JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

It’s called Utopia Avenue and it’s set in the late 60s music scene.

Dr Marinus shows up again. Is he the Nick Fury of the Mitchellverse? And the guitarist’s name is Jasper de Zoet. While waiting for Utopia Avenue to arrive in local bookstores, review Mitchell’s earlier novels.
(more…)

I don’t like phone calls because I prefer to talk face to face, in the same way I refuse to use “friend” as a verb online because before we get to the noun we have to have a shared history. I like video calls even less because they feel like an invasion. But the age of social distancing has arrived, and one must adapt or disappear, so two weeks ago I downloaded Zoom on my phone. It’s been an education.
(more…)

(more…)

Noel went to see Bradley Cooper’s new movie A Star Is Born with high expectations because he has to defend the legacy of Barbra Streisand. I went to see it with low expectations because I am suspicious of movies that get rave reviews. What did we think?

This was supposed to be the third episode, but I decided to get it out while the movie is in theatres.

My guest Noel Orosa, one of my favorite humans, is a regional creative director at an ad agency in Singapore. We recorded this podcast at his hotel room in Manila while waiting for his room service order of pancit canton and adobo.

Thanks to Nexus Technologies for supporting our podcast! I’m getting the hang of recording anywhere, but this time I was too far from the microphone. That’ll be fixed next time.

You can get our podcast on Podbean
https://therealjessicarulestheuniverse.podbean.com/

The flap over that excerpt from Issa Rae’s book—which was published in 2015, and apparently read only last week—reminds me of this scene from a fondly-remembered 90s movie, The Commitments. Say it once, and say it loud.

Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called “life”

Electric word, life
It means forever and that’s a mighty long time
But I’m here to tell you
There’s something else
The afterworld

A world of never-ending happiness
You can always see the sun, day or night

So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills
You know the one, Dr. Everything’ll-Be-Alright
Instead of asking him how much of your time is left
Ask him how much of your mind, baby

Cause in this life
Things are much harder than in the afterworld
In this life
You’re on your own

And if the elevator tries to bring you down
Go crazy!

Heretofore unreleased footage of Prince rehearsing Nothing Compares 2 U, a B-side which became a hit for Sinead O’Connor six years later.