Episode 23: "Crazy, Destructive, and Erratic"

I once thought I had a case of the “black poops”, but then I realized I’d eaten a bunch of Oreos.

Fun Fact: some time ago, a few friends and I were on our way to a party in Charlotte, NC from Jacksonville, NC and we all ate Sugar Cubes before we left. About halfway, we stopped at a gas station then sat in the parking lot and argued for an hour over who was going to drive. This photo wasn't taken at that gas station, btw. This photo was taken around 2019 or 2020 while I was painting the mens bathroom at the now gone Fly's Tie Irish Pub (RIP). That incident happened waaay before then. Anywhoo...

...from the archives!...

Imagine if you will: you've spent the last three years of your life in a different state or country every month crawling around in the woods and mud, then you move to a place in which it is the exact opposite of that, you have all this free time to draw, and this is the type of stuff that comes out of your head. I guess it could always be worse, though...

...so, as much as I'm really not down with studios constantly retelling the same stories, I'd be a bold faced liar if I didn't say that an A24 and that dude who did OBSESSION collab wouldn't pique my interest.

From DEADLINE:

Curry Barker and 1974's 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'
Brandin Ramirez; Everett Collection

" In regards to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre feature rights won by A24, Obsession director Curry Barker is set to direct and write a reimagined version.

This is separate from the A24 TV series in the works from JT Mollner and producers Glen Powell and Dan Cohen at Barnstorm.

Barker, who cut his teeth making YouTube horror pics and saw his TIFF Midnight Madness title Obsession get snapped up by Focus Features for $15M+ as we first told you, is a hot commodity now. Obsession went on to play SXSW and opens in theaters on May 15. It’s about a young couple’s relationship gone seriously toxic after one of them makes a wish to be loved by the other more."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
This honestly isn't new news; I've just now gotten around to even posting about it. If I'm keeping it a buck, I haven't even watched OBSESSION yet - that's on purpose, though. I'm part of the generation who never succumbed to FOMO. Also, I've never witnessed a horror film generate so much hype. I'm definitely going to watch it, but I'm a little more interested in what happens in Barker's version of The Texas Chainsaw gang. In what ways does he plan on re-imagining the story? How big is Leatherface's chainsaw gonna be in this one? You know, the tough questions.

It seems to me that it can be truthfully said that people love the Crazy Woman Who Is Possessed theme in horror films these days...

OTHER MOMMY TRAILER
From People:

" Other Mommy has already succeeded in terrifying its audience after the release of its first trailer on July 21.

The film, which is due in theaters on Oct. 9, follows a family whose home has been invaded by a paranormal entity named “Other Mommy.” Jessica Chastain stars in the horror movie as both mom Ursula and her monster doppelgänger. In her dual role, Chastain switches seamlessly between her two personas while the rest of the family struggles to keep track of who’s who. "

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
At the risk of sounding too obvious...wtf was that under the table? Also, I never thought I'd type these words but Jessica Chastain's face now terrifies me. The intro to the trailer already had me, but as soon as I saw the multiple-hands-and-arms-bursting-through-the-door-seams it was a lock. This year continues to impress on the horror front and I'm here for it.

On today's episode of Things That Don't Often Get Talked About...

THE REAL STORY OF OSCAR ZETA ACOSTA, THE CHICANO ACTIVIST WHO HELPED INSPIRE FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS
By Austin Harvey | Edited By Jaclyn Anglis Published May 14, 2025 Updated May 15, 2025

The Rise and Fall of the Brown Buffalo/Facebook
Attorney, activist, and writer Oscar Zeta Acosta in a photo taken by Annie Leibovitz.
From All That's Interesting:

"Oscar Zeta Acosta made a name for himself as an unconventional lawyer, a radical activist, and a drug-blitzed traveler before he mysteriously vanished in Mexico in 1974.

Hunter S. Thompson’s famous 1971 book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is not entirely a true story, but it certainly drew inspiration from real people and events. The book is a fictionalized account of his own reporting, a half-memoir, half-novel about a drug-fueled trip to Las Vegas.

The book’s main character Raoul Duke is effectively a stand-in for Thompson himself, but his traveling companion Dr. Gonzo was also based on a real person, Thompson’s friend Oscar Zeta Acosta. Acosta was an activist and lawyer who would later publish his own semi-autobiographical books, The Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo and The Revolt of the Cockroach People.

Both novels are considered to be influential works of Chicano literature, and Acosta seemed poised to become a countercultural icon in his own right.

Then, one day in May 1974, he vanished in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
He basically pulled a DB Cooper. Whenever I hear a story about someone this legendary just disappearing, my brain automatically registers that as "they probably either planned it, or someone they owed something got them". It's tragic for his family if he had one, but this dude lived a fast and revolutionary life. Even though Fear and Loathing was an exaggerated account, to watch that performance knowing it was based on an actual guy is inspirational...even though drugs are bad.

I can't say I have a strong opinion on this, but I do find it interesting that this is happening in Jax...

NEIL deGRASSE TYSON TO BRING 'SEARCH FOR LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE' TO FLORIDA THEATRE

From Action News Jax:

"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will appear at the Florida Theatre on Wednesday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. for “An Evening With Neil deGrasse Tyson: Search for Life in the Universe.”

Tickets are available for purchase through floridatheatre.com or at the Florida Theatre Box Office at (904) 355-2787.

A Meet & Greet/VIP package is also available.

The event will feature a conversation on science, exploration and current events, with an emphasis on how scientific literacy shapes understanding of the world.

Tyson directs the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where he holds the Frederick P. Rose Directorship, and serves as a research associate in the museum’s Department of Astrophysics.

His recent books include “Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization” and “To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery,” co-written with Lindsey Nyx Walker — both New York Times bestsellers.

More information is available at neildegrassetyson.com."

Tyson - like literally every other human being I've encountered over the course of my life - has said things I've agreed with and things I've disagreed with. It does say something, though, that Jax is able to host something like this. Also, I'm assuming they meant March 17th of 2027, because if not then that's gonna cause damage points to Action Jax's intellectual credibility...

I previously mentioned above that I'd planned on getting around to watching OBSESSION, and well...

OBSESSION TRAILER
From Focus Features:

"After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price."

That's a very brief synopsis for a film that is rich in topics for discussion. I previously found myself in awe about the hype that this (along with a slew of other films) garnered before it was even released. I kinda chalked all that up to the creators already existing fanbase pumping fuel into the fire - which isn't necessarily a terrible thing. Then I watched it and realised they clearly knew something that the rest of us didn't. It's almost impossible to expound upon any of the theories I have about this film without spoiling it for anyone reading, so I won't. I can say this, though - there are layers to this flick that you don't really expect. Now, is it "greatest horror movie of all time" good? No, and after watching it twice, I don't understand why anyone would say that unless they had some incentive to. However, it is an excellent film that any horror fan should be eager to watch - regardless of the hype. Do not proceed alone, I'll tell you that, fammo.

Bruh, there is a life sized ark somewhere in Kentucky...

EXPERIENCE THE LIFE-SIZE NOAH'S ARK!

From Ark Encounter:

"Ark Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. Genesis 6 states that the biblical ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Assuming this was a royal cubit (as was typical for large projects in the ancient world), this converts to approximately 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high. That’s huge! Learn more on deck one of the Ark.

This modern engineering marvel is the largest freestanding timber structure in the world and amazes visitors young and old."

Christians, y'all wild for this one. What's next, the Starship Enterprise?

I'ma make like a tree and go to bed.

Stay up!

ULTRAMAGNETIC MC'S - KOOL KEITH ANDROID MODEL 406

#toycrusher #taulwatersuniverse #mechdirective #art #artblog #jacksonville #jacksonvilleflorida #jax #jaxart #jaxartist #duvalcounty #duuuval #horror #jacksonvilleart #jaxartblog #flystieirishpub #currybarker #texaschainsawmassacre #a24 #othermommy #oscarzetaacosta #fearandloathinginlasvegas #neildegrassetyson #floridatheatre #obsession #noahsark #ultramagneticmcs #koolkeith

Episode 22: Underground AF

I've never in my lifetime heard of there being a coffee shortage...

Again, I'm pretty sure I've posted this picture here at some point before. It just happened to pop up while I was scouring folders. This was taken by the legendary Gainesville DJ/Producer Flaco at the Perimeter Radio Studio one Sunday night long ago - probably around 2009. If you happen to be curious about my age, the two flip phones next to my right hand should put you in the ball park. Also, the fact that I had two of them is an indicator of how hectic my life was...

...from The Archives!...

FREESTYLES FROM 2000
"Tell me you took these photos with your phone without telling me you took these photos with your phone." Obviously this blog is about as low budget as they come, so thanks for reading. Just FYI: for the past few blog posts, these images have come from the same black book - I have more than several. That's a way of saying buckle up, because it doesn't get any less weird.

I kinda sorta figured this is something y'all would want to know about...

HACKERS SIMPLY ASKED META AI TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO HIGH-PROFILE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS. IT WORKED.

From 404 Media:

"Hackers say that they used Meta’s AI support chatbot to break into a host of high-profile Instagram profiles by asking the support bot to change the email address associated with the target account. The claims coincide with a series of high-profile Instagram account takeovers, including the Barack Obama White House account, the Chief Master Sergeant of Space Force’s account, and Sephora’s account.

The news shows the extreme risk associated with offloading support or critical functions to an AI chatbot. Users who have had their accounts stolen say that there is no way to escalate their problem to a human. In March, Meta announced that it was pushing AI support to all accounts across Facebook and Instagram, and that it would have the ability to reset passwords and perform other critical account maintenance functions: “Solutions, not just suggestions,” the feature’s product page says. “Account security and recovery.”"

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
What's wild is that this coincides with AI tech companies recently claiming that "AI development is moving too fast and we should slow it down". Not like we haven't seen this trick before: we know they won't slow their development down; the general public will only be privy to versions much less efficent and expedient - which is the primary reason most people utilize the technology. The positive is we live in a time where something of this magnitude is actually happening...and fast.

It goes without saying that this is highly useful information...

From Big Think:

What anxiety is really trying to tell you by Big Think

Anxiety feels like a malfunction. Evolutionarily speaking, it's one of your most sophisticated features.

Read on Substack

I heard a quote a long time ago from one of the Busey's who said: "You should laugh at rejection and drive on anxiety". I quickly found that to be easier said than done, so that's the last time I took any advice from someone of the Busey family. Laughing at rejection is easy, but harnessing anxiety that's running rampant is a whole other endeavor. However, the article points out that anxiety is meant to be uncomfortable; it's designed to encourage (which is a weak word to use in this instance) you to think rapidly and sharply in environments or situations in which one feels threatened. It gets dark and out of hand when you start perceiving mundane events for dangerous circumstances. Fun times!

As long as they stay off our lawn...

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE FIRST EVER IMAGE OF ANOTHER MULTI-PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM

From AstroPhilesz:

"The bright point at the centre surrounded by a ring is a star called TYC 8998-760-1. The other dots of light scattered around it are not background stars. They are planets. Two of them, orbiting the same star, captured in a single image.

This photograph, taken by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile, was the first direct image ever captured of a multi-planet system around a Sun-like star. Every other exoplanet discovered before this was inferred rather than seen, detected through the dimming of starlight as a planet passed in front of it, or through the gravitational wobble it induced in its host star. This image showed the planets themselves.

The two planets are both enormous. The inner one is roughly 14 times the mass of Jupiter. The outer one is about 6 times Jupiter's mass. Both orbit at extreme distances from their star, far further out than any planet in our own solar system. Jupiter sits about 5 times further from the Sun than Earth does. These planets sit 160 and 320 times further from their star than Earth sits from ours.

The star itself is very young by stellar standards, only about 17 million years old. Our Sun is 4.6 billion years old. This system is so young that the planets are still radiating heat leftover from their formation, which is partly why they were detectable in infrared imaging despite their distance.

Direct imaging of exoplanets is extraordinarily difficult. Stars are billions of times brighter than the planets orbiting them. Seeing a planet next to its star is roughly equivalent to seeing a firefly sitting next to a lighthouse from across a continent.

This image proved it was possible. Every directly imaged exoplanet that follows builds on what this photograph established.

We did not just discover other worlds. We finally got to see them."

How long do you think it will be before we go looking for oil there? It goes without saying that there are a whole slew of subsequent questions that come with receiving information like this. Let's run through a few of them:

1 - What's going on over there?
2 - If intelligent life exists there (and it's highly likely it doesn't), do you think they saw us first?
3 - How many more of these are out there?

Never fails that once I think I've seen so many weird movies that I can't be "weirded" anymore, I run across this banger...

THE ASSESSMENT TRAILER
From "Wicked"pedia:

"In the near future, society enforces strict regulations on parenthood due to environmental collapse and resource scarcity. Pharmaceutical cocktails that dramatically increase human life expectancy and healthspan also inhibit reproduction such that procreation is only possible through artificial wombs. Prospective parents must undergo a rigorous seven-day assessment to determine their suitability for raising a child. Mia and Aaryan, a married couple residing in a secluded, technologically advanced home beneath a protective dome, are eager to have a child. Mia is a dedicated botanist working on cultivating plant life, while Aaryan designs virtual reality pets to replace real animals that have been eradicated. "

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
What's offputting about this film is that it's not so much that the imagery or cinematography is weird, it's the entire premise along with the characters actions that send you into a frenzy of existential questions. The morality of their "situation" is highly questionable, and then there's the Assessor herself who is so close to being the female version of a manipulative butler that it's not even funny. I can't let myself spoil this one, so I'll stop there. I will say that if you choose to accept the mission of watching this, well...

It's been a minute since I've been this unnerved and creeped out...

UNDERTONE "The host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way."

>>> WATCH FULL MOVIE HERE <<<
You kinda have to go into this with open senses - I say that because the whole kick of the film is that it plays with the senses. It's not a "jump scare / show you tons of blood" type of horror film. What it does best is poke at 3 things: tension, visual expectation, and auditory paranoia. A theme I've noticed in a lot of contemporary horror is that creators have begun to really harp on psychology as it relates to fear. I love a good zombie, cosmic, or slasher horror flick - but with all the new heady liminal stuff that's being released I think we're in a new Golden Era of the genre. You've also got flicks like The Backrooms and Obsession breaking records at the box office, so there's that as well.

Listen, if Train to Busan didn't have you on edge, then this most definitely will...

COLONY TRAILER

From IMDB:

"Professor Se Jeong attends a biotech conference, only to witness it spiral into catastrophe when a rapidly mutating virus is unleashed. As the outbreak spreads and the infected begin to transform, authorities seal off the entire facility."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
Notice that lazy synopsis? That's because it's 10:38 on a Friday night as I type this while watching [REC] and it's past my bedtime. However, I do believe that this one will stand out due to part of the premise being the virus that infects people continually evolves...like, majorly. I'm not kidding, these things go batshit. So far I've only seen Resident Evil do this trope; at least in somewhat real time - but these things have zing and pep...and that's dangerous.

Time for me to head out, but I ran across this quote that is so on the nose it's actually a shame...

Stay up!

DIG-IT - ANTIFEPN (FIXON REMIX)

#toycrusher #taulwatersuniverse #mechdirective #art #artblog #jacksonville #jacksonvilleflorida #jax #jaxart #jaxartist #duvalcounty #duuuval #horror #jacksonvilleart #jaxartblog #dig-it #fixon #techno #anxiety #bigthink #perimeterradio #404media #undertone #a24 #theassessment #colony

Episode 21: HEL_

We can probably stop using the word "quagmire" at this point...

The story behind this seemingly subtle photo goes like this: 5 young creatives who happened to somehow end up enlisted in the armed forces wind up in a hole in the wall bar in Sicily that happened to be playing Digable Planets as we walked by. We met some young ladies (one of which took this photo) who'd happened to have studied at some school in Massachusetts that I will never remember the name of, so they spoke great English. Long story short, by the end of the night I'd drank a slew of different types of alcohol which ended up in everything I'd eaten that day on the floor on the ship right next to my bed. Alcohol poisoning works the same in every hemisphere, y'all...

...From the Archives!...

FREESTYLES FROM 2000
I might start rocking that gradient effect more often; I actually completely forgot about it. Then was a period of experimentation and taking subject matter beyond the usual threshold. There are quite a few characters on these same pages that I can't post here or this whole operation would turn into an adult situation. You don't really realize how weird you are until your skill catches up enough to where you can illustrate it.

I, for some reason, thought I was an amateur philosopher. Then I read this...

5 SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY THAT DIED OUT Dive into five philosophical schools that have faded into obscurity but still whisper through the ages.

From Big Think:

"Some of the world’s oldest surviving texts are dedicated to philosophy. In many ways, no school of philosophy ever fully dies, as a good idea can endure over millennia. On the other hand, there are plenty of schools of thought in which nobody seems to claim membership anymore. Here, we look at five schools of thought that died out, and whether we can see any trace of their intellectual legacy today."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
Once you read some of the reasons these philosophies became less popular, you gain a better understanding of just how backwards the world has become. It's one thing to joke about "being born in the wrong era", but to know...

CREATURES, CREATURES, CREATURES!...

RESIDENT EVIL TRAILER
From Bloody Disgusting:

"Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is infecting theaters this coming September, and the marketing campaign is about to get underway. While we wait for the first official trailer, Sony Pictures has launched the official website for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie this week.

There’s nothing much on the website at this time, but it does reveal the official logo for the film (above) while also confirming that September 18, 2026 remains the release date.

Check out the website here and expect Cregger’s Resident Evil trailer soon."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
Your boy Cregger is on a roll, not gonna lie. Barbarian cut through because of grotesque claustrophobia. WEAPONS hit a nerve because of oddity and unnervingness; this new Resident Evil, though...those creatures are what I anticipate will make the film. There's rumors that the gaming community isn't happy as the representation of the game isn't as accurate as they'd like. To that I'd say: it's a movie. Definitely looking forward to this, though, as I love a good zombie flick - and I'll probably watch it multiple times once it's released.

On top of that, another legendary franchise is cracking heads this year...

EVIL DEAD BURN TRAILER
Frome Warner Brothers Horror:

"Evil Dead Burn unleashes the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date, blazing onto big screens with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem. After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites—turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell—she comes to discover that the vows she took in life... live on even in death."

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
If I have to mention that they should have never canceled Ash vs Evil Dead...you know what, nevermind. I'm actually happy with the direction they're taking this one; that og gore absurdity is back on the menu. There's also that Evil Dead Rise easter egg that I'm sure you keen lot spotted immediately. I got excited when I heard about this last year and actually didn't believe it would even be fully green-lighted, but here we are. Prepare yourselves.

It's simultaneously crazy and joyous to be alive during such unprecedented times for the horror genre...

A24 PODCAST FEATURING KANE PARSONS & JAMES WAN

From A24:

"Topics covered include:​ Kane's parents keeping him off the internet until age eight, pirating way too much software, the origin of the Backrooms, the purgatories we build for ourselves, meeting your heroes after early virality, building 30,000 sq. ft. of sets on a soundstage, Kane accidentally calling his film a "product" and immediately wanting to flee to the woods, shotlisting an entire feature in Blender, renting out a Vancouver theater to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey during prep, James Wan's hopeful advice for young filmmakers, Renate's spiritual curiosity, control variables, and bringing the family together for the theatrical premiere of Backrooms."

I've said so much about this already - just like millions of others. However I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge - again - how legendary this is for the game. I can already see this becoming a comfort film.

It took me my entire life to learn this...

WHY YOU SHOULD PRETEND TO BE LESS INTELLIGENT THAN YOU ARE
From Academy of Ideas:

"Access 130+ membership videos! ► http://academyofideas.com/members/

Access the transcript and a gallery of the art used - https://academyofideas.com/2026/05/wh...

Substack - https://theacademyofideas.substack.com/
Twitter - / academyofideas
Instagram - / academyofideas
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2dio7KU...
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...
Visit academyofideas.com for all our content."

>>> VIEW CHANNEL HERE <<<
The fact that I even posted this more than likely catalyzed in most peoples minds this question: "Who does this guy think he is?"...and fair enough. Yet the author of this video didn't intend to insinuate that "most people are stupid, so therefore pretend to be one". Rather I believe the intention is - as it pertains to dealing with particular social dynamics - to refer to one of the 48 Laws of Power: Never Outshine the Master. I'll let them explain it more eloquently in the video, but it definitely makes for an interesting watch.

I learned how to do the Charlseton - at that point in time known as the "Kid & Play" - to It Takes Two...

RIP ROB BASE

From Rolling Stone:

" Rob Base, the rapper who was best known for the hit “It Takes Two,” died on Friday, May 22, after a battle with cancer. He was 59.

News of his death was shared via his official Instagram account. “Rob’s music, energy, and legacy helped shape a generation and brought joy to millions around the world. Beyond the stage, he was a loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten,” the statement reads. “Thank you for the music, the memories, and the moments that became the soundtrack to our lives.”"

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
It Takes Two is hands down one of the most legendary uses of the Think break, the soundtrack to literally every middle school house party - regardless of what side of Jax you grew up on, an instant b-boy classic, and an indicator that something wild is about to happen if you heard it in a movie soundtrack. Don't get it wrong, he had other bangers like Joy & Pain, but it's been said all throughout history - Good Music Unifies People. Salute to Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, and condolences to his family and friends.

Once again, you may leave my metaphorical presence, but before you do, listen to just how hard this mix by KhanFu goes.

Stay up!

DJ KHANFU - BOOM BAP AND BREAKS 2020 MIX
#philosophy #bigthink #toycrusher #taulwatersuniverse #mechdirective #art #artblog #jacksonville #jacksonvilleflorida #jax #jaxart #jaxartist #duvalcounty #duuuval #horror #jacksonvilleart #jaxartblog #zachcregger #residentevil #evildeadburn #djkhanfu #kaneparsons #jameswan #thebackrooms #a24 #robbase #academyofideas

Episode 20: Liminal Animal

I've probably said this before, but Eleven22 is like the Planet Fitness of churches...

Winter. 2008. I didn't know it at the time, but this photo is one of the last of me making a public appearance. It was around this time - due to a series of consecutive life events - that anxiety would start to take a hold. It manifested - publicly, no less - a couple of years later, but we'll get to that eventually. Anyway, this was painted in front of Cafe 331 on Forsythe in downtown Jax for a crowd of maybe about 10 people. It was cold, fam, nobody wanted to stand there for more than a few minutes to literally watch paint dry...

...from The Archives:

FREESTYLES FROM 2000
I fully realize that from the context of reading this blog, looking at these images for the first time may spark a line of questioning in most people's brains. Probably foremost is "Why? Why post photos of work done almost 3 decades ago instead of what you've been doing recently?" The answer to that is simple: I reignited this flame of a blog to produce a digital catalog of where I came from as an artist; to not only showcase the progress of my creative ventures, but also to illustrate the psychological meanderings and musings of someone who's lived as an outsider. A celebration of the weird and obscure, if you will. I can promise you this, though: if you can bear with me you'll get it by the time my catalogue catches up with the current date.

Imagine the amount of work you'd have to put in to be labeled as a "rogue archaeologist"...

From Big Think:

HOW EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGISTS ARE SOLVING ANCIENT MYSTERIES

How experimental archaeologists are solving ancient mysteries by Big Think

Sam Kean examines how rogue archaeologists are recreating the sounds, tastes, smells, and practices of the ancient past.

Read on Substack

Because I've ventured into synthography, I'm going to start calling myself a "rogue artist". Eat that, street artists. It has to be extremely interesting work to recreate what humans from the distant past experienced via the senses. Remember, canned air fresheners and Yankee candles weren't a thing back then. They may have had something better - or way worse - but also keep in mind that flatulence has been a human thing since time immemorial. (I don't know if that's true; Also, I had to look up "immemorial" to make sure I spelled it correctly)

I've always said that this type of horror - Liminal Horror - is the future...

EXIT 8 TRAILER
From Exit 8:

"地下鉄の改札を出て白い地下通路を歩いていく。天井には【出口8】の看板。しかしいつまでも出口に辿り着くことができない。何度もすれ違う同じ男に違和感を感じ、やがて自分が同じ通路を繰り返し歩いていることに気付く。そして壁に掲示されている、謎めいた【ご案内】を見つける。通路のどこかに【異変】があれば引き返し、なければそのまま前に進む。【1番出口】【2番出口】【3番出口】…正しければ【8番出口】に近づき、見落とすと【0番出口】に戻る。次々と現れる不可解な異変を見つけ、絶望的にループする無限回廊から抜け出すことができるのか？ 　インディーゲームクリエイターのKOTAKE CREATE氏がたったひとりで制作し、累計販売本数180万本超の世界的大ヒットを記録したゲーム『8番出口』が実写映画化。「あのゲームをどうやって映画に？」と謎につつまれた映画プロジェクトだったが、わずか30秒の特報映像と俳優・二宮和也の主演情報が解禁されると、爆発的に全世界に拡散され、Xのポストが2900万インプレッション超えをするという「異変」が発生。その他の登場人物については「VIVANT」で強烈な個性を放った河内大和、唯一無二の存在感を放ち続ける国民的ミューズ・小松菜奈など、数少ない出演者情報のみが公開されている。『告白』『悪人』『君の名は。』『怪物』など数々の映画を製作し、初監督作『百花』で第70回サン・セバスティアン国際映画祭にて日本人初となる最優秀監督賞を受賞した川村元気が監督・脚本を務めた本作は、第78回カンヌ国際映画祭オフィシャルセレクション【ミッドナイト・スクリーニング部門】に選出。超日本的な地下通路映画は、瞬く間に世界へと羽ばたき、カンヌの地で開催されたワールドプレミアで「圧倒的に新しい映画体験！」「重層的かつ現代的なテーマが編み込まれ、まったく新しいゲームの映画化となっていた」「まさかの展開、緻密な物語に驚かされた！」と絶賛され、アジア、ヨーロッパなど既に30以上の国と地域での上映が決定。いま最も、世界から公開を待ち望まれている日本映画となっている。そしてきたる8月29日、全世界に先駆けて映画『8番出口』が日本公開となる。"

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
Y'all already know, straight up, I have zero clue as to what any of that says and I didn't bother to translate it either. (I did, but I'm not telling any of you...) I trust that it explains a brief synopsis of the film and adds value to your day. I also wanted to mess with everyone's tolerance of my shenanigans and to show respect to the Japanese by not altering the text from one of their websites. Just know, this one gets weird.

The Hip Hop culture just lost a pathfinder...

AFRIKA BAMBAATAA PASSES AWAY AT 67

From MINT:

Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa has died at the age of 67, TMZ reported. The influential DJ and producer passed away early Thursday in Pennsylvania, with the cause of death linked to complications from cancer.

Born Lance Taylor in the Bronx, New York, Bambaataa is widely regarded as one of the architects of hip-hop culture, alongside DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash.

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
I had the privilege of seeing Bambaataa play in Orlando at what used to be a weekly called Sunday School back in '94 or '95 and the energy was unmatched. He played some of the most obscure and reknowned breaks alike - plus the Orlando Zulu Chapter b-boys had an elite cypher going the whole set. It's moments like that I wish smartphones were a thing just so I could have the footage of that night. My condolences to his family and friends.

AFRIKA BAMBAATAA & THE SOULSONIC FORCE - PLANET ROCK (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

I can't even begin to express how relevant this is...

THE FUNCTIONAL MELANCHOLIC - LOST IN LIMINAL SPACE: THE BACKROOMS AND THE INSTITUTIONAL GOTHIC
I don't want to say anything about the video because it's a highly interesting watch, but one of the most profound things I've heard him say in another separate video was this:

"Here's the thing: Life becomes a little less terrifying when you realize that it's not a test that you pass or fail. It's just a weird, crazy, unintentional absurd comedy that you've been cast in without an audition. Riders On The Storm."

>>> VIEW CHANNEL HERE <<<
This flick had me questioning shadows for a few hours...

TRAUMATIKA TRAILER
From IMDB:

"Mikey's worst nightmares turn into a waking horror when his mother begins exhibiting disturbing signs of demonic possession. As a dark, malevolent force takes hold, Mikey is plunged into a terrifying battle for his family's survival. What he's about to face will not only haunt him for the rest of his life but will set off a chain of unspeakable events, leaving devastation in its wake. As the entity's curse threatens to spread, Mikey must confront a sinister evil that seeks to claim countless lives, binding his family's fate to a terror that will endure for generations. —Horror Brains"

>>> READ THE REST HERE <<<
This is a strange watch because it begins in a first person, found footage aesthetic - which they should've stuck with - then turns into a very disturbing story about childhood trauma and the occult. What I enjoyed most about it is the imagery; the possession sequences are majorly offputting and provide a dark visual experience. The element that takes away from it, if I have to mention it, would be the storytelling. It's a good watch and I think any horror fan will enjoy it, despite it's minor flaws.

I honestly don't do this enough here...

CONRAD SUBS - CYLINDER EP

From METALHEADZ:

" Conrad Subs continues his run of releases on Metalheadz, this time landing on Metalheadz Platinum for the first time with the 'Cylinder EP'.

The Ipswich-based producer has built a reputation through a slew of releases rooted in drum and bass tradition, paired with a sharp, modern edge. His sound draws on the core elements of the genre while maintaining a consistency that now sees him land on Metalheadz vinyl for the first time, with four tracks built to do the heavy lifting. "

Jiggery Pokery has to be my choice from this EP; it's definitely high adherence to the Metalheaz sound. I even get a sense of Biotic, but much more modern. You can check out all of the tracks on the EP here:

>>> LISTEN HERE <<<

I'ma head out, but as I spend my life scouring the internet rest assured I will always find weird things like this video...

Stay up!

TEMUDO - U USED TO LAUGH AT MY JOKES

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