Issue 216: Resolutions, Spy Jargon, Movie New Years and Kimmel In Wax
Ahoy! I'm sneaking in one more newsletter before 2019 wraps up.
Off and on this year I've been working on editing together 100 years of movie New Years Eve scenes (link at the bottom of the email) and you wanna know something insane? The movie 200 Cigarettes is not available to stream anywhere and the DVD is listed on Amazon for almost $100. Why? How?!
Are you making any resolutions? This year I finally got some creative juices flowing that I had a hard time accessing in 2018 so I'm excited to follow that momentum in 2020. Hope you are having a wonderful version of this weird time between Christmas and New Year's and talk to you in 2020!
Three Incidental Resolutions. At the beginning of 2019, I challenged myself to think of three goals or resolutions that had nothing to do with my mental/physical health, or my career. I decided in 2019 I would audition to be a magician member of the Magic Castle, submit a crossword I had written to the New York Times for review, and put together an art show.
As it turns out, I didn't do any of those things. However, I did end the year with a new house, baby, and awesome job that weren't even on the horizon as of January 1st, 2019.
That said, I think having goals that were purely related to hobbies and creative expression were really helpful for me. Starting the year without the stakes of my more traditional resolutions felt freeing. In 2019, I took on more creative pursuits than I have in a long time, I read more books, and in general felt less in my own head about getting things done. This doesn't mean the normal career, health, etc. stuff isn't important, but it will ALWAYS be on my mind. I don't need to resolve to think about it.
So, I'm making the same challenge to myself this year and, you know what, I'm going to roll over the same three goals. As long as I don't have another baby or buy another house, I think I could pull them off. Whadya think?
Three Windows illustration by Pavlov Visuals on Dribbble
The S.S. Minnow on Gilligan's Island was named to troll FCC chairperson Newton Minnow, who show creator Sherwood Schwartz believed "ruined television."
To make his spy novels sound more authentic, author John Le Carré invented several phrases real intelligence agents use to this day. 'Mole,' 'honeypot,' and the phrase 'to come in from the cold' are just a few.
According to a new study by Tel Aviv University, plants emit ultrasonic 'cries' when they are in pain. Scientists have also proven plants can see, hear, and smell. Wow.
It's the end of the year so you can sneak in some tax-deductible donations today! According to PEW Research, Gen-Z will comprise 1 in 10 eligible voters in 2020, so today I'm giving a shout out to Rock The Vote.
If you live in LA, come celebrate 2020 at UCB with some fantastic storytellers and hosted by my wife Heather.
These beautiful Lady Moon Playing Cards from Art of Play were created by Brooklyn-based illustrator Kelly Thorn and feature Art Deco motifs and three feminine life stages replacing the traditional King, Queen, Jack.
"Through A Life," a wordless graphic novel by Tom Haugomat is described by The Believer as "one extended gut punch... constructed of gorgeous, flat screen-print style drawings, a whole life comes to pass without a line of narration or dialogue—love and its failings, depression, and a tragedy in space that keeps the protagonist tethered forever to earth."
I want to replace the laces on every non-sneaker pair of shoes I own with these beautiful Whiskers Laces.
I edited together 100 years of movie New Year’s in chronological order. Sit down and watch all 50 mins like a maniac or leave it on loop in the background as you hang out New Year’s Eve.
Working at Jimmy Kimmel Live has been so cool and the show naming a bit I directed as their number one video of 2019 was icing on the decadent cake. It’s so hard to make a prank video any fun to watch and this one turned out great.
Thanks for reading! I'd love to get your feedback. Favorite segment? What's working? What's not working? What do you want to see more of?