After much hemming and hawing over the last six months, i finally quit my job of sixteen years. I still haven’t figured out what i want to do next, apart from taking a few weeks off, and it’s kind of exhilarating. Let’s see what the future holds.
Apps
Obsidian. Now that i’ve finally managed to put all my files on Infomaniak kDrive, i realized that i have 47 different folders named Notes. It might be time to do something about that. I understand why so many people fall for the romance of a physical Zettlekasten, but i prefer practicality over aesthetics, and i still haven’t found a better knowledge management device than hypertext. I’ll try and use Obsidian and something akin to the universal decimal classification to sort through my “permanent” notes. Wish me luck.
Music
A Symphonic Celebration by Joe Hisaishi. The records needed a thorough wash right out of the sleeve, and even then, the playback experience was atrocious. The cutting engineer made all the mistakes that could be made: colliding grooves, excessive exertion of the stylus on both channels at the same time, noisy markers… The sound quality was also lacking, with a bland mix that drained the music of its energy. Unfortunately, i’ve had bad experiences with Deutsche Grammophon records before. Given that they released some of the most egregious Atmos mixes out there, it seems that the issue is not confined to vinyl releases. What a shame.
Spirits Of The Dead Are Watching by Believe. If this is what the eponymous painting sounds like, then i’ve found renewed appreciation for Gauguin. There’s not a tame moment in 42 minutes. Spirit Of The Dead Are Watching is bursting with colour and texture, leaving you craving more. This is unadulterated, unbridled free jazz at its finest.
Movies
KPop Demon Hunters by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang. A little bit too white-washed1 and auto-tuned for my taste, but even i can’t deny it’s catchy as – well, i can’t say ‘hell’, but you get the idea. Sony Animations is on a roll.
Black Bag by Steven Soderbergh. Ninety minutes, a self-contained storyline, a very accomplished (if a bit distracting at times) cinematic style, a perfectly immersive soundtrack, a sane yet sexy portrayal of marriage, an outstanding cast… now that’s a movie!
TV
Poker Face S2 by Rian Johnson. Columbo if Columbo had traded his Peugeot 403 for a Plymouth Barracuda, was chased by the most inept members of the mafia and possessed some sort of psychic ability. Natasha Lyonne is as delightful as ever and the second season’s cast is stellar. Here’s to many more seasons!
- Shame as the root of all evil is textbook Catholicism. ↩︎