Kevin Smokler
banner
weegee.bsky.social
Kevin Smokler
@weegee.bsky.social
Writer, Documentary Filmmaker, Inveterate Recommender

New Book: BREAK THE FRAME: CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN FILMMAKERS

https://tinyurl.com/yc5r894h
www.breaktheframebook.com
www.kevinsmokler.com
And while we are at it, there needs to be way way more progressive political representation from folk who look like Dropkick Murphy's lead singer Ken Casey. To wit...

consequence.net/2026/02/drop...
Dropkick Murphys Frontman Calls Out NFL for Hypocritical Stance Toward Bad Bunny’s Halftime Performance
Dropkick Murphys' Ken Casey questions why NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suggested Bad Bunny not bring political discourse to his Super Bowl gig.
consequence.net
February 9, 2026 at 4:10 AM
#DYK? The phrase "dressing down" meaning "to reprimand" came from the nautical practice of "dressing down" (i.e. applying wax and oil) to damaged sails. To "dress down" meant to "fix, or correct" and evolved to mean "to correct meanly"
February 8, 2026 at 4:24 AM
With the possible exception of Joe Pesci in nearly all of his post-Oscar roles

ministryofpopculture.substack.com/p/wigs-secre...
No One Wore a Wig Like Catherine O'Hara
Wig people are special, and O'Hara embodied that spirit like no other.
ministryofpopculture.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Apparently the Number 26 is WAY WAY more important than our current calendar year or letters in the alphabet or the number of bones in the human foot
Tedium Trends 2026: The Surprisingly Importance Of 26
The number 26, which gets back-burnered compared to numbers with neater divisibility, is an essential digit. And you’re gonna be hearing all about it in 2026.
tedium.co
February 8, 2026 at 4:17 AM
I had not banked or even bet a sock of pennies on Nicki Minaj becoming the self-proclaimed #1 fan of our Dipsh*t in Chief
A Music Superstar Took a Hard Turn Right. It’s Shocking—and a Long Time Coming.
A long series of events led Nicki Minaj to where she is today.
slate.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:14 AM
How Toni Morrison managed to be so funny about vile things... (via @lithub.com.web.brid.gy )
Toni Plays the Dozens | Namwali Serpell
What’s so funny about Toni Morrison?
www.nybooks.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Guess which US city is both the birthplace of the Girl Scouts of America, Tutti-Frutti Ice Cream and our nation's first Pirate Museum?
Savannah Pirates and Treasure Museum in Savannah
High seas history comes to life at this immersive museum with an on-site tavern.
www.atlasobscura.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Research purposes: If you are under 30 and like movies, do you use Letterbxd? Are you familiar with the term "cinema?"

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Why the Future of the Movies Lives on Letterboxd
The entertainment industry is in crisis, but a social platform for film enthusiasts is thriving. Is it changing the way we watch?
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Either I was playing hookey at Petball Petes the day they taught arithmetic or Jeff Bezos will do -5 of these.
37+ things The Washington Post did wrong and 22+ things they could do to fix it
"@mackenziescott you have the opportunity to do an extremely funny (and genuinely heroic) thing right now."
www.niemanlab.org
February 8, 2026 at 3:55 AM
A goodly number of San Franicscans are sheltering in place this weekend thanks to the Super Bowl, he says via a note in a floating bottle...
February 8, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Meet the geniuses behind the backgrounds and landscapes of your favorite Studio Ghibli movies...
Painting the worlds of Studio Ghibli with art director and background artist, Yoji Takeshige
We speak to the esteemed Studio Ghibli art director about creating atmosphere through “humidity”, and how the films create magic rooted in reality.
www.itsnicethat.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Reposted by Kevin Smokler
Informació de servei
Silicon Valley’s alliance with Donald Trump was a mask off moment and showed the world we can’t depend on US tech companies.

For the past few months, I’ve been trying to get off US tech and I put together a guide so you find alternatives too. I hope you find it helpful!
Getting off US tech: a guide
I’m in the process of dropping US tech services. Here’s how I did it, and options you should consider.
www.disconnect.blog
February 3, 2026 at 1:31 AM
I'm sure you've always wanted to know the back story of Hulk Hogan's theme song, right? RIGHT? (empty room)
An Oral History of Hulk Hogan and ‘Real American’
“Real American” is one of the most recognizable songs in American culture (embarrassing, but true). Written by vocalist Rick Derringer and released on 1985’s The...
melmagazine.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Reposted by Kevin Smokler
Not only is it Black History Month. It’s also its 100th anniversary!!

To commemorate its centennial, I wrote a list of 10 Black films, one from each of the last 10 decades, to stream.
10 Movies to Stream for Black History Month
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Bandcamp has banned AI generated music from the service. All Hail.

(via @scottandrew.com )
Bandcamp’s Mission and Our Approach to Generative AI
We’re articulating our approach to generative AI so musicians can keep making music and fans can trust the music they find on Bandcamp.
blog.bandcamp.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:03 AM
So it turns out there's a way to watch Public Television from anywhere in the world. Like, if you wanna see cable access in Mongolia...Behold! (via @densediscovery.bsky.social )

iptv.garden?ref=DenseDis...
IPTV.garden - Watch Free Live TV Online
Watch over 10,000+ free TV channels online. No registration required. Explore global live television, sports, news, and movies on IPTV.garden.
iptv.garden
February 2, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Announced this week: CLUELESS joins the National Film Registry. Read all about its legendary writer/director AMY HECKERLING in my new book BREAK THE FRAME: CONVERASATIONS WITH WOMEN FILMMAKERS

kevinsmokler.com/break-the-fr...
As if! 'Clueless,’ ‘The Karate Kid,’ ‘Inception’ among 25 movies entering National Film Registry
As if they’d leave “Clueless” off the list. Amy Heckerling’s 1995 teen comedy is one of 25 classic movies chosen this year by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry.
apnews.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:48 PM
#DYK? The Phrase "to draw the line" is thought to have come from lines drawn on the floor of the English Parliment to separate the two houses.
January 29, 2026 at 5:01 AM
A project that needs to happen is a collection of WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE?

For Ask SF it is...

1) Is this too much to pay in rent?

2) I am visiting, how do I not look/eat like a tourist?

3) How do I make friends?

www.reddit.com/r/AskSF/
Ask San Francisco
This subreddit was created for people to be able to ask questions about the San Francisco Bay Area to residents. We strive to have /r/askSF serve as a reference to SF Bay Area resources. Post your que...
www.reddit.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:49 AM
A great example of doing one thing extremely well. The Internet at its best...
Ian's Is Still The Best Site For Tying Your Shoelaces
Ian's Shoelace Site has been teaching people to tie their shoes for more than two decades. His knots are wonderful. But it is vulnerable to the forces tearing the internet apart.
aftermath.site
January 29, 2026 at 4:46 AM
Romcoms should be 90 minutes, Coming of Age Movies should be 90 minutes, Comedies DEFINITELY should be 90s minutes (via @sippey.com )
An Obituary for the 90-Minute Movie
Cherished by all who experienced it, the 90-minute movie entertained audiences with a well-told tale that did not require one clear an entire day to watch it.
www.pointsincase.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:42 AM
Public Media Holds Its Apocalypse at Bay, for Now
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:23 AM