Daily Log

Came down around 10:30. I seem to be losing the ability to recall just when I got up, how much I read, etc. I did manage to send out an Agha-Malley-based Gaza Apocalypse post last night. I doubt there will be much interest, but we'll see. I wrote the first two paragraphs last, and I think they help the piece a lot. I didn't get anything done on the "gentler genocide" piece. I need to crank out Music Week today, before I can get back to that. My thinking continues to evolve in re genocide. I'm more inclined to see it as a continuum of values, which only emerge as mass killing under extraordinary circumstances. That moment has possibly passed for Israel, but the feelings and intentions persist, likely to erupt again whenever the opportunity arises. I suspect that if you looked back at the history of European (especially Nazi) antisemitism, you'll find that the violence is episodic, but built on underlying currents that feed the outbreaks of violence. Same for the American "genocide," which over several centuries and varying political regimes seems to have reduced native population by 70-90%.

Email (91 unread, 27 spam [a misread, as I reduced that to 2 yesterday]):

• Substack: Apocalypse; 3 likes; Music Week (10:2): shareable assets, 2 likes, 1 comment.
• Chuck Eddy: Streaming is Free-(ish)
• X: "You account, tomhull747, was reported and has been suspended for violating the X Rules. Specifically, for: Violating our rules against inauthentic behaviors. You may not use our sevices to engage in inauthentic activity that undermines the integrity of X." I read through their list of inauthentic behaviors, and have found nothing there remotedly applicable. I have a link open to contact their support team to appeal the suspension. We'll see where that leads. Meanwhile, I clicked on my own website link to my X account, and was asked to verify that I'm human. When I did so, it then asked me to further verify my humanity by opening the X app on my phone. I don't have any such app, so evidently per Elon Musk I am not human. They also allowed that if I had "an active X Premium subscription, it will not be automatically canceled by X."

I wrote this to X:

I received email from you stating that my account is suspended, due to a complaint about "inauthentic behavior." I've read your page on such behavior, and can find no rules against anything I have done. I have one and only one account. I've posted to it today 2 times. Both posts were short descriptions of pieces I had written, with links to the Substack articles. I used Substack's widget to enter X, as it conveniently initializes the form with the link. When I went to look up the text of my tweets, I was told that in order to prove that I'm a human being, I have to use my phone. I do not have your app on my phone, and have no desire to add it, least of all as some sort of "2 factor security scheme." So it may well be that even if you admit your error in suspending my account, you've decided you simply don't want people like me online.

Music Week

Expanded blog post, October archive (in progress).

Tweet: Music Week: 41 albums, 2 A-list.

Music: Current count 46721 [46680] rated (+41), 24 [31] unrated -7).

Advance Music Week appeared October 10 on Substack as Music Week (10:2). It is also archived here. My cutoff was done before the Substack post, but the introduction is revised/rewritten.

New records reviewed this week:

• Jocelyn Balu: Borumba (2026, Vu Prod): [sp]: A−
• Rahsaan Barber: Eternal (2025 [2026], Jazz City Music): [cd]: B+(**) [10-09]
• Matt Berninger: Type It Up (2026, Concord, EP): [sp]: B+(*)
• David Binney: History:Memory (2026, Mythology): [sp]: B
• Nat Birchall Quartet: Live at Low Four Studio, Manchester (2026, Ancient Archive of Sound): [bc]: B+(***)
• Michael Blake: Halloween Tales (2026, Baby Tank): [sp]: B+(**)
• Sam Blakeslee Large Group: New Blood (2023 [2026], Brooklyn Jazz Underground): [sp]: B+(*)
• Curly Castro: Yaphet (2026, Backwoodz Studioz): [sp]: A−
• Amalie Dahl's Dafnie & Lisa Ullén: Live at Kafé Hærverk (2025 [2026], Trost): [sp]: B+(**)
• Marty Ehrlich: Open Air: The Complete Saxophone Quartet Compositions of Julius Hemphill (2025 [2026], Out of Your Head): [sp]: A−
• Event Horizon Jazz Quartet: Consternation (2026, self-released): [sp]: B+(**)
• Enzo Favata: Ritornare (2026, ECM): [sp]: B+(**)
• Firelife Trio: The Space Around the Sound Resounds (2025 [2026], Sonic Transmissions): [sp]: B+(***)
• Satoko Fujii Orchestra Nagoya: Kore Kara (2026, Libra): [cd]: B+(**)
• Phil Haynes 2 Horns & What?: Avant Modern/Jazz Now (2026, Corner Store Jazz, 2CD): [cd]: B+(***)
• Kiefer: Memory Bomb (2026, Blue Note): [sp]: B−
• Kirk Knuffke/Marilyn Crispell/Thommy Andersson: Paintbrush (2024 [2026], Sunnyside): [sp]: B+(**)
• Kwn: And All Pride Aside (2026, RCA): [sp]: B+(**)
• Miranda Lambert: Crisco (2026, Vanner): [sp]: B
• Gregory Lewis: Organ Monk Sings: Introducing Ms Raina (2026, Sunnyside): [sp]: B+(*)
• Buddy Miller: Buddy Miller (2026, New West): [sp]: B+(**)
• Billy Mohler: Live in Europe (2025 [2026], Dox): [bc]: B+(***)
• Tommy Muellner: Solitary Moon (2026, Calligram): [cd]: B+(**)
• Ekep Nkwelle: Caged Bird (2026, Mack Avenue): [sp]: B+(*)
• Marek Pospieszalski Octet: Ever (2025 [2026], self-released): [bc]: B+(**)
• Jamie Safir: Momentum (2026, Chill Tone): [cd]: B+(**)
• Brandon Seabrook: Utility Modern (2026, Out of Your Head): [sp]: B+(***)
• Judi Silvano's Garden Winds: First Flight (2024 [2026], JSL): [cd]: B−
• Kevin Sun: Kevin Sun, II (2024 [2026], Endectomorph Music): [cd]: B+(***)
• Kevin Sun: Kevin Sun, I (2024 [2026], Endectomorph Music): [cd]: B+(**)
• Trio Imagination: Creative Inspirations (2025 [2026], Pi): [cd]: B+(*)
• Chris Whiteman/John Toomey Quartet: Live at Révéler (2025 [2026], self-released): [cd]: B+(***)
• Jerry Z: Break Allegro (2026, Drawbar): [cd]: B+(**) [10-09]

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries:

• Roland Brival: Créole Gypsy (1980 [2026], Soundway): [sp]: B+(*)
• Can: Live in Arles 1975 (1975 [2026], Mute): [sp]: B+(***)
• Stanley Cowell Trio: Illusion Suite (1972 [2026], ECM): [sp]: B+(***)
• Sir Roland Hanna: Songs of Hope, Inspiration and Joy (1990s-2002 [2026], IPO): [sp]: B+(**)
• Peace Anthems (2026, Red Hook): [sp]: B+(**)
• John Prine: Found Dogs (1995 [2026], Oh Boy): [sp]: B+(***)

Old music:

• The Modern Lovers: Precise Modern Lovers Order: Live in Berkeley and Boston (1971-73 [1994], Rounder): [sp]: B+(*)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

• Peter Brendler: And Then, Nothing (Lost Song) [11-13]
• Stephan Crump: Passerine (Out of Your Head) [10-23]
• Marty Ehrlich: Open Air: The Complete Saxophone Quartet Compositions of Julius Hemphill (Out of Your Head) [08-28]
• Mali Obomsawin: Automatic (Out of Your Head) [10-16]
• Marc Ribot Quartet: Hurry Red Telephone (Pi) [10-30]
• Brandon Seabrook: Utility Modern (Out of Your Head) [10-02]

Daily Log

Came down around 11. Fed the dog, and took him into the backyard. I spent some time trying to wash down cobwebs, but didn't have much success. Wrote more on Genocide, then got stuck again. I should take a break today and do Music Week. I'm also considering writing up that Agha/Malley quote on Oct. 7, 2023. Seems like the right time to do that. Weight up to 233.0. I'm pretty depressed.

Email (187 unread in inbox; I moved some "spam" over, but had to use the webmail app, as Thunderbird crashed when I tried moving a message from Spam to Inbox; lots of leftover unread email from yesterday):

• Substack: Apocalypse: shared assets; . +2 free subscribers.
• Mike Konczal: I Disagree With the Tax Foundation, Labor Share Is Collapsing: Getting into the guts of NIPA and what prop income really does when you include it.
• Tom Engelhardt: America's Archvillain.

Daily Log

Woke up after 10, and came down before 11:30. Read Galbreath's chapter on inflation. I flagged a paragraph that makes a key point, which is that businesses were normally reluctant to press their pricing advantages, but that once the story of inflation and its expectation set in, they not only raised prices to cover their own rising costs, but added extra profit in while they could. Another key point is that upper income people used their stimulus not to increase consumption but to bid up the value of assets.

I made some progress on the genocide essay yesterday, but I'm stuck again. Shouldn't be a big problem, but I'm having a hard time developing any enthusiasm for the job.

Email (130 unread):

• Tom Engelhardt: China? A Rising Imperial Power? Well, Yes . . . and Strangely, No.

Daily Log

Woke up around 7:30. Read some. Tried to go back to sleep. Logged some more minutes, but couldn't. Gave up at 285 minutes, 85 score. Came down at 9:30. Laura'a soup was on the porch, so I unloaded it. Jigsaw is nearly complete, so I should leave it for Laura. I came up with a first line for the Genocide essay, so I'll work on that. Marked a section of Galbreath's book on evolutionary models. I should use that for further writing. Updated software, so I need to reboot. I'll put that off a few minutes/hours, probably until breakfast.

• Cam Patterson tells me: "if the last CT of your aorta that you had was in 2006, you need another one. Regardless of echoes." Not something I wanted to hear.
• Sorting out dinner plans with Laila. Nothing possible until end of October, so wait and see.
• Toyota Rewards Visa wants to give me 5000 points. Further proof of the company's descent into hell.
• Substack: Music Week (10:1): +1 like.
• Matty Winshow: confirms 2 tickets for Oct. 17 screening of The Last Critic. I guess we pick them up? Ouma Amadou is the festival contact.
• Jim Eigo: 2026 recap and download links.

Daily Log

Slept 400 minutes. Came down at 10:30, after reading a bit of Galbreath. Doug came over yesterday afternoon, and did considerable hacking on the ash tree in the front. It was at least a third dead, so now it's looking rather lopsided, but healthier. We went to Rannfrid's 4PM talk at WSU, then out for sushi. I worked on the puzzle later, we watched TV, and I got to bed early (for me), so I got virtually nothing done (on writing, at least) yesterday. Didn't even look at my email. I should try to do some writing today.

Email (142 unread in inbox):

• Posspo asks "are you still interested in our CD player?" If so, now they're offering a unit to test "at no cost to you."
• Substack: Loose Tabs (9): +1 like.
• Tom Engelhardt: America's Archvillain.
• Tom Carson: Frankenride 12

Daily Log

Woke up multiple times during night, but in the end slept until after 11. Didn't come down until 12:30. Doug was going to come over to work on yard, but I put that off (leaving open just the work on the tree, if he's so inclined). Laura wants to go to Rannfrid's lecture at 4. It's at WSU, and I'm worried about parking. She has a new book on the history of the Bible. Started work on genocide piece last night. Looks like it could sprawl, so I need to figure out how to contain it. Didn't write much, but beginning to make sense of the structure. I'm about 20 pages into Galbraith. It's going to be a good book.

Email (183 unread in inbox, maybe 25 new?):

• Doesn't look like I got to any.

Daily Log

Woke up after 8, but couldn't go back to sleep. Got up around 9. Finished reading the Neiman book. Thinking about the genocide essay. Didn't bother even trying to go back to bed, so came down around 9:30. It's going to be a long day. Music Week post is almost done, so that should go up today, fairly early. Meanwhile, I'll work a bit on the jigsaw, then breakfast, then see what I can do.

Email (164 unread in inbox, looks like 13 from today):

• Substack: Music Week (10:1): 5 likes; stats: 4 likes, 0 comments, 0 restacks, 0 subs, 133 email views, 24 other views (views seem to me to be declining).
• Brian Morton: Thoughts on Tennessee.
• Robert Christgau: Xgau Sez: October, 2026. So no making up for missing September. Didn't include my jazz question. I need to write notice and post.
• Semipop Life: 1996 poll: The results!
• Riot Riot: Conflict of Interest #1
• Sam McAfee: First, AI ruined my book . . . then, I guess, fixed it, based on many corrections that it evidently picked up on and systematized into something McAfee could sell (or at least palm off) as a "writing engine."

Daily Log

Came down at 11:45. Reading Neiman: against Marxism, but in favor of socialism. Could be worth a post on its own. Did the cutoff for Music Week. Plenty albums rated (40), but only one new A-list, plus one old music from the 1996 search. Decided I would play Kevin Sun this morning. If it (actually two albums) rates, I could still have time to pick it up. Otherwise, I may try Tinashe again, but I doubt another spin will move my mind. In any case, Music Week must go out today. I'm leaning more and more toward actually writing up the "gentler genocide" piece, so that may be next.

Email (277 unread in inbox, most old):

• Substack: Loose Tabs (9); shareable assets; 1 like; 1 comment ("That's a lot of truly worthless people in that photo."); stats: 1 like, 1 comment, 1 restack, 136 email views, 24 other views. Music Week (10:1); shareable assets; September 2026 stats: 161 subscribers (+6), 1157 post reads (-45).
• Karen Kurtz (Farmers Insurance): Thanks for being a great customer. Actually, we're just stuck, and none too happy for that.
• Chuck Eddy: . . . And a Dollar Short (For a Few Dollars More): This got me interested enough to click on "150 Best Albums of 1991," but you have to have the Substack App to "claim your free article."
• Robert Wright: The Singularity is Clear: Part III: The Inexorable Logic of International Governance. "Inexorable" only if you assume a happy ending. Some reason to doubt that.
• Mike Konczal: Is The Actual Inflation Rate PCE and High or CPI and Low? We normally fight about what goes in the basket; this is a debate about which is the correct overall measure.
• Tom Carson: Our Nixon (obituary from 1994). Key line: "Oh, how we hated him!" And: "There are still millions of people in their forties and older whose political self-esteem is founded on their hatred of Nixon."

Music Week

Expanded blog post, October archive (in progress).

Tweet: Music Week: 40 albums, 4 A-list

Music: Current count 46680 [46640] rated (+40), 31 [25] unrated +6).

Advance Music Week appeared October 3 on Substack as Music Week (10:1). It is also archived here. My cutoff was done before the Substack post, but the introduction is revised/rewritten.

New records reviewed this week:

• 1-800-Mikey: In Yun (2026, Goner): [sp]: B+(*)
• RJ Chesney: A Southern Man (2026, Man of Straw): [sp]: B+(**)
• Mike Dana Jazz Orchestra: Farther (Still) (2025 [2026], Origin): [cd]
• Defcee & Steel Tipped Dove: We Will Be Brief (2026, Fused Arrow): [sp]: A−
• Daniel DeLorenzo: Can You Not (2026, self-released): [cd]: B+(**)
• Dinosaur Jr.: Near There (2026, Jagjaguwar): [sp]: B+(*)
• FaithNYC: Love Is a Wish Away (2024, Creation Youth): [sp]: B+(**)
• Diego Figuerido: Horse Blues (2026, Arbors): [sp]: B+(**)
• Chad Fowler/Eri Yamamoto: Polkadots & Moonbeams (2024 [2026], Mahakala Music): [bc]: B+(**)
• Shelley Hirsch/Christian Weber/Alfred Vogel: Vanish (2024 [2026], Boomslang): [sp]: B+(**)
• Katseye: Wild (2026, HYBE/Geffen, EP): [sp]: B+(**)
• Azar Lawrence: Turn the Music Up (2026, Trazar): [cd]: B+(**)
• Carla Marciano: Daydreaming: My Beloved Father Giovanni (2025 [2026], Challenge): [cd]: B+(**)
• Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves: Dedicated to You (2026, Blue Note): [sp]: B+(*)
• Gretechen Parlato: The Wise Ones (2026, Edition): [sp]: B+(*)
• Houston Person: From the Heart (2026, Arbors): [sp]: B+(***)
• Polyfillas: An Assortment of Punk Originals (2026, Dangerous): [cd]: A−
• Julian Davis Reid and Circle of Trust: Mercy We Need (2026, Too Lost): [cd]: B+(*)
• Andy Sheppard: Salt Catchers (2025 [2026], ECM): [sp]: B+(*)
• Bria Skonberg: Indigo (2025 [2026], Cellar): [sp]: B+(***)
• Skyzoo & Apollo Brown: Luxury Tax (2026, First Generation Rich/Escapism) [sp]: B+(**)
• Wadada Leo Smith: Constellations and Hemispheres (2017-22 [2026], Burning Ambulance Music): [bc]: B+(***)
• Tinashe: Popstar (2026, Atlantic): [sp]: B+(***)
• Tres Hongos: More Chips (2024 [2026], Relative Pitch): [sp]: B+(**)
• Lex Walton: Ultimate Love Forever (2026, Sub Pop, EP): [sp]: B+(**)

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries:

• Cameron Brown and Dannie's Calypso: Remembrance (2011 [2026], Sunnyside): [bc]: A−
• Jon Waine: Second Skin (1975-1983) (1975-83 [2026], Corbett vs. Dempsey): [bc]: B+(***)
• John Larkin: Before Scatman: Early Sessions (1978 [2026], Iceberg, EP): [sp]: B+(*)

Old music:

• Lola Beltrán: Voz E Inspiracion (1975, Peerless): [yt]: B+(**)
• Daniel DeLorenzo: Trio (2017, self-released): [bc]: B+(**)
• Fine Young Cannibals: The Finest (1985-89 [1996], MCA): [sp]: A−
• Fine Young Cannibals: The Finest: The Rare and the Remixed (1985-89 [1996], MCA): [sp]: B+(*)
• F.S.K.: International (1995 [1996], Sub-Up): [sp]: B+(**)
• Violeta Parra: Las Últimas Composiciones De Violeta Parra (1966, RCA): [sp]: B+(***)
• Astor Piazzolla: Sonfonia De Tango (1955, Disques Vogue, EP): [sp]: B+(**)
• Scatman John: Scatman's World (1995, RCA): [sp]: B+(*)
• Idrissa Soumaoro & L'Eclipse De L'I.J.A.: Le Tioko-Tioko (1978, Eterna): [sp]: B+(**)
• Zuhura Swaleh/Matano Juma & Orchestra Morning Star: Karama Zijiri (1973, Pwani): [yt]: B+(**)
• Caetano Veloso: Bicho (1977, Philips): [sp]: B+(***)
• Yellow Magic Orchestra: Yellow Magic Orchestra (1978, Alfa): [sp]: B+(*)
• Yellow Magic Orchestra: Solid State Survivor (1979, Alfa): [sp]: B+(**)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

• Stephen Braude With Yamara Band: Big Dipper (self-released) [10-01]
• Roni Eytan: Melody People (PKmusik) [10-30]
• Giveton Gelin: Island Dreamer: III of III (ID) [11-01]
• Clay Giberson: Moment's Notice (Origin) [10-23]
• Danny Green: Let the Music Happen (OA2) [10-23]
• Clarence Hines Jazz Orchestra: Along the Way (OA2) [10-23]
• Devra Hoff: Baile as Baile (AUM Fidelity) [10-16]
• Reza Khan: Shadow Dancers (Painted Media) [10-30]
• James Brandon Lewis/Red Lily: Calling Antonin (TAO Forms) [10-23]
• William Parker: Waltz for Gregory (AUM Fidelity) [10-09]
• Matthew Shipp/William Parker: A Whole System Of (TAO Forms) [11-06]
• Ron Vincent: Ray's Hat Trick (Origin) [10-23]

Daily Log

Woke up after 10, and came down at 10:50, after reading Nieman on Gaza and starting the chapter on "woke." More hip pain than I've had since Monday, so I took some ibuprofen along with the usual acetominiphen. Rain stopped, skies are blue, and it's 60F outside. Laura asked for the heat to be turned on, but I'm not feeling the need as yet. Nearing completion of the Substack bit on Loose Tabs. Surely I'll get that done today. But work may be slow, both because I'm starting slow and because I'm expecting Doug to come over to work around the house. I want to trim some dead branches from the ash by the street. I also want to hose down the siding and windows, and clear the clutter from the flat roof. I might expect to work on this, but the way I feel right now, I may just turn him loose. New jigsaw puzzle. This one is going to go a bit slower. Mostly grays, although details will emerge when we look closely. I'm probably putting Music Week off to tomorrow. I did move the new reviews to the October archive, so it will be "(10-1)" instead of "(9-5)."

Email (261 in inbox, many from yesterday):

• TomDispatch: David Vine: The Pentagon's Secret Budget

Daily Log

Slept ok: over 6 hours, AHI 1.5, 100 score. Read a good chunk of Niemann on selling the Red Scare, or Bernays on propaganda. I put Loose Tabs up last night, with minimal fanfare. I'm working on a Substack piece to go with it, but didn't get very far. I'll work more on that today. I won't worry about Music Week until tomorrow: no problem, as my floating date seems to have centered on Friday, and I've been slow accumulating reviews this week.

Email: looked at some stuff, but didn't take notes.

Sep 2026