Author: Seth Werkheiser

VISION PRO

Is this finally the sign that new things aren’t for me?

The iPod came out in 2001, when I was 25. I was PUMPED. I had to have one. My first was the U2 iPod, which I remember dropping on the pavement when riding in NYC.

The iPhone came out in 2007. I was 31. Had to have one. I stood in line for one or two, I believe. I had the 3GS, 4, 5, SE, XR, and now my 12 mini.

The iPad came out in 2010. I was 34. I’ve owned three of them over the years.

Now the Vision Pro in 2023. I am 47, and I feel this isn’t for me, and that’s plenty okay.

Converge’s seminal album ‘Jane Doe’ came out in 2010, when I was 34 years old, and I can imagine there were many 47 year olds who were like, “this isn’t for me.”

There’s a lot of “modern metal” out there made by young 20 somethings that just isn’t for me. It’s still good. It’s great! But it’s not made for cranky 47 years olds, really. I like some of it, some of it I don’t. I’m not 20 anymore.

The Vision Pro will be $3,500. That’s okay.

I want the $1,500 TP-7 from Teenage Engineering.

I guess it’s the idea that I don’t know exactly what I get with a Vision Pro, other than what I watched. I can watch movies. Do some work. Look at photos. Okay.

But the TP-7, damn. I mean, I’m not really going to buy it, but I know what it does, and what it can do, without ever actually holding it in my hand.

Is the Vision Pro the future? Maybe. I’m sure if I played with one it’d be amazing, and that’s okay. Many things can be true all at once.

HAZE

The Canadian wildfires left a bunch of us in the dark. Not total darkness, but it blocked out the blue skies and sun, and you could smell the smoke indoors, and it made your eyes scratchy.

Though it wasn’t as orange as the photos below, it was still very unsetting and creepy.

I figured instead of linking to big media coverage, why not see what people have posted on Flickr?

2023 Canadian Orange Smog Wednesday About 2PM NYC 2312
Source: https://flic.kr/p/2oFEt8V
Photo of how things look out the window today
Source: https://flic.kr/p/2oFLC51
A plume of Canadian wildfire smoke darkens the Manasquan skies.
Source: https://flic.kr/p/2oFNyY9
Orange Sky
Source: https://flic.kr/p/2oFNuaz
Minni in the orange haze
Source: https://flic.kr/p/2oFK6RR

BREATH TAKING

Some inspiring videos I’ve watched recently.

Tracksmith is a running brand that’s a little more racing / roadie vibes for me, but I love their photography, branding, and videos. And writing, dear lord:

What can a place really show us? Can we discover a new way of life? Can it open us up to a new part of ourselves? In sports, hardship, strain, and suffering are a given. But can the idyllic nature of training in paradise ease some of that tension and allow an athlete to improve at an accelerated rate?

I love that sorta stuff, and I’m so glad it exists on a website, and YouTube. I’m so tired of “consuming” these amazing things on my phone.

Mind you, I did discover Lachlan Morton doing his Alt Tour a few years back on social media, but again, I’m so glad there’s this 37 minute video to watch. I followed the clips here and there on Instagram stories, but you know how that is – 15 and 30 second blips, all between our friends and the other brands we follow.

I saw some Instagram stories (again) of Lael Wilcox riding to the start of a big race again, so I looked her up on YouTube and found this wonderful video of her riding the Alaska Pipeline – 800 miles in 3 days, 18 hours, and 47 minutes.

Again.. as I ween myself from social media, I feel like watching these sorts of videos is better for my soul, because they’re more like a nourishing meal, rather than some junk from the dollar menu at the food court.

LONELY CONTENT MACHINES

I like this quote from New Creative Era:

THE CREATIVE STATUS QUO HAS MADE US LONELY CONTENT MACHINES
PRESSURED TO POST WITH UNNATURAL QUANTITY AND FREQUENCY
TO PURSUE OUR LIVELIHOODS AND EXPRESS OUR WORK
WE PLAY SOMEONE ELSE’S GAME

I’ve been thinking about that first line a bit, as I sort of felt isolated as a writer, as someone trying to offer up ideas. I feel like it’s me vs everyone, stacking up against everyone else trying to offer solutions and ideas in a busy, hyper-competitive world of music and culture.

Makes me think back to my high school days. I hung around creative musical people all the time, for years. The result was creative musical projects. These days, I’m not so creative with music anymore.

I wrote this in 2018:

We can’t do the “real life” thing if we’re scrolling through an app for hours a day. That’s not “keeping up” or “staying informed,” that’s taking time away from our creative pursuits! And emailing friends! Calling people. Have coffee with friends.

We are lonely content machines, cooped up in our rooms and studios trying to make everything ourselves.

The real life hangs and interactions came to an end in 2020 because of the pandemic, and I think it’s gonna take a minute to get back to that.

RIDING

Since my half-marathon I haven’t run. A full week without running is odd for me. I haven’t been injured in a long time, and I just sort of always get out there, but for now I’m just letting my guts heal and stuff. No rush.

In the meantime, biking is a lot easier on the bones, so I got in this quick 12 miler or so after working at a nearby Starbucks. Nice way to end the day.

BYE, TWITTER

I joined in 2006, user number 2700 or so. Done. Later.

I also deleted the Metal Bandcamp Gift Club Twitter, too. We’ve got a buzzing email list, and an active Discord. No one was really signing up from Twitter, so fuck it.

My main email newsletter HEAVY METAL EMAIL got 38 new subscribers in May. One of them was from Twitter, so whatever.

And 30 or so a month is fine with me, because that’s 300 over the course of 10 months. If I get tired of Substack I can export them all and move somewhere else.

Will I miss things from other folks? Sure.

But I miss things because I’m not at the food court, too.

Or at a show three nights a week. Or a bar, or a group ride, or a group run.

I want peace and quiet, and that doesn’t happen on Twitter, or social media in general. If you’re reading this, you found me. Say hello: hi@sethw.xyz

DO WHAT YOU LOVE

Found this interview via CHRIS WONG’s newsletter UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS, from the 18:15 mark:

“I don’t know what it’s going to become, but do that because one day you’re going to wake up and you’re going to be 40 years old like me, and you might be dying of cancer, and you may have spent your entire life doing something that you never truly loved.”

Instant listen, and wow… so good. Lots of blog talk, and following your passion inspiration.

BANDCAMP UNION WINS

Very glad to see this:

“Bandcamp United and Bandcamp management are committed to working together to continue to advance fair economic conditions for our workers and the artists who rely on us. We look forward to negotiating with an open mind and working in good faith to promote the best interests of all of our staff and the artist and label community we serve.”

More here.