∞

I’m sure there’s an accessibility reason for justified text in ebooks (and if there is, then I’d love to know more about it). For me, it’s never done anything but degrade the reading experience.

Make justified text an option, but the default for all ebook text should be left aligned.

∞

I’ve decided that the best thing for me to do with my life is to win the lottery. Preferably some kind of major, or even historic, jackpot. Any ideas on how best to accomplish this?

∞

I read Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz.

Same old Evan Smoak action but with a refreshing dive into his past and family. I don’t think it’s the strongest in the series, but I appreciated how it made an effort to enlarge the story of the Nowhere Man. 📚

∞

After watching the Doris Day-Rock Hudson film, Lover Come Back, I’m now certain that what was holding Hollywood aloft in the middle of last century were the twin tent poles of Technicolor musicals and mistaken identity rom-coms.

∞

I was wondering when I’d have the opportunity to test out the new insulation in my attic. Turns out that it’ll be next weekend.

High 80s in April? I may also need to consider cracking open the box on my new BedJet earlier than expected.

∞

HBO Max Renamed as Max ↗

From J. Clara Chan:

Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday unveiled Max, its refreshed streaming service combining programming from both the original HBO Max streaming service and Discovery+.

Good job, Zaslav, et al. You took the prestige of and brand affection for HBO and turned it into a muck of “Max.” A small part of me hoped that the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO would course-correct away from this graceless endeavor. At the very least, they could have come up with a better name. Even better, they could have kept the HBO Max and Discovery+ apps separate instead of the weird tack of creating this new combination service and keeping Discovery+ around and unchanged.

But grace doesn’t appear to be in their wheelhouse. Like Zapp Brannigan piloting an orbiting restaurant, Zaslav is full steam ahead on seeing what the heck is going to stick to the wall this time.

By removing HBO from Max’s branding, WBD is also hoping to appeal to a wider audience that may have previously turned away from the streaming service due to HBO’s high-brow reputation and higher price point. [WBD’s president, JB] Perrette said removing HBO from the branding was a part of “preserving and protecting the most iconic trailblazing brand in entertainment.”

And yet, they’re still using the style of the old HBO logo in the new Max logo!1 That filled-in “a” in “Max” bears a striking resemblance to the familiar filled-in “o” in “HBO.” Despite what WBD may say, HBO is still a brand with a large and important audience. This amalgamation doesn’t seem like protection. It feels like a lack of confidence in their new product.

And anyway, I thought the point of Discovery+ sticking around was to appeal to that “wider audience.” What, then, is the point of continuing to offer two separate apps—Discovery+ and (now) Max? I understand why they’re keeping the former around. The HBO catalog probably won’t appeal to those who want an endless supply of reality shows. But surely the inverse is true, as well.

We’ll have one focused streaming service that meets the desires of those who use it and one unfocused mess crammed full of stuff that’s likely to confuse and/or frustrate many. As I wrote last August, it’s going to be unpleasant scrolling past, for instance, a giant banner image of 90 Day Fiancé to get to Succession. That kind of silly experience is nowhere to be found on successful rival services like Disney+.

Way to dilute a strong brand in the name of sticking it to AT&T, guys. I’m sure this new service and pricing 4K resolution content into a more expensive tier won’t lose you loads of previously invested fans.

  1. Something I just learned while trying to find an image of the new Max logo. Searching for “max logo” or “new max logo” returns predictably unhelpful results. Max is such a common word. Good luck to anyone trying to find more information about Max in the future through an internet search. You’re going to get a lot of nonsense. ↩︎

∞

I just read Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro.

As always, Ishiguro turned out an impeccable and moving novel. Klara’s story held my heart tenderly throughout before almost crushing it in the last several pages. What an experience! 📚

∞

Like a hundred-year-old bottle of fine wine that was accidentally exposed to the elements and turned to vinegar, the past-its-expiration liquid cold medicine I just took burned my throat and insulted my taste buds.

I think it’s time for a new bottle.

∞

We’ve got standing desks. Ergonomic desks. Treadmill desks.

How come nobody is popularizing the George Costanza desk?

∞

It may not be news to anyone, but I’m finding that a good1 pair of silicone-coated tongs are perhaps the most useful and underrated tool in my kitchen. I keep finding new uses for them!

  1. A very forgiving word here. Mine were part of a cheap set from Amazon. ↩︎

∞

Gone with the Wind publishers brand novel ‘racist’ and ‘harmful’ at start of new edition ↗

From Jacob Stolworthy:

A new edition of Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel, released by Pan Macmillan, contains a caution at the start warning readers of its “problematic” content.

The note reportedly says the book has not been rewritten to erase the offensive material, but says it includes “racist” elements that are “hurtful or indeed harmful”.

I feel that this is an appropriate and adequate addition to the book. Assure the readers that nothing in the text has changed, give some historical context, and allow people to choose for themselves if they want to venture into a problematic book.

This is in contrast to the recent trend of removing or altering problematic language and themes in previously published works. New editions of the books of Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming, and Roald Dahl have had their texts changed in recent months. I can understand why the publishers have made their alterations, but I believe it’s the wrong tack to take.

It will surprise nobody to learn that I don’t own the rights to these books. I’m just some guy in Southern California, not some powerful publishing decision-maker. However, I don’t feel censorship is necessarily the correct decision to make with most things. Not only would Margaret Mitchell’s book be reduced to a slim and confounding thing, but trying to erase slavery from history, even in the context of a work of fiction, would be far more problematic.

It’s not a book ban, but a text ban is still an erasure. In the case of Gone with the Wind, removing any text relating to slavery would be akin to whitewashing the past. I’m glad the publishers haven’t made that decision. Context and education are important. Willful ignorance and turning a blind eye to the atrocities of the past are harmful.

UPDATE: Is there a word for book publishers who fall over themselves to alter the content of older works for “current sensibilities” because other publishers are doing it and they don’t want to be branded as politically incorrect or behind the times?

Penguin Random House has started changing “outdated” terms in the works of P.G Wodehouse. Jeeves and Wooster couldn’t escape this fate either. This time, they’ve also included a disclaimer at the front of the book. As I wrote above, an explanation of a book’s history and how it may be problematic today is an acceptable addition. Altering the content? I’m not as certain.

This is beginning to feel like reactionary jumping on the bandwagon. At what point do these actions go from feeling like they’re well-intended to an obvious fear of losing money?

∞

Letterboxd Diaries—March 2023

Total movies watched: 28.

Favorite movies of the month: The Bridge on the River Kwai and Women Talking.

Worst movie of the month: The Dark Tower.

Be sure to follow me on Letterboxd! 🎥

∞

I’m also finding out that installing new ceiling insulation requires turning the room into some kind of Dexter-style, plastic-covered space. If I see them start to tack up pictures of random people on the walls and lay out sharp tools, then I’m going to have some serious questions for them.

∞

I’m getting new ceiling insulation installed in my work space/bedroom today. Hopefully, this will help mitigate the oven-like temperatures I’m plagued with every year in that room. There’s hardly anything more unpleasant than trying to sleep in a puddle of my own sweat.

∞

The new Apple Music Classical app is a refined and focused experience. I’ve immediately gotten much enjoyment out of what it provides. It gets a hearty recommendation for any fan of the genre.

It’s still a shame that it’s not yet available for iPad or Mac. What an easily avoidable fumble.

∞

While it may not be a great indicator of overall health, I was still excited to see that my BMI has finally shifted down into the “overweight” category. Being classified as “obese” didn’t feel too good.

∞

Does the Pope live in constant fear of spilling communion wine/spaghetti sauce/melting chocolate from fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies on his brilliant white robes?

∞

I read The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami. This is not my preferred short story collection of his; that honor would go to Men Without Women. This was fine enough and had a couple of stand-out stories, notably one that was turned into an amazing Korean film. 📚

∞

I strive every day to be more like my fancy bed frame: Light, sturdy, expansive, aesthetically pleasing, and tightly assembled with fine Japanese joinery.

A fancy bed frame headboard featuring great Japanese joinery

∞

I wonder if I’ll ever get to the point where I’m not laid out for most of a day after receiving a COVID booster shot. Granted, it has gotten better since the first ones—I’m not a moaning pile of soreness like I used to be.

I’m looking forward to this evening when I will surely feel better.