Five Bullets 11.22.24
Robots, Jazz, Sutton Hoo & more.
Good Morning and Happy Friday.
This morning in New York City is cold and wet after yesterday’s rain with more on the way this afternoon, the first substantial rainfall since September. But we’re still in a drought.
I’ve finished Herman Melville’s classic Moby-Dick which I started reading towards the end of May earlier this year. Since then I’ve had the book with me nearly everywhere I went, reading a page or two here and there and slowly working towards the end. It was quite a ride which left me excited, bored, intrigued, and shocked at times. Now I’m trying to come to grips with the novel by reading Why Read Moby-Dick by Nathaniel Philbrick which contextualizes why Melville’s timeless story is perhaps the greatest American novel.
After finishing Moby-Dick, I read Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot for a change of pace. The book was a fun and easy read. The 2004 Will Smith movie adaptation of the same name draws concepts from the book but doesn’t follow too closely. More on I, Robot below.
This week’s bullets:
Books: Isaac Asimov’s collection of short stories I, Robot feature his Three Laws of Robotics. I wrote about how today’s AI and robotics compel us to ask the same questions Asimov foresaw 75 years ago.
Movies: Netflix’s The Dig features the story of Basil Brown, a skilled ‘excavator’ but not a trained archaeologist, who helped uncover Sutton Hoo in Woodbridge, England. The site, dating to the 6th or 7th century Anglo-Saxon period, is the final resting place of King Ræwald. The items recovered included a ship and various artifacts.
Music: I’m on a The Bad Plus kick this week with These Are the Vistas, Prog, and Give. If you’re looking for some frenetic free jazz meets Nirvana and Blondie, be sure to check them out. The band has a new album out Complex Emotions.
Podcast: The Bad Plus drummer Dave King sat down with Elmo Lovano to riff on the band’s history, artistic vision, the future of jazz, and more. I blogged about King’s lessons for musicians and creatives. (Of course the most important question: will there be more Rational Funk?!).
TV: I’m late to The Bear but Season One lives up to the hype with great writing, cinematic scenes of Chicago, and all the energy of working in a restaurant. Also, Silo returns for Season 2. I haven’t read Hugh Howey’s books yet so I’m wondering what the show-runners have in store for Juliette and the inhabitants of the Silo.
Dave King: Serious Musician
The Bad Plus drummer Dave King's lessons on artistic vision, jazz, creativity and more.
That’s all for this week. I really enjoy getting this weekly list together. It gives me a reason to explore my interests, learn more, and share it with you.
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