Recent and good links
Mon, Sep 29, 2025 at 09:55:32 PM
Cormac McCarthy’s ArchiveSomeday I'll get around to actually reading Cormac more. But seeing the giant mess of his house is enough for now. Permalink 🔗
Sun, Sep 07, 2025 at 09:37:14 PM
How to make a websiteIt's always useful to be reminded of how elemental writing on the web is supposed to me. Keep it simple stupid. Permalink 🔗
Wed, Aug 27, 2025 at 09:24:45 PM
Living entirely for musicDoes it take a tuition free school bubble environment to enable living solely for making art music? What if the world deeply valued those committed to the arts instead of silently disdaining them/ Permalink 🔗
Fri, Jun 27, 2025 at 09:39:41 PM
The Beths: No JoyGreat sounding new tune from The Beths. Their fun filled pop punk jangle. I saw them live in FW at Tulips. The show was fine, but the songs are fun and a big winner chicken dinner. Permalink 🔗
Sun, Jun 08, 2025 at 09:49:02 PM
“Iran expands dog-walking ban”Truth be told, I'm not a fan of walking my own dog. But I'm happy my kids can walk the dog down the block without having to worry about being swept up by secret police. Wait ... can my kids truly not worry about that in today's climate? Probably ... but only due to luck of the draw. Permalink 🔗
Thu, May 29, 2025 at 09:14:50 PM
Walt Whitman, selfie connoisseur"I wonder if – to use today’s parlance – Whitman “scrolled” his way into a crisis of self-identity, overwhelmed by the sheer number of photos he possessed and the various, contradictory selves they represented." Permalink 🔗
Wed, May 14, 2025 at 09:43:35 PM
“Do Afrikaners want to take Trump up on his South African refugee offer?”It's easy to draw conclusions about this story, and I've definitely been guilty of it, in my heart, at least. This BBC article laid out details in an evenhanded way and in the words of first hand participants. Permalink 🔗
Recent Writing
- It's still the Gulf of Mexico — February 11, 2025
- “The New Yorker — Dec. 30, 2024 & Jan. 6, 2025" — March 05, 2025
- “The New Yorker — Dec. 13, 2024" — February 26, 2025
- “The New Yorker — 2024 Back Issues" — March 05, 2025
Now
Updated: May 12, 2025
This is a now page. Essentially an answer to the question, “What have you been up to recently?” I update this page as the focuses of my daily life ebb and flow.
Feeling
Last time I updated this page I wrote about Wordle. Since then I cultivated a 65 game streak, then pared back my committment to "I play on occasion when I feel like it," then finally down to "I quit and I'm tired of this game." I still regularly receive updates from people on their daily scores, which I entirely ignore—but which also might rope me back in to the game this summer when things are more relaxed.
I am feeling accomplished and nervous. I've spent a big chunk of time since December renovating this website and its guts. It is now working almost exactly as I always wanted, including RSS and JSON feeds. Now the hard part is finally beginning: the actual production of words and stuff. What I truly believe about myself is that I like to tinker with ideas and systems, but when it comes to having something to say, I shrink and never take the first step. I'm the nosy neighbor who won't live their own life. That changes today.
Thinking
I don't have a single thought these days except Let's try to finish these website projects. Get back to first principles and find the simple things you enjoy. Maybe that is actually a thought I have: I am trying not to be seen wearing AirPods around the house or in the company of others. I am listening to fewer podcasts, and two little tweaks are improving my focus on everything I do.
Watching
- Evil—spooky one feat. Ben from LOST. The will they/won't they plot lantern is too heavily leaned into, but the religious vibes are fun.
- Severence—watched this with multiple household members. Rewatching is rewarding for this one.
- House of the Dragon—took the plunge on the GoT universe last year and blazed through it all. This is why watching TV is dangerous; what a thrilling and soapy timekill.
Listening
Visit my listening page for the most up to date catalog.
- Elliott Carter's Violin Concerto
- Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto
- End of the Middle, Rich Dawson
- Antigone, Eiko Ishibashi
Reading
- The New Yorker—back issues, because I'm waaay behind—and not trying hard at all to catch up
- My Brilliant Friend & The Story of a New Name, Ferrante
Recent Notes
The repetition of the phrase “by myself” in verse 2 of “Don’t Pass Me By” is the best and most profound lyric writing choice in a Ringo song.
- Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 01:33:43 PM
Maxwell kills the judge at his trial in Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. In the courtroom.
- Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 12:19:55 PM
Yes, there are some high school juniors who are world class athletes or ingenious musicians, or Guitar Hero wizards - but there are many more high school juniors who are, at their core, clueless 15 year old kids.
- Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 06:35:26 AM
“I know going on vacation brings out the worst in everyone.” - MJ Lenderman. Also true of birthdays and any holiday in general.
- Fri, Sep 12, 2025 at 09:23:40 PM
I burn with curiosity for the daily monotone life experiences of those around me. What are they all doing with their time? What do they think about?
- Tue, Sep 09, 2025 at 09:23:58 AM
Being able to retreat into the world of Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels keeps me going.
- Tue, Aug 26, 2025 at 07:00:30 PM
Spotted: a woman wearing a Collab Culture hat. What does that mean? Overheard: Okay boys, wait in line. Let the girls go first!
- Fri, Jul 11, 2025 at 11:56:04 AM
What everyone wants is the big finish. Right?
- Fri, Jun 27, 2025 at 07:37:38 AM
French Open men’s final living up to the billing. Sinner looks hurt or cramped, which stinks - but Carlos is floating on air after almost being KO’s at the end of the 4th. Heavyweight.
- Sun, Jun 08, 2025 at 01:06:48 PM
The Rickies on Connected this time around were absolute fire - ratifying that redesign years and Apple being off its usual footing makes for good podcast fodder.
- Fri, Jun 06, 2025 at 07:29:17 AM
There was a boy reading the Bible next to the drinking fountain. Standing and waiting.
- Fri, May 16, 2025 at 09:21:04 PM
Have completed downloading all the backups for a site I’m taking over for an organization. It was a WP site and I’m making something new, entirely static HTML with a Go backend to do some extra work.
- Wed, May 14, 2025 at 02:15:09 PM
Considering acting workshops for the kids this summer.
- Mon, May 05, 2025 at 09:40:31 PM
The buildup toward Lila’s wedding is getting unbearably tense. I can’t wait to see what happens!
- Wed, Apr 30, 2025 at 05:59:08 AM