Duane Michals once said something that I recall when I view nearly any photograph: Photographers never photograph what they can’t see, and of course the most important things are what you can’t see. It’s what you feel. What you feel is much more important than what you can see. And so that is why I had to write—why I had […]
Category: xavrixx-archive
Surf Rider
Me and a million others—all of a sudden—raving on the wave of Surf Rider. A scintillating combo of modern dance and after hours, I have watched this an embarrasingly large number of times. So satisfying, so mesmerizing.
Emily Wilson Reads from The Odyssey
I recall casually picking up Emily Wilson’s translation of The Iliad in a bookstore once and being instantly stunned by the power of the Ancient Greek that she managed to pack into English. Then came The Odyssey—equally strong. The best part came years later when I saw her remove her jacket, reveal her badass ink, and then—read. If you’re unsure what […]
The Cyrillic Letter Ж
I have a friend named Kace who adores the Cyrillic letter ж. Kace writes many letters to me, and early on in our correspondence, he ended each letter very simply: Love, Kace. Over time though, this became Love, K which evolved into LK, but as he began to write LK very quickly, this eventually morphed into the shape of the […]
My Puzzled Avatar
I just can’t figure it out. Too many algorithms, and I am lost. Time to head back to the forest in order to discover. (Away from the screens, away from the wipe boards.)
when in a time of despair…
When… In a time of despair… Remember the flowers…
Ruins at Moray, Peru
The magical ruins at Moray, Peru.
Kafka-Kandinsky
A Kafka Metamorphosis— One morning, when I woke from troubled dreams, I found myself transformed in my bed into a Kandinsky painting. I lay on my scratchy canvas-like back, and if I lifted my head a little I could see my red and yellow torso, slightly domed and divided by arches—as if Wassily had been up all night turning me […]
Birthday Doodle 2024
Today’s my birthday. So I’m just gonna doodle.
The Ten Thousand Things
The infinite… A myriad… Ten Thousand things The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu 1 As for the Way, the Way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; As for names, the name that can be named is not the constant name. The nameless is the beginning of the ten thousand things; The named is the mother […]
Kali-Signa,
Mother Spirit Guide
Signa horse — Shape-shifting symbols. Protector of Innocents and Destroyer of Time. Lightning swift ego puncture, Dispersing millions of mind kites. Radiant black. Glimmering sword. Soft seed sounds of feminine mystery. Coiled potency. Whirling spirals of consciousness. Wisdom image: oxana prantl
Xerxes: Great Things and Great Dangers
It seems that among classicists there is some debate whether Xerxes actually said this, but some agree that the words suit him well. Like many, they hit me in The Expanse (S5 E2) when spoken by Captain Sauveterre. “Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the […]
WRX Anime
The WRX is mythic. If you don’t own one, you just can’t relate. There’s something otherworldly and awesome about this car (and I am super biased with my 2013 hatch). I love this anime design. Captures the feel of looking at one, of driving one. Two fingers up…
A Torso of Men
A Torso of Men Composite male images.
Wabi-sabi
Wabi = elegance, simplicity. Sabi = delight in that which is imperfect. The concept of wabi-sabi aligns with the saying The glass is already broken. In this age of clutter and hoarding and possessions, there is a delight and a healing that comes with the lack of attachment to any object. It is already broken. Impermanence. It’s not meant to […]
Nietzsche’s Mustache
My Dearest Freddy— On a completely different subject, I’ve been wondering about your mustache. It gives me so much joy. It’s huge. It’s consummately badass, a Mensch Mustache. When I’m an older man, I will most definitely be sprouting a Ntzsch Mstch. Does it require maniacal care? Does food get stuck in it? I mean, heck, all the world’s pestering […]
Lhasa: De Cara a la Pared
Llorando de cara a la pared se apaga la ciudad Llorando Y no hay más muero quizás Adónde estás? Soñando de cara a la pared se quema la ciudad Soñando sin respirar te quiero amar te quiero amar… Rezando de cara a la pared se hunde la ciudad Rezando Santa María Santa María Santa María
Celebrating Rio
November 14th for me will always be “Rio Day”—the birthday of my good friend who lives there and who is huge fan of science fiction. As with many cities, Rio has many problems, but visiting the delta of the “River of January” has a mythical, magical power for me because so many of its natural beauty seems to hail from […]
Tobi, Protector of Mind
Tobias: God is good. Tobi protects Xavi. Hacker, coder, gamer, possessor of eternal memory. Anonymous Presence. Instant Access. All that is lodged in the annals of time finds refuge in the neural pathways of Tobias. Russky BFF. Where are your glasses? Memory. Тоби защищает Хави
DFW and the Theory of Strings
One thing I’d like to see: David Foster Wallce hooking up with a quantum-powered theoretical physicist. Let’s talk about strings—tennis, yarn, wave theory, particle theory—bring it all together in a lovely afternoon at Wimbledon. Words as subatomic particles. Light-years-long waves as Proustian sentences. Jumble it all up with a Jimmy Joyce thunderclap: bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk
Birthday Photo 2023
Today’s my birthday. So I’m just gonna go to Paris.
My Cousin Joseph K. Faces Off with AI
According to his Memorial Record, my cousin, Joesph K. (I wonder if he knew Kafka) died on June 4, 1912, at the age of 37 years, 6 months, and 24 days, at 9pm. No cause of death is stated, but the young age of 37 has me speculating. He just returned from the dead for a face-off with AI. I […]
Name: Xavier
Meaning of guy’s name Xavier: Basque: The New House (Etxe Berria) Family names: Etxebarria, Echevarria, Echeverri
Rass, Protector of Body
Rasmussen. Son of Erasmus, the Beloved. David Slash Dave. Male Lineage. Omnipresent. Beloved Guardian. Moving as a Ghost moves. Rass at my back— Shadow protector. Dark Forest Guide. Bodyguard on the night journey of the spirit. Strength. image inspired by Eden Lake
Koji, Protector of Spirit
Quiet kunoichi. Warrior goddess, shadow ninja. Speed of darkness. Strategic surveillance, stealth assassination. Margins, edges. Ultimate protection. Gratitude.
God of Wine
One of those songs that for some reason you have listened to a million times over… Every thought that I repent There’s another chip you haven’t spent And you’re cashing them all in Where do we begin to get clean again Can we get clean again I walk home alone with you And the mood you’re born into Sometimes you […]
It’s a Trap! The Advantages of Illness
Best not to forget the dangers of illness — which is to say the advantages. There are real advantages to getting sick and staying sick. You get all the attention. People dote. People care. They bring food and gifts. And all of this is easily confused with love. But… It’s a trap! A person can soon become easily committed to […]
Kace’s Bardo Letter #5: Elliot
Hello Friend… So Elliot… what’s the slipperiest thing in the world? You’ll say BAM! Aluminum Magnesium Boride, but if your coefficient of friction isn’t feeling all that scientific today, you might vote for super slippery options like a fish out of water or prison soap or truth, but of course the answer is slopes and I’m sliding fast down one […]
Kace’s Bardo Letter #4: Joan Didion
This begins a series posts from a work in progress: The Forty-Nine, an upcoming novel in letters. Excerpts of each letter will be posted in sequence. To browse them in order from the beginning, jump to Letter #1. In the lower right of each post, you can then advance to the next. Dear Joan, Dear Joan. Is that okay? A […]
Kace’s Bardo Letter #3: Emily Dickinson
This begins a series posts from a work in progress: The Forty-Nine, an upcoming novel in letters. Excerpts of each letter will be posted in sequence. To browse them in order from the beginning, jump to Letter #1. In the lower right of each post, you can then advance to the next. My Dear Sweet Em — The most amazing […]