Stephen's Notebook

I chose Qobuz as my music streaming service because:

• it prioritises albums over playlists
• it has good editorial articles by humans
• there are no aggressive algorithms feeding me more of the same
• it just suggest new albums that usually push me out of usual routines
• you can buy hires downloads from the qobuz store
• it isn’t a system to be gamed like Spotify
• it sounds great
• it doesn’t appear to be run by a creep like Daniel Ek

I expect to come back and update these thoughts after a few more months of listening.

Playing chess for the first time in years. I’m still not very good.

Another day of very Scottish weather. Heavy rain and wind in the morning. Bit of sunshine in the late afternoon. At least I didn’t have to turn the heating back on like yesterday.

Earworm of the week: Sisters Friends by The High Llamas. One of the best tracks from the new album. 🎵

Started to read: A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel 📚

A big number birthday today. I thought I might feel a bit depressed, like after the last new decade birthday, but I don’t. I feel like I’m free of caring now. I don’t have to “act my age” (it’s way too late for that). It is just another number. You keep doing what you like doing until you can’t do it anymore.

It feels like a spring day here too. My favourite times of the year are the times between seasons when you can feel and smell the change in the air. It’s one of those days today.

Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.

Film log: watched The Daytrippers, 1996 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎥

I grew up listening to Radio Clyde. That was when you could hear pop music during the day and rock, folk, jazz, and all sorts, late in the evening. All on a commercial radio station. Changed days. Radio Clyde: Marking 50 years of Glasgow voices on the radio - BBC News

“As a rule, distrust those who use the word “iconic,” unless they specialize in the art of the Orthodox Church.”

Anthony Lane in a recent New Yorker review.

Everything is “iconic” these days.

I found an old Chemical Brothers minidisc album. Someone just paid £45 for it on eBay so there must still be a collector’s market for pre-recorded minidiscs. I must have a few more stashed away somewhere.

I switched my main domain name over to micro.blog today. I’d become a bit fed up maintaining a Wordpress site, and plugins, that I hadn’t really been using much anyway. My needs for a site are quite simple and everything I need is here. I’ll think about what to do with the WP archive later.

I’ve seen this film multiple times and it never loses its charm.

Started to read: Lou Reed by Will Hermes 📚

I couldn’t wait any longer for The Criterion Channel to come to the UK so I signed up using a VPN, got the app onto a Fire Stick, and I’m streaming films without any further need of that VPN. Streaming restrictions are stupid in this day and age. I’m paying the same as any other customer.

Watched on Tuesday January 30, 2024.

Watched on Tuesday January 30, 2024.

Watched on Monday January 29, 2024.

Film log: watched Le Havre - ★ ★ ★ ★ 🎥

Watched on Friday January 26, 2024.