Published in The Reckless Muse·May 3Lessons in Diversity & Inclusion from Metallica, Slayer, and other Heavy Metal BandsWhat we should focus on instead of identity — Metallica, the biggest heavy metal band of all time, has a lead guitarist who’s Asian. Slayer, another prominent heavy metal band, had a vocalist/bassist who’s Chilean. Judas Priest, one of the most influential bands out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, has a singer who’s gay. And…Music4 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·May 2Seduced by the Shadows: On How Stories About Dark Subjects Attract UsWith insights from philosopher David Hume — Stories about dark, tragic, and terrifying subjects have been around since man first let his muse inspire him to forge creative lies that revealed eternal truths, and the audience for those has been around just as long. Whether it’s stories about war, death, crime, addiction, murder, or the supernatural, it…Art5 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Apr 27What We Can Learn from Jimi Hendrix About RaceA message of unity from the God of Guitar — Never underestimate the predictive power of artists; they’re often more capable of forecasting the future than meteorologists, economists, and pundits combined. This makes sense, as too much time spent in the ideascape will certainly give you some insights into the ebb and flow of the human condition. …Music7 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Feb 9Suspending Whoopi Goldberg is as Stupid as Her Holocaust CommentsThis and more in the latest edition of The Reckless Museletter — In this installment of The Reckless Museletter, we take a look at the recent Whoopi Goldberg controversy; the perils of revisiting a cherished book; marketing, creativity, and the ubiquity of the artist; and an easy-to-understand-yet-difficult-to-maintain path to artistic virtuosity. Whoopi Goldberg Is An Idiot, But She Shouldn’t Be Suspended from “The View”Culture2 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Feb 4Whoopi Goldberg Is An Idiot, But She Shouldn’t Be Suspended from “The View”I’m harsh but fair. — There’s no full moon as of this writing, but I’m sure there’s still some kind of villainous lunar event taking place. …Culture10 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Dec 7, 2021Seth Rogen Thinks He Knows What’s Best for Society…for Some ReasonYet another celebrity to lecture us regular folk. Yay. — In this installment of The Reckless Museletter, we cover Seth Rogen’s recent attempts to scold non-celebrities about everyday life; why big cities aren’t ideal for artists; why the New York Times thinks rock ’n’ roll is problematic; and how an usual dating experience led to a great song. Seth Rogen: King of the Out-Of-Touch Hollywood AristocracyArt2 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Dec 6, 2021Seth Rogen: King of the Out-Of-Touch Hollywood AristocracyMore proof celebrities are allergic to reality. — Seth Rogen has become quite the Renaissance Man since he first graced our screens, joint in hand and dick joke in mind. Actor. Writer. Producer. Director. …Um, pottery guru? And, like many of his Beverly Hills brethren, a Wealthy and Wise Understander of What’s Best for the World. It’s a…Culture8 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Nov 11, 2021The New York Times Thinks Classic Rock is ProblematicBecause everything that’s fun is offensive now — I remember a time when liberals were trying to save rock ’n’ roll from the uptight clutches of conservatives. Oh, those halcyon days when the left cared about the freedom to offend! Author, transgender activist, and Barnard College professor Jennifer Finney Boylan recently wrote an opinion article in the New…Music11 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Nov 9, 2021Master Each Baby Step: The Path to Artistic VirtuosityShortcuts aren’t allowed on this path. — “To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.” — William Shakespeare The tendency to rush through the boring parts of becoming an adept artist is strong, especially in beginners. Scales, writing prompts, limited focus, and other creative exercises can be boring and repetitive, so it’s understandable for an…Art3 min read
Published in The Reckless Muse·Nov 8, 2021“I got you, you FUCKER!”A short horror story — “I got you, you FUCKER!” Jonathan stood on the creaky hardwood floor of the empty bedroom, panting and sweating with a butcher knife pointed at the closed closet. He finally caught the “it”. The “it” that’s been making his life a veritable hell for the past three weeks or so. …Short Story3 min read
