warning: apple hot-take ahead

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While it'd be nice to be excited by an Apple announcement again, I'm still – with the exception of the M1 Mac Mini because I love Mac Minis and the iPhone XR (see below) – not there. 10-12 years, give or take? I mean, look: it'll be cool to not have to have a stash of hybrid USB-C / lightning cables lying about getting all knotted and shit, but finally doing something (good) to comply with an EU law kicking in next year doesn't exactly scream innovation.

At this point, even a wrist-worn, non-invasive glucometer that talks to my insulin pump wouldn't get me to buy another Apple Watch. Already having multiple bluetooth devices attached via subcutaneous injection (though with better battery life than anything from Apple) kinda sours me on another device strapped to my wrist and/or person. I’m happy with my rotation of G-Shocks.

Indeed, it would seem that I've officially reached the "angry old man" phase of technology, sitting on my porch, whacking flies with my cane, snoring under my hat and waking up screaming to no one in particular that I will be sticking with my iPhone14 Pro until the bitter end which I got only because my beloved XR faded into an ignoble, unchargeable, cracked death after five years and even then thank you very much.

THE CONSTANT GARDENER (John Le Carré, 2000)

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While THE SPY THAT CAME IN FROM THE COLD remains my favorite Le Carré, this is a close second (though the protagonist here, Justin Quayle, may be my favorite; yes, even more than the ubiquitous George Smiley). At turns thrilling, maddening, and poignant – the Le Carré trademark – GARDENER is also possessed of a deep wellspring of humanity throughout, of identity and understanding found through shared purpose (and the regret that it came too late). Haven't seen Fernando Meirelles's film adaptation since it came out, but might have to revisit at some point. Recommended.

P.S. very excited for Errol Morris's upcoming Le Carré documentary, THE PIGEON TUNNEL.

dive / control

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Arrived at the (obvious) conclusion that the only way to deal with the malaise arising from things outside my control in this game called writing is to double down and dive back into the things I can control with greater frequency. Three 90 minute blocks instead of two? Question being if it's sustainable – which is, and always has been, my primary concern, for better or for worse. Still, would like to figure out a way to make writing my default activity, without time constraints, as I do, for the most part, have the freedom to do so. Problem being that so much of writing (at least in my process) is in iterating and winging ideas without a straightahead to-do or outline. Task-based won't work - at least for big works (and word counts and I don’t play well together). Maybe for smaller things, though?