Five Bullets 8.25.23

Movies as Books, a Staten Island Swim, and Black Holes

Welcome back to Circles in Space.

If you’re new here, read this.

Good morning and happy Friday everyone! It’s a cloudy and rainy morning here in New York City. Fall feels closer every day as summer’s high temperatures seem to have receded.

Some housekeeping: I’m pausing the newsletter next week while I’m on a much needed vacation. We will resume on Friday 9.8.23. I hope you all enjoy the Labor Day weekend.

Good Movies as Old Books © Matt Stevens

Today’s bullets:

• Art: In Good Movies as Old Books, Matt Stevens transformed his favorite movies into vintage book covers, which remind me of my old Signet copy of J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. It’s fun to imagine your favorite movies as books. Stevens’ designs bring films like Get Out and Pulp Fiction to life as creased paperbacks and worn library copies.  

• Movies: VICE’s guide to David Fincher articulates the director’s trademark themes and techniques. I was late to Seven and Fight Club but became a fan with The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Fincher’s use of edgy camera angles, dark lighting and suspenseful storytelling always pulls me in. 

• Music: Finally a new live record from funk band Lettuce! Recorded in February 2020 Live in Amsterdam features a career-spanning setlist of Lett classics like ‘Last Suppit’ and ‘Squadlive’ to more recent tunes ‘Larimar’ and ‘Purple Cabbage’. Guitarist Adam “Schmeeans” Smirnoff, saxophonist Ryan Zoidis and trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom bring the heat during solo vamps while keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall, bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes and drummer Adam Deitch hold down the pocket. In recent years, Lettuce has really come into their own and this album captures the band’s high energy performances.

• NYC: Leslie Hamilton swam around Staten Island, the first person to do so since 1979. Hamilton swam the 37 mile trip in 14.5 hours. On why she enjoys ultramarathon swimming, Hamilton said: “Coming off such an uncomfortable situation, there was a sense of just being free…I think you have to go through a lot of crap before you’re rewarded with that feeling of zen.”

• Podcasts: Radiolab’s Little Black Holes Everywhere explores the mystery behind the Tunguska event, positing a new theory: that the blast wasn’t caused by a meteor (or even aliens) but rather primordial black holes. 

That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.

Keith