what i'm reading§

Hobbes' Leviathan§

I got a marked-up, dog-eared paperback copy for $2 at a yard sale.

My favorite thing about reading psychology is when the author asserts something as universal which is totally fucking bizarre:

...[I]n all cases, both Laughter, and Weeping, are sudden motions; Custome taking them both away. For no man Laughs at old jests; or Weeps for an old calamity.

How much are you willing to bet on that Thomas? Have you never met the Sullen Weeper?

what i'm listening to§

Flaco Jimenez§

I've been norteñapilled by this documentary on the founder of Arhoolie Records.

See also this incredible performance of "Maria Elena" with Flaco, Ry Cooder and George Bohannon. It's hard not to be jealous of boomers listening to something like this.

what i'm watching§

Les Barbouze (1964)§

A firmly middle-of-the-road French comedy. Lots of stuff that goes over my head cuz I'm not familiar with mid-century French politics.

Unfortunately weirdly racist towards the Asian cast. There's a dozen-plus Japanese grunts and they don't even get ex-post-facto credits on IMDB. And in all their scenes, the soundtrack is replaced with a morse tone, as if they're drones being controlled via radio. Which reminds me of the racist dehumanization of Chinese communists as "brainwashed" as discussed in the season of the Blowback podcast about the Korean war.

Modern films don't have the bravery to cut the soundtrack awkwardly in the middle of a scene. Get those fuckers back in the cutting room with scissors and glue.

Project Hail Mary (2026)§

Ryan Gosling should've fucked that rock.

what i'm working on§

boss said we should finish the last room we need to install equipment in before the end of the fiscal year. by 'we' he meant me and by 'before the end of the fiscal year' he meant in the 9 days I have before I leave on vacation.

something i liked§

got a nice shirt second-hand.

something i hated§

my palms still fucking hurt from trying to unscrew some pipes.

a picture:§

saul universe§

saul universe.