Valarie Smith
@valarie.bsky.social
Welcome, book lovers! 💙📚
Probably rereading Woolf’s The Waves or listening to the Backlisted podcast. Also a fan of Sam Shepard, Kerouac, Dickens, Steinbeck, Willy Vlautin, Donna Tartt, film noir, Twin Peaks, Elliott Smith, Grimm & folklore. Portland, OR
Probably rereading Woolf’s The Waves or listening to the Backlisted podcast. Also a fan of Sam Shepard, Kerouac, Dickens, Steinbeck, Willy Vlautin, Donna Tartt, film noir, Twin Peaks, Elliott Smith, Grimm & folklore. Portland, OR
Post a non-religious photo you think of as holy.
November 11, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Post a non-religious photo you think of as holy.
Reposted by Valarie Smith
David Byrne As Photographed by David LaChapelle Will Fix You. David Byrne Photographed by David LaChapelle for the New Yorker Will Solve Your Problems www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
David Byrne As Photographed by David LaChapelle Will Fix You. David Byrne Photographed by David LaChapelle for the New Yorker Will Solve Your Problems www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Sam Shepard and the iconic ending of Paris, Texas:
The story of how 'Paris, Texas' almost ended differently
Wim Wenders' 1984 masterpiece 'Paris, Texas' could've ended differently if not for the director's pleas for Sam Shephard to help him finish the screenplay.
faroutmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Sam Shepard and the iconic ending of Paris, Texas:
Reposted by Valarie Smith
The more things change, etc. etc.:
“John Fisher observed that in a short time there would be only two ranks of people, the very rich & the very poor, for those who have small estates says he are forced to sell, & all the land goes into one hand.”
- Dorothy Wordsworth, diary entry for May 18, 1800
“John Fisher observed that in a short time there would be only two ranks of people, the very rich & the very poor, for those who have small estates says he are forced to sell, & all the land goes into one hand.”
- Dorothy Wordsworth, diary entry for May 18, 1800
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 AM
The more things change, etc. etc.:
“John Fisher observed that in a short time there would be only two ranks of people, the very rich & the very poor, for those who have small estates says he are forced to sell, & all the land goes into one hand.”
- Dorothy Wordsworth, diary entry for May 18, 1800
“John Fisher observed that in a short time there would be only two ranks of people, the very rich & the very poor, for those who have small estates says he are forced to sell, & all the land goes into one hand.”
- Dorothy Wordsworth, diary entry for May 18, 1800
Reposted by Valarie Smith
“I have two moments of intense concentration in my life. One is when the waiter describes the specials, because it's very hard to hear him, and what he's describing is something I didn't grow up with. The mixtures are so complex! And the room is so noisy!”
Glorious Peter Falk interview. Every word a joy.
November 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
“I have two moments of intense concentration in my life. One is when the waiter describes the specials, because it's very hard to hear him, and what he's describing is something I didn't grow up with. The mixtures are so complex! And the room is so noisy!”
Reposted by Valarie Smith
PARIS, TEXAS (1984) - Wim Wenders’ American masterpiece of loss, love, and redemption. With hauntingly beautiful cinematography by Robby Müller, it’s one of the great films of all-time and one that lingers like a dream.
Showing TOMORROW at midday and next Sunday night.
🎟️ : buff.ly/XFwjA7B
Showing TOMORROW at midday and next Sunday night.
🎟️ : buff.ly/XFwjA7B
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
PARIS, TEXAS (1984) - Wim Wenders’ American masterpiece of loss, love, and redemption. With hauntingly beautiful cinematography by Robby Müller, it’s one of the great films of all-time and one that lingers like a dream.
Showing TOMORROW at midday and next Sunday night.
🎟️ : buff.ly/XFwjA7B
Showing TOMORROW at midday and next Sunday night.
🎟️ : buff.ly/XFwjA7B
Reposted by Valarie Smith
Ah, 9 November – a sad one, this: 59th anniversary of the day Paul McCartney died, forcing the other Beatles to replace him with an orphan they had trained to impersonate him, and then (obviously) put clues in songs and on album covers so people could find out anyway
November 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Ah, 9 November – a sad one, this: 59th anniversary of the day Paul McCartney died, forcing the other Beatles to replace him with an orphan they had trained to impersonate him, and then (obviously) put clues in songs and on album covers so people could find out anyway
Been looking at old diner menus and am convinced if I incant these words 3x over a cauldron, I'll be transported to 1978 Pennsylvania:
Rye bread, stuffed cabbage, fried clams, open-faced turkey sandwich, flounder, meat loaf, Monte Cristo, croquettes, chicken parm, chipped beef, pierogies, goulash.
Rye bread, stuffed cabbage, fried clams, open-faced turkey sandwich, flounder, meat loaf, Monte Cristo, croquettes, chicken parm, chipped beef, pierogies, goulash.
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Been looking at old diner menus and am convinced if I incant these words 3x over a cauldron, I'll be transported to 1978 Pennsylvania:
Rye bread, stuffed cabbage, fried clams, open-faced turkey sandwich, flounder, meat loaf, Monte Cristo, croquettes, chicken parm, chipped beef, pierogies, goulash.
Rye bread, stuffed cabbage, fried clams, open-faced turkey sandwich, flounder, meat loaf, Monte Cristo, croquettes, chicken parm, chipped beef, pierogies, goulash.
Relistened to this to hear Backlisted discuss Sylvia Townsend Warner's WW2 stories and wow, what a trip. By turns brilliant (Andy describes Celia Dale as a cross btw Barbara Pym & Entertaining Mr. Sloan), heartwarming (Nicky's 1st time reading aloud) & a little sad (lockdown). Were we ever so young?
118. Backlisted - Summer Reading 2020 — Backlisted
This is the summer reading episode of Backlisted showcasing the books Andy , John & Nicky have been reading during lockdown. This episode features both newly recorded material and excerpts fr...
www.backlisted.fm
November 9, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Relistened to this to hear Backlisted discuss Sylvia Townsend Warner's WW2 stories and wow, what a trip. By turns brilliant (Andy describes Celia Dale as a cross btw Barbara Pym & Entertaining Mr. Sloan), heartwarming (Nicky's 1st time reading aloud) & a little sad (lockdown). Were we ever so young?
Reposted by Valarie Smith
Album cover... vehicle... do it
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Album cover... vehicle... do it
Reposted by Valarie Smith
Another shot of Alain Delon & his pigeon friends, by Jack Garofalo, Venice, 1962
November 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Another shot of Alain Delon & his pigeon friends, by Jack Garofalo, Venice, 1962
Anyone who loves Angel Heart is a friend of mine.
Angel Heart (1987) Mickey Rourke's damned if he does & damned if he doesn't
As good a mash-up of pulp horror & gumshoe noir as you could want. Rourke really was a hell of an actor in his prime & Alan Parker puts a lived in, dingy 1950s onscreen in a way that makes most other period movies look fake
As good a mash-up of pulp horror & gumshoe noir as you could want. Rourke really was a hell of an actor in his prime & Alan Parker puts a lived in, dingy 1950s onscreen in a way that makes most other period movies look fake
November 8, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Anyone who loves Angel Heart is a friend of mine.
Look at this photo.
November 7, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Look at this photo.
Reposted by Valarie Smith
The Pope is going full Dickens
“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge…
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.”
“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge…
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.”
November 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The Pope is going full Dickens
“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge…
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.”
“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge…
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.”
Reposted by Valarie Smith
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
you ever think about the works progress administration? I sure do. I wish that was a thing now. I would be so glad to contribute my labor to like. A random ass local bridge
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
Reposted by Valarie Smith
Good writeup here.
Farewell to an Oregon Legend: Chuck Kesey of Nancy’s Yogurt Has Passed Away at 87
A visionary long before “organic” and “probiotic” were household words, Kesey helped launch the natural foods movement over sixty years ago. Guided by curiosity, compassion, and an open mind, he and
thatoregonlife.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Good writeup here.
Good night to Ken’s brother, one of the earliest Merry Pranksters.
The co-founder of an iconic Eugene business died Thursday. Chuck Kesey was a probiotic pioneer and co-founder of Springfield Creamery, the maker of Nancy’s Yogurt. For over fifty years, he remained the unofficial “Keeper of the Culture” and personally taste-tested each batch of yogurt.
Chuck Kesey, co-founder of Springfield Creamery that makes Nancy’s Yogurt, dies at 87
Kesey was a probiotic pioneer and co-founder of Springfield Creamery, the maker of Nancy’s Yogurt. For over fifty years, he remained the unofficial “Keeper of the Culture” and personally taste-tested each batch of yogurt.
www.opb.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Good night to Ken’s brother, one of the earliest Merry Pranksters.
Reposted by Valarie Smith
#BirdOfTheDay #lunchtime theme: I once watched a small conspiracy of ravens open a cooler that was sitting in the bed of a pickup truck, remove its contents, unwrap them from their packaging, and consume it all within about 60 seconds of the truck occupants parking and walking away. 🪶
November 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
#BirdOfTheDay #lunchtime theme: I once watched a small conspiracy of ravens open a cooler that was sitting in the bed of a pickup truck, remove its contents, unwrap them from their packaging, and consume it all within about 60 seconds of the truck occupants parking and walking away. 🪶
Reposted by Valarie Smith
Two brilliant uses of comma splice in Tessa Hadley’s short story Funny Little Snake, showing in its slapdash punctuation narrator Valerie’s instructive dismissal of her awful professor husband Gil’s self-serving tales.
November 6, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Two brilliant uses of comma splice in Tessa Hadley’s short story Funny Little Snake, showing in its slapdash punctuation narrator Valerie’s instructive dismissal of her awful professor husband Gil’s self-serving tales.
Reposted by Valarie Smith
What do I care about anything when I can lie on the bed and pull the past over me like a blanket?
November 6, 2025 at 10:07 AM
What do I care about anything when I can lie on the bed and pull the past over me like a blanket?
I took this photo in front of his Mill Valley, CA home, where he was living when he won the Pulitzer for Buried Child. I love his prose most, but everything he wrote illuminated some aspect of the American myth.
Sam Shepard
Born Nov. 5, 1943
Sam Shepard
Born Nov. 5, 1943
November 6, 2025 at 7:10 AM
I took this photo in front of his Mill Valley, CA home, where he was living when he won the Pulitzer for Buried Child. I love his prose most, but everything he wrote illuminated some aspect of the American myth.
Sam Shepard
Born Nov. 5, 1943
Sam Shepard
Born Nov. 5, 1943
Reposted by Valarie Smith
Day 5 of the #NoirvemberChallenge - A #filmnoir you would show someone who's never seen one...
The Night of the Hunter (1955) dir. Charles Laughton 🎬
Quite simply one of the best movies ever made!
#Noirvember #filmsky #moviesky
The Night of the Hunter (1955) dir. Charles Laughton 🎬
Quite simply one of the best movies ever made!
#Noirvember #filmsky #moviesky
November 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Day 5 of the #NoirvemberChallenge - A #filmnoir you would show someone who's never seen one...
The Night of the Hunter (1955) dir. Charles Laughton 🎬
Quite simply one of the best movies ever made!
#Noirvember #filmsky #moviesky
The Night of the Hunter (1955) dir. Charles Laughton 🎬
Quite simply one of the best movies ever made!
#Noirvember #filmsky #moviesky
Illustrator Ella Baron nailing it in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Illustrator Ella Baron nailing it in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...