In & Of Itself -- must watch

Hey guys,

Some new things:

1. What a string quartet treat! Grateful for this curated selection.
   

2. Why your Instagram engagement kinda sucks right now. 
   
   Interesting to see some confirmation that this is happening. I thought it was because the less I pay attention to something, the less I see it everywhere. I do still think it's partially that. Our reality is shaped by what we choose...
   
   ...Transurfing.  Or here's a very thorough summary.  
   

3. Observing from afar.
   

4. No comment on the Super Bowl ads.  And one comment on Golden Globes and Critics' Choice noms: is it a low-profile year, or have all these award things just become a general shrug? (Or again, is that just my reality because of what I've chosen to perceive?) But I will watch Minari when it's released Feb 12th.
   

5. In & Of Itself.  Must watch. Derek DelGaudio is a brilliant storyteller and "magician who wants to break magic". I didn't really know about the stage show, so I'm glad this record exists. More than one extremely moving moment. Profound in how it opens us to the reality of the audience members. It connects us by letting us see how they wish to be seen. It's done through magic. It's viscerally communicated. Frank Oz (Yoda's voice, among other things) directed the stage production and this doc.
    

6. Here's something less successful but still ambitious and provocative. Circle, not to be confused with The Circle (which is the more recent film...but seems like ages ago). Though it's kinda ridiculous that the mysterious circle is comprised of pretty much every urban type... there's something interesting here.  It's surprising how relevant and accurate it is. The very ending does miss a chance to do something deeper. And the conversations aren't always realistic. But after a while you go with it. It works as an intellectual metaphor, and it's thrilling to see these representations of different social groups butting heads on hot topics in the middle of a ticking time bomb situation.

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Chris