Time Of Your Life (timotheories April 2017)

 

April is one of my favourite months of the year, for a few reasons.

It’s the month I was born, which every other year is the same time as the Easter holidays, and it reminds me of my family. You see, dear readers, when I was growing up, every Easter, my family of six would all cart ourselves from one province to another to visit the grandparents. We called our grandparents Papa and Nana, of course. Because of the Ukrainian ancestry.

Which is why this month I decided to focus a lot of my posts on things that matter to me personally. Music, film, the arts, and how to be successful as an artist.

Just kidding, I do that every month. A little late for an April Fools joke, but you can’t say I didn’t try. Terribly.

Also, I mentioned this in my HMV post, but technically I won’t have a problem with reliable forecasting on film and music choices, now that I’ve converted to Amazon Prime, but for the sake of humility, I’ll keep this disclaimer up… just in case.

*Disclaimer* As always, every week I purchase an album and movie one week ahead of the actual review release and while I have the best intentions, I don’t always get what I want… so if you follow me on instagram (@timotheories) you can actually see what’s coming.

timotheories summarized – April

Stimulating Sundays – (04/02) …, (04/09) Cross Talk Ep. 21, (04/16) Cross Talk Ep. 22, (04/23) Cross Talk Ep. 23, (04/30) Alex Racine interview
Melodic Mondays – (04/03) Sampha, (04/10) The Mavericks, (04/17) Arca, (04/24) Father John Misty
Theatrical Tuesdays – (04/04) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, (04/11) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, (04/18) A Monster Calls (04/25) The Founder
Wisdom Wednesdays – (04/05) Li Kunwu, (04/12) Life Satisfaction, (04/19) David Deida, (04/26) Facebook Success Stories
Timely Thursday – (04/06) timotheories April, (04/13) Easter, (04/20) Fate of the Furious, (04/27) Birthdays

So I missed the mark on the first Sunday of this month – it’s been a bit of a challenge to stay focused with all of the personal changes going on, and my day job, and a new(ish) relationship. Not making excuses, just letting you see that I too am mortal and fully capable of failing.

But let’s focus instead on the fact that I’ve got three Cross Talk episodes coming your way, one of them about Easter Eggs in film (super fun topic), plus the beginning of a series further exploring how certain themes exist in film, but defy genres.

And no, I didn’t forget about Amanda Wall creative cuties. We’ve been trying to figure out a way to make her interview happen. She is a freelancer and full-time mom after all, and scheduling has proven more challenging than originally anticipated. That said, I do have something in the works with a local game designer by the name of Alex Racine – I promise that’ll be fun.

The rest of the topics are gonna be amazing too, from films set in the Star Wars universe, Harry Potter lore, and an adaptation of the beginnings of McDonalds, plus some Mavericks from my past, I have a ton of theories to share on books I’ve read and social media too. Also, did I mention it’s my birthday month? And that the eighth instalment of my favourite film franchise opens in less then a week?

So many theories, so little April to shower you with ideas. But I’ll do my darnedest!

Tim!

Twilight Zone (Daylight Savings Time)

This isn’t nothing new. We’re playing for keeps in the daylight, in the dark, in the twilight of our hearts.

People have been setting back their clocks for the better part of a century now. First proposed by an American inventor and politician by the name of Benjamin Franklin, back in the late 18th century, Franklin’s idea was to have citizens of Paris wake up earlier in the day and take advantage of the natural light; a means of savings on candle usage.

Burning The Candle At Both Ends

Eventually the idea was refined and defined by New Zealand entomologist and astronomer George Hudson, with German and Austria-Hungarians being earlier adopters in 1916. Since that time numerous countries have adopted it into their calendar year with daylight savings time happening in late winter and ending during fall, when we switch back to standard time. The literal notion of daylight savings time is to spring ahead by an hour, but the rationale is far more complex.

In an industrialized society we follow a clock based schedule, with activities that are not dictated by sunlight, by changing the schedule as the days shorten, we effectively gain an extra hour of sunlight in the evening, when most people are off from their work.

But in agrarian work, daylight dictates how much time is spent in labour. Whether one way or another is better is unclear, but where you live in the world does make a difference in the impact of the event. The closer we get to the equator the less daylight varies throughout the year, while the further north we go, the more wildly the daylight length swings throughout the year.

Hands of Fate

To be honest, I don’t know where I truly fit into this debate. Having danced this dance for quite some time now, it often feels great to get that extra hour of sunlight during the day, but the disruption to my sleep in the first place is definitely unsettling. As something of a night owl, I usually better use of the evening hours anyway, and up in northern Alberta our winters are longer with less daylight, while our shorter summers with longer daylight can be a welcome distraction… And so I can see merit to both sides of the argument.

I will say this though. No matter what art form you choose to make dear readers, and where you live in the world, you absolutely need to find a schedule that works for your own predispositions. It is a daily fight to make that art, so no matter where you live, it’s your responsibility to work within the environment you live in.

theories Summarized

I’ve gotten quite accustomed to using the #liveyourlife whenever I can in social media creative cuties, and I think it rings true here too. Whether or not you need lots of daylight to function properly, and I’m betting that is true for most of us, then absolutely take advantage of what you can get in your climate. That may mean more productivity in summer months and hibernating in the winter, but only you can figure out what that really looks like.

With that mentioned, don’t forget to set your clocks forward this weekend, wouldn’t want you to sleep in on Monday and something melodic.

And just like that, I’m out of theories for the day. Or should I say time?

Tim!

 

Spring Thaw (timotheories March 2017)

Spring is in the air, winter is on it’s way out the door, and timotheories has a freshly picked purview of posts to share with you!

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Are you excited yet friends? Because I’m not even going to give you preamble this month… we’re going to dig right in and pull up some fun. These topics have been hibernating forever and they need the spotlight – now!

*Disclaimer* As always, every week I purchase an album and movie one week ahead of the actual review release and while I have the best intentions, I don’t always get what I want… so if you follow me on instagram (@timotheories) you can actually see what’s coming.

timotheories summarized – March

Stimulating Sundays – (03/05) Cross Talk Ep. 19, (03/12) Cross Talk Ep. 20, (03/19) LOGOS, (03/26) Amanda Wall interview
Melodic Mondays – (03/06) The Flaming Lips, (03/13) Crystal Fairy, (03/20) The Shins, (03/27) Valerie June
Theatrical Tuesdays – (03/07) Moonlight, (03/14) Moana, (03/21) Fences (03/28) The Love Witch
Wisdom Wednesdays – (03/01) The Ongoing History of New Music, (03/08) Self-Portraits, (3/15) Women’s History Month, (03/22) Health, (03/29) Li Kunwu
Timely Thursday – (03/02) timotheories March, (03/09) Daylight Savings Time, (03/16)National Nutrition Month, (03/23) HMV, (03/30) Muttart Conservatory

 

After dropping the ball last month on interviews, I managed to do share some cool theories about defining meaning for yourselves, so I’ve decided to keep that idea going and explore LOGOS a little more deeply this month.  But interviews are back with a vengeance! Amanda Wall is my first artist who is also a parent, which means that she and I will dive right into the nitty gritty of how she manages to keep up with both responsibilities so well.

Plus she’s a friend, so no pulled punches!

Of course I have a couple of neato episodes of Cross Talk lined up as well, and I’m betting you aren’t expecting what’s due on arrival. First we’re going to explore some common themes which show up in films regularly, no matter what the genre, and then we’re going to look at films which seem to be better after a second viewing for one reason or another.

It’ll be interesting for sure, and heck, you just might learn a thing or two.

Also I’ve got some great albums lined up, and now that I’m direct feeding into Amazon, I’m 100% certain that these are the records on the docket, so I just may have to do away with that disclaimer now. And if you can’t tell, there are a string of Academy Award winning films lined up for review this month too, but I won’t go easy on any of them!

As for wisdom and timely matters, well, I guess you’ll just have to consider the fact that health and politics are the themes of this month. Also spring. As always, let’s keep the theories growing creative cuties and I’ll be there to curate them.

Tim!

This Is The Best, Bedtime Story, Ever (USS Concert)

I’m going to tell you a story about a concert. Okay dear readers?

Once upon a time, a handsome, gallant, and thoughtful young(ish) man decided to take the lady he was courting to see a merry band of musicians from a far away land.

For to woo her and make her upper and nether regions pulse with warm feelings. For he cared deeply for her, but feared to show it. For she was very wise, poetic, and beautiful to behold. But lo, the musicians were to playing in the centre of the shaw, an extravagant building on a hilltop, which looking into the heart of the river and it’s valley.

This meant for the young(ish) man that he would have to take his belle on a futuristic and magical steel vessel which floated on a endless pair of steel beams, many times the length of a spear. Unfortunately the lady was ill prepared for the cold chill of winter, and much to the chagrin of the gentle man, they had to warm her legs over a magical fibre of heat and light in house of hewn stone while they waited for the steel vessel.

But the vessel was not for too long, and surely within less than a moment, the beauteous couple was on their way to see the band known as Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker.

 

At the centre of the shaw many woody folk had arrived thither, and so the pair left their coats with some servants of the house and set about to sample some wares which were for sale in the great halls.16709705_10154238916951932_1154610129_o

It was a mere stipend to acquire the merchandise but the memories the two young lovers were sharing were far more valuable than some silk and cotton mixed together. A couple of fools were there too from a local chamber of commerce, but the braggarts were blocking the privy and the young lady had to give them the highest of fives to get around and find relief.

Once inside the main hall, they were surprised by the size of the space and that all the lords and ladies of the court were in full regal and bouncing at the opportunity to sup on ale while the youth waited behind the gates.

The young lord and lady even entertained a couple of squires from the castle of McMurray, as they downed their ales.

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Then the show was ready to begin – they headed towards the throne and stood in awe as harps, lutes and rebecs, and these odd bowls capped with cowhide which were hit with sticks to produce sounds. The music was moving, lifting, and pushing the crowd of people all around. Smiles were on all faces and the main event had not even graced the crowd with it’s presence.

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The queen of the evening was from a smaller band of musicians known as Repartee, and she kept singing of this duke, someone she must have missed back home. All were quite sorrowful for this golden-haired queen.

But that did not last for long.

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Then the sun shone brighter than it ever has in night, and all were blinded with truth. The Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker’s had finally came on, it was as if the horns of heaven had resounded, men, women and children of all ages came together and sang for which seemed to be all eve, but the morrow never came, it only felt full of time for the music was deep and uplifting.

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Once all was said and done, the two young lovers, more amourous than ever, bid their dues to the crowd, took in a special goodbye with the lady from Repartee, signing contracts of friendship, and made their cold walk home into the winds of winter.

The end.

And that’s not a theory, it’s a story, about something that really happened. So Mysticque and I.

Tim!

Hit The Ice (timotheories February 2017)

Sometimes when you’re stoking the fire you’ll get sparks. Good or bad, it’s a consequence of taking a risk. And other times, what started out as a small flame turns into something so large you can’t help but feel the heat – hopefully you can handle the inferno.

As we already knew, the theme of timotheories this year is stoking the campfire. What that means for you and I is that I’m going to focus even more so on collaborations, sharing, caring, and all those warm and fuzzies which make intimacy so invaluable as a creative professional. Community brings us together and protects us from the cold.

wskat

Icebergs too.

 

 

When I look at the month of February I get excited, because as I continue to build that campfire with your help, I am slowly realizing that there is SO much left to accomplish this year, and that I’ve really only begin to see what’s in front of me and the timotheories brand. Kinda like an iceberg

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So sit back for a moment or two while I work on my own marketing efforts, share the knowledge with you, and give you a proper education on what it means to be a creative professional in 2017. Do you have a logo for instance? Me neither, but that’ll happen.

Time to deep dive into February you art stars.

*Disclaimer* As always, every week I purchase an album and movie one week ahead of the actual review release and while I have the best intentions, I don’t always get what I want… so if you follow me on instagram (@timotheories) you can actually see what’s coming.

timotheories summarized – February

Stimulating Sundays – (02/05) Cross Talk Ep. 17, (02/12)Cross Talk Ep. 18, (02/19) mystery interview preview, (02/26) mystery interview
Melodic Mondays – (02/06) Train, (02/13) Sampha, (02/20) Elbow, (02/27) Alison Crutchfield
Theatrical Tuesdays – (02/07) Queen of Katwe, (02/14) Loving, (02/21) Arrival (02/28) Manchester By The Sea
Wisdom Wednesdays – (02/01) Environment, (02/08) Facebook How-To, (02/15) Sam Harris, (02/22) Governance
Timely Thursday – (02/02) timotheories February, (02/09) USS concert, (02/16) Valentines Day, (02/23) 89th Annual Academy Awards

This month should be fantastic, because even I don’t know what I’ll be doing for an interview – Maybe I’ll interview myself for once. That could be fun eh? Cross Talk will be continuing the discussions on film and we’ve decided to feature some interesting topics regarding franchise fatigue AND films you enjoyed more than expected. Maybe I’ll have a visual surprise or two in store for you also…

Mondays and Tuesdays are focused on qualities themes of struggle, isolation and communications, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some triumphs and laughter to be had in there. And of course my weekly dose of Wisdom will feature some more posts inspired by the OECD and how to market yourself better. Okay, and I do have a 5 L’s Of Language book by Sam Harris to read. The Timely entries should speak for themselves.

 

That’s all she wrote creative cuties. Stay frosty and wait for the weekend, that’s when you’ll see the first Cross Talk of the month, but I’m not gonna tell which topic I chose to start with it. Keep the theories rolling and I’ll be there to curate them.

Tim!