BEACH SLOTH is the author of Mark’s My Friend (Dostoyevsky Wannabe, 2019) and It Doesn’t Matter What You Look Like On The Outside It’s What’s On The Internet That Counts (Dig That Book, 2014).
My current favorite book is: Jaroslav Hasek’s Good Soldier Svejk. The book explores the concept of absurdity in a way that feels particularly poignant given the international political climate. Parallels between then and now are almost too close for comfort at times. We speak and express ourselves in a way that tries to sand over harder truths. A great book and a lot of fun to read, though if someone spoke fluent Czech, they might get more out of it than me.
My current favorite actor is: …I think Keanu Reeves is always my favorite actor. Everything he does feels so kind and considerate. More than an actor, I think he is a decent human being and I think it is remarkable how humble he remains.
My current favorite television show is: …I finished watching Industry. I loved it. The way they capture the awfulness that comes with being a recent grad in an exploitive workplace felt terrifyingly real. Such an anxious show but I think it depicts the out of control emotion that finance breeds.
My current favorite album is: …I cannot recommend Beatrice Dillon’s Workaround enough. Her work with percussion is exquisite. Every gesture considered; every path followed leads to something so joyous. 2020 needs a bit of joy to it and her avant-garde yet accessible work is so easy to get lost in.
My current state of mind is: tired but generally happy, though it is a hard-fought happiness.
My current chemical romance involves: listening to dozens of albums a day while I am at work. I am fortunate enough to be working from home, and if this is the worst indulgence I have, well, I guess I am doing fine. I am also drinking a lot of coffee.
My current favorite motto is: “Support each other.” This is my motto for life.
My current mode of transportation is: …I do not go anywhere. I will say feet for this, as that is the only form of transportation I use.
My current favorite fast food establishment is: Starbucks, due to a huge number of gift cards I have been given over the past half-decade from well-meaning coworkers from my last three jobs.
My current workout routine consists of: pushups, jumping jacks, biking, and using my treadmill.
My current regrettable decision involves: not getting enough sleep. I need to sleep more.
My current hopes and dreams are: that some projects I am working on see the light of day. There are some very enjoyable things that are just beginning after a long period of hibernation and I would like to see them finished.
My current projects include: working on a Substack that documents my listening habits. All of it can be found by going to beachsloth.substack.com.
Beach Sloth has a Patreon here.
Brian Alan Ellis runs House of Vlad Press, and is the author of several books, including Sad Laughter (Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2018). His writing has appeared at Juked, Hobart, Fanzine, Monkeybicycle, Electric Literature, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Funhouse, Heavy Feather Review, and Yes Poetry, among other places. He lives in Florida.
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