Jesus, we’re still in it, People.
Will be for a while it seems.
It’s strange. I just realized I have not watched one of the President’s briefings. Not one. I’m not even avoiding them. I don’t even know where to watch them. The point is I give zero fucks about anything he has to say. Zero. Am I angry? Absolutely. Do I need to ignite that as often as possible? Absolutely not. I read some news every day. I get up to speed. There’s a bit less now. Just horror show real life nightmare news about this plague and the death it is causing and how this administration doesn’t care and will not provide leadership or supplies. Those are the two news threads. The rest is just celebrities showing up in boxes on your computer doing things. Sometimes alone, sometimes together.
It’s moving, don’t get me wrong.
Also, I just want you to remember that the charade you are seeing as right wing pushback in the form of protests in front of Governor’s mansions is theater. Bad theater. Privately-funded-by-rich-conservatives bad theater. It’s the same play wherever it shows up. Angry morons in a variety of threatening and/or racist uniforms or militia/townie rock garb with Trump paraphernalia saying their freedom is being infringed upon by legally enforced restrictions to stop the spread of a deadly disease. Just remember this isn’t what America looks like. It’s not even what half of America looks like. It’s a few confused, angry, loser stooges who will never get their minds back doing blind capitalism’s bidding. They just cant wait. Fucking children.
I get that some people are really in trouble financially, as is the whole economy. It just seems counterintuitive to keep spreading the disease.
In other news I listened to the new Fiona Apple album like every other high-minded, broken, sensitive, soft-hearted aesthete looking for some genius. It does not disappoint. Solid record. I though her last one was difficult to listen to because the emotional rawness seemed out of control in a way that she wasn’t quite comfortable with. On this record she seems to have harnessed all that she is and tethered it to an eclectic palette of rhythms and grooves. The poetry is solid. There is no shortage of risk taking. The vision is clear and she is grounded as fuck and it's beautiful to hear.
I have nothing against Bob Dylan. I love him like a grandfather. I just try to remind myself that just because someone is a genius doesn’t mean that everything they do is a work of genius. I think Bob has been honing his last words for the last few years supported by a great band and we are getting closer. I’m not sure how sage he is at this point, despite boomer overreaction, but he is nostalgic and getting quite good at illuminating his own dimming.
Lynn made me watch a movie I had never heard that was amazing. I thought I should share. It’s called Locke and it stars Tom Hardy. It was made in 2013 and the entire film takes place in a car and it is emotionally riveting. Hardy is a fucking acting wizard and the direction and cinematography are stunning. The writing is also amazing. Check it out. It’s a unique piece of film art.
Today I talk to Rosie O’Donnell. This is the first interview I did via video link up. I will have to get used to it. I think it sounds fine and it is good that I can have eye contact with the guest but it is certainly not the same as them walking through my life into my garage and creating that kind of intimacy. The connection of being face to face in the flesh. We have to make due and we will. On Thursday I talk to cinematographer and director Barry Sonnenfeld about doing both those things and his book. Great talks given the shift.
Enjoy!
Love,
Maron