§ This weeknote is almost entirely tech and TV. Apologies in advance.
§ I have been on a two year phone upgrade cadence for a while now, starting with the iPhone X, moving to the 12, and finally upgrading to the 14 Pro in 2022. I think I’m going to continue the trend here with the new 16 Pro.
The biggest draws for me, in descending order: the lighter titanium body, the camera control button and action button, Apple Intelligence compatibility, USB-C, the new 48MP ultra-wide camera.
I didn’t pre-order on Friday, mostly because I want to both trade in my 14 Pro and use the gift card I still have from trading in my iPad last year so I’ll have to stop by an Apple Store. I’m planning to do that sometime soon after the new phones launch late next week.
§ The first couple episodes of Slow Horses season 4 are out. It’s still good! The momentum the showrunners have maintained is unbelievable: releasing four solid seasons in two years is seriously impressive.
§ If you like legal thrillers like Perry Mason and The Night Of then Apple TV+ has just what you need: Presumed Innocent. It is more of less exactly the same as the former two shows—it even has Bill Camp. I watched Presumed Innocent exactly like the previous two, over the course of a long Sunday afternoon, in the background while puttering around the house. A great way to inject some drama into an otherwise dull day of chores.
§ One last TV show: Sunny. I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone else talk about it. I think it might be the most original thing I’ve seen since Mrs. Davis. It even has a proper opening credits sequence, with a song an everything—an ever-increasing rarity.
§ I stumbled across architects Arakawa and Gins. Just imagine carrying an armful of groceries across this floor.
They posited that buildings could be designed to increase mental and physical stimulation, which would, in turn, prolong life indefinitely. An aversion to right angles, an absence of symmetry and a constant shifting of elevations would stimulate the immune system, sharpen the mind and lead to immortality.
While I don’t think architecture is necessarily going to grant us immortality, I feel like Arakawa and Gins were onto something. Increasingly, it is starting to seem like the high relative ratio of novel experiences is a major factor that contributes to children perceiving time more slowly than adults.
§ This weekend was Rooms to Let, an annual city-wide project where artists take over vacant storefronts, houses, and warehouses, turning them into art installations.
§ I finally made it back to my local nature reserve for their nature forum and native plant sale. Of course I totally missed my chance to pick the black raspberries I spotted last June. Nevertheless, it was beautiful to see the park in full bloom.
