Random Thoughts [by Lewis Saul]

Some random thoughts:

Random.org

Random.org is one of my favorite sites. I love to randomize all sorts of stuff.

“The randomness comes from atmospheric noise, which is better than the pseudo-random number algorithms typically used in computer programs.”

Nineteen Years Ago

Stacey Harwood-Lehman published an essay at poets.org entitled The Well-Versed Movie. This well-written comprehensive catalog of poems in films is astonishing! Did I recall “she walks in beauty,” from one of my favorite Hitchcocks — Jamaica Inn (1939)? Have to re-watch it!

There is a submission link to which I added the poetry of Arseny Tarkovsky — used in nearly all of his son’s Andrei’s great films. [but the link is dead]

Although I know most of the films, I realize I have a lot of poems to read …

K-Pop

Don’t really like most of the contemporary pop music from any country, but discovering this song really impressed me.

Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife

Le Sserafim

The title promises something interesting — female empowerment. The group’s name nicely anagrams into I’m Fearless.

I’m a mess mess mess mess mess mess mess

I’m a mess mess mess mess mess mess mess

I’m a mess in distress

But we’re still the best dressed

Fearless say yes

We don’t dress to impress

So many things to like about this. The nice powerful major ninth chords; the 8/4/4 rhythm.

What comes next is a mix of Korean and English (unless you’re watching the English-language version).

There are many versions of this video. Here are my two favorites:

The editors of the New York Times style book must be working overtime.

The ambassador posted on

X, the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter

X, the cesspool once known as Twitter [actually used in an op-ed]

X, formerly known as Twitter

X, formerly Twitter

X [saw that today — first time I noticed it as a stand-alone]

Attention Old People:

Things you ought’nt not buy because they’re useless:

Prevagen, Neuriva, LifeLock, California Psychics and oh so many more …

Now and Then

Although the video is heartbreakingly nostalgic and Ringo can still play, the song is a dreary minor-key dirge to something … is this John telling his mates how much he loves them? Recorded in 1970, I tend to doubt it.

Free as a Bird and Real Love are so much more interesting. You decide:

Etsy Commercials

These ads use Lalo Schifrin’s theme from Mission Impossible. Can you name another commercial with music in 5/4?

Listening/Analyzing

Debussy’s awesome Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp:

Reading

1) Years ago, I wanted to read Barry Lyndon because of Kubrick. But Vanity Fair sounded good, so I was browsing E-Bay when I saw this 20-volume set, so (being a completist at heart) I bought it for a song.

After devouring the above two novels, I moved to Pendennis.

And so now I’m tackling the two-volume The Newcomes. Pendennis narrates the history of the family — particularly young Clive, an old classmate of Pendennis and aspiring artist.

Thackeray begins this opera with a parable that hints at the humans who will make their appearance directly:

A crow, who had flown away with a cheese from a dairy window, sat perched on a tree looking down at a great big frog in a pool underneath him. The frog’s hideous large eyes were goggling out of his head in a manner which appeared quite ridiculous to the old black-a-moor, who watched the splay-footed slimy wretch with that peculiar grim humor belonging to crows. Not far from the frog a fat ox was browsing; whilst a few lambs frisked about the meadow, or nibbled the grass and buttercups there.

The cast of characters is filled with wonderfully drawn characters that really come to life.

I just started Volume Two.

2) Michael Fanone: Hold the Line

Somebody’s gonna option this for a film someday, if they haven’t already.

As an undercover agent, he befriended one of his sources, with various consequences. We’ve all seen the footage — the book fills in the parts CNN never had time for …