Today I decided on my wedding band. At a couple points in the brief sizing tests, my finger felt trapped and panicky. It will be fun to get used to it. I can’t wait to fidget-spin it when I’m lost in thought.
School
Last week was a big turning point: passed my two final classes, and moved on to the capstone project for my degree. And with that, a big shift in attitude and confidence. The finish line is in sight.
Books
A Crown of Swords. Returned to where I left off in the Wheel of Time series, as an antidote to a general book lull and a couple sleepless nights. And what do you know, I pushed through some boring stuff and found my groove again. (I’ll also give some credit to House of the Dragon for making me want to get wrapped up in a fantasy universe again, if not that particular one.)
Articles & Episodes & Twoots
How Olympic athletes get fed. “There are also grab-and-go spaces with things like burgers and shawarma sandwiches. We don’t talk about nutritional values there, because this is what the athletes want after competing.”
The American Elevator Explains Why Housing Costs Have Skyrocketed.
“Bullshit Jobs” is a Terrible, Curiosity-Killing Concept. “Consider reading it an act of meta-anthropology, exploring why a professional anthropologist could be so relentlessly, aggressively incurious about the lives and experiences of others.”
Activism as production vs. consumption.
Why a hotter world might be a more dangerous, violent, and less productive one.
Movies
Jagged Edge. Sexy legal thriller! I don’t think I’ve seen Jeff Bridges and Glenn Close so young before. Really appreciate how this one toys with your convictions.
Inside Out (2015). Better than expected! Not sure I dig the Bing Bong character. I also wonder what this story would be like with Sadness’ journey at its center.
TV
The X-Files, s2e22 “F. Emasculata“. This episode inspired gruesome artwork in my household.
The Expanse, s2e13. Season finale! Everyone has the Protomolecule now! The episode suffered in a way that many long-running series do: I didn’t trust that anyone was really in danger.
The Leftovers, s1e4. Such an odd show. It’s great. Appreciate how often they tell a full story arc within each episode, not just a path from A to B.
Bob’s Burgers, s5e12. Silliness, like usual!
House of the Dragon, s2e4. Dragons, etc..
Game of Thrones, s3e9. The “red wedding”, etc.. I only made it a few episodes into GOT, but glad to get some closure on what this was all about.
So much TV this week! I need to get back into the movie groove…
Music
Holly Herndon, Platform. Oddball cyborg vocals and synthesizer stuff. In wake of PROTO a couple weeks ago, maybe my favorite album of the week.
Ghost, Opus Eponymous and If You Have Ghost. I like the main riff in “I’m A Marionette“. I just really love this band! Distinct nasal singing and general theatricality.
Spent some time with The Joy’s South African a cappella and otherwise.
- Amabutho. “Jele Iguana” is my favorite.
- Hammarsdale
- The Joy. The clicks and “tss” and harmonies in “Amaqatha Amancane” are really nice.
Kamasi Washington, Fearless Movement. A lot more hiphop/rapping than previous albums, and more vocals in general. Not my preference, but the ensemble is as locked as ever. “Road to Self (KO)” is the slow-build multi-genre noodling I signed up for.
The Blackbyrds, Action. I love “Soft and Easy“. Is there word for that kind of ostinato on the electric guitar that shows up in this Barry White genre?
Akusmi, Fleeting Future and Lines. Chamber minimalism in the spirit of Reich, Glass, et al..
On recommendation from my brother, listened to Sylvain Rifflet, Cake Walk From a Space Ship and Dooble. Jazz a bit on the experimental side.
Mark Larson 