YouTube Obsession

For long flights I usually download a playlist from YouTube and for my recent trip I binged Baradul’s new run of RogueTech.

RogueTech is a very extensive mod for Harebrained Schemes’ BattleTech from 2018. The mod just got a huge update so it’s been fun to watch along as Bara explores the new patch.

Watching

Good horror movies have the almost singular ability to be outdated but still be incredibly impactful. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead, Black Christmas, to name a few, are movies that are definitively of a time, but whos horror still feels real today. For my generation, there is no better horror movie to illustrate this point than Wes Craven’s Scream from 1996.

If you weren’t around for this time in America it will be difficult to describe how this movie took over the cultural zeitgeist. Easier to qualify is it’s obvious impact on horror, not to mention it single handedly revivified the slasher genre for the new millennium. Movies like Halloween: H20, The Faculty, Urban Legend and I know What You Did Last Summer all have direct influence from Scream.

Released only 2 years prior, with Wes Craven’s New Nightmare in 1994, holds certain similarities with Scream, foremost it’s quasi 4th wall breaking horror deconstruction. Where New Nightmare failed: Bombastic, over the top effects an obvious hold over of the 80’s trend in horror, Scream was decidedly analog. A stylish, grounded cast of characters, a believable killer and genuinely funny¹ .

I want to write on my favorite entry in the series, Scream 3 as it is the most “pre-9/11 American Excess” movie ever made but that will have to wait for another day.

Reading

I’m really lucky that the book I took with me on my trip was the philosophically and emotionally hearty Le Carre-esq novel Night Prayers By Santiago Gamboa.

Absolutely exploding with literary references, this is a book reader’s book. Following a Colombian diplomat’s investigation in Bangkok the twists and turns are not crazy and over the top but -like Le Carre- involve following the paperwork and talking to people to get the whole story. The book reads like Ricki Tarr’s interview from Tinker, Taylor Soldier, Spy with a Colombian angle.

An excellent thriller with more depth than is expected from the genre. I enjoyed it so much that I am checking out his other novels.

Playing

I did not play any video games while traveling. It was a nice break but I’m itching to get back into BattleTech.

Listening

I’ve previously spoken about the importance of breaking from the algorithmic music discovery apps (Spotify, YouTube Music, etc) that push artists owned by the labels and how internet radio sites have been an absolute joy in this endeavor. Sites like Radiooooo and Radio.Garden and really any college radio station with and online presence.

But how to get even weirder? How to get stuff you wouldn’t even choose for yourself? Recently, Radio.garden introduced Balloon Ride. Just one click will take you to a random radio station on Earth really fucking up my expectations. It’s great.

It’s also hilarious how many stations all over the world are dedicated to 1980’s American music. Proof that it’s the best era for music? Possibly.

Other Notables

** My partner and I at the Façade used in the establishing shots of The Nanny

** Bring back trailers that have no footage of the actual movie

1  As opposed to the cringingly kitsch humor spearheaded by the outdated Freddy Kruger in New Nightmare.