John Gruber – aka @gruber – on a theme I discussed yesterday, the difference between Apple’s view of the Mac platform versus iOS/iPad: “Developer uncertainty regarding the viability of selling Mac software is the last thing needed for a platform that is already facing a dearth of new original native software. Apple doesn’t have to make a platform-destructive money-grab policy change to ruin the Mac. They can ruin it simply by planting the seed of doubt that they might.”
Robin Sloan says of me, “Alan can make anything sound terrific, when he loves it,” which is one of the best things anyone has ever said about me. I’m not even sure it’s a compliment, but I like it anyway. (And I hope Robin reads Cahokia Jazz, which really is wonderful.)
What Dracula is
If, as some think, deepfakes will become undetectable, that just might force a long-overdue reckoning with our reliance on online “information” and “evidence.”
I added some links, fixed some bad links, and generally updated things at my home page.
I think DHH is right about Apple.
Lazy day.
Just discovered that Terrence Malick, Marilynne Robinson, and Joni Mitchell were all born in November 1943.
Something I often think, prompted tonight by seeing Jamal Murray (6'4") standing next to Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid (both 7'0"): If you’re an NBA guard, you spend your working life around people who make you look tiny, but then everywhere else you’re an unusually large person. The contrast must be weird.
Damon K: “A positive, progressive change to this system benefiting more people is not going to come from the top - that is what these latest facts and figures illustrate above all. It is up to the rest of us to find a way to make streaming technology work for the majority of musicians. At UMAW, we have been developing a plan to bring more streaming income to more recording musicians, and we will be going public with details very soon. Support us when we do. And join us if you can!”
The mysterious Roman dodecahedra.
A wonderful collection of Milton Glaser book covers.
Listening to the legendary Bill Evans Trio Village Vanguard sessions. Forty-five years later, I got to hear Motian play with Bill Frisell and Ron Carter a few blocks from the Vanguard at the Blue Note. They were wonderful. 🎵
Blizzard conditions in Waco
I wrote a bit about what I’m teaching this term and how it will affect my blogging.
Augustus John, “A Glass of Wine” (1902)
Mary Harrington: “A culture that valorises ‘cool’ sets us up to fail as social beings - and then sells us myriad forms of ‘self-care’ to make up the shortfall. Against this, you need to be cringemaxxing. You need to be seeing old schoolfriends. You need to be helping out at Scouts. You need to be praying with old ladies, babysitting people’s kids, picking up litter, and wearing the jumper your nan knitted. It feels weird to begin with, but it’s worth it. Trust me: I’m as uncool as it gets. You need to be cringemaxxing.”
“The Arrival,” photograph by Carol Munder.
BBEdit 15, in addition to getting several interesting new features, has undergone some slight but really quite pleasant adjustments to its appearance.
Currently reading: The Spirit of Early Christian Thought by Robert Louis Wilken. This will be my third complete reading of this great book. 📚
The Mouth of Orcus, in the Gardens of Bomarzo.
Yet another really nice one from Adrian Vila.
Mark Hurst: Marc Andreessen is right – love doesn’t scale.
Nineteenth-century plans for a chunnel.
