If you’ve been keeping up with my posts, you’ll know by now that May is my birthday month. Everyone loves their birthday month for different reasons; mine is that we have beautiful weather in San Francisco before the June gloom. The air is a bit crisper, the sun is a bit warmer. The NBA playoffs are in full swing. There’s a pre-summer vibrance in the streets. May has always been my favorite month, so let’s break down some stuff I’m into this May:
Touki Bouki (1973) Dir. Djibril Diop Mambéty
After finishing this film, I’ve seen 68 of the Sight and Sound Top 100 Greatest Films of All Time. This Senegalese film by first-time feature director Djibril Diop Mambéty is about a young couple trying to escape their country in favor of the glitz of Paris. They spend ninety minutes trying to cook up every possible scheme to make it out, fighting every force working against them.
A couple of hard-to-watch scenes aside, I loved this film. You can see the French New Wave influence on the film. Stylistically, I loved everything about it. The experimental shots, the use of music, etc. One of the best films I’ve seen in a while. The song “Paris, Paris” by Josefine Baker has been in my head nonstop since I saw this movie. It’s running up the boards.
Every Kendrick Lamar Diss Song
He won! Yes, it’s time to move on, but I don’t want the moment to pass without acknowledging how good some of Kendrick’s songs were. Not counting “Like That,” which is a Future song, Dot released 4 songs: “Euphoria,” “6:16 in LA,” “Meet The Grahams,” "& “Not Like Us.” Each song has A unique style, flow, and cadence. “Euphoria” has some of my favorite lines. “6:16” is an incredible warning shot. “Meet The Grahams” is terrifying and incredibly effective. “Not Like Us” is a victory lap.
I’ve never been a Drake guy. His weird chip-on-his-shoulder, overall contempt for women, and frequent personality changes have always come off in bad taste. Seeing him lose such a high-profile beef has been incredibly fun to watch. Dot, on the other hand, is as real as they get. I also think he’s the true definition of an artist, now someone cosplaying as one.
Mad Max Fever
I rewatched Fury Road the other day in anticipation of Furiosa. I remember watching Fury Road in my college dorm on a bootlegged torrent when it first came out and thinking to myself that this is some weird shit. I liked it but didn’t fully understand it at the time. After nearly a decade, I finally returned to it and thought it was incredible. Only George Miller and a handful of other living directors could cook up something so ugly and creative at the same time. The mob of cars with one car dedicated to a guy playing the guitar? Genius! I’ve yet to watch the original films from the 80s starring Mel Gibson. Furiosa comes out on Friday, and you best believe I will be there this weekend to see the early theatrical event of the summer.
The 360 Video
It’s funny, it’s hot, it’s catchy. What more do you need? Rachel Sennott is the perfect person to star in the video because she is hilarious. There’s a handful of fun cameos from the likes of Julia Fox, Hari Nef, and Emma Chamberlin. This may be the song of the summer. It is currently in heavy rotation.
Wearing an Apple Watch on the Street, but My Real Watch at the Spot
I’m counting my steps, again. I need at least 8k steps per day, but I aim for 10k, and an Apple Watch is the best way to track my steps and workouts. I wear my Apple Watch when walking to the bus because it’s roughly a 1500-2000 step excursion. Then at the office, I bust out whatever fun watch I want to wear that day. I’ve recently bought a few fun ones, so I’m having a good time choosing what to wear every morning. At lunch, I pop the Apple Watch back on and get moving. I get to walk 3000-5000 steps during my lunch period. When I get back to the office, I switch again to my classic timepiece and keep it on for the rest of the day until it’s time to get back on the bus and go to the gym. It may be doing a lot, but it’s working for me so far.
I love my Apple Watch. I want to make sure I’m utilizing it every day to help me hit my goals, but as a dedicated watch nerd, I don’t think I can get through the day without wearing a traditional watch. They make me feel better, and more put together. This system provides me with the balance that I need.
A Spirit of Change in the NBA
For the longest time, my mental health was in the hands of Lebron James and whatever team he was on at the time. Now that he’s pushing 40, and his reign may ending soon, I soon won’t have a horse inn the race. I’ll never root for the Warriors and I don’t like Joel Embiid, but after that, I don’t care who wins the finals. This is the most relaxed I‘ve been while watching basketball in a while. I don’t care who wins between Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie/Luka, or Jayson Tatum. The tides are turning and the young guys are starting to take over, so instead of being like perpetual haters who watched the NBA in Jordan’s era, we should embrace the new sheriffs in town. I don’t think the NBA will ever be as exciting as it was when I was a kid, but then again, that’s how everyone feels about what was going on when they were young. “Music was better in my day.” “That movie was just okay; they don’t make ‘em like they used to.” We should embrace the young talent and uplift them!
Getting Up at 6 AM To Exercise
I’m 30 now. Changes must be made. I’ve let it all go for far too long. I need to take this shit seriously, brother. I wake up early to grind before going to the office. I’ve found that it provides me with balance and endorphins to start off my day on the right foot. I also try to work out after work. Weights in the morning, cardio at night. Now if I can just get my diet in the right spot; then no one can stop me!
Jeans One Size Too Big
It’s almost summertime. You don’t want to be caught dead in swagless, tight-ass pants during the warm months. Size up, and get a belt. Clothing should be loose and flowy right now! Take advantage and go outside.
Peace and Love