Russian dramatist, author and physician
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Have you seen the “Grinch prank” video trend? Bad parenting, yes. But also a nod to the conflicts, ancient and modern, embedded in Christmas. Contrary to what Bill O'Reilly would tell you, there has never been a “war on Christmas.” Rather, Christmas itself has always been a battleground over love, dignity, and resources. What we're really fighting over is who gets care in systems built on scarcity and extraction. Vignette 1: The Original Creche Vignette 2: Krampus Vignette 3: Dickens, Chekhov, and Andersen Vignette 4: The Christmas Truce, 1914 Vignette 5: Dr. Seuss and the Grinch Show Notes Andersen, Hans Christian. The Little Match Girl. Copenhagen, 1845.https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10623 Boyle, James. “The Second Enclosure Movement and the Construction of the Public Domain.” Law and Contemporary Problems 66, no. 1–2 (2003).https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol66/iss1/2/ Chekhov, Anton. “Vanka.” 1892.https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13418 Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843.https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46 Imperial War Museums. “Christmas Truce, 1914.”https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/christmas-truce-1914 Imperial War Museums. “Letter Describing the Christmas Truce.”https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030000503 Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich. The Principles of Socialism and the War of 1914–1915. Marxists Internet Archive.https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1915/princip/ McCoy, Michael. “What Is Tinsel Made Of? (and How It Changed Over the Years).” Chemical & Engineering News, December 15, 2014.https://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i50/Tinsel-Made.html Mitterauer, Michael. “Peasant and Non-Peasant Forms of Family Organization in Relation to the Physical Environment and the Local Economy.” Journal of Family History 2, no. 2 (1977).https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/036319907700200203 Nel, Philip. Dr. Seuss: American Icon. New York: Continuum, 2004.https://books.google.com/books?id=Yt4QAQAAIAAJ Nissenbaum, Stephen. The Battle for Christmas. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996.https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/171502/the-battle-for-christmas-by-stephen-nissenbaum/ Restad, Penne L. Christmas in America: A History. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.https://global.oup.com/academic/product/christmas-in-america-9780195043659 Schmidt, Leigh Eric. Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1995.https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691018448/consumer-rites Science History Institute. “History and Future of Plastics.”https://www.sciencehistory.org/topics/plastics Smithsonian Magazine. “The Origin of Krampus, Europe's Evil Twist on Santa.” December 4, 2015.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-origin-of-krampus-europes-evil-twist-on-santa-180957438/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Shroud of Turin, it's fake and you're all insane. How photography works.Every photo negative of black people has been scrubbed from the Internet.How to fake your own Shroud of Turin.The shroud contradicts the Biblical account of the crucifixion and resurrection.What does faith mean? Everyone from Italy and France are third-worlders.Why does God want faith and why doesn't he give us proof?Cargo cult Christianity.Real faith creates new stuff, theology will always lead you astray, you can only understand by doing, not thinking.Right belief comes only from right doing.The Book of Tobit is absurd, inclusivity in fantasy settings, the Wheelchair Woman of Color Problem (WWoCP).Sumo gets the equivalent of the N-word pass from deaf people.Sumo will beat up anyone in a wheelchair.Harry Potter is not good.Samson with Chekhov's gun.Tom Thumb is a bad fairy tale, how to write a good story.Raphael lies in the Book of Tobit and that's a problem.90s Design, anyone who ever did anything interesting was born in Austria.Links:www.shadowshroud.comSupport the showMore Linkswww.MAPSOC.orgFollow Sumo on TwitterAlternate Current RadioMAPSOC back on YouTube Again!Support the Show!Subscribe to the Podcast on GumroadSubscribe to the Podcast on PatreonSubscribe to the Podcast on BuzzsproutSubscribe to the Podcast on SubstackBuy Us a Tibetan Herbal TeaSumo's SubstacksHoly is He Who WrestlesModern Pulp
For our final bookpisode of the year, we enter Hobby Lobby Hell to read Crafting for Sinners, the latest from Jenny Kiefer. We discuss the sordid history of Hobby Lobby's crimes, debate whether an entire town can be homophobic, and try to understand blood sugar. Plus, Emily regales us with a chilling anecdote about knitting. Have feedback? Email us at thesquad@booksquadgoals.com. Stay tuned for our next othersode — our beloved annual Faves of the Year — and then our next bookpisode on How to Sleep At Night by Elizabeth Harris, both of which will feature the triumphant return of the one and only Susan! Happy holidays, goalies.Table of Contents:1:48 Intro. Question7:25 Book Synopsis9:21 Horrostör Comp21:08 Why should we care about these characters?24:21 Can an entire town be homophobic? And things we wanted more/less of in the book.37:52 Hobby Lobby Receipts, Proof, Timelines48:52 The book could have been more!53:34 The Cover! And Emily's Knitting Story58:57 Rating1:03:55 Feedback Bullying! And 12 Days of Christmas Blog Requests
This Week: Christmas Intervention, Vonnegutting Christmas, Keep Listening to Know If You'll Be Disappointed, General Bastard Correspondence, Gremlins Gremlins Gremlins, Justin's Favorite Mug, Gin Hot Chocolate, Suddenly Southern, Blender—Knife—Microwave, Chekhov's Wall-Sword, Robot On A Payphone, Jazz Gremlin, What If You Give A Gremlin Soup?, Green Dudes F*cking Around, Gumby's Mystery Cabin, Obligation Gifts, Godzilla Claus, Spectacular Super 8s, Gumby-Roy Beef Status. This Week's Donut: No donut, eat Santa's cookies instead.And may all your impossible dreams come true… Get on the Patreon Train: https://patreon.com/Sushijackknife?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkBandcamp Store: https://sushijackknife.bandcamp.com/Email: sushijackknife@gmail.com
OMG, it's almost the end of the year and we still haven't recorded the second half of Jessi's Gold Medal! The poor girl will be freezing by the time we eventually manage to get her out of that pool. In unrelated news, we haven't yet shaken off the curse that may or may not have been placed upon us by an angry fictional eighteenth-century New England farm hand. However, we have worked out a way to bring you something vaguely novel, especially if you (like us) have almost no recollection of what we were talking about back when we started the podcast in 2020. From the vaults: we find out the origins of the Stoneybrook swinging scene; helpful tips for knitters; Cold War parenting priorities; we want to know (but more importantly Stacey wants to know) what luv is; cones of digression; Chekhov's surname; important parade etiquette from 1994; altogether far too much discussion of inferior chocolate substitutes; the most glamorous holiday gastric procedure you'll ever undergo. All clips come from our first ten episodes. Our theme song is 'The Incredible Shrinking Larry' by Matt Oakley on the Free Music Archive. If you like our show, tell a friend, rate and review on your podcast app of choice, drop us an email, or come say hi on Instagram! We also have a ko-fi and we're real self-conscious about it!
Teatime with Miss LizDecember 16th, 3 PM ESTGuest: Russell G. Little — “Murder for Me, Courtroom Truths & Stories of the Human Heart” Russell G. Little Truth, Fiction & the Stories Born From a Lifetime in the Courtroom. Where law meets literature and real lives spark unforgettable fiction. Miss Liz doesn't serve a beverage; she serves real-life changemakers.On December 16th, she serves Russell G. Little, Houston-based writer, seasoned divorce attorney, and the author of Murder for Me, a gripping fictionalized blend drawn from the unforgettable characters, cases, and human complexities he witnessed in his 40-year legal career. Born in Amarillo, Texas, where the land is flat, the wind never stops, and the federal government builds bombs, Russell grew up surrounded by grit and resilience. After law school, he married a Houston girl and moved to Houston, where he practiced law for four decades, raised three children, and remained married to his wife, Melinda, for 32 years, a fact that surprises many, given his specialty in divorce law. His work in Family Law and Criminal Law brought him face-to-face with situations both wild and unbelievable, the kind that live quietly in the soul but loudly on the page. Russell has tried over one hundred jury trials, handled hundreds more before a judge, and witnessed the rawest layers of human truth. His upcoming novel, Murder by Storm (October release), continues the battle of pursuit and deception in a hurricane-shaken Houston, a story every reader will want to experience from the safety of their chair. Russell also writes children's books inspired by his granddaughter Vivi, blending adventure with messages of animal care and conservation. Miss Liz will pour a cup of courtroom grit, Texas storytelling, and literary honesty with Russell G. Little, a practicing attorney of four decades and the author of Murder for Me, a crime novel born from real experiences, unforgettable characters, and the emotional residue of hundreds of cases. Born in Amarillo and settled in Houston, Russell has lived a life shaped by wide-open landscapes, courtroom battles, human complexity, and the kind of stories you carry long after the verdict. With more than one hundred jury trials behind him, he has seen the best and worst of people,e and he channels that truth into fiction with depth, empathy, and a sharp eye for detail. Inspired by literary giants like Proust, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Hemingway, Russell writes with classic influence, modern grit, and a soul shaped by decades inside the legal arena. His upcoming novel, Murder by Storm, dives into pursuit, deception, and survival as Houston is battered by a hurricane. Outside of crime fiction, his heart shows in the children's books he co-wrote with his wife, stories inspired by his granddaughter Vivi and focused on protecting Africa's remarkable wildlife. Today, we explore law, humanity, writing, truth, tension, family, and the stories that stay with us forever. What an engaging and richly layered Teatime with Russell G. Little, a conversation filled with humanity, humour, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom. Russell will remind us that behind every case is a person, behind every verdict is a story, and behind every courtroom door are truths that can shape a writer forever. His seamless weaving of legal experience into fiction, his love for classic literature, and his heartfelt family stories made today's Teatime unforgettable. Miss Liz will thank Russell for sharing your world, your work, and your wit. And thank you to everyone who joined live or on replay. Your support continues the ripple of storytelling, truth, and transformation. Author of Murder for Me and the upcoming Murder by Storm, he blends courtroom insight with storytelling. He also co-writes children's books inspired by his granddaughter, Vivi. #TeatimeWithMissLiz#RussellGLittle#CrimeFiction#TexasAuthors#CourtroomStories
Welcome back to Unum! We’re so happy you can join us! We’re eager to share this conversation about episode 7 of Pluribus. Please don’t walk through 100 kilometers of deadly jungle – we’re happy to give you a ride. Remember, your choices are your own. This episode had some scheduling… Continue reading
The long awaited return of Simon Furness!I've been meaning to have Simon back on the show since he was my second only guest back in 2021!This time we take a dive back into Vanya and Chekhov's other celebrated work “The Seagull”. Both plays were given huge London revivals in recent times and we take a look at how their interpretations of the text are similar and different to how Simon believes Chekhov would have liked to be seen done. We also ask questions such as, with Chekhov putting his characters in such tragic circumstances, is he making a mockery of unfortunate lives or is it social commentary? In other words, is he mocking people who are sad or is he plainly showing this is the way of life for some people? As well as finding the humour in these dire straits, is it to make fun of their situations of unrequited love and desperate need to feel loved or it is a way to heal them? Make light of a bad situation in order to help them out of their depression and cure them?All this and much more in our discussion!Including Simon's cameo in Netflix's “Wednesday” and what he would do with a West End budget if he was given the reigns to a Chekhov masterpiece. Thank you so much Simon, a pleasure to have you back!Oliver GowerSpotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.comPlease Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning
This year is our 5th annual Holiday Movie Bingo Marathon. For this mission, our Agents watch three Christmas movies, including An Alpine Holiday, Merry Christmas Ted Cooper!, and A Keller Christmas Vacation. We unintentionally chose the theme of siblings, but there are still miscommunications, almost smooches, and European settings. And we learn that just about anyone can climb mountains in the Alps if you carry your yoga mat. Grab your Bingo Cards and get ready to play with us. Annette Wierstra with Erika Ensign, Steven Schapansky, Kirsten Goruk and Sandra Wong.
At Christmas Time by Anton Chekhov---00:00 Welcome and Introduction - At Christmas Time by Anton Chekhov.02:50 Unable to Read, Write, and See Hope at the End of a Long Year.10:33 Struggles, Soldiers, and Family.13:41 Three Faces of Patriarchy.15:00 You Got What You Want. Now, You Can Hardly Stand It, Though.16:37 Understanding Power Cycles in Russia.21:18 New Year at the Door.25:56 Leadership Beyond Box-Checking.26:50 Chekhov, Tyranny, and Transition.34:53 Restoration, Leadership, and Forgiveness.25:00 Healing and Restoration at the End of a Long 2025.---Opening and Closing theme composed by Brian Sanyshyn of Brian Sanyshyn Music.---Pick up your copy of 12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Intentional Leadership NOW on AMAZON!Check out the 2022 Leadership Lessons From the Great Books podcast reading list!---Check out HSCT Publishing at: https://www.hsctpublishing.com/.Check out LeadingKeys at: https://www.leadingkeys.com/Check out Leadership ToolBox at: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/Contact HSCT for more information at 1-833-216-8296 to schedule a full DEMO of LeadingKeys with one of our team members.---Leadership ToolBox website: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/.Leadership ToolBox LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ldrshptlbx/.Leadership ToolBox YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJvVbIU_bSEflwYpd9lWXuA/.Leadership ToolBox Twitter: https://twitter.com/ldrshptlbx.Leadership ToolBox IG: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiptoolboxus/.Leadership ToolBox FB: https://www.facebook.com/LdrshpTlb ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Find all previous and future episodes listed here or in your podcast app under “Barbican Station”. We are here to recap episode 8 the season finale of the show Down Cemetery Road. We talk all about this season ender. Bus frustrations! Multiple gun standoffs! Church fires! Plus we discuss all those endings, Chekhov’s grenade and … Caps for Sale? Finally, will we see a season two and what could it look like? All that and more in this episode! Fehinti’s TED Talk “How to find your voice for climate action” – https://www.ted.com/talks/fehinti_balogun_how_to_find_your_voice_for_climate_action Fehinti’s other TED Talk “A Letter to My Brother: Overcoming Powerlessness in a Complex World” – https://youtu.be/-RumkQQ0Gpw?si=PVnRFj4BvIezOGT5 Keir Graff's Website – https://keirgraff.com/ Sign up for Keir's newsletter – https://keirgraff.com/newsletter/ The Filmographer's Podcast – https://filmographerspodcast.com/ The Filmographer’s Podcast Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheFilmographersPodcast Keir on the Fine Arts Building – https://www.newcity.com/2023/10/30/enduring-art-after-125-years-the-fine-arts-building-is-defiantly-unmodernized-and-ready-for-its-next-act/
Find all previous and future episodes listed here or in your podcast app under "Barbican Station”. We are here to recap episode 8 the season finale of the show Down Cemetery Road. We talk all about this season ender. Bus frustrations! Multiple gun standoffs! Church fires! Plus we discuss all those endings, Chekhov's grenade and … Continue reading Barbican Station – Down Cemetery Road Season 1 Episode 8 – Recap
This week we were subject to the latest Clockwork Torgo: Zardoz. Ugh. We also talk about Cloak and Dagger, The Inevitable Ruin, Child of Light, Stranger Things, Deb and Barry's cooking, DND 2024, Clover Pit, Wake Up Dead Man, Wicked for Good, The Soundtrack Show, Star Wars Fashion, Amazon's God of War, Guinness video game records, Ibelin, Portrait of God, the Helldivers movie, and the Stranger Things LEGO set. So, turn up those burners, it's time for a GeekShock!
Send us a textA time machine that behaves like a fax, a grenade that hops centuries, and an ear that turns into destiny—this conversation goes deep on why Timeline is both ridiculous and ridiculously enjoyable. We break down the movie's soft science with a smile, from wormholes that sometimes sync to the minute to medallions that only work when the plot says so. Then we zoom in on what actually sells the ride: Gerard Butler's early-era charisma, Anna Friel's spark as Claire, and Michael Sheen chewing the castle tapestries with villainous delight.We also get practical about medieval mayhem. The siege stretches bring real texture—trebuchets thudding, moats igniting, “night arrows” cutting the dark—and Greek fire delivers a rare Chekhov's payoff that feels satisfyingly tactile. Does the movie look like TV sometimes? Sure. Do the costumes read like Ren fair fresh? Absolutely. But when a sword drops in front of a hiding hero, or a tunnel cracks open behind a monastery wall, the film finds momentum that feels genuinely cinematic. Along the way, we test the internal logic, laugh at the paradoxes, and admit the obvious: fun can trump coherence when performances and set-pieces click.Our side quests matter too. We weigh nostalgia's sway with a Goonies, Lost Boys, and Monster Squad detour, argue about changing history versus curating legend, and even share Thanksgiving stuffing tips because timing is everything. The finale's sarcophagus epilogue reframes the whole story as myth-making, and that's where we land: if legend is the point, strict causality can step aside. Hit play to hear us debate, cackle, and celebrate the small victories that make sloppy sci-fi sing. If you enjoy the show, leave a comment, give us a thumbs up, or subscribe—then tell us your favorite “good bad” movie.Written lovingly by AIBe our friend!Dan: @shakybaconTony: @tonydczechAnd follow the podcast on IG: @hatewatchingDAT
Join us on this extra special FRIENDSgiving episode of BFGE where Sarah and Emma break ground by inviting their XY-chromosome'd friend Andrew over to watch the 1996 American classic, "The Crucible." Join us as:- Emma explains the difference between Pilgrims and Puritans, while Andrew teaches about the bureaucracy of the actual Salem witch trials.- Sarah fights for #justice4abigail, a teenager who was immediately discarded like a used cumrag after married middle-aged John Proctor had sex with her once, maybe twice.- Was Arthur Miller kind of a shitbag? - Emma loses her cool; Sarah needs the sex wheat.- Chekhov's heiferLike our stupid lil movie parties? Please drop us a rating on spotify/apple and follow us on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/brutalfilmgirlpod/
After a three-year hiatus, I’m excited to be back with MikeyPod. This conversation with Kevin (as a robot) Laibson is exactly what I needed—it cracked open things I’ve been grappling with in my own work. I’ve been thinking about AI and human interaction as I work on my creative projects, and Kevin is exploring these same questions through performance. He’s a director and performer working at the intersection of live performance and emerging technology. His solo show The Harmnf—an adaptation of Chekhov using AI tools—is a meditation on failure, alienation, and our relationship with technology. We talk about directing AI actors, how the show evolved, and what he’s learned about human error and connection when technology mediates everything. This is the kind of peer thinking I need—someone building serious work at the edge of what performance can be. Get tickets for this weekend’s performance of The Harmnf right here. Based in New York City, Kevin Laibson is a director, performer, and educator working at the intersection of live performance and emerging technology. As a mixed-reality artist, he explores what happens when human creativity meets AI and code. His work has been featured at SXSW, SIGGRAPH, and venues including National Sawdust, The Flea, and Abrons Arts Center. He’s served as Artistic Director of Magic Futurebox and The Peoples Improv Theater, and currently leads XR performance research at Agile Lens in collaboration with institutions like the Royal Shakespeare Company and NYU. His solo performance The Harmnf—an adaptation of Chekhov using AI tools—is a meditation on failure, alienation, and our uneasy relationship with technology. This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week's bonus podcast will feature an extended conversation with today's guest, Kevin! Learn more right here!
Let's talk theatre. This week on the show is Irish actor/playwright Hannah Coyle (who is also one of the Earful Tower tour guides!) Hannah talks about the theatre scene in Paris, especially the English-language scene, She also talks about Alchemy Theatre's forthcoming production of Three Sisters, which she personally reimagined from Chekhov's classic play. It runs at Théâtre de l'Opprimé (78 Rue du Charolais, 75012 Paris) from 9–14 December. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its members. For the past 92 months and counting it has cost just $10 a month to unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris. Membership takes only a minute to set up on Patreon, or Substack. Thank you for keeping this channel independent. For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website Weekly newsletter Walking Tours
Aboard the deck of The Dandy, the Solitary Wardens attempt to tear the crew apart, starting with their minds. They will stop at nothing to apprehend their prey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
An exciting guest for this episode of Necronomicast....actor Tobias Jelinek! Tobias Jelinek's journey into entertainment began at age 15, when he was cast as Jay in Disney's cult classic Hocus Pocus (1993). Over the past 30 years, he has built a reputation for portraying bold, unpredictable characters across film and television. His screen credits span both the Marvel and DC universes (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Arrow), as well as standout roles in Stranger Things, Mayfair Witches (AMC), Obliterated (Netflix), and Baskets (FX). Jelinek has recurred as a guest star on This Is Us, NCIS, and Shameless, and brought his comedic range to The Mindy Project, Comedy Central Presents, and Rhett & Link's Buddy System opposite Molly Shannon and Tony Hale. Most recently, Jelinek continues to push boundaries in Ryan Murphy's Monsters (Netflix), Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, ABC's High Potential and NBC's The Hunting Party. Also a passionate mentor, Jelinek is the founder of The Inspired Actor, a Chekhov-based acting lab exploring performance, presence, and transformation. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their two sons. Enjoy this conversation with a insightful and talented actor...Tobias Jelinek! To sponsor an episode of Necronomicast, or to "buy me a coffee" click here! Necronomicast Opening Theme: "Brand New Graveyard" by N. Barber, B. Corey, J. Dodson, S. Zimmerman. Closing Music: "Possibly Olives" by Andrew Vogt. All music used with permission.
Structure isn't a formatting exercise. It's the foundation of every clear, persuasive communication. Whether you're giving a presentation, writing an email, or leading a meeting, structure is the difference between an idea that gets ignored and an idea that creates action. In the latest episode of Conversations on Careers and Professional Life, we explore why structure matters so profoundly — and how leaders, students, and professionals can use it to communicate with more clarity and impact. Why Structure Matters Human beings aren't wired to process information in random fragments. We make sense of the world through stories — beginnings, middles, and ends. As you put it in the episode, we're not "data digesters"; we're storytellers. And when communication wanders, attention wanders with it. A clear structure reduces cognitive friction. It guides your audience through the idea. It shows respect for their time and sets you apart as someone who thinks and leads with intention. The Universal Arc: Beginning → Middle → End The classic story shape applies perfectly to business communication: Beginning: What's the point? Middle: Why does it matter? End: What should we do? In practice, this means starting with your main idea — the recommendation, insight, or conclusion — and only then walking people through the reasoning. This mirrors the Pyramid Principle, but it also aligns with how executives think: give me the destination first, then show me the path. A Simple Structure That Works Everywhere: What → So What → Now What You referenced Matt Abrahams' framework from Think Faster, Talk Smarter: What: The headline or central idea So What: The significance — why it matters Now What: The implication or action This structure keeps communication focused and future-oriented. It helps audiences quickly understand context, importance, and next steps. And when you use it, people stop interrupting with "What's your point?" because you've already answered it. Slide Structure: One Idea, One Message Every slide should tell a mini-story: A clear title that states the point, not a topic A single idea supported by one graph, chart, or set of bullets Visuals that reinforce your narrative rather than compete with it The slide is scaffolding — not the building. Your voice delivers the narrative; the slide supports it. Meeting Structure: Avoid the Rudderless Hour Unstructured meetings drift. Structured meetings decide. A simple three-bullet agenda can turn an hour-long discussion into a 20-minute decision. Before any meeting, ask: What's the goal? What's the sequence that gets us there? What decisions or actions do we need? Structure creates momentum, momentum creates clarity, and clarity creates action. Editing as Structural Discipline Editing is structuring. This is where Chekhov's Gun becomes a communication tool: remove anything that doesn't serve the message. Ask: If I cut this sentence, slide, or data point, does the meaning change? If not, remove it. Editing isn't erasing work — it's generosity. It gives your audience time and brings clarity. Remember the ABCs! A Simple Method for Structuring Anything Identify your main point. List two or three reasons that support it. Add only the evidence necessary to prove those reasons. Arrange it in a natural sequence — then cut everything else. It's deceptively simple, but rarely done well — and that's why it stands out. The Leadership Signal Ultimately, structure is more than communication mechanics. It's a leadership signal. Structured communicators show that they think clearly, respect their audience, and understand how decisions get made. The episode closes with a reminder worth repeating: Structure isn't just a communication tool. It's a mark of how you think. And it matters more than most people realize.
Risteárd Cooper joins us to talk Uncle Vanya, Chekhov's classic, with a Dublin twist. He also talks about growing up in the Cooper household and their love of the Irish language and culture.
This week on Piece Meal, we read and discuss chapters 1145-1155 of Famously Ongoing Manga One Piece, wherein we show off our South Blue Butt Lifts, Chekhov's Demon Pentagram finally fires, and we enter "Namekian Minutes"...Your hosts this week are: Tyler, Dave, Matt, Joel, Jayson, Theo, MelissaCheck out Tyler's other shows, What the Folklore? and Destructo DiscourseEmail us at piecemealpodcast@gmail.com with any questions or comments!
In this episode of Lit With Charles, I speak with writer, translator, and Chekhov expert Rosamund Bartlett about her new translation of Chekhov's Early Stories. We talk about how Anton Chekhov - the Russian doctor who transformed short fiction - first found his voice, and why his quiet, compassionate storytelling still feels so modern. Rosamund also shares insights from her other acclaimed works, including About Love and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics, 2004/8), her celebrated translation of Anna Karenina (Oxford World's Classics, 2014), and The Russian Soul: Selections from A Writer's Diary (Notting Hill Books, 2017). It's a fascinating conversation about literature, translation, and the enduring power of small moments — and I hope you enjoy listening to it!Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let's get more people listening – and reading!Rosamund Bartlett's four books were:The Queen of Spades, by Alexander Pushkin (1834)The Student, by Anton Chekhov (1894)Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy (1878)A Writer's Diary, by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1873–1881)
Send us a textThis week, Janey is going to bring us the final story in The Arabian Nights, about a man who just hates this baby... and Max is going to tell us that classic story of a nameless child finding God wandering around in the woods. Wonder what'll happen! For those of you who are in the half of the world that's moving into winter, we hope you stay warm and cozy!Janey's Sources - The Story of Codadad and His BrothersLOCATION: (possibly Turkey) “The Arabian Nights” illustrated by Earl Goodenow Full free story Max's Sources - Little FourteenLOCATION: France“Folktales of France” edited by Genevieve Massignon Support the showCheck out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account!Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!)Want more??Visit our website!Join our Patreon!Shop the merch at TeePublic!If you liked these stories, let us know on our various socials!InstagramTiktokGoodreadsAnd email us at sortofthestory@gmail.com
Lynn & Carl are joined this week by New Jewish Theatre's Director of "Baskerville" Nisi Sturgis & star John Wilson (11/20 - 12/7). Next, from Upstream Theater's "An Orchard for Chekhov," Sarah Wilkinson & Jocelyn Coach (now thru 11/23). Finally, Joe Kwaczala is a stand-up comic who wrote "American Comic," screening at the St. Louis International Film Festival (11/15).
"I love adaptations. The beauty of adaptation, especially a classic, like Shakespeare and Chekhov or Ibsen, they're such a gift because they give you this beautiful framework, and it's almost like they're begging you to take it and make it your own," says writer/director Nia DaCosta about adapting Henrik Ibsen's 1891 play Hedda Gabler into her new film Hedda. Set in the 1950s, the movie stars Tessa Thompson in the lead role, Imogen Poots as Thea, and reimagines the character Eilert Lovborg as a queer woman (now Eileen), played by Nina Hoss. We chat with Nia DaCosta about her journey to becoming a filmmaker, genre hopping into horror with Candyman and the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. She even made the superhero movie The Marvels. We also talk about the challenges of tackling the complicated, often cruel character of Hedda in the new film. "When I read the play [Hedda Gabler]," says DaCosta, "I'm like, this woman is hilarious! She's absolutely absurd. In the play, she's so verbose roaming around this sitting room, yelling at everyone who comes in. I wanted to replicate that, but more through action. And then there's the empathy part of it. To me, her tragedy is that she will never know herself. It's a life's work to understand and know ourselves, our emotional world. I think because she is so cruel, because she is so unhappy, because she has made these decisions that have trapped herself in this life – that to me is really sad. But I don't want people to forgive her for what she's done, or to excuse it." DaCosta also shares her advice on adapting someone else's story. "I think you have to know why you want to do it, and what it is you want to use the work to say. To let that 'why' sort of guide your pen. That's my convoluted way of saying trust your gut." If you've been thinking about adapting a classic play into a modern movie, you don't want to miss this podcast.
Jeremy and Boss shiver in fright, build the perfect Human Centipede, discover Chekhov's dildo, meet the wolf mummy, and wish someone invested in a fog machine as they discuss Edward D. Wood Jr.'s Necromania.
Maybe it's NOT exactly what you think it is? Once again, guest host extraordinaire Hayden Orr is back, and this time we're discussing a lesser-known slasher flick that is really more of a giallo sun/slasher rising. Join us as we discuss the wildest jigsaw puzzle techniques you will ever see, a surprise kung fu professor, and Chekhov's Waterbed! Find more from Hayden and Last Book on the Shelf at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/last-book-on-the-shelf/id1604416407Please rate, review, and tell your fiends. And be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future installments. Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/thefrankencast. Find all of our various links atlinktr.ee/frankencast or send us a letter at thefrankencast@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!Your Horror Hosts: Anthony Bowman (he/him) & Eric Velazquez (he/him). Cover painting by Amanda Keller (@KellerIllustrations on Instagram).
Penny & Midge discuss the movie that invented the summer blockbuster despite its troubled production: Jaws! Join the conversation on the Ghouls Night In discord Shop Ghouls Night In merch Follow the ghouls on Instagram at @ghoulsnightinpod Cover art by Alex Zimdars
Clive Anderson is joined in Glasgow by comedian Dom Joly who first introduced the world to the concept of a very loud man yelling in to a giant mobile phone 25 years ago. He's celebrating Trigger Happy TV on a national tour. Lauren Lyle is used to an investigation in her role as Val McDermid's Karen Pirie, and in new psychological thriller The Ridge she embarks on another kind of search for the truth, this time in New Zealand. In his varied career, actor Lorn Macdonald has made us chuckle with his turn as Albion Finch in TV hit Bridgeton, taken on Trainspotting on stage and now plays the tormented young playwright Konstantin in Chekhov's The Seagull at the Lyceum in Edinburgh. After becoming a finalist on MasterChef in 2022 Sarah Rankin has cooked up a storm in the culinary world, and her newest cookbook Feast has the perfect recipes for hosting cosy dinner parties all through the darker months. Plus – she'll be explaining why she's been hanging out with the world champions of porridge-making. Cara Rose shares her reflective new single, and Highlands four-piece Tide Lines look ahead to their 10th anniversary celebrations.Presenter: Clive Anderson Producer: Caitlin Sneddon
Anton Chekhov was a Russian doctor who turned to fiction as a hobby, and quickly blossomed into one of the masters of the short story genre. Though he is arguably best known for his dramatic works, such as The Cherry Orchard, his stories are widely considered to be some of the most perfect examples of short fiction ever written.Constance Black Garnett was an English housewife who taught herself Russian as a hobby, and subsequently introduced the English-speaking world to some of the greatest Russian authors, including Chekhov and Dostoevsky. Though she was almost entirely self-taught in her knowledge of Russian, she was a prolific translator, and her works are still lauded today for their readability and accuracy.This is the first of thirteen volumes of Anton Chekhov's short stories.Translated by Constance Garnett.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Anton Chekhov was a Russian doctor who turned to fiction as a hobby, and quickly blossomed into one of the masters of the short story genre. Though he is arguably best known for his dramatic works, such as The Cherry Orchard, his stories are widely considered to be some of the most perfect examples of short fiction ever written.Constance Black Garnett was an English housewife who taught herself Russian as a hobby, and subsequently introduced the English-speaking world to some of the greatest Russian authors, including Chekhov and Dostoevsky. Though she was almost entirely self-taught in her knowledge of Russian, she was a prolific translator, and her works are still lauded today for their readability and accuracy.This is the first of thirteen volumes of Anton Chekhov's short stories.Translated by Constance Garnett.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Russell G. Little is a writer and practicing divorce attorney. Murder for Me is a fictionalized compilation of the many people he's encountered over his lifetime and thirty-two-year career. He lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife of thirty-two years, Melinda.Bio: An interesting fact is that I practiced law for forty years, I tried over one hundred jury trials and hundreds more before a Judge alone. Along the way I came across some unbelievable situations. While not all can be told, they can feed my stories, and I can write those.I write on a regular basis, but I'm not always productive. Some days I get up and erase the whole days previous work because I woke up and realized that, unlike the night before, now I thought it was garbage. My oldest son gives me grief about that.My favorite authors are not modern. I read Proust, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov. When I'm in a writer's block, I read Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. The chapters about sitting in a Paris café always gets me back to the keyboard. The love of writing is what I got from those authors.Make sure to check out this author https://www.russelllittleauthor.com/You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or visit my website www.drkatherinehayes.com
This episode focuses on the monumental contribution of 19th-century Russia to world literature. We delve into the minds of masters like Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov, who perfected the psychological novel and used it to explore the depths of human consciousness, morality, suffering, and redemption with unparalleled intensity. To unlock full access to all our episodes, consider becoming a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don't forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for even more content, including articles, in-depth studies, and our brand-new audio series and courses now available in our Patreon Shop!
"Some friends can be real monsters!" The Halloween season has begun! Jack and Corey are joined by actor Tobie Windham (Barry, Party Down, The Frogs Podcast) to talk Richard Greenberg's children's horror classic LITTLE MONSTERS (1989)! The three talk Halloween costumes, Fred Savage's star power, Chekhov's Flamethrower, Howie Mandel's weird career, germaphobia, the influence of Beetlejuice, becoming a cult classic on video, Apple Juice phobia, sheltered childhoods, peanut butter and onion sandwiches and piss drinking movies!Support the pod by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/cinemapossessedpod and unlock the Cinema Possessed Bonus Materials, our bi-monthly bonus episodes where we talk about more than just what's in our collection.Instagram: instagram.com/cinemapossessedpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinemapossessedpodEmail: cinemapossessedpod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Frank is joined by Phil to break down Peacock's Twisted Metal, from its surprisingly heartfelt character work to the tournament arc and deep cuts that longtime players will recognize. We talk John Doe's search for identity, the show's “happy sociopath” version of Sweet Tooth, how Season 2 levels up the stunts and car combat, and why adding new lore can actually respect the games. If you skipped this one because “cars with guns,” we make the case for why it's worth your time. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 Introductions and why Twisted Metal was the pick for this episode. 00:36 What the show adapts from the games and where it departs, especially with John Doe. 02:11 The core premise: post apocalyptic courier job, a shot at life behind the walls, and the road to San Francisco. 03:29 Game lore 101: Calypso, wishes with a twist, and character specific endings. 07:00 Sweet Tooth as chaos engine, why the Joker style wildcard works on TV. 09:05 Samoa Joe in the suit, Will Arnett on the mic, and why the voice swap lands. 10:58 Axel and other fan favorites enter, with connected backstories that actually pay off. 13:42 Game venues reimagined with in world logic, HUDs and objectives that make sense. 18:48 Car combat talk: practical vs CG, why Season 2's action feels better. 21:07 “Silly” weapons that get smart uses and Chekhov's missile moments. 23:03 Budget glow up from Season 1 to Season 2 and early success on Peacock. 24:04 John and Quiet's chemistry, then the Season 2 relationship reset. 28:05 The sister storyline, tough choices, and consequences after the wish. 30:40 Minion reworked, identity twists, and a setup that begs for Season 3. 33:40 Adaptation philosophy: build new stories that feel like the game. 41:31 What other game adaptations can learn from Twisted Metal. 45:06 Fun facts: ratings, production notes, and stunt work. Key Takeaways Twisted Metal balances weekly mayhem with character arcs, making the world feel lived in instead of gimmicky. Sweet Tooth is written as a charmingly off kilter sociopath, and the Samoa Joe and Will Arnett combo sells the menace and the laughs. Season 2 embraces the tournament and deepens game lore while explaining gamey elements inside the story. Practical stunts plus targeted CG keep the car combat crunchy and readable. Smart departures from canon create stronger relationships without losing the game's tone. Quotes “It's a show about a character trying to find his worth in a post apocalyptic world.” “Sweet Tooth is a happy sociopath. It's off putting and I love him for it.” “They nailed the cross between practical and CG. The car combat was better than I expected.” “Give me new stories that live in the game's world, not a beat for beat retelling.” Call to Action If you enjoyed this breakdown, follow and rate the show. Drop a review on Apple Podcasts, share the episode with a friend who loved the games, and tag us with #ChallengeAcceptedPod so we can shout you out next week. Links and Resources GeekFreaksPodcast.com is our home base and the source of all news discussed on our shows Watch Twisted Metal on Peacock Follow Us Geek Freaks: Facebook, Threads, Twitter, Instagram Challenge Accepted: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter Listener Questions What did the show get right compared to your favorite Twisted Metal entries? Send your thoughts and questions for the next episode, and we will feature a few on air. Apple Podcasts Tags Geek Freaks, Challenge Accepted, Twisted Metal, Peacock, TV review, video game adaptations, Anthony Mackie, Sweet Tooth, car combat, post apocalyptic TV
Send us a textIt's not a tumor, it's Filmshake! And we're talking 1990's Kindergarten Cop. Arnie only appeared in 12 movies in the 90's, so we're trying to stay as patient as Chekhov's Ferret in covering them, but now, for the 35th anniversary, it's time to go back to elementary school with the Governator! After all, we don't want to be soft and lack discipline! Speaking of, we're also talking our punishment film, 1990's direct-to-video trash, Maniac Cop 2. This is a movie that at least knows it isn't worthy of a roman numeral. That doesn't mean we can't enjoy it! ...or...er...parts of it. All that and more, only on Filmshake!Music Heard this Episode"Astoria School Theme" -- Randy Edelman"Kindergarten Cop" -- Randy EdelmanSupport the showIntro music - "If" by Broke For FreeConnect with us!TwitterFacebookEmailLinktr.eeLetterboxd - Nic & JordanThe Nicsperiment
Adam's Paternity Leave is nearly over, but while we still have a couple weeks left, let's look at the last of a pair of episodes featuring a very tall Emmy winner of yore. A few resourceful new Munchies figured out a work-around where you can join as a free member and upgrade from there to a paid account which charges you for one month and unlocks the back catalog behind the respective tier of the paywall. If you want more content and can't wait until we've fully unlocked everything next month, you can jump in ahead of our return in October.The Munchie Boys pick up where they left off last week, trudging through the murk as Ray's tall brother faces the fallout from having been charged as a serial rapist while the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association possibly threatens Barba's life for having the temerity to come after one of their guys. This fallout includes the first—and thus far, only—time an officer on the Unit dies in the line of duty, which gives Adam and Josh quite a bit to mull over while wondering why the stakes were lowered so much before offing him. Any episode that has Chekhov's gun go off while also not having Chekhov's gun go off means there's going to be plenty of plot discussion to be had. There are also plenty of discussions about the typically insane things that SVU forces one to reckon with, namely intimidation wizards, phantom door-locking chicanery, the hilarity of needing apple boxes in hostage shoots, and much, much more.Music:Divorcio Suave - “Munchy Business”Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Diana R, Tony B, Barry W, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Lily, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, Johnathon M, Tiffany C, Brian B, Kate K, Whitney C, Alex, Jannicke HS, Roni C, Erin M, Florina C, Melissa H, and Olivia - y'all are the best!Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybensonBe sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests' youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on: BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam's Twitter/BlueSky and Josh's BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)Join our Discord: Munch Casts ServerCheck out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at ZazzleCheck out our guest appearances:Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).Josh discussing Jackie Brown with the fine folks at Movie Night Extravaganza, debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast, and talking SVU/OC and Psych (five eps in all) on Jacked Up Review Show.Visit Our Website: Munch My BensonEmail the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.comThe Next New Episode Once We're Back from Adam's Paternity Leave Will Be: Season 16, Episode 14 "Intimidation Game"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 21, 2025 is: lugubrious loo-GOO-bree-us adjective Lugubrious is a formal word used chiefly to describe something that is very sad especially in an exaggerated or insincere way. The word can also describe something that shows or expresses gloom. // The movie's stunning cinematography could not make up for the lugubrious and plodding plot. // The lugubrious mood of the room shifted when the voices of children playing erupted outside the window. See the entry > Examples: “On opening night, the audience at St. Petersburg's Alexandrinsky Theatre were mystified by The Seagull's neither wholly comic nor wholly tragic tone, hissing and heckling throughout, with Chekhov fleeing from the gallery after the second act. It was only two years later, when Konstantin Stanislavski staged a more lugubrious take on The Seagull at Moscow Art Theatre, that it came to be recognized as a work of pure genius.” — Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2025 Did you know? Everybody hurts, as the classic R.E.M. song goes, and when your day is long and the night is yours alone, lugubrious is a perfect word for describing such sorrowful feelings, or that which inspires them (a lugubrious song, perhaps). That said, if lugubrious strikes you as a tad unusual, no, no, no, you're not alone. Lugubrious is the sole surviving English offspring of the Latin verb lugēre, meaning “to mourn.” Its closest kin, luctual, an adjective meaning “sad” or “sorrowful,” was laid to rest centuries ago.
K. A. Teryna is an award-winning author and illustrator. She was born in two places at once, one of which is beyond the Arctic Circle. Her fiction has been translated from Russian into six languages. English translations of her stories have appeared in Asimov's, Reactor, Apex, F&SF, Podcastle, and elsewhere. Her English-language short story collection Black Hole Heart and Other Stories has been published by Fairwood Press. As of late, Chekhov the Cat has become K.A. Teryna's co-author. He's in charge of keeping her warm and firmly in her seat. K.A. Teryna's website is www.k-a-teryna.blogspot.com.The English language translation of "The Errata" by Alex Shvartsman originally appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, March/April 2023.Narration by: Tahereh SafaviTahereh Safavi is an improv kid and your biggest fan. She runs the Ubergroup, a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing low-cost fine arts education for adults. The Ubergroup offers university-level coursework, support, and networking for all writing-related art formats (including but not limited to: commercial and literary novels, stage and screen plays, short fiction, comics, nonfiction and academic, podcasts and webseries, picture books, poetry, IP writing, and some writing-adjacent arts such as acting and illustration) at a pace suitable for adults with full-time jobs and families. Alumni of the Ubergroup enjoy access to table reads for spec scripts, peer development of unsold work, and help editing projects under contract to meet agent/editor/producer requirements. The Ubergroup accepts writers in the English language from around the globe. Check out theubergroup.org for more.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On an all new episode of Bad Dates, host Joel Kim Booster welcomes comedians Conor Janda, Misha Brown, and Alistair Ogden to discuss their most iconic dating fiascos. Conor sets sail on a voyage of discovery with Chekhov's tan, Misha's wearing ship goggles but he might just float away, and Alistair weighs anchor but the good ship Double Date runs aground. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video clips.Merch available at SiriusXMStore.com/BadDates. Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual, Fire Island, Loot Season 2Conor Janda: @conorjanda on Insta and on Substack when Conor figures that out, web series Boys' Club returns in October! Misha Brown:@yourbestiemisha, podcast The Big Flop, debut book Be Your Own Bestie out in February!Alistair Ogden:@alistairogden, on tour in North America this fall! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Bad Dates ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
This final episode of season two is strangely a leftover from season one, so far as we can tell. So many scenes from the opening credits! Julia Nickson is back! We meet Chekhov’s Security Guard, whose name is Ox! The Law of the Economy of Characters and the Fallacy of the Talking Killer are both on display! And, most importantly, we introduce perhaps our biggest bit of Official Magnum Podcast Head Canon yet: Miłosz. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.
This final episode of season two is strangely a leftover from season one, so far as we can tell. So many scenes from the opening credits! Julia Nickson is back! We meet Chekhov’s Security Guard, whose name is Ox! The Law of the Economy of Characters and the Fallacy of the Talking Killer are both on display! And, most importantly, we introduce perhaps our biggest bit of Official Magnum Podcast Head Canon yet: Miłosz. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.
A film director, actor and renowned acting coach who trained with Stella Adler and Uta Hagen. Michelle has directed and acted in over thirty plays and musicals in New York and Los Angeles. She has coach A-List Actors privately and on set including Gerard Butler, Chris Rock, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Penelope Cruz, Michael Pena, Isla Fisher, Common, Salma Hayek, Brian McKnight, James Franco, Marcia Cross, Christian Slater, Catherine Bell, Zooey Deschanel, Gabrielle Union, Justine Wadell, Rob Estes, Rick Fox, among others. The Michelle Danner Los Angeles Acting School's philosophy is that artists can draw upon all different acting techniques from Meisner, Strasberg, Adler, Hagen, Chekhov, & the Stanislavsky Technique and form a toolbox of their own, their very own Golden Box.
Sub to the Patreon to support the show and access the entire 2nd part of PPM's subtextual analysis of Eddington as soon as it drops: patreon.com/ParaPowerMappingIn which we decode Eddington's subtextual conspiracy themes, endeavoring to argue that the new Ari Aster is perhaps the first major, theatrically released film to have accurately encapsulated the essence of the technocratic AmerIsraeli Years of Lead—in accordance with my personal timeline of the ongoing deep political era that would place its inception around Covid time—and the Silicon Valley capitalist elite's embrace of strategy of tension in the cybernetic service of of updating America's Total Info Awareness 2.0 operating system and the installation of their long planned predictive policing panopticon.We discuss: why the appearance of the globo "Antifa PMCs" isn't actually crypto-MAGA chicanery (seeing as they are Gladio operators); Joaquin Phoenix's turn as Sheriff Joe Cross, a Gen X, mumblecore, adoptive son of Sheriff Joe Arpaio type; Eddington as Nashville esque ensemble comedy cum Coen Brothers Covid Wester with the accompanying masking/social distancing standoffs; diagnosing the alienation and social media siloing of the wokespeak & QAnon brain rot of that hot 2020 summer; the role of calibrated algorithmic control; Sheriff Cross's Israeli Civil Guard pin in the OG script; the unfortunate executive production of Len Blavatnik, the Zio·nist billionaire "philanthropist" tied to Brett Ratner, Weinstein, the Bronfmans, etc, mulling whether he might have vetoed the inclusion of that visual gag on Sheriff Joe's regalia vest; the Solidgoldmagikarp Proposed Hyperscale Data Center project, the underlying Pynchon-esque real estate development and land and water use conspiracy; the schizophrenic drifter character Lodge, who opens the film, and his Homeric oracle qualities, spiritually warning against the onset of the Age of AI-quarius; Mike the One Armed Man from Twin Peaks comparisons; Pynchonian Lodge puns; Chekhov's Cough; Louise Cross, Sheriff Cross's wife, the one other farsighted character, and her haldol prescription, evoking Twin Peaks again; a demonic Mark Zuckerberg hinted at as one of the shadowy backers of the Solidgoldmagikarp Data Center in the earlier draft; Gov. Grisham making it into the film by way of an honorary watch and Covid headlines; the David Dees vibe of the cell towers in the opening sequence and various 5G diatribes; Aster lurking on Twitter; an earlier version of the second scene in which Sheriff Cross wrestles with Officer Butterfly Jimenez over who gets to investigate the self-immolation death of a paraplegic conspiracy Youtuber named Mitchell and the Native school uniforms discovered in his accessible van (evoking Missing Indigenous Children); the film's abiding interest in the neocultures that have cropped up around QAnon & pedo-hunters; borderlands and issues of jurisdiction between the Sevilla Co. Sheriff and the Santa Lupe Pueblo Tribal Officers; Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta's (a New Mexican) Hispanic borderlands community union LUPE aka La Union de Pueblo Entero aka The Union of the Whole People; Santa Lupe Pueblo = SLP = Speech Language Pathologist?; the neighboring, colonized tribal peoples, at their slight remove from Eddington and Treatlerite American society moreover, being the observers best prepared to pathologize the alienation and atomization and societal decay taking hold in the town over Covid; in regards Speech Language Pathologists, the ever-present theme of miscommunication and the deterioration of consensus reality caused by social media echo chamber-induced myopia, as well as the specter of LLMs or Large Language Models; "Solidgoldmagikarp" alluding to AI & ChatGPT tokens that cause anomalous or erratic behavior...FULL LINER NOTES ON THE PATREONMusic:| Matt Akers - "Necessary Rhythms" https://matthewakers.bandcamp.com/album/tough-to-kill | | Matt Akers - "Night Drive II (Detroit at 2 AM" |
In this episode, Milton Justice explores why actors struggle to make choices substantial enough to serve their material. He contextualizes modern acting within theater history, explaining how realistic theater emerged in the late 1800s with playwrights like Ibsen, Strindberg, and Chekhov. Milton discusses why Stanislavski's approach of having actors use their own lives fails - people don't relate to their experiences in theatrically useful ways, simply living without recognizing dramatic potential.Milton emphasizes that an actor's talent lies in making appropriate choices substantial enough to warrant emotional investment. Using student Grace's work as an example, he highlights how actors must understand the magnitude of their choices and earn them fully rather than throwing them away. Milton challenges students to see the extraordinary within ordinary things, to see that actors must become educators, philosophers, motivators, whose job it is to transform ideas meaningfully in order to remind us of our humanity. www.idontneedanactingclass.comwww.theactorlab.nyc
It's any Spooky's dream to own an antiques store full of all kinds of haunted odds and ends, but Darcy is struggling with a nightmare in Oddity (2024). After the murder of her twin sister, she's determined to know more about the man who committed the crime — and her clairvoyant powers are all she needs if she can just get her hands on a few specific items. On a new Spooky Tuesday, we're sticking with our theme of new (enough) releases as we explore an Irish indie flick firmly grounded in the overlap between our world and the next. References:https://mashable.com/article/oddity-wooden-man-damian-mccarthyhttps://mashable.com/article/oddity-ending-explainerhttps://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/oddity-review-1234966875/https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/oddity-wooden-man-paul-mcdonnell-damian-mccarthy-interview-1235029113/
For ps21 in Chatham - August is a month of programming that includes the return of the Paul Taylor Dance Company for their 4th consecutive year of performances, the US Premier of Samantha Shay's Chekhov-inspired dance-theatre piece, “Life in this House is Over,” which reflects on the social awkwardness of grief, followed by Adam Tendler's “Inheritances,” which weaves together a number of composers into one intimate program to tell a universal story of lineage, loss and place.Their summer concludes with the inaugural COMMONGROUND Festival, which brings together two renowned international performance companies - Basinga (France) and Kaleider (UK) over a weekend of experiments in physics and materiality.
(Exodus 1:1-6) The start of a brand new story begins a lot like the last one did, with fruitfulness and multiplication. I bet that won't come back to bite them, right?
In which Chris Claremont tries to make the Neo happen; Cecilia Reyes continues to have no time for this bullshit; Rogue gets some action; Shadowcat flees the comic; and Tessa returns.