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Noise, energy, blare, blast - and voice and words as just a joyous shout of self-assertion What I've less interest in: lyrical rumination, inwardness, reflectionWhat I've no interest in: didacticism, messages, uplift I like tracks that are like engines with the foot on the gas... unflagging... jets of steam shooting out from underneathThe kind of rap I like is in fact rap where the rapping is not that important as …

Film Apart from the odd duff moment (hesaidit!.gif), this past season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been a marked improvement on the first. Although Sauron was a presence and a notional antagonist in the first series, having him being revealed and moving to centre stage helped to focus the story immensely and create connections with the rest of the Tolkien adaptations.With that in mind, …

In a few weeks I will be turning 25 years old. That’s an interesting number: it’s a quarter of a century, and it also feels like a pivotal moment in one’s life: the middle of one’s third decade, now closer to the beginning of the fourth decade than the end of the second decade. Instead of having a mid-life crisis, I decided to reflect a bit on the idea of …

We make plans to meet: N: “Welcome! It’s raining, do you have anything to do with that?”S: “Also, it’s drizzling here…”D: “Haha it’s raining here as well!” We meet for lunch in a restaurant with a covered terrace and listen to the rain pound the metal roof overhead. D says it hasn’t rained here in 6 months. I apologise and she shrugs and smiles, says they probably needed it. N …

Well, this is new, I was going to write 'weird', but it's not really weird, just 'new', I'm coming at'cha from a car-park on an industrial estate having paid 4.99 for an hour's internet, which seems excessive but that's end-stage capitalism! However, I happen to have an hour to spare, and remembering to tell you about this at midnight, would be a tad late! Going to give the London antique

Intro video from a channel called Not Just Bikes with “stories of great urban planning and urban experiences from the Netherlands and beyond.” Found StrongTowns.org via the channel, too.

In a recent paper, Antoni and St. Onge (2024) have argued that the peak in GDP, properly measured, was in 2021Q4. Source: Antoni and St. Onge (2024). Notice that real GDP is drastically below that reported in the annual update a couple weeks ago. This means the deflator they use much be much higher than the official. Indeed, the cumulative deviation of the Antoni-St. Onge deflator from the reported is …

Some cosplay images from various events. I mostly dress up as my own character, Huntra, who I have to make a game of someday:tm:. If I happen to do more this year I will update the galleries. Photos were taken and edited by my wife Jenny! She is great with camera. <3 ComicCon 2024 Kummacon 2024 Matsucon 2024

Eden Flag with Solar-Anal Emblems and Hexes (2017) by Elijah Burgher. • A note for regular readers that I’ll be in London for a couple of days next week, so the weekend post may be delayed by a day, if it arrives at all. I’ll be attending this event at The Century Club, Shaftsbury Avenue, a talk about The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic which will be published …

Code reviews are, by nature, intimidating. Sometimes even brutal. If you've been in the game for long enough, you probably experienced the following: you worked hard on a feature, you're proud of yourself and open the PR to be praised and land your changes, and then... it rains comments, suggestions and nitpicks. And if it's really bad, you're forced to take multiple feedback and clean-up rounds. It sucks. Getting open …

We’ve got 3 1/2 weeks to cast our votes! We simply cannot allow Republicans to win anywhere — we already knew this, but after watching so many of them peddle disinformation and conspiracy theories instead of using their power and platforms to get help to people in desperate need, even more so. For those of you who are members at my Patreon page (which you can join for free), I’ll …

On 31st October—Halloween night—film lovers and horror enthusiasts are in for a treat as Cheltenham International Film Festival presents a special screening of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, The Shining. Starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duval, and based on Stephen King’s chilling novel, this classic film has haunted audiences for decades with it’s eerie atmosphere, psychological tension, unforgettable performances and memorable film sets, notably the Overlook Hotel. Set in the remote, snowbound …

Today we answer all your questions about how to make a Chinese meal, from weeknight dinners for the family to a Chinese dinner party. What’s the traditional way to do it? How many dishes do you need? What types of dishes go together? Read on to become a master at Chinese menu planning and preparation! ... View Post

I've been on an Irish culture kick over the last month: first the film Kneecap, then Juno and the Paycock with Mark Rylance and then Arán & Im, a performance in which Manchán Magan talked about the origins of Irish words while making sourdough bread (very tasty). Magan is the author of Thirty-Two Words for Field: Lost Words of the Irish Landscape so there was a lot that evening of …

Spending Thanksgiving in the woods with a friend down at their cabin. I’m making a non-traditional meal, my famous Big Piney Stew over the fire. I only get to make this once or twice a year and it’s always a treat and very well received. Paired with a local dark lager it doesn’t get much better! Note tags: NovaScotia, autumn, fire, cooking