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Categories
Meta
Monthly Archives: September 2017
September Books
Non-fiction: 4 (YTD 38) Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman A Short Guide to Irish Science Fiction, by Jack Fennell Peoplewatching, by Desmond Morris Space Helmet for a Cow, vol 2, by Paul Kirkley sf (non-Who): 4 (YTD 60) … Continue reading
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Broadway Melody (1929)
I was a bit surprised by the number of people who pushed back against my plan to watch all the winners of the Oscar for Best Picture from beginning to the present day. Sure, I take the point that the … Continue reading
My tweets
Fri, 15:29: Warriors, ed. George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois https://t.co/rDkNw14xfR Fri, 16:49: https://t.co/Cnja2CbowO Great @OxfordAnalytica cybersecurity panel (see me @ 1:16 & 1:53, and my question answered @ 2:10.) I learned a lot. Fri, 20:48: I helped create … Continue reading
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Warriors, ed. George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
Second paragraph of third story (“Triumph”, by Robin Hobb): The dust-laden wind was drying his bared eyes, and his vision was dwindling. Tears, the tears of his body rather than the tears of his heart, ran unchecked down his cheeks. … Continue reading
My tweets
Thu, 12:46: For #NationalPoetryDay @seamusheaney09, The Cure at Troy: Human beings suffer, They torture one another, They get hurt and get hard. Thu, 12:56: Bombardier: Theresa May’s free-trade reality check https://t.co/zjTt2u0Ynu Yup. Thu, 16:05: What Did the Kurds Get Out … Continue reading
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Lives of Girls and Women, by Alice Munro
Second paragraph of third chapter: Is your mother going on the road much these days?’ they would ask me, and I would say no, oh no, she isn’t going out much anymore, but I knew they knew I lied. “Not … Continue reading
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My tweets
Wed, 12:41: RT @BootstrapCook: People snarking at the Laura K bodyguard story should remember that last year a female MP was murdered by a political ex… Wed, 15:23: Just to finish the story: I asked for my article to be … Continue reading
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Austerity Britain, 1945-51, by David Kynaston
Second paragraph of third chapter [context: it is May/June 1945]: For Henry St John, working a few days later in Midsomer Norton, there was as ever only frustration — 'I tried in vain to buy some Ovaltine, this being the … Continue reading
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My tweets
Tue, 16:29: 1/3 So, a couple of months ago I wrote a short article for a book edited by a chap I know, for free. Tue, 18:40: Synners, by Pat Cadigan https://t.co/QUVFgP2Adu Wed, 10:45: An Oxford student stabbed her boyfriend … Continue reading
Synners, by Pat Cadigan
Second paragraph of third chapter: Sam hadn’t really expected anyone to bother her about the insulin pump hanging on her side. The most attention anyone had given it was to screen it for off-color blips, and the security guard at … Continue reading
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Rip off
So, a couple of months ago I wrote a short article for a book edited by a chap I know, for free. Now I discover that the book is for sale for €690. No, there is no missing decimal point. … Continue reading
My tweets
Mon, 13:01: AfD leader quits party hours after German election breakthrough https://t.co/lJfHTwVei6 Mon, 18:13: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe https://t.co/ImZUGBPfiT Tue, 06:54: RT @martinstabe: The Bundestag since 1949, by @BillyEhrenberg https://t.co/pJJPdDL6ds inspired by brilliant NZ version by @fogonwater https…
Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
As originally published, Robinson Crusoe has no chapters. One later edition has the following as the second paragraph of the third chapter: When I had passed this resolution about ten days longer, as I have said, I began to see … Continue reading
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My tweets
Sun, 12:43: The Peace Monument in Martyrs’ Square. @ Station Leuven https://t.co/As1kUeuSBK Sun, 15:05: Ten drummers drumming. https://t.co/foQulIJT9q Sun, 15:19: A bit of jazz in the Oude Markt. https://t.co/G4wtFhChlX Sun, 18:04: Looks to me like a continuation of the Grand … Continue reading
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Their Mortal Remains: The Pink Floyd exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum
You've got a couple more weeks to catch the Pink Floyd exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Their Mortal Remains, before it finishes on 15 October. I went yesterday with S, who took much better pictures than I did, … Continue reading
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Sunday Reading
Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) The Famished Road, by Ben Okri Peoplewatching, by Desmond Morris Space Helmet for a Cow, vol 2, by Paul Kirklees Last books finished A Short Guide to Irish … Continue reading
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My tweets
Sat, 15:07: RT @StephenFarryMLA: As UK Brexits, not tenable to argue RoI shd unpick its EU relationship. UK-RoI relations best in 100 yrs pre Brexit. h… Sat, 18:38: Anders, vol 1: Lars & vol 2: Onthuld, by Kristof Spaeys and … Continue reading
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Anders, vol 1: Lars & vol 2: Onthuld, by Kristof Spaeys and Bart Vaessens
Second frame of third page of vol 1: Girl: "I'm afraid his hard disk is crashing." Lars: [My hard disk? / What? Wait… / I'm not really… Does she mean… / No, that can't be. Unless… / Oh shit. / … Continue reading
My tweets
Fri, 14:53: RT @JenniferMerode: Same Liam Fox who called Malmstrom’s comments “bizarre, stupid, preposterous and ridiculous” when she said no trade ta… Fri, 16:05: Why Sanctions Against North Korea Are Causing Pain in China https://t.co/izoAyRG4Il A local perspective. Fri, 17:29: … Continue reading
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A Woman of the Iron People, by Eleanor Arnason
Second paragraph of third chapter: Midway through the afternoon we turned onto another trail. It led north into an area of low hills. The soil was sandy. The trees were small and scrubby. Here and there we came upon outcroppings … Continue reading
My tweets
Thu, 17:53: RT @davidallengreen: The test for Theresa May’s speech is whether it engages with serious and detailed points in Barnier’s speech today: ht… Thu, 18:47: Etymologicon, by Mark Forsyth https://t.co/3XThdqznOl Thu, 20:48: In Ireland, Israel’s Religious Right Engages with … Continue reading
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Etymologicon, by Mark Forsyth
Second paragraph of third chapter: Take generous: the word originally meant well-born, and because it was obvious that well-bred people were magnanious and peasants were stingy, it came to mean munificent. Indeed, the well-bred gentleman established such a reputation for … Continue reading
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My tweets
Wed, 12:08: RT @KenRoth: Nobel Prize for Feigned Ignorance: Aung San Suu Kyi pretends not to know why Rohingya Muslims are fleeing homes. https://t.co/… Wed, 12:56: Why serving wine at room temperature is a myth https://t.co/xW0ZLyufQC Interesting. Wed, 16:05: The … Continue reading
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Common People: The History of an English Family, by Alison Light
Second paragraph of third chapter: My mother’s parents – my ‘Nanny’ and ‘Grampy’ – were not individuals but a relationship. Their Christian names were irrelevant. They were ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ to each other, and even my mother had to think … Continue reading
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My tweets
Tue, 17:56: Facts and Figures: The 2017 German Federal Elections https://t.co/cBPGt8TQZj Great stuff from @APCOWorldwide colleagues. Tue, 18:12: The Double Deckers, by Glyn Jones https://t.co/QHUthDPrZu Tue, 18:40: RT @SJAMcBride: Lord Maginnis has used a House of Lords question to ask … Continue reading
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The Double Deckers, by Glyn Jones
Second paragraph of third chapter (counting the introduction as the first chapter): Then they all tried to talk at once, and Scooper banged the table with a maller to bring the meetings to order. Unfortunately his banging upset a bottle … Continue reading
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My tweets
Mon, 16:15: Agreed. Doesn’t make Lib Dems look serious. https://t.co/2sdbhF2h0Z Mon, 18:05: Sultana’s Dream, by Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain https://t.co/uZmUQpQoS3
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Sultana’s Dream, by Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
Sultana's Dream, by Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain Second paragraph: All on a sudden a lady stood before me; how she came in, I do not know. I took her for my friend, Sister Sara. সহসা আমার পার্শ্বে একটি ইউরোপীয় রমণীকে … Continue reading
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My tweets
Sun, 14:13: The Decide Your Destiny books https://t.co/UDF8vWiuQs Sun, 20:48: My Worldcon Saturday In A Mobility Scooter https://t.co/AZZ0YEAyFH Well worth reading. Sun, 21:44: Sunday reading https://t.co/tKyfvgiYRS Sun, 23:15: RT @lowflyingrocks: 2017 RK2, 7m-15m in diameter, just passed the Earth at … Continue reading
Sunday reading
Current Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (a chapter a month) The Famished Road, by Ben Okri Peoplewatching, by Desmond Morris Last books finished Life During Wartime, ed. Paul Cornell Synners, by Pat Cadigan Thinking Fast and Slow, by … Continue reading
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