Scratch Pad: “Practical” Instruments, Blue Angels

I do this manually at the end of each week: collating (and sometimes lightly editing) most of the recent little comments I’ve made on social media, which I think of as my public scratch pad. I mostly hang out on Mastodon (at post.lurk.org/@disquiet), and I’m also trying out a few others. And I take weekends off social media. 

▰ I was talking with someone about Loraine James’ excellent new album, Gentle Confrontation. They asked if James uses any “practical” instruments, borrowing the distinction from visual effects in the film and television industry — that is, between what isn’t and is the result of computer generation. I love this use of the word.

▰ I’ve only used the AudioMoth field recorder so far in the backyard. I set it out last night to capture street noises. Time to see (that is, hear) what it captured. First I need to run analysis to see (here the correct term) what in its myriad little files might be of interest.

▰ I know there’s new music out, but pretty much all I’ve been listening to is archival releases from John Zorn’s Tzadik label, now that its back catalog is on streaming services. If you have any favorites, let me know. I own a lot of Tzadik, but there’s a lot more I haven’t heard.

▰ Nothing like a neighborhood three-alarm fire in the morning to get the sonic juices flowing. Yowza. (Looks like everyone’s OK.)

▰ I briefly experienced what I’d call “digital dementia.” I depend on Pastebot for its clipboard memory. It initially didn’t work after I upgraded to macOS Sonoma, which was really debilitating. The app works now. I knew I liked Pastebot but I had no idea how much I depended on it.

▰ The initial Fleet Week flyover made me instinctively wonder if the clothes dryer had suddenly entered a Spin Cycle of Death phase. That’s only 7 / 10 on the “Why Is This Noise a Good Idea?” scale. Judging by the barking, the neighborhood dogs rate it a 9. Car alarms on cue, too.

▰ Fleet Week’s freakish airstrike cosplay coincides with the hottest days of the year, so you can’t even keep your windows closed

▰ Just singing those Blue Angels blues

▰ Current status: blocking out the Blue Angels with Slayer, Celtic Frost, and Public Enemy

▰ A trailer is out for Monster, which I think has Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final score. From director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters; Like Father, Like Son), whose The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House is one of my favorite recent TV shows. (And no relation to the Naoki Urasawa manga.)

▰ Two hours until the Blue Angels. Talk about “enjoy the silence.”

▰ The backyard is so quiet. The birds are like, “I’m native San Francisco. I didn’t sign up for this 85º $#!+.”