Blog – Jacob N. Given

Turning Into Steam

History is a heat. It is the heat of accumulated information and accumulated complexity. As our culture progresses, we find that we gather more and more information and that we slowly start to move almost from a fluid to a vaporous state, as we approach the ultimate complexity of a social boiling point. I believeContinue reading “Turning Into Steam”

Missed the Bus

It’s been a weird morning. I overslept, there is no coffee in the house, and my spouse is traveling for work. I am extremely disoriented. I feel like I missed the bus. If anything, this is driving home how important my morning routines have been to me. I had some substantive things planned for writingContinue reading “Missed the Bus”

Magick, Mayhem, and Little Rubber Monsters

Last night I got to go to “Magick, Mayhem, and Little Rubber Monsters,” a double-feature put on by the podcast Movie Dumpster at the Colonial Theater. Both films were presented on 35mm, and let me tell you, it was a treat. I have lots of thoughts on both films, but for now, the thing thatContinue reading “Magick, Mayhem, and Little Rubber Monsters”

Gateways to the Weird

I can generally find something to appreciate about any film. There are, of course, exceptions. LA LA LAND, for example, left me really bored and miffed, as did AVATAR (please, don’t make me sit through three more of these). But, generally, I have fairly eclectic taste. I love the arthouse and the grindhouse about equally.Continue reading “Gateways to the Weird”

FINDING FRANCES (2017)

While technically an episode of Nathan for You, FINDING FRANCES (2017) follows the format of a feature-length documentary. Nathan Fielder decides to help a Bill Gates impersonator (named Bill) from a previous episode find the love of his youth, Frances. Like any Nathan Fielder project, it involves increasingly absurd, awkward, and roundabout attempts to accomplishContinue reading “FINDING FRANCES (2017)”

To Pod or not to Pod

I produced and cohosted a podcast for several years called PTR (which stood for both “Poststructuralist Tent Revival” and “Philosophy Theology and Religion,” you can guess the SEO on the Tent Revival title was… subpar). I don’t have an interest in continuing to do a theology and/or philosophy podcast at the moment, but I’m gettingContinue reading “To Pod or not to Pod”

I Should De-Clutter

A cluttered room raises my stress levels, as does a cluttered mind. Clutter, physical or mental, calls for your attention all the time, reminding you that you should be doing something else. It prevents focus and presence. A clear environment keeps you at ease, as does a clear mind. There’s nothing left to be done.Continue reading “I Should De-Clutter”

Why I Have an Ugly Blog

Several times I’ve been tempted to update the look of this site, to add new features, to add an email list form… but the most important thing for me right now is to write every day. So, I’m keeping my ugly blog for now and continuing to write. Site improvements can come later, but theyContinue reading “Why I Have an Ugly Blog”