Chicago Pride

Despite the difficulties

crime, inflation, the political machine
despite civic complications

CTA, property tax, CPS

there is no where I'd rather be

than as a denizen of our fair city

its people characterized(generally speaking)

by determined work ethic

and cautious kindness

visiting the DMV today

I was struck

not by frustration, irritation, and malice

as is the cliché

but by a profound sense

of belonging

of community

orderly queuing

prompt and affable treatment

all of us

together

civic responsibility on one side

civil service on the other

all of us Chicagoans

(or presumably Cook County residents)

in acceptance of the day

and its necessities

in pursuit of accomplishment

however minor

and in this efficiency and mundanity

life

in all its depth and complexity

in all its richness

we are here

in the City of Big Shoulders

and we move forward

pride fills my chest

and eyes water in gratitude

joyful in our shared purpose

however fleeting

'The Gorge' A Review

The Gorge is a scifi action romance about two world class snipers stationed at either side of a mysterious gorge that contains mysterious monsters.

Anya Taylor-Joy brings her patented magnetism and commitment and makes something out of this not-much of a character in this convoluted story. She's charming, charismatic, and proves again and again that she's got talent. She brings the same level of intense commitment to her roles regardless of their quality(and good for her!). Unfortunately her wattage isn't really enough to bring the movie out of it's nose dive. Teller doesn't fair as well and uses a less-is-less approach, he hasn't really capitalized on the promise shown in his break out Whiplash partly because of the roles he's had but also perhaps because that was just one of those stars-aligning type of films and he simply doesn't have top-of-the-call-sheet type juice. He's not bad but he's not particularly interesting and the wild swings in tone don't do either actor any favors.

The movie looks cheap, shot mostly on soundstages with extensive greenscreen/CGI it looks fake and there is some uncanny valley effects as a result. The sound mix is atrocious with the oppressive score ten times louder than the (minimal) dialogue track. The biggest issue though is the script. Written on spec, it seems clear that screenwriter Zach Dean's intent was to use this to get his foot in the door not actually have it produced(he's also the scribe of the profoundly unwatchable The Tomorrow War). The Gorge was on the 2020 Black List of "best" unproduced scripts which is kind of baffling and makes you wonder if the script readers at studios actually watch movies. Having just returned from LA I can say it is shocking how many people there who want to work in show business(or do) but don't watch much of the actual product(and seem proud of this fact). Tonally it attempts to mash science fiction, action, and romance but simply switches between the genres scene-to-scene and doesn't meld them which makes you feel like your getting a ride from someone with a stick shift who doesn't know how do it. The dialogue is pretty cringe and there are so many ludicrous plot holes and inconsistencies its virtually impossible to invest in anything that's happening.

Straight-to-streaming mediocrity.

Currently streaming on Apple TV+.

Don't See It.

Domesticity

There's a lot to navigate
logistics, compromise, food

it's noisy, chaotic

but gratifying

the texture of it

the depth

easy to get lost in

the labyrinthine obligation

sometimes it's good

to disappear

in service to others

Ozempic (GLP-1s)

At risk
of stating the obvious
BAD IDEA

Masking

No fault
to those

where it's necessity

but here in LA

it seems

it is simply

cultural norm

to deceive

to lie

to equivocate

to hedge

"we should hang out"

"lets see how we feel"

"lets collaborate"

obfuscation and artifice

as the standard mode

of communication

I may be

a simple midwestern man

with what some might see

as a lack of ambition

a lack of drive

no interest in power or position or perception

but

I'll say this for myself

with pride

I say what I mean and I mean what I say

Direct. Simple.

It seems to me

the better way.

Canter's

bread. meat. mustard. pickle.
simple.
perfect.
Sandwich.

Travel

I've become less and less interested
in other places
and more and more interested
in my own
its trials and textures
its problems and peoples
for first and foremost
I must know myself
and keep my house in order

our capacity to influence

has not grown

with our ability to know