Essays, Lectures, and Rants : The Thoughts Of Elaine Barlow
New Here?
All gif animations and hand drawn art by the amazing Christine Oei
Hire ARTISTS. Fuck AI.
I have been thinking a great deal about my priorities. The world as we knew it is over and I have to decide how I want to spend my remaining time on and offline especially as my health gets worse. I will be putting more focus on finishing the novel I have always wanted to write because I want to have fulfilled that one dream of mine before it is too late to do so.
No one is much interested in my other content and it was always just for fun and to keep my writing skills up. I will finish my Jekyll and Hyde podcast but will not be starting any new video projects or finishing current ones except for Media Psykhe. If I have time to do (or feel like doing) a Jem video here and there or write reviews of audiobooks or other media, I will absolutely post them here as usual, but right now I have higher personal priorities.
I will also be getting off of most social media except for Bluesky and CounterSocial.
Take care of yourselves and those you love. Stay safe and stay strong. ❤️
Latest Writing
Read The Room
The more lived experiences you have "in the room", the more likely all those experiences, knowledge, mistakes, successes, etc can lead to beneficial solutions for EVERYONE.
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. I. LOVE. THIS. CHARACTER. I. LOVE. THIS. NARRATOR.
Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1
Of course I want to know how Christian is going to handle that infamous scene, but I'm interested in his take on the psychological horror more.
Audio Podcast
Elaine Is Reading: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde > Chapter 8 – Part 2
As far as I'm concerned, Chapter 8 is the absolute best chapter in the entire book. This is also where the story pretty much comes to a very abrupt end.
Elaine Is Reading: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde > Chapter 8 – Part 1
It is a shame that the two people who have the most interesting perspectives in the entire book are the only two people to never have their stories told.
Elaine Is Reading: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde > Chapters 6&7 – Part 2
This video goes into depth about how the story mirrors so much of the reality of addiction spirals and dealing with the breakdown of friendships.
Elaine Is Reading: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde > Chapters 6&7 – Part 1
I decided to do these two chapters together because they are two of my favorite chapters and because the are very similar in feeling and foundation.
Elaine Is Reading: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde > Chapter 5 – Part 2
Most people who make movies and adaptations focus solely on the final chapter of the book. The story of Jekyll and Hyde is not just the final chapter.
Elaine Is Reading: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde > Chapter 5 – Part 1
This is one of the chapters that I kind of wish Stevenson’s wife had permanently destroyed. It’s the most contrived, forced, lazy chapter of the whole book.
How (Not) To Survive
Just because you CAN'T handle something, doesn't mean there is something wrong with those who can. Stop being the problem and become part of the solution.
Previously on Jem and The Holograms
More Videos!
Want to watch more?
The Ovarian Lottery
I have NO patience for people who hate on those who experience luck and opportunity or benefit from privilege, or variance.
Change Is Hard AF
The only time people truly CHANGE is when they have enough evidence to DECIDE that their reality is a lie or different from what they believe it to be.
Previously On JaTH – S01E03
This episode has everything: white privilege, well behaved foster children, Gargoyle butt stuff, Paris, the grooming of young girls, Jem getting preferential treatment (again) ... and Katie Cassidy IS Pizzazz.
A Study In Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
The book is BRILLIANT and it speaks to me on so many levels that no other book has.
Jekyll and Hyde – Chapters 8 (Part 1)
It is a shame that the two people who have the most interesting perspectives in the entire book are the only two people to never have their stories told.
On Accountability
Blaming others is not strength, playing the victim is not strength, getting angry is not strength, and accountability is FAR from weakness.