Episode 12: Bear Witness

Man, I came back to the blogging universe after all these years just to find out people really hate bloggers and podcasters 😂

Anyway...From The Archives:

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS - 2005
In 2005 I remember working as a commercial painter and playing a bunch of drum and bass shows all over North Florida; drawing these weird things in my sketchbook when I wasn't staying up for days and drinking like a fish. Clearly the subject matter in the photos above are a direct result of this behavior.

Don't ask me why but I still, to this day, scroll through FaceBook occasionally - probably to keep up with just how everyone-owns-a-food-truck weird the world continues to become. However, I'm glad I do because I ran across this piece of very useful and relevant information that you will definitely need to continue living the rest of your lives in relative sanity:

From Strictly Hip Hop:

BLACK THOUGHT & DANGER MOUSE ANNOUNCE FOLLOW UP TO CHEAT CODES

"Exciting news, Black Thought & Danger Mouse just announced what looks like the follow up to my favorite album of 2022 "Cheat Codes", the single is entitled "Up" and will be released tomorrow october 8th, their is a short teaser and also another post with the line "I hold the fury so they fear me.."

DANGER MOUSE & BLACK THOUGHT - UP (feat. RAG 'N' BONE MAN)

I slept on Cheat Codes for a couple years, and I am not proud to type those words on a keyboard. I've always been on Team Black Thought since Organix and have been rooting for Danger Mouse since DANGERDOOM so I shouldn't have waited that long to listen to their collab, but once I did I was never the same. No, seriously I was a few years older. Anyway, the "Up" single is an inspiring piece that has Thought delivering his signature ominous, wack-rapper-killing venom while Mouse is (from what I envisioned) wearing a Phantom of the Opera mask while on the boards. Give it a listen and tell me you're not salivating for the entire album...

For anyone out there who's as old as I am, remember when I posted about those Backrooms videos? They're crazy, right? Well now there's about to be a feature length film and I can't contain the giddy I-just-got-a-bunch-of-vinyl-records joy I'm experiencing right now...

A24 ANNOUNCES THE BACKROOMS FULL LENGTH FILM

First things first...A24 is at the helm. I do believe Kane Pixels - the originator of the concept, if I'm not mistaken - is directing (I could be wrong, I haven't researched this) so I'm hoping that ensures authenticity as far as keeping the integrity of the overall concept. I did see someone comment that "if it's not found footage, I'm out". I whole heartedly agree. Not shooting it in found footage format will take away from the overall ominous creepiness and sense of abandonment that The Backrooms universe is known for. Let's see how it plays out, but in the meantime let's all try not to no-clip into somewhere unknown.

I have so many questions...

WEAPONS TRAILER

I guess my first question is why was there a giant AR-15 in the sky? My second question would be what's the significance of the triangle? There are a slew of others, but this film shines a light on the fact that there are writers out there who are very much capable of original storytelling. Also, thank god for Ring cameras, right? What I really dig about this movie is the I-didn't-see-that-coming factor is on 10 for a good portion of the film. The jump scares are crisp and on time, so you won't get bored at any moment while watching it. Let's see what Zach Cregger comes up with next.

Can honestly say I wasn't expecting this…

From Today:

D’ANGELO HAS DIED AT 51 FROM PANCREATIC CANCER
"D'Angelo, the Grammy winning R&B musician best known for chart-topping hits including "Lady," "Brown Sugar" and “Untitled (How Does It Feel)," has died at age 51 after a private battle with cancer, his family has shared in a statement to TODAY.com.

TODAY.com has confirmed that his cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life … After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025," the family said in a statement."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
D'Angelo's music was the soundtrack for a whole generation of young men wearing Dopeman Nikes trying to ask the pretty foreign exchange girl to the middle school dance. I honestly think most of the young Black men in that generaton got a good portion of their soul from that Brown Sugar album. In all seriousness, the world is losing too many creative legends.

Salute! Rest In Power!

D'ANGELO - BROWN SUGAR

What in the Star Wars is about to happen...

From Living In Florida:

"Been awhile since we've shared one of these, but my pal Beek who works over at NASA reminded me that on Tuesday, December 3rd if you're outdoors anywhere within this circle of opportunity, just look up around 6:48 p.m. EST and you'll see the International Space Station gliding in from the northwest on a path that takes it approximately straight over Tallahassee, Tampa/St. Pete, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

Clear skies are predicted and it's always a thrill to anticipate the ISS and then see it coming into view -- it will look like a bright star or a bright planet like Venus and on this pass it will be visible for a good five minutes before it wraps around Earth. If you're watching this with kids, let them know that even though it may look small, it's about the width of a football field, that there are several astronauts (real people!) aboard, and they're sailing overhead at an altitude of 250 miles straight up in space (about the distance from Orlando to Miami). It may look slow from here, but they're flying by all of us at 17,500 mph -- or five miles per second!

If that doesn't get them hooked on space travel, take 'em to Kennedy Space Center. That should do it."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
I could just be ignorant in guessing that this is probably an occasional thing that happens and this is just the first time I'm hearing about it. It's highly likely. However, I kinda find it disturbing that the International Space Station would ever be close enough for us to see without visual aid. I mean, it's not the same thing as being able to see where your car is parked.

I'm going to go ahead and warn y'all now, this is not an interview for the faint of heart or easily offended...

PHILIP K DICK FULL INTERVIEW (RESTORED AND REMASTERED) | Childhood, trauma, drugs, and VALIS.

From Write Like A Legend:

"Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the genius of Philip K. Dick with this meticulously restored and remastered interview. Gain unparalleled insights into his formative years, confront the depths of traumatic experiences that shaped his unique perspective, and accompany him on mind-altering journeys that inspired his groundbreaking works. Unravel the intricate threads of the VALIS enigma, a central theme in Dick's thought-provoking narratives. Join us in this immersive exploration, rediscovering the profound intellect and captivating storytelling of the legendary science fiction author."

Major influence alert! When I stumbled upon this interview I made it a point to listen to it from start to finish. I don't want to fan-boy out and say too much, so I'll let y'all listen and let it marinate. Until next time!

DR. OCTAGON - BEAR WITNESS


#toycrusher #taulwatersuniverse #mechdirective #art #artblog #jacksonville #jacksonvilleflorida #jax #jaxart #jaxartist #duvalcounty #duuuval #horror #jacksonvilleart #jaxartblog #blackthought #dangermouse #hiphop #cheatcodes #thebackrooms #kanepixels #a24 #weapons #weaponsmovie #zachcregger #droctagon #koolkeith #ultramagneticmcs #thefrogmage #ragnboneman #dangelo #ISS #internationalspacestation #nasa #philipkdick #valis

Episode 11: Peculiar Research

Ok, so, I've been really inconsistent with updating this blog. I'ma let y'all in on a little secret, though: the older you get, the more you have going on in life. Kinda like a video game. It just gets harder and harder and goes faster the longer you play. With that being said, I'm going to start doing an opening segment called From The Archives to showcase a ton of my older, lost work that I didn't have the wherewithal to archive when Blogger gave me the option. Also, to keep y'all updated on the audio version of the blog, that may take a little longer than I expected. We'll get there, don't worry. I'm just grateful some of y'all still like to read these days.

From The Archives:

The Red Queen (2005)
First up is a monotone character from one of my small sketch books from around 2005. This was years before my first group exhibit when I was experimenting with different color combinations and subject matter. You can see the early influence of scifi, mechanical, and a little bit of disembodied horror themes seeping into the psyche. This outline more than likely went up on a wall somewhere to subsequently be buffed and lost forever.

To kick this episode off, here's a pro tip:

Especially in Florida...

You think that you've seen all of the jump scares that could possibly surprise you, but then you watch this...

WHEN EVIL LURKS TRAILER
Look, I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I don't think there is a soul out there tough enough not to wince at what happens in "that" scene in this movie. Serioulsy fam, WHAT?!

Speaking of wincing, I just got around to watching Terrifier 3 and I'll just say you better be watching this movie with a friend, otherwise you will be scarred for life:

TERRIFIER 3 TRAILER


The first two Terrifiers were an absolute homage to comedic bloodshed. Slasher fans everywhere praised it as a cult classic (still do), so when the third installment was released I figured there was no way they could up the sheer visceral mayhem that Art the Clown brings to the function. They most certainly did. If all out gore is your thing in horror films, you're going to have a blast watching this (you sicko).

What an exciting time we live in...

THIS VIRTUAL 3D MODEL LETS YOU WANDER THE STREETS OF ANCIENT ROME

From Big Th!nk:

"The archaeologist Bernard Frischer developed a digital model of ancient Rome over almost three decades. Its most recent version, available on Yorescape, shows how the Eternal City developed over time. Viewing ancient Rome in a 3D space has allowed for discoveries that could not have been made otherwise."

>>> THE MODEL IS AVAILABLE HERE<<<

You can't ever say you're bored anymore. Not while people are making 3D models of ancient cities for you to peruse like you're shopping for old real estate.

You're most definitely not going to be bored anymore once you listen to what these guys have to say:

DIARY OF A CEO INTERVIEWS DR. DONALD HOFFMAN ON THE SUBJECT OF PERCEPTION

Is it weird that the voice that I imagine narrates some of my actions is Louis CK's? Also, I met a blind racist lady the other day. These two things are not necessarily connected, btw. However, after watching the previous interview with Dr. Hoffman, I'm not so sure...

This is the best thing I've heard all year:

HATE Podcast 434: SHED

SHED is the 434th guest of our original Hate Podcast series.

René Pawlowitz is a man of many aliases—SHED, Head High, Hoover, WK7, and Evil Fred—each representing a different facet of his wide-ranging musical identity. With a career rooted deeply in Berlin’s underground scene.

Download available at 10.000 listens on our Soundcloud channel: https://soundcloud.com/hate_music/she...

Follow #SHED here:
https://linktr.ee/nowt_030
/ shedofficial
/ shed030
/ nowt_030

You have to be a lover of techno to understand that the previous segment is not related to anything or anyone hateful.

This next legend needs no introduction:

JEFF MILLS LIVE @ RAVE SATELLITE 2001
I can dig for decades and still not find all the good music I've missed because of the sheer volume of it out there. I don't need to say much about Jeff Mills, but I will say that I'm still heartbroken that I lost all of the cassette tapes I had of his underground mixes. Lucky for me, they're more than likely archived online somewhere so I should probably stop whining.

I was eating Chinese food the other day and I was wondering why they always give you multiple fortune cookies? Is it even possible to have multiple fortunes? Is only one of them true and the others lies? Do they even have the power to dictate my fortune? What are they doing, attaching Skittles to their knuckles and pretending to be Thanos?

...idk, but anyway I'm back on the grind in the am, so I'll take us out with a classic by the mighty Paradox. KEEP THOSE EYES OPEN.

PARADOX - WE CHOOSE TO PERPLEX
#toycrusher #taulwatersuniverse #mechdirective #art #artblog #jacksonville #jacksonvilleflorida #jax #jaxart #jaxartist #duvalcounty #duuuval #horror #jacksonvilleart #jaxartblog #SHED #HATEPodcast #techno #paradox #drumfunk #drumandbass #chinesefood #jeffmills #whenevillurks #terrifier3 #blackthought #ancientrome #louisck #toycrusher

Episode 10: My Engine Stays Runnin'

MY ENGINE STAYS RUNNIN'
Microns, Sharpies, Prismacolors, & Copics on paper
You can only make so much use of a dying marker that's old and on its last leg. RIP to that OTR that went for almost a year straight.

As slow as I am to post on this blog, this will probably be released before any of you even read this. I'm still here to do my job, though:

A L I E N: Earth Teaser
I've always kept the thought in the back of my mind that having a cat on a space station has to be one of the biggest annoyances in the universe - besides an actively aggressive xenomorph...obviously. I mean, they knock shit over and trip people for no reason. It's only a matter of time before they set the ship off course just because they feel like it. Be that as it may, I'm excited about this new direction the A L I E N franchise is taking but let's be real...Jonesy probably put that egg on the Sulaco.

This is a major loss for the OG Adult Swim fam:

From The Seattle Times:

"George Lowe, the actor who voiced superhero turned talk-show host Space Ghost on “Space Ghost: Coast to Coast” on the Cartoon Network for nearly two decades, died Sunday in Lakeland, Fla. He was 67.

His agent, Christy Clark, confirmed the death. His family said in a statement that Lowe had a challenging recovery after undergoing elective heart surgery in November.

“Space Ghost: Coast to Coast” was the first fully original program for Cartoon Network and the spark that led to the creation of Adult Swim, the network’s late-night programming block. The show, which ran for 11 seasons from 1994 until 2012, reimagined Space Ghost, the title character from a 1960s Hanna-Barbera superhero cartoon, as a temperamental talk show host in a new format that mixed animation and live action. "

READ THE REST HERE

Space Ghost Coast to Coast - Will Ferrell and Zack Galifianakis interview (The Campaign promo)


He said "lemme just chirp that to my Twangers". George Lowe gave Space Ghost the sharp wit that made him a legendary character in the Adult Swim lineage. His is the type of art that can't be reproduced, so I'm sad to hear about his passing.

Be honest, I look like an IT guy in this video:

If this gives away anything about me, it's probably that I'm much geekier than you would've guessed. Look, there comes a moment in your life where you start receiving mail about AARP and you just become a regular person out of nowhere. It's hilarious.

On the subject of geekery:

PETE HOLMES - LIFE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
I think there are certain principles of reality that most - if not all - people inherently realize, so we invent institutions, belief systems, communities, laws, and the likes to govern or lessen the probability of objective societal collapse. What Pete Holmes just pointed out in this video is one of those principles. Do with that what you will...

The following film is an example of what I like to imagine happens a lot with our current space faring institutions:
LIFE WATCH HERE
Mind you, what I meant by my previous statement was that our current space faring institutions probably withhold information about what they find on their expeditions. Not "there are deadly organisms they've discovered and they haven't told us yet". Although...

...but, nah, L I F E (the movie, not the existential dread marathon I'm living) was a breath of fresh air for me as far as modern scifi goes. Sure, we've seen the "crew of researchers go into space and find a violent being they shouldn't have fucked with" trope a few times, but none of them have the comic relief of Ryan Reynolds.

This was a fun, wild, atmospheric aural adventure:

HORO VISION PODCAST 019: ASC

From SOUND CLOUD:

ASC marks the release of his Defiance LP for Horo with a 2-hour mix of 170BPM techno and Grey Area seeds made around the same time as the tracks on the LP.

ASC - Defiance [HOROEX38] horo.lnk.to/defiance

ASC - Defiance: Prelude [HOROEX37] horo.lnk.to/horoex37

www.instagram.com/ascaux/

Subscribe to the Horo Vision Podcast on iTunes - found.ee/HViTunes
LISTEN HERE
I listened to the first half of this in the dark while typing out and coding this blog post. I felt like I was trying to get into The Gibson for a second. ASC has been making the type of out there, otherworldy drum and bass since I caught his Pitch Black release on Offshore / Ohm Resistance on the flip of Quoit & Submerged murderous killer tune El Topo. Still rock both sides to this day.

Until the next episode, rock to this tune by a couple of my favorite drum and bass producers gone rogue into a nasty boom-bap bboy anthem. Next time!

LOXY & INK - MANIFESTED VISIONS
#adultswim #ALIENEarth #georgelowe #loxyandink #drumandbass #spaceghost #spaceghostcoasttocoast #willferrell #xenomorph #zackgalfianakis #peteholmes #lifemovie #horovision #asc #offshorerecordings

Episode 9: Wizard of Odds

*dusts off keyboard*

"LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!"

Weird Jeopardy Contestant
Microns, Sharpies, Prismacolors on paper
It's been more than a few months and I've completely slept on Inktober last year, but I'm still finding time to "pick up a pencil", as the AI haters say. I'm continuing to line things up to get the blog into audio format (for those out there too lazy to read), so don't forget to tune in!

Is it strange that I was super excited about this, or am I just old?:

BOB ROSS - THE JOY OF PAINTING (LIVE CHANNEL)

WATCH LIVE CHANNEL HERE
From World Screen:

Bob Ross’s The Joy of Painting Heads to Tubi
Tubi will bring 30 seasons of the cult phenomenon The Joy of Painting, featuring Bob Ross, to its library on the Docurama Channel from Cinedigm.

Ross launched The Joy of Painting on U.S. public television in 1983 along with his partners Annette and Walt Kowalski. Nearly 400 episodes will stream on Tubi by the end of July, to watch for free.

“Bob Ross and his unforgettable style make The Joy of Painting the epitome of comfort TV,” said Adam Lewinson, chief content officer of Tubi. “Tubi is proud to be a streaming home for this timeless and beloved series.”

READ THE REST HERE

I know at least 80% of y'all clicked on that link and watched at least a few minutes of that feed...

Ok, my man TORN didn't have to go this hard:

SAMURAI MUSIC MIX 060: TORN

LISTEN HERE
From SOUNDCLOUD:

Continuously refining his singular approach to music construction, Torn commemorates the release of his second LP - Immortal for Samurai Music with a new mix for the label. 2 hours of the Torn vision shifting through immaculately twisted soundscapes.

Immortal is out now - sq.lnk.to/SMDELP11_

www.instagram.com/van_torn/

Twisted soundscapes, indeed. This is one of those mixes that if you played it for someone who's never listened to this style of music, they'd probably assume you had a secret diabolical laboratory in your basement...or you drive a Tesla truck.

I don't know if any of y'all have ever seen them, but these Backrooms flicks are wild:
I sat through all 45 minutes of this video and didn't even realize it. It's hands down one of the weirdest things I've seen on the internet since the days of when Hulu was a free platform. If you're not familiar, they're basically found footage videos of some random person wandering through a complex maze of rooms that each have evidence that something you don't want to know about went down. I'll tell you this though, as anxious as I am I would've freaked out by the third room.

On a lighter note, the good folks at Acrylick - teaming up with DJ Sophenom - have released this fresh reggae mix just in time for the return to peak Florida heat! (or wherever you'll be sweating it out)

ACRYLICK REGGAE MIX 2024 - MIXED BY DJ SOPHENOM

LISTEN HERE
I'm listening to it as I type this and I gotta say, there are definitely some head-nodders in there for those who know. Plus there are plenty of classics and party joints thrown in for seasoning. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

If you're the type of person who would read this blog, I'm sure you're already familiar with this flick:
FRANKENSTEINS ARMY CLICK HERE TO WATCH
It's films like this that exist just to let people know that not every filmmaker is playing by any set of rules. It is horror that is highly unruly; akin to the VHS series or, more recently, In A Violent Nature or Barbarian. If you're claustrophobic or have a high disgust sensitivity, I'd steer clear of this one. However, if you're like the rest of us weirdos...proceed.

I'm going to close this out with a mix by one of my favorite drum and bass dj's/producers, DJ Fracture of Fracture & Neptune. The crazy thing about the internet is that - just like life - you simply can't see, hear, or do everything that's out there. Prime example: this mix is over a year old and I just found out about it. Be that as it may, it's chock full of the tough breaks, basslines, and stabs you're used to coming from this drumfunk legend. Enjoy and I'll catch you on the next episode!

FRACTURE LIVE ON KOOL FM
#toycrusher #taulwatersuniverse #mechdirective #art #artblog #jacksonville #jacksonvilleflorida #jax #jaxart #jaxartist #duvalcounty #duuuval #acrylick #backrooms #bobross #djfracture #djsophenom #drumandbass #drumfunk #frankensteinsarmy #horror #jacksonvilleart #jaxartblog #joyofpainting #milk #reggae #Tesla #uhaul