October in Southern New England is one of the most special times of year because this is when the leaves turn. Driving through the countryside or even just commuting to work means explosions of radiant color everywhere you look.
The smells of October are different, too. The sharpness of summer is starting to mellow as plants begin to withdraw or give up on their season. The days have noticeably shortened. We’ve started waking up in darkness nearly every day.
It’s natural that my mind turns to preparing for the cold months a little more these days. We’re transitioning. Hard frosts will start arriving with increasing regularity, though right now the crickets are still singing through the night, pumpkin everything beckons from every direction, and fresh apple cider seems to be sold at every corner store.
Things are busy right now. There’s a particular energy to October that I’m trying to ride for as long as it will carry me. It’s a time to hunker down, yes. It’s also a time to make sure I stop every once in a while, look around, and soak in what’s here before it shifts again.
My Picks
Slightly less geekery this month, with a couple of useful tools, a tutorial, and fascinating film analysis:
I mentioned this recipe collection tool in a recent post, then realized it’s one of my favorite pieces of software. It works well, has a great recipe importer, keeps track of my pantry, and collects all of my recipes in one place. It also syncs with desktop and mobile versions, so if I’m in the kitchen all I need is my phone.
This site takes a simple, no-nonsense, on-device approach for making QR codes. There are tons of ad-strewn, spammy QR generation sites out there, so this is extremely refreshing.
Become a Wikipedian in 30 Minutes
Crypto industry watchdog Molly White put together the best introduction to editing content on Wikipedia I’ve come across. It’s not difficult to get started, though there are some important things to know. They’re all laid out here in perfect sequence.
Two Ways to Film the Same Scene (#2)
This is a fantastic analysis of Hollywood and European art cinema. It examines the same scene from both the original Wim Wenders film Wings of Desire (one of my personal favorites) and the Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan version, City of Angels. The differing perspectives and approaches are fascinating.
Recently Published
If you’ve missed it, here’s what’s new on the site:
Every four years, a very special ritual takes place that goes all the way back to my childhood: I get a new computer. For my latest system, I decided to forego migration, starting from a blank canvas and rebuilding with intention each step of the way.
My use of LLMs continues to evolve the more I get used to these tools. I decided it was time to do a roundup of the latest approaches I’ve been experimenting with, and have mostly found success.
In the Groove
I’m thrilled to announce that for the first time in more than a year, I’ve released new music. It’s a track I completed a while ago as part of an exploration into live sequencing and performance.
This piece represents something new for me: a one-of-a-kind performance that I couldn’t repeat even if I wanted to. It’s very much influenced by classic 70s electronic music, including Berlin School explorations, with a hint of early industrial percussion via Cabaret Voltaire. It’s available as a free download now (please don’t pay).
Creating the cover art turned out to be one of the most enjoyable parts of this release:
I’m really happy with how it came out in all its retro cheesiness. Looking back at September’s newsletter, I see I was wrestling with perfectionism keeping good work locked away. It feels good to release something new after all this time. Sometimes you just have to let go of the ideal and share what you’ve made. I’m going to bask in this small victory for a while.
Until Next Time
October always reminds me that transitions don’t have to be abrupt. The shift from summer to fall happens gradually, with warm days mixed among the cool ones, green leaves turning gold before they let go. There’s wisdom in that pacing.
I’m finding myself thinking about what deserves to be held onto and what deserves to be released. The music that sat finished but unreleased for months. The perfect autumn day that needs to be noticed before it passes. The busy momentum of the season that needs occasional pauses to be appreciated.
Whatever transitions you’re navigating right now, I hope you’re finding moments to stop and look around. The crickets won’t sing much longer. The leaves will fall. Winter will come. These October days are here now, vibrant and fleeting, asking us to pay attention.
See you in November.