It's a dear friend's birthday today so I sent her a copy of LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES by Choderlos de Laclos. An absolutely scandalous tale of evil and ultimate comeuppance. There's a reason it hasn't been out of print since it's publication in 1782. A masterpiece. Hope the transltion is good.

I swear my taxes have been cut by *every* politician since I started paying them. Amazing I'm still paying any.

Listening to BEETHOVEN FOR THREE by Emanuel Ax (piano), Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello). Here, it's the 6th symphony that's arranged for a trio. This is just remarkable.

Ok Bluesky. You're allowed one or two bites at ragebait per year. Ya know, lapse in judgement. More than that, you should seek help. This place was created to discuss soup and arcane musical tastes.

The Jazz Messengers were the original Justice League or Avengers. You assembled the superheroes you needed for a particular mission. Art Blakey is Superman or Captain America in this metaphor. Jazzsky #jazz

In honor of the Blue Note anniversary, listening to MOSAIC by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. Your messengers? No less than Cedar Walton (piano), Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Jymie Merritt (double bass), and Freddie Hubbard (trumpet). Art killing it. Jazzsky #jazz

Legends. Jazzsky #jazz

So great to see a snow bear in the wild!

Annexing land is to power what golden trim is to decoration. Both showoff-y and antiquated.

Connected with friends and helped people today This is the Penicillin, the Elixir, the One Ring, the Jaws of Life, the Epinephrine, the Last and Only Flaming Sword of Self Preservation for this wretched, wretched time

Can't argue.. Wouldn't want to... Can just add... Ralph Towner Pat Metheny Lenny Brault Wolfgang Muthspiel Chet Atkins Jazzsky #jazz

maybe I should pin this

This album is damn near magical. The violin is just wonderful. Jazzsky #jazz

jfc. I need better mute words.

and there you have it...

Tonight, big game between my Steelers and the Ravens. But honestly, nobody - nobody - from the AFC North should be in the playoffs.

On this unclear picture take at the Aylmer Marina today, there's ice fishing, kite surfing, people walking their dog. This is unbelievably ~15km from Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa.

Nina!!!! Jazzsky #jazz

That's the plot of Michael Connelly's latest Lincoln Lawyer novel, 'The Proving Ground', don't you know.

Listening to FURTHER AHEAD: LIVE IN FINLAND 1964-1969 by Bill Evans and friends. Three concerts over the years mashed in this superb 2025 release. I'm no vinyl guy, but some of those 'Record Store Day' albums are just superb. Jazzsky #jazz

I suspect we all have the capacity for these feelings. Have felt them, probably. But not necessarily the capacity to express them in a way that makes us understand that it's a shared experience. That's what did book did for me. Love, loss, grief, joy are not individual feelings, they're communion.

Jan-3-26. Dear diary: Had a serious conversation with the vacuum cleaner and Mr. Clean. The situation has been resolved.

Watched SYNDEN (i.e. Land of Sin). A Swedish series reminiscent of 'Task' in that it features invisible people scrounging at the periphery of society. Interesting, but not uplifting, so be warned.

Fewer takes. More thought. Please.

This one again. Yes, sometimes only Bill Evans will do. So d*mn good. Like great. Jazzsky #jazz

That hmmmmm... you're hearing is the consent manufacturing industry warming up.

Today may be a good day for Julia Hülsmann (p), Marc Muellbauer (db), and Heinrich Kobberling(d). Was for me. Jazzsky #jazz

Dear Hollywood: You know all these movies where American soldiers/spy risk life and limb to save democracy, rule of law, and the world order? Yeah, well, stop making those.

Logging off. Tired of looking at slight variations of the exact same take. Catcha later.

Confession: I mostly buy ham to get the bone to make pea soup. Incidentally, sandwiches and quiche.

From the celebrated Alfie Archives for caturday.

Yeesh. I already have vertigo.

Good lord. An outdoor hockey game in Florida. Manufacturing nostalgia for a tradition that never actually existed is the most 2026 thing imaginable. [derogatory]

Jan-2-26. Dear diary: Took down tree, decorations and packed the Snoopy Christmas Album. Ate less than 6000 calories. Cleaning the house in the near future. Reality reasserting itself.

Listening to Bobo Stenson (p), Anders Jormin (db), and Paul Motian (d). All trios should be so good. Jazzsky #jazz

Consequences of inflation. e.g., The price of oranges has really gone up around here. Given price elasticity, they sell way fewer of them. So when you buy one, it's not only more expensive, it's also of lesser quality/freshness.

Words have no meaning. How can there be 8 seasons of 'The Rookie'?

Is this the year I finally master this simple and elegant fastening mechanism? All signs point to "No".

My AI startup will link your AI fridge to your Oral B AI toothbrush to your Kohler AI poop analyzer. Calling it: DigestAId. Give me $10 billion.

Dolly Parton and Donald Trump are both 79 yo. Not sure it means anything, but sure speaks of origin stories and life choices. I'll have Dolly over for supper anytime.

Went down this most Québec of rabbit holes. If/how/how often/ do framing nails snap due to extreme cold. Answer? Yes, they do snap. They snap because they contract faster than the wood around. How often? Dunno. My guess is: less often than people think. No old house ever collapsed because of it.

So, so cold.

Listening to this one again. Masterful stuff. Jazzsky #jazz

I think my community service for 2026 will be to teach people how to properly roll extension cords and garden hoses.

Listening to NAKED GUITAR by Earl Klugh. Couldn't find it on a links generator. But dig it up. Really, really worthwhile. Jazzsky #jazz

New Year's Resolutions: 1- keep my knives sharp; and, 2- not wilfully read one word by Ross Douthat.

Happy New Year, you all. Starting 2026 with this album by Keith Jarrett, the artist I listened to the most last year (again). Such a brilliant and respectful treatment, Keith serving the material.

For no reason, thinking about how material life has changed over the years. What struck me was the ~95% reduction in the amount of paper lying around, books excepted.

Visited my razor-sharp 95 yo mom today: Us: "In 2026, we hope to take a trip to Vienna or Bilbao." Mom [without missing a beat]: "Well, I hope I don't take a long trip."

People should be listening to this on New Year's Eve 2126. Jazzsky #jazz