Better Than Friday - 97 (Patreon)

Happy upcoming Summer Solstice ya'll

1. A recommendation from Chris Via from Leaf by Leaf - Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard 

If you've never had a chance to visit the Puget Sound in Washington state, I highly recommend it. Beautiful area. 

In the mid 1970s, Annie Dillard spent two years on an island in Puget Sound in a room with a solitary window, a cat, and a spider for company, asking herself questions about memory, time, sacrifice, reality, death, and God. Holy the Firm, the diary-like collection of her thoughts, feelings, and ruminations during this time, is a lyrical gift to any reader who have ever wondered how best to live with grace and wonder in the natural world.

2. The Making of The Wicker Man 

I probably don't have to mention it as I've talked about it so much, but my favorite film, aside from Jarmusch's Dead Man, is The Wicker Man directed by Robin Hardy, starring Christopher Lee, and written by Anthony Shaffer, whose identical twin brother, Peter Shaffer, wrote the magnificent Equus, which has a brilliant film adaptation starring Richard Burton. 

The film also has an excellent soundtrack, and is the strangest blend of drama, horror film, and musical, which is discussed in the documentary above. I've never seen anything like it to this day. 

I was reminded of the film after reading a bit about the solstice. 

Lots of celebration involving fire. 

I feel like I should've known a lot of the stuff in here already.

the word “solstice” is from the Latin word solstitium, which literally translates to “sun stands still. - from the article

3. The Spooky Sounds of Dusty Springfield 

Heard this come on in a bar the other day. Excellent.

4. The Art of Azulejos 

I've always loved these, still made by hand...Incredible. 

Here's the factory that was mentioned, Fabrica Sant'Anna, open since 1741.  

5. A Lobster Fisherman in Provincetown was recently Swallowed by a Humpback Whale

Yet one more thing to worry about.

I'm glad he's alive.

Caught this Swallow in mid-flight the other day. 

I love their wing formations.