Notes on Week 17 of 2026

Tess was in China this week, so I had a lot of time to myself. I saw a few friends, cooked myself dinner, and went to iaido class twice.

Last Friday, I got a haircut. I’m pretty pleased with it.

Metric released a new album this week: Romanticize the Dive. I’m a huge fan (of Metric, and the new album). Victim of Luck and Antigravity are my favorites, though Time is a Bomb is getting stuck in my head a lot.

A new cafe is opening up in Ikebukuro for “everyone who loves lillies.” IYKYK.

Michael Tilson Thomas, the long-time Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony, died this week. He was 81. I went to a number of SFS performances he conducted. I always enjoyed his programs and interpretations. #FuckCancer

Meow. Via Tess.

AI and the Human Voice by Giles Turnbull.

Threat models by Jeremy Keith. Via Tess.

Justice Dept. Targets Hundreds of Citizens in New Push for Denaturalization at The New York Times.