulled them out
while she studied Chinese with Grandma.
A pleasant dissonance,
two metallic tunes,
one at each ear.
䷴䷌
the wild goose gradually draws near the tree
I was underwhelmed when I watched it a few years ago.
I wasn’t overwhelmed this time.
But I enjoyed it.
I still can’t shake my distaste of monarchical systems.
But I appreciated this story of growing up into responsibility.
And it resonates more with a growing boy in the house.
Plus, it’s gorgeous.
Especially this spectacular rendition of I Just Can’t Wait to be King.
䷵䷧
Chalk up another #win for Disney+ high def.
I might end up a fan of musicals soon enough!
The Life of the Architect had an interesting podcast episode about critical skills for an architect.
I agreed with their list — critical thinking, communication skills, attention to detail, and 3D visualization. Admittedly I was a bit weak at 3D visualization, but the other three skills made me a good production architect (DD through CA).
Before listening to the meat of the episode, I jotted my own list of four key skills for a working architect, especially a young professional.
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I would add one more skill from the Owner’s perspective (and to borrow a point from the podcast). As the Owner’s PM, I need my architects to communicate.
Everything an architect does is communication. Drawings are communication. Design is communication. Coordination is communication.
My biggest frustrations arise when the architect goes quiet or doesn’t follow through on their promises. Keep me posted early and often. Mistakes happen, no big deal, I’ve made plenty in your shoes. We’ll fix it together. But never keep me in the dark.
Life-safety is always number one. But let’s be real, everything else — including design — is secondary to communication.
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Thanks for reading and please subscribe if you’d like the next letter in your inbox.
Justus Pang, RA
If you’re a fan of mid-century aesthetics, this is a must-watch.
If you enjoy the occasional surreal animation, it’s got that too.
(Check out Blame it on the Samba).
I didn’t watch this as a kid.
Most likely better to skip this on a grainy VHS tape.
It was a treat to watch this on a big screen TV in high def.
Too bad my kids won’t enjoy this for the first time as adults.
I wonder what they will enjoy in thirty-five years.
Will their aesthetic pleasures follow mine?
Most likely the opposite.
䷽
The quantity of cheap entertainment at our fingertips continues to boggle my mind. Even without Disney+ I’d still have the world of YouTube. But high def, guaranteed curation, and no ads are worth a small tax to the Mouse.
I listened to the BBC Radio presentation of this short story by Neil Gaiman.
I have an up and down opinion of his work.
I’m a huge fan of the Sandman series and have reread the series a few times and plan to reread them soon.
During college, I was also a fan of his novels, Neverwhere and American Gods. However, I reread them a couple years ago and realized that I don’t enjoy his prose.
I adore his inventive worldbuilding, but his writing came off stiff in the repeat. Gaiman is the first author where I’ve soured on their prose. I’ve ready plenty of bad authors, but none who I liked enough reread their books a two decades apart.
Fortunately, Chivalry doesn’t have this problem. It’s a cute short story, set in a lovely little world, and doesn’t overstay its brief welcome.
Even if I’ve soured on his novels, it’s hard to go wrong in 45 minutes. It’s a charming piece with an insightful introduction sharing nuggets on the difficulties of a professional author.
Well worth a listen.
“H”
What?
He whispered “D – O – G – H”
Huh?
“dog house!”
He glanced at the sheet draped between the sofa and the coffee table.
䷐䷏
following has supreme success
perseverance furthers
He found a dustpan and a broom.
And thought it would be fun to sweep up leaves in the side yard.
At first with his sister, then by himself.
Quietly filling the compost bin.
䷅
thus in all his transactions the superior man
carefully considers the beginning
How can a first (and last) time author write so beautifully?
A lifetime of thinking.
About life and death.
And doing.
Masters in English Lit.
Then becoming a Doctor, Neurosurgeon.
The book is a powerful, emotional memoir.
A reminder that our days are not guaranteed.
Easy living won’t last forever.
And the dying.
What brutally high cost for living.
䷩䷂
This weekend, Jonathan Tjarks, a 34 year-old basketball reporter, passed away from cancer after writing this beautiful, haunting essay in March.
And Risk Parity Radio posted an episode about dying.
The media gods clearly want me to examine mortality, which has never been a big concern before.
Let’s see where this goes.
This thing has great reviews, critically and popular.
I must be missing something.
Stiff dialog and a convoluted plot gummed up the spectacle.
I really wanted to like this movie, but I don’t get it.
Is it great for a Marvel Movie?
Maybe it’s being graded on a curve?
But wouldn’t be very Asian.
Even ABC.