Anarcast #6: Auras, Energies, Good Vibrations

The Playful Anarchist podcast, with Asher Black (Anarcast #6, AsherCast #6). Yielding your personal moral and intellectual sovereignty takes many forms. Asher talks about how adopting a belief in ‘new age’ auras, energies, and vibrations turns otherwise effective intellects into merely receptive tools. Music by Ehren Starks (The Tale of Room 620) and Jan Hanford (Prelude No. 14 in D Minor), both on the Magnatune label. Opinions: solely those of Asher Black. Trying some editing (removing pauses and silences, etc.), trailing music.

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Anarcast #5: The Edge of Burlington

The Playful Anarchist podcast, with Asher Black (Anarcast #5, AsherCast #5). Asher talks about the Mel Gibson film Edge of Darkness and the shoe section at Burlington Coat Factory (an anarchy of fashion). Music by Paul Berget (Recercar) on the Magnatune Label. Opinions: solely those of Asher Black. Trying some editing (removal of pauses and silences, lead and trailing music).

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Anarcast #4: Issues and Art

The Playful Anarchist podcast, with Asher Black (Anarcast #4, AsherCast #4). Better audio quality. Late night. An anarchist will acknowledge that everything is political, which is why turning it into something with a life of its own makes little sense. Talking about politics, social issues, and art, as well as health claims in TV commercials. Music is by Fernwood – “Music played by hand on instruments made of wood”. Song is called “Sandpiper”. It’s on the Magnatune label.

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Anarcast #1: To Hell with the RIAA

The Playful Anarchist podcast, with Asher Black (Anarcast #1, AsherCast #1). When you can’t go along, you go around. – Asher Black. Music: by Beth Quist on the Magnatune label. Opinions: solely those of Asher Black.

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Tadpole

Cover of "Tadpole"
Cover of Tadpole

Tadpole is wonderful! It’s about a young boy, Oscar, a genius of 15, cultured, studied, multilingual, who is irresistable to women – like Diane (Bebe Neuwirth). And he’s in love with his stepmother, Eve (Sigourney Weaver). He can also tell all about a woman by examining her hands. I liked the premise right off, and liked the film even more. Most of all, I liked the characters. Except for Oscar’s dad (John Ritter), who I can’t stand in anything. There have been quirky, funny treatments of this subject before. Rushmore comes to mind. But this one doesn’t mock the act of love. The passion here is genuine passion, which makes it all the more interesting. It suggests that depth of passion is a thing not of age but of mind. What I don’t like is the origin of the title; “Tadpoling” is a term (obviously meant to ridicule) the trend of older women having much younger male lovers – usually about 10 years younger. Frankly, this “trend” is merely the result of women having financial and social independence and access to the cultural millieu once dominated by men. In contrast, it has rarely been thought unusual for men to have lovers 10 years their younger.

How High

Cover of "How High"
Cover of How High

How High is another “in the hood” drug film. You know the genre. The stereotypes aren’t amusing. The constant obsession with the perfect ‘bud’ is as trite as Cheech and Chong, and will mainly appeal to those who are currently feeling the “munchies”. And the ‘stupid stoners go to Harvard on an affirmative action gig’ worn-out plot premise that relies on canned ‘clash of culture’ gags is a real yawner. Another film we’ve seen before under many other titles. Skip this one and check out Spike Lee’s School Daze. While the latter can be tedious in places, when not outright offensive, at least it’s got some substance.