Curations from the Human Jungle
[I remember going to see this as a college student. We were in the era when marijuana had replaced beer as the mood-altering substance of choice, so it's a reasonable assumption that I smoked pot before going to the theater. What I remember most vividly is the deliberate, hypnotizing slow pace and the dramatic integration... Continue Reading →
[History captured at the Ulster Performing Arts Center, June 14, 2026, Elle Laura Morris appearing in In The Dream Kitchen. SB SM] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0al1jTA4CSo Maybe some day she'll move like this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caf3ahpb7m0
[This post dredged up a totally irrelevant memory. In middle school I had an art teacher named Hui Ming Wong. He was the real deal, even down to the detail of his ever-present pipe, which never left his mouth, except for emphasis. It was Parents' Night, and I was dutifully leading my parents around from... Continue Reading →
[I think Ted Gioia, aka The Honest Broker, has it right when he says: "I’ve been very clear about my support of AI if it meets three very reasonable demands: (1) TRANSPARENCY—let us know when it’s used; (2) LEGALITY—don’t train it on copyrighted work without the author’s permission; and (3) PERMISSION—don’t force people to use... Continue Reading →
[One of the Silverback Davids (Arid Zone SBs) posted a video on Facebook, noting that it got weird around the 1:15 mark. "What could be interesting, funny, or weird about a song called "Solid Potato Salad?" Now I know, and I will add that "weird" is an understatement. He also posted the following interesting factoid... Continue Reading →
[My respect for Bruce Springsteen has only grown with age. He's proof that you can be both a rock 'n roller and an adult. I also appreciate how effectively he gets under the skin of the current resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. SB SM] https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/24/opinion/bruce-springsteen-new-tour Some fans are surprised by this version of Bruce Springsteen.... Continue Reading →
[How many times have I been stopped by people saying "What you should do in Silverback Digest is to publish more pictures of giraffes!" OK ... so, I am lying. The only giraffes I've ever seen is in zoos, or on television, or in magazines. To me, they are the most magnificent animals on earth,... Continue Reading →
[We dedicate today's post to Michael Cohen, Rudy Giuliani, Bill Barr, Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche, and all the others who have accepted money to defend our President. (Apologies to the hardworking, scrupulously honest Silverback barristers in The Jungle.) SB SM] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8_3jS9wd9w I am dying LAUGHING!!! HOW DO COURT RECORDERS KEEP STRAIGHT FACES???? These are from... Continue Reading →
[Everyone loves a story about the crazy genius who does remarkable things. "I Build the Tower" is a documentary film made by a college classmate. Initially, I thought this too fantastic and fanciful to be real. Now, it's on my bucket list. SB SM] https://vimeo.com/631488045/dc7d31ff23?&login=true#_=_ For more about the film and how to stream and... Continue Reading →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOlO_kN0KiA The Outside Story Loren Merrill If you live near a large meadow, hayfield, or grassland, you may have recently noticed some bubbly robotic noises emanating from those areas. It might sound like an overexcited android, but the real source is a medium-sized songbird, the bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). One of the few avian grassland specialists... Continue Reading →