Five Bullets 9.19.25
“Now that I have a few moments to spare I shall write a description of my cat.”
Good Morning and Happy Friday Friends.
The first signs of fall arrived this week in New York City, or maybe I just noticed them for the first time. The leaves have begun to change color and the squirrels in my neighborhood park are hurriedly preparing for winter. Despite this we’re having warm temperatures near 80℉.
I’m slowly but surely re-reading Steinbeck’s Travels With Charley as I mentioned back in Five Bullets 9.5.25. Though I think of it as a summer book, Steinbeck took his trip in September 1960 and his travels in the northeast carry that calm rhythm of fall, when the roads are clear of summer travelers and hunters return to the woods in search of game. Steinbeck was so worried about a hunter mistaking his canine companion for a deer that he “wrapped Charley's tail in red Kleenex and fastened it with rubber bands.”
I’m reminding myself to be present this week. My default operating mode is always thinking about the next thing but I’m practicing mindfulness by savoring the moment. In the period between seasons I feel the need to shift perspectives and live more intentionally but I tend to forget it then pick it back up again.
I hope you all enjoy this week’s bullets. Here’s what’s capturing my attention:
Five Bullets 9.19.25
Thunder Chicken by The Mighty Imperials is the record I didn’t know I needed right now! Featuring future Daptone alums Leon Michels on organ, Sean Solomon on guitar, Homer Steinweiss on drums, and Nick Movshon on bass with vocalist Joseph Henry, the album is pure funk and soul a la The Meters and James Brown. Released in 2004 by Desco, the pre-Daptone label of engineer/producer Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann), Thunder Chicken has that same lo-fi, band-in-a-room sound as your favorite Daptone recordings. Given their thunderous funk it’s hard to believe The Mighty Imperials were only 16-year old high schoolers when they cut this record!
More music:
asked “Can you recommend a rock album where every song hits hard, no weaknesses, no fast-forwards?” I recommended Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs for the Deaf and my comment has been getting some likes from readers. What’s your pick?
My first-ever blog post was about upgrading my Macbook, where I wrote about installing more RAM and upgrading the computer’s existing hard-drive to get a few more useful years out of the 2008-era computer. Recently I learned that installing OpenCore’s Legacy Patcher on unsupported Apple devices can give old Macbooks and iMac’s new life. A few years ago I upgraded to a newer Macbook when my old one was essentially useless due to the outdated OS, so when I learned about OpenCore’s software I was interested to see if I can once again repurpose that old Macbook. I’ll update you with this project as it unfolds.
Actor Robert Redford passed this week at the age of 89. The Sting is my favorite Redford film which I watched countless times with my grandparents growing up. Johnny Hooker (Redford) seeks out Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to help him con mobster Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). The movie’s deliberate pace, underscored by Scott Joplin’s ragThe Entertainer, evokes a corrupt depression-era Chicago that comes alive with slick performances by Redford and Newman.
“Now that I have a few moments to spare I shall write a description of my cat.” In 899 Japanese Emperor Uda received a black cat from the former emperor and remarked on his admiration for the cat in his imperial diary. Uda wrote that the cat’s black fur is “dark black like a crow” and “when he stretches out he is long, resembling a drawn bow.” Uda clearly loved his cat and “felt particularly keen to lavish the utmost care upon him”. My favorite line:
“My cat moves silently, making not a single sound, like a black dragon above the clouds.”
That’s all for this week folks! If you’ve got something you’re digging and think I’d be interested please send it my way. I’m always on the lookout for new music, movies, books and more to check out.
Thanks for reading Circles In Space. If you’re not subscribed, click the button below to grab a free zine and get a fresh Five Bullets in your inbox every Friday.
Have a great weekend,
Keith.