Category: quote

quote from Neko Case

“The most vulnerable of us are in danger and need our help. We need to fill this place with hope, as we are at a deficit. Hope building, making, resisting, amplifying good, singing, walking outside, meeting people, trading things instead of using money, fixing our own stuff, petting dogs, saying “hi,” holding doors for strangers, donating, reveling in little successes, watching it snow out the windows, gleefully claiming what is ours. This is not toxic positivity, I’m just not a good enough writer to explain what I’m going through. When the election results were announced my soul just quietly said “no.” I wasn’t crazy about the democrats either (genocide money) and I wasn’t surprised by the outcome, though I had so badly wished for a different one; one with an adversary that could possibly be reasoned with? I had to hope for something. It’s human nature even when you know they are all corrupt and in bed with each other to some extent, you still wanna try to do your best to steer the oil tanker in a direction that will hurt less people. I was not afraid. But I was not afraid in a way that I could not even take the loss seriously. “You cannot have my life, my fear or even my hatred. You have no power over me.” But I keep voting every day with my dollar, and with kindness and with deeds. Some deeds are favors I accept, some I give. This is the currency I am leaning on. ”

–Neko Case, Entering the Lung, 2-17-2025

quote from Cormac McCarthy

“Music is made out of nothing but some fairly simple rules . . . The notes themselves amount to almost nothing. But why some particular arrangement of these notes should have such a profound effect on our emotions is a mystery beyond even the hope of comprehension.”

— Cormac McCarthy, Stella Maris

from Rickie Lee Jones

Why I Love To Share The Films I Love

Lady In White, from a larger writing…

Most of the actors in this film are Italian American. Little Frankie’s family is portrayed as a happy, normal family, with troubles, sure, but lots of love. Kinda like Leave it to Beaver but with Italian food and rhythm and names. This is the kind of thing that helps teach people how we are alike, by showing that what is different is wonderful, not destructive or threatening. It’s important. It is a lesson all of us must learn or we grow up harboring fantastic fears, (you can see it everywhere nowadays) and we grow terrible molds and spores made of rumor and conjecture and convenience, until we are racist, and sexist, and spoiled to happiness. Understanding these simple lessons that films can bring a kid is timely. Different syllables in names can seem like they are insurmountable differences. In the heart of us, we are living the same lives in America. Well, we were, anyway. I believe that we are connected by a common love of one another that is simply not celebrated nearly enough. Films are a way of reminding us how much we value our common legends and history.

—Rickie Lee Jones, Fish Sticks, 10/21/2024