A new favorite word related to your cool post: sprezzatura
From Wikipedia (not cool, nut not uncool either) : "The term “sprezzatura” first appeared in Baldassare Castiglione's 1528 The Book of the Courtier, where it is defined by the author as 'a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it'."
Here’s my favorite word: Eliminated. As in 14 nazi settlers were eliminated on the border of Lebanon during the zionist colony’s failed invasion. Gunna be a lonely Rosh Hashanah for those settler scumfuck families.
Great observation re: that Steely Dan issue. I had to smile this a.m. when I clicked on your post, as I was listening to Miles (Circle in the Square track from a box set)!
Thanks, Billy. I listen to Miles a lot, and I will not infrequently think of your personal Miles story along the way.
BTW, I've been meaning to write you for some (I have that phrase on copied-to-paste) to 1) TY for the gesture of the espresso a while back and 2), since I mentioned a play above, to say I'd notice on FB, I think it was, a while back, that you had convened a reading of your own play at some point. If you're up to anything else with that in the future that involves the public, let me know.
Gladly, although here's a wrinkle: Judith and I (and our 2 dogs & 3 cats) moved to Kingston, NY a couple months ago! Doesn't entirely preclude an espresso option or a play reading invite - I'll be back in L.A. on occasion for sure, as I still work at Universal (remotely) - but perhaps
Very interesting! That must have been brewing for a while. Julia and I had an apartment in Brooklyn for four years until the start of the pandemic, when we retreated full time back to L.A. But shortly before the retreat we traveled the Hudson Valley and visited Kingston. I understand the appeal. We, by the way, just moved to Studio City.
"Cool feels outlaw." Great line fab piece. I love this. Man, I know you a bit and I think you are "cool"!
As a side note and a personal one. I've gone back to the novel I was writing and was almost finished before my son's untimely loss ... So am a bit less active here as well.
But you are still my "go to". Hope I am for you -- and could use some help on "Who by Fire" 🔥 --need you, Jay!
You mentioned wanting to return to the novel. I'm glad you have. Very important. The work, our mates, and the friendships. That's what its about.
You're a foundation for me on Substack, Mary. I posted a note yesterday in which I mentioned feeling guilty about neglecting friends here. You are top of the list. I'm reading "Who by Fire" again now and planning to re-engage on it. I'll be there. ❤️
“Groovy” was seeing Zionazi settlers piss their pants and cry as the Godly and morally righteous Iranian forces punished your wicked colony for all the innocents you murdered.
Hope you enjoyed the fireworks yesterday, Zionazi. Take note of how the Godly and moral Iranian military didn’t harm a single civilian, only targeting Israeli bases and weaponry. You bloodthirsty demons could learn a thing or two from them. They’re far kinder than I would have been. Meanwhile today I saw your nazi army blew up an orphanage and shredded children. Scum.
What a gorgeous ode to a word notorious for its exact inexactness, starting with that brilliant photo of Miles Davis.
I love this contrast you make: "Cool is not charisma, which is active and extroverted. The charismatic person reaches out, takes hold, in the need to draw others in. Charisma feeds on the other.
Cool people may become “hot,” but their heat emanates from the desire of others reaching toward them. Cool feels consumed by others."
And then, coming back to that theme, "Cool, combusted, loses its cool."
And I "totally" agree with you about Steely Dan: Cool is as cool does.
Cool is "je ne sais quoi...."
It is what it is.
A new favorite word related to your cool post: sprezzatura
From Wikipedia (not cool, nut not uncool either) : "The term “sprezzatura” first appeared in Baldassare Castiglione's 1528 The Book of the Courtier, where it is defined by the author as 'a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it'."
I like that word, David. Let us seek our sprezzatura (without notice, of course).
Here’s my favorite word: Eliminated. As in 14 nazi settlers were eliminated on the border of Lebanon during the zionist colony’s failed invasion. Gunna be a lonely Rosh Hashanah for those settler scumfuck families.
Straight from the fridge, dad.
I'm chillin' on that.
Dug this essay Jay. Thanks for sharing again.
Thanks, Dee. It digs you back.
Dope essay, as the kids stopped saying long ago. ;)
True dat if you say so. Thanks, Holly.
Great observation re: that Steely Dan issue. I had to smile this a.m. when I clicked on your post, as I was listening to Miles (Circle in the Square track from a box set)!
Thanks, Billy. I listen to Miles a lot, and I will not infrequently think of your personal Miles story along the way.
BTW, I've been meaning to write you for some (I have that phrase on copied-to-paste) to 1) TY for the gesture of the espresso a while back and 2), since I mentioned a play above, to say I'd notice on FB, I think it was, a while back, that you had convened a reading of your own play at some point. If you're up to anything else with that in the future that involves the public, let me know.
Gladly, although here's a wrinkle: Judith and I (and our 2 dogs & 3 cats) moved to Kingston, NY a couple months ago! Doesn't entirely preclude an espresso option or a play reading invite - I'll be back in L.A. on occasion for sure, as I still work at Universal (remotely) - but perhaps
... a little trickier to pull off!
Very interesting! That must have been brewing for a while. Julia and I had an apartment in Brooklyn for four years until the start of the pandemic, when we retreated full time back to L.A. But shortly before the retreat we traveled the Hudson Valley and visited Kingston. I understand the appeal. We, by the way, just moved to Studio City.
Oh man - sad irony, as we woulda been neighbors! We were living just north of Studio City, in Valley Glen.
What poor timing. Travels from NYC through Venice or something like that. All right, then, on one of those trips back . . .
Let's keep us in our loops ;->
and as a cool Cat, Oscar Brown Jr once said when the judge threw the book at him, "but I was cool"
Damn! -- and you mean that didn't do it??
that did it!
Cool inheres in being the same with or without an audience
Exactly.
"Cool feels outlaw." Great line fab piece. I love this. Man, I know you a bit and I think you are "cool"!
As a side note and a personal one. I've gone back to the novel I was writing and was almost finished before my son's untimely loss ... So am a bit less active here as well.
But you are still my "go to". Hope I am for you -- and could use some help on "Who by Fire" 🔥 --need you, Jay!
Oh, stop. I'm 50 degrees, maybe. :)
You mentioned wanting to return to the novel. I'm glad you have. Very important. The work, our mates, and the friendships. That's what its about.
You're a foundation for me on Substack, Mary. I posted a note yesterday in which I mentioned feeling guilty about neglecting friends here. You are top of the list. I'm reading "Who by Fire" again now and planning to re-engage on it. I'll be there. ❤️
"Cool is singular. Despite what some may say, there is no such thing as a cool crowd. Crowds are not cool.
Cool is not self-conscious. Cool just is."
I'm not sure if I really understand what this means. But it's cool. I think.
Groovy.
“Groovy” was seeing Zionazi settlers piss their pants and cry as the Godly and morally righteous Iranian forces punished your wicked colony for all the innocents you murdered.
Hope you enjoyed the fireworks yesterday, Zionazi. Take note of how the Godly and moral Iranian military didn’t harm a single civilian, only targeting Israeli bases and weaponry. You bloodthirsty demons could learn a thing or two from them. They’re far kinder than I would have been. Meanwhile today I saw your nazi army blew up an orphanage and shredded children. Scum.
What a gorgeous ode to a word notorious for its exact inexactness, starting with that brilliant photo of Miles Davis.
I love this contrast you make: "Cool is not charisma, which is active and extroverted. The charismatic person reaches out, takes hold, in the need to draw others in. Charisma feeds on the other.
Cool people may become “hot,” but their heat emanates from the desire of others reaching toward them. Cool feels consumed by others."
And then, coming back to that theme, "Cool, combusted, loses its cool."
And I "totally" agree with you about Steely Dan: Cool is as cool does.
Sing it.