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There are a lot of writers that I worship — some of whom I consider good friends — but Roger Angell, the New Yorker’s old baseball writer and theater critic, was one of the greatest to ever do it. His death at the whooping age of 101 leaves a hole in baseball writing. (You should read my baseball writing). This Angell profile of Steve Blass, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher who suddenly retired after developing the “yips” after several excellent statistical seasons, is a classic. Baseball is a romantic sport and Angell wrote about it like he was in-love with it. The details have such spark; the history that he knew had such a passion behind it. Baseball is a great game — it is my favorite sport alongside basketball — and Angell truly knew how to write about it. It’s never flowery. He is direct, austere, he cares about the subject, and he covers it from all angles. Genius writing deserves to be celebrated; Mr. Angell was that and more.
@jayson
STAFF
Related Recs
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most underrated movie theatre in la. student tickets are $5
@madelinemilesf
STAFF
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easiest $25/month to convince myself I have
Feb 12, 2024
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I like having a historical record of the shows I've been to, and I'm sad that many places don't do physical tickets anymore. How do we fix this? Does anyone know a guy?
Mar 6, 2024
Top Recs from @jayson
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I'm often accused of being an "old soul", a categorization I vehemently dislike because it pretends as if my taste is because of nostalgia, as opposed to what is actually cool and compelling. (If something cool comes out now, I enjoy it, but we're in a down period when it comes to culture). But, something old about me, is that I do not care at all about TikTok ending, if does happen. If Elon takes it over from the Chinese, you might as well leave anyway, but I'm just worried at why this is a huge deal for people. It's just an app. Another one will be made. TikTok is not culture, it directly flattens culture into these ten second clips that take music, movies --- things that you need to process --- into something that is now consumed by everyone at a rapid pace, not allowing for the nuances, the style, the aesthetics to sit with us.
I have never watched something on TikTok and thought that this is something in that pushing American culture to deeper heights. I am sorry. Now I am sure they're good stuff on the app, but it's not really a necessity. Whenever I hear the words "it's blowing up on TikTok", my mind immediately growls.
I understood why X becoming overrun with Elon bots and right wingers is a big deal; X actually created things, made careers, made American life, and American events available to be seen by everyone. However, TikTok is a corrupt fantasy, chopping at the wires that make physical connection important.
Read a book! Go to the movies! Go to the restaurant of a cuisine that is unheralded, go to a baseball game. Who cares about TikTok?
@jayson
STAFF
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There's something quite startling about Martin Scorsese's 1980's period compared to the rest of his decades as one of America's greatest filmmakers. In the 80's, he was weird, strange, and making weirdly manic films that feel more New York than even some of his movies about the mob. They're movies about characters who aren't glamarous people that they want to be, but rather, are losers who can't seem to correctly fucntion in normal society. They're non-violent sociopaths. I saw The King of Comedy at Metrograph recently, and it's exhilarating, hilarious, manic, and scary. With Jerry Lewis, Bobby De Niro and Sandra Bernhard, Scorsese was able to create a world where incels who are bad at comedy are wishing for fame. Sound familiar?
This is a great movie. In 1983, it was a box office flop. But in 2025, it is magical in how it's telling the future. A future of scam artists who don't want to work to get there, and don't want to sit in their mediocrity: they want to steal to get their fifteen seconds. Go watch this masterpiece.
@jayson
STAFF
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Like almost every morning, I make a big ol breakfast salad for myself. Eggs, greens, onions, tuna, spanich, olives. I never taste anything as filling as this. It's perfect. Great if you are looking for a big breakfast to hold you down during your work day. Get yourself a salad spinner; makes it easier.
@jayson
STAFF