We got a new rug! Never underestimate what a rug can do to reset the vibe in a room.
Art
The Return of Odysseus (Homage to Pinturicchio and Benin), collage by Romare Bearden. “Sunday School Picnic” Quilt, by Jennie C. Trein. An ancient Roman mosaic floor panel depicting an almond cake. Composition in a Circle, collage by Jean Arp.
Books
Emma. Finished! Of the Austen novels, I've read, I'd put "Sense & Sensibility" first, then "Pride & Prejudice" (I think? It's been a while), then this in third place. But! Emma might be the best heroine. She's always getting carried away with her imagination and optimism, this over-confident meddling... followed by sincere regret and making amends. Repeat. It's great fun.
I'm not sure what's next, sampling a bit.
Running
Taking a few days off and a few days light. Mentally preparing for more time off of running during PTO soon, and trying to get a mild injury back on track.
Around the Web
The billboard promises a new AI chatbot. It’s really just one guy typing. What a great gag.
New York City regulatory cliffs and winning the war on rats.
"In general, one should be cautious about assuming your opponents are just reading fake news."
"In 2025, Americans spent more money on home improvements and renovations than on building new single-family homes."
Music
Turnover, Peripheral Vision. Early 2000s soaring jangly indie pop. I really like "Humming".
Boneflower, Reveries. Rock a bit more on the screamy side.
The Lighting Section, The Fantasy. Loud rock!
A few from Fever Ray, moody, icy, vaguely demented...
- Fever Ray. "I'm Not Done" is pretty good, love the cross-rhythms in the clapping/snapping. I didn't know I already knew "Keep the Streets Empty for Me", helped job my memory on the connection to The Knife.
- Plunge
- Radical Romantics
- The Lake/Wrong Flower EP. Hearing "The Lake" when I watched The Bride! last week was what inspired this whole project.
Ariana Grande, Petal. The songwriting isn't good, and her voice gets too buried in (sometimes interesting!) synthesizer wash, but it's nice wallpaper and better at high volume. Felt some life breathed back into when we reached the harmonies in "Nowhere, Nobody", but too late by then. Bummer!
Georg Philipp Telemann, 6 Orchestral Suites perf. La Stagione Frankfurt cond. Michael Schneider.
Movies
Fight or Flight. Ideal sunny afternoon action thriller, Josh Hartnett tapping into some zaniness, great physical comedy.
TV
The X-Files, s6e20 "Three of a Kind". Casino setting is fun, but too bad they didn't take full advantage of it. Lots of talking in hallways and bedrooms.
Dark, s4e4.
The Expanse, s1e9–10. Glad I re-watched, if only to re-live the superior books by proxy.
Furious, s1e1–2. Promising!