exurb1r
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You Can Build Pillow Forts in Your Thirties. Really, No One Stops You
🕑 Added 2025-02-05 17:57:00 +0000 UTCHello zebus (or camel cows if you prefer),
This isn't a notification you're being charged or anything like that, just thought I'd check in and let you know what nonsense is coming next.
A few months ago I was watching a documentary about two probes on Mars. It was all neutral and sciencey, up until it got to the point the probes started running out of power and were clearly about to die. They were so humanised by that time - they had names and even personalities by then, sort of - I found myself slightly tearing up about the thing, which seemed odd. This resulted in a fairly silly long-form video idea about an entire planet of abandoned probes, and it should be out in a few weeks at most. I wrote almost the entirety of it in a pillow fort I built for myself and the cat because it was a Thursday and we were dangerously bored. I hope you like it. (The script, not the pillow fort - I don't require your approval for that, but it's appreciated of course.) That's the shape of what's been happening on this side anyway.
I'll apologise for the new book not being out yet, again - maybe the fifteenth time now. All it needs is a bit of a polish (maybe a decorative bow just for fun) but it's still not quite there. As soon as the new video is out, I'll finally finish the thing off and release it, promise. One of the few lessons I've learned from making stuff online is to at least attempt not to half-arse stuff. Rushing always feels pretty fun in the short-term so one can get back to watching Stargate SG1 and eating posh biscuits, but a few years later you think back to the thing and desperately wish you'd just spent a bit longer getting it as perfect as possible. I'll do my jolly best to get it out for April, then wander off to do a spot of hiking as a treat for inflicting the thing on you.
I wonder if you've been to see The Substance yet. If not, I'm going to recommend it with a few caveats. I saw it last night. I'm yet to recover. Weirdly, the cinema screen was mostly full of loners like myself who also didn't have much better to do on a Tuesday night. As the story got more intense, I glanced around with a sort of Is this actually fucking happening? expression and met eyes with a fair few other people doing the same thing. It easily has some of the most beautiful cinematography I've ever seen, even for an A24 movie - man, they're great - even for a story involving wanton gore and endless closeups of syringes. Watching the trailer, you'll get the entire premise right away: the pursuit of retaining one's beauty as they age. But it goes to a place so, so much more profoundly horrible than that. I'll spoil nothing for fear of ruining the plot, but the plot sure ruined me. It's a despicable masterpiece.
I can also highly recommend a Cuban band from the 60s I chanced on recently, Los Zafiros. This is great in particular. Oh god and this. I binged everything I could find of theirs on a recent trip home to see the parents in the UK. Wandering a little drunk back from the pub through a definitely haunted pitch-black forest listening to Cuban doo-wop: big fun.
Hope you're doing well in any case. Just a spot more editing and the new video should be out shortly. As always, thank beyond anything I can even get down here for sticking around, it's enormously appreciated and new stuff is on its way. (The feline sends her very best regards.)
Massive love as ever,
Ex.
Comments
theknees
Petition for audiobooks pretty please
ultim 4.8
Every time I find myself content and naive, all it takes is an exurb1a video to remind me that everything is chaos, nothing means anything, and we are all haplessly floating around for no reason at all. Then I devour a box of cheezits, down a redbull (or three) and everything is quite alright again. If I didn't lack the competence to write more than a paragraph every 6 months, id likely be writing stories inspired by your insane existential ideas. Even so, If I do ever publish the book I've been sitting on for 3 years, your name will certainly have an honorable mention (for the 3 or 4 people who will ever actually read it). Love your work man, especially the books. Keep on keeping on!
Pyro
I request more cat photos :)
Hero
Hey man, I’m paying ya 60 bucks a month lmao, any chance you could answer? I think you’ll be very very happy with a few things I’ve found.
Shadowy Blaze
Can I get a reply to my email? IK you are probably busy running the Mexican drug empire, but just wanted to follow ya up
SkyCat
Need feline update pics with your welcome musings next time
Triyng
Petition for the next letter to end in Ex Oh
Ryan Kasper
Maybe we’re all just atoms building their own pillow forts and the real probes are the drugs we did along the way
Logan Eads
Damn that’s a helluva movie review! Watching it tonight,
Craig Neish
How fortful of you. Send my regards to El Gatto
menstruaalvalu
I need a confirmation of your dismissal of my dm to you as well a bureaucratic"k" will suffice me ego n soul
Desmond
I wasn't in the best mood a short while ago but this post surely helped with that and it is much appreciated, I am also considering building a pillow fort now. I hope You and the cat are doing well.
Gurumaru
Can't wait for the new video! And well, I'll have to see The Substance now. I've heard from some poeple that it's predictable and a rather shallow take on the matter of desperately remaining young, but your recommendations never failed me so far
Tundra808
Turned 31 on the 22nd and now i want to make a pillow fort when i stop working doubles at my job Cant wait to see the probing video, sounds like itll be amazing
Tanyo Tanev
Can't wait for the vid. May I humbly suggest a Bulgarian movie: Nomer 1. It's on YouTube is love to hear back from you if you watch it https://youtu.be/Nr6hoOZgyJU
exurb1a
Well, I'm in love, thank you kindly. This is an absolute banger too I must say: https://youtu.be/hvohixL_Woo?si=ktDEGGfUX8WQcQJX
exurb1a
(but it was sponsored by Raid: Shadow Legends)
exurb1a
Much appreciated indeed, Jeryn
exurb1a
Ohhh, thank you ever so much, that's lovely to hear. Ewa, I'm ever so sorry about leaving your email unreplied to there - let me get back to you properly this evening. I can be terrible with organisation sometimes, hope no offence is taken.
exurb1a
Massive sorries, just written back now
exurb1a
It seems my neighbours are cutting onions
exurb1a
Hello there zenting. I can first promise that cats are acquirable and pillow forts are buildable; there's still hope, promise. As a fellow marmalade fan, I support this film choice entirely. Honestly, it's quite nice having the entire screen to oneself, no? (And a huge thank you for sticking around.)
Anurag
Exurb1a and the anal probes
exurb1a
Please assume it had lava lamps and beer taps
exurb1a
I do appreciate you trusting me on this matter, thanks Gregory
R520
Opportunity's "final message" was "My battery is low and it's getting dark". This was a translation/interpretation of the data being sent back by a journalist (Jacob Margolis).
Lali 🌸 la chonga
You are now legally required to share pics of pillow fort as penance 😆 Those old cuban songs SLAP, you should check out orquesta aragón for your haunted night walks https://youtu.be/_AvQq_hKl0Q?si=y1i8wvAJbELl5JK4
Gregory mccoy
As much as I hoped for a pic of the pillow fort, complete with content cat, I'll assume it is worthy of approval. I'll check out the film.
Carpincho Cósmico
No pictures of the pillow fort? :(
zenting
I believe (at least) one of the probes had a twitter account as well, and it tweeted a rather sad message just before it went to sleep for the last time. I don't have enough pillows to make a fort. Nor do I have a cat. Seems I'm doomed to to remain fort-less. The last film I went to see at the cinema was Paddington In Peru (I'm a big fan of marmalade). The theater was completely empty and dark when we arrived (for a Wednesday night showing) and remained so for about 15 minutes until the movie suddenly burst onto the screen. Up until then I was convinced we were in the wrong place, but it turned out to be rather nice to have the place all to ourselves :-) Looking forward to the new video.
Ewa K.
Why hello friend! Lovely to hear from you. Take as much time as you need to finish the book and polish everything, we don't want you to feel rushed or to rush. Do your thing, we're willing to wait more than just a few months (or I do anyway but I don't think I'm alone). Pillow fort by The Turtle sounds grand, as does the reward hike. All the Best! PS: Quick question, I recently last month sent you an email along with a skype text. Do you still answer those or do you just Not have the Time (and enough psychic mushrooms to get through the social interaction unscathed)?
Nozvfx
Read my dm bruh
Jeryn Gerow
Can’t wait for the new video, I also know that I definitely approve of the pillow fort you built!
Tobias Nørvåg
Wtf youtube person?! No picture of the pillow fort?? Anxiety turtle bad!!!
