Akame Ga Kill

Amusing enough anime about Tatsuro joining the "Night Guard" (?), opposing the empire using Ancient Weapons.  Not terribly gripping, but okay.

The Sinner

Impressive series about a woman murdering a guy on the beach in daylight and admitting to the murder... but nothing is what it seems.  Although not as moody as True Detective, a good watch.

Blick Bassy - "Ake"

From Cameroon.  Haunting and slow.

David C Krakauer - Will brains or algorithms rule the kingdom of science?

https://aeon.co/essays/will-brains-or-algorithms-rule-the-kingdom-of-science


interesting essay about epistomolgy and ontology, neural networks and learning.





"Solving chess solves chess, not thought"




Gödel discovered that in every strictly formal mathematical system, there are statements that cannot be confirmed or refuted even when tehy are derived from the axioms of the system itself. The axioms of a formal system allow for the possibility of contradictions, and it is these contradictions that constitute the basis of the experience of paradox. Gödel's basic insight was that any system of rules has a natural domain of application - but when rules are applied to inputs that are not of the same structure which guided the rules' development, then we can expect weirdness.

Thirteenth

Terryfying gripping documentary about the history and current-day state of institutionalized racism in the United States.

Platoon

Had seen it, but still good.

Sylvia Plath - "Ariel"

Morning Light

one cry, and I stumble from bed, cow-heavy and florid

Uncut Gems

Crazy busy fast-paced (dialogue'd) story of Adam Sandler as jewel salesman and conman trying to sell a large stone, constantly borrowing things from friends which he then pawns.  Too fast almost.  I missed the depth to his character. Yes he breaks down. But who cares?

The Gentlemen (2020)

Latest Guy Ritchie film.  The usual British crime stuff. Nice.

Adam Kay - "This is going to hurt"

Very easy and enjoyable read about a junior doctor's experiences.  Funny.  Fluffy.

Hannah Gadsby - "Douglas"

Great show.

To be fair, it did not have the emotional impact of her "Nanette" show. (I seem to have missed recording that here. That show was fucking phenomenal.)

That does not matter. She is amazing. She makes "The Curious Event of the Dog in the Night Time" in a standup comedy routine. With sad sad moments. Where we all laugh. That's comedy. That's true talent. You're laughing and simultaneously you go "wtf"

Da 5 Bloods

Why the triumphant music during the fighting scene when their helicopter goes down?  This is not a glorious battle. Spike Lee is a great director; this is a *decision* (thanks Hannah Gadsby)
Writing this while still watching. Wondering if I'll get it later on.

The Vast of Night

Amazing continuous shots. Not just technical, they reinforce how the small town, the people, the radiostation and the switch board, are all connected.

The storytelling is good. And the writing.
"I've seen good people go bad, and smart people go mad." (Mabel Blanche, when she tells Everett And Fae (? the girl radio operator) about her life.
Her monologue is amazing. how "they" made people focus on stupid things, on losing weight, on fashion, on anything, not realizing they were being controlled. How thus, "they" made wars happen.


Some great guitar music.


"Cut the gas, you were a mile wide!"  [not even close]

"You are on the stick with me tonight!" [exasperated, you're driving me crazy / making things difficult for me?]

Señor Coconut - "El Baile Aleman" (A Latin Tribute to Kraftwerk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGnFF5w5sro

Octavia E. Butler - "Bloodchild"

short eponymous story and others, including a few essays.

Good writing.  The short story about how people cannot talk anymore was interesting. Her afterword after each story made it particularly interesting.

Upload

Enjoyable series about a virtual digital afterlife "Upload" where boyfriend falls in love with his tech support "angel". Bit over the top, to the point where they don't take themselves seriously. Took me a moment to get that.

Max Porter - "Grief is the Thing with Feathers"

poetry, novella?

Amazing story of a mother who has died, leaving Dad and Boys behind. And Crow. Chapters alternate between them. Who Crow is, is left to the reader. Mystical, mesmerizing.

Amazing read.





But I care, deeply. I find humans dull except in grief. There are very few in health, disaster, famine, atrocity, splendour or normality that interest me (interest ME!) but the motherless children do. Motherless children are pure crow. For a sentimental bird it is ripe, rich and delicious to raid such a nest.




We will never fight again, our lovely, quick, template-ready arguments. Our delicate cross-stitch of bickers.





BOYS

She was beaten to death, I once told some boys at a party.
Oh shit mate, they said.
I lie about how you died, I whispered to Mum.
I would do the same, she whispered back.




Moving on, as a concept, is for stupid people, because any sensible person knows grief is a long-term project. I refuse to rush. The pain that is thrust upon us let no man slow or speed or fix.

Warren Ellis - "Because I Was A Girl"

Moses Sumney - "also als also and and and"

Spoken word. Haunting synths and synthetic saxophones with spoken word.

Quite X-Rated style. Nice.

Shadow

Enjoyable enough wūxiá style film, about three warring kingdoms over Jing City. All black and white in a neverending rain where only the blood runs red. Bits of it ar a bit boring and seem to make fun of the genre. Particularly the king is a bit irritating. But the ship slowly sailing towards the city is nice, as is the ensuing battle.