Did my taxes last week, a capstone on an other wise perfect Sunday: awake early, reading and writing in bed for a bit, morning walk, personal admin, afternoon run, pizza, movie, nap, dinner, reading until bedtime.
I got audited by ChatGPT this week, now that it has ability to remember and consider previous chats. I played with a few questions I’ve seen floating around:
- Describe me based on all our chats – play it straight.
- (necessary follow-up when LLM was trying to butter me up:) I don’t see much criticism there. Feels like you’re soft-pedaling a bit…?
- Based on everything I’ve ever asked you, what do you think my biggest blind spots are?
I got the kind of accurate criticism that makes you squirm but where you also quickly ‘fess up to it – embarrassed laughter, easy recognition of my best and worst.
Art
Yesterday after visiting a new diner, we went to see Amy Sherald: American Sublime at the Whitney. I’d previously seen her work collected at Spelman Museum in Atlanta and a couple years later at Hauser & Wirth in LA. I don’t know many other artists where I’ve been able to revisit the work in person over a few years, and see them refine and iterate and grow during my actual lifetime.
A Universe of One, 2018, collage, watercolor, and charcoal on canvas by María Berrío.
I signed up for a two-day weaving workshop at the Textile Arts Center next month. It’s been a consistent interest for a few years, just as an appreciator of the craft. Can’t wait to get hands-on and learn more. I’ve also been taking more photos lately. I have no method or philosophy that I know of. I just like trying to capture things that might look interesting? And that’s enough for me right now – feels good to be a carefree dabbler.
Books
Bright Young Women. Re-visited, found my way in.
Running
Really enjoying my early evening runs before dinnertime. And this morning I had best run-walk ever, wife by my side, cold breeze, warm sun, flowering trees in bloom. Perfect start to the day.
Articles & Episodes & Twoots
I’ve been off Twitter for a couple weeks now, and generally drew back from online inputs this week. I’m liking this change. I’ll be back later I’m sure.
“i think creative people ramp up when they lean into their pretentiousness. creativity is supposed to let you be someone you’re not (but aspire to). admit that beauty moves you, that footnotes excite you, that you think art matters. ‘I do have taste and i’m not ashamed of it.'”
Music
Vega Trails, Sierra Tracks. Folk/chamber music – double-bass and saxophone and drums and orchestra – that would be perfect for a soundtrack. Probably my favorite of the week. I like “Murmurations“.
Or maybe it was John Carroll Kirby, Septet? Tightly-written jazz with a bit of funk exocita. Dig the bookends, “Rainmaker” and “Nucleo“.
Abercrombie, Hammer, DeJohnette, Timeless. A bit more jam-jazz than I typically respond to. I like “Red and Orange“, though.
Terje Rypdal, Chaser. Is this easy listening? Or a predecessor? “Once Upon a Time” typifies the spacy, jazzy, noodly vibe.
Eberhard Weber, Endless Days. Jazz bass, didn’t stick with me.
Elliott Carter, Orchestral Songs & Choral Works.
Laura Cannell, “Wake the Slumbering Lyre“.
Movies
The Clock (1945). Charming. Strangers meet in NYC, have some adventures, fall in love. I love the willingness to let linger on their faces. The elation when they found each other at the train station! It will probably make my end-of-year lists.
Dawn of the Dead (2004). Pretty good! You got your reliable people, you got your flakes, you got your bad decisions, you got your relentless zombies. I don’t need the body horror stuff, but the dread and close calls are dialed-in.
Small Things Like These. Gentle, heavy, dark, hopeful. Powerfully acted without being loudly acted.
TV
The X-Files, s4e14 “Memento Mori“. Very worried about whatever deal was made with the Cigarette-Smoking Man.
Mark Larson 