This is happening in our house

UPDATE! COMPLICATIONS!

Thanks to Tom for keeping me across all these developments. News as we have it.

September 21, 2022 |

No mates

I enjoyed this discussion on Woman's Hour about male friendships. Based on Billy No-Mates.

"Men treat women like their HR department"

"Men don't have friends. They have wives who have friends who have husbands"

"The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Men don't put the effort in"

"Show up when you're asked. Go first when you're not. Keep going even when it's hard"

 

 

 

September 21, 2022 in gathering |

Notes notes

I'm extremely 'notes' curious. I imagine that finding just the right note-taking app or methodology will unlock all sorts of productivity gains. Then I remember that it never has in the past, I don't really want to unlock productivity gains and I'm getting too old to care that much.

But it has also occurred to me that this blog right here is probably the place I've cultivated and tended the longest. It's been a sort of notebook for almost 20 years. So I'm going to go back to just sticking notes here.

Apologies to the RSS massive.

September 20, 2022 in notes |

Everything is connected

This Arena film by Gillian Wearing is fantastic. It's about George Eliott but it's also about all sorts of modern people. Many of them from the Midlands!

I did not know that she lived (and wrote Middlemarch) very near Regents Park. I did, sort of, know of her Derbyshire connections. But not to this extent.

September 20, 2022 |

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek @ 1210 Berlin

Anatolian psych-pop. It's time.

September 19, 2022 |

Recomposed

Perfect for a morning of transitional weather, Peter Gregson's recomposition of the Bach cello suites. via Alan Jacob's newsletter.

September 19, 2022 in Music |

MJQ live 1970

Everything about this is gorgeous. The sound. The look. The vibe. The vibes.

September 18, 2022 in Music |

Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim

Excellent advice from  on dealing with someone who won't let you talk:

"There are also more advanced moves. One of my favorites is the Question Sneak Attack. While your monologuer is talking, say over them “Jim (or whatever their name is), can I ask you something?” This often makes them stop, or at least wrap up their thought. Because there’s nothing better for an over-talker than you asking them a question. This makes it seem like they are not simply holding forth at length, but instead answering your questions. When they do stop, you don’t, in fact, ask a question. Instead, you make your point. Every time someone successfully executes off the Question Sneak Attack on the radio I high five myself, or whoever is around me. It is probably my favorite move. 

A less advanced, but very effective move is the Name Drop. When you find yourself unable to get a word in edgewise simply start saying the speakers name. Like this, “Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim.” This is incredibly effective because it is usually a short and easy set of syllables to get in that makes it very clear that you’re being talked over. And because you’re using the talker’s name it is very clear that you are addressing them specifically. Eventually, they will have to stop and say “yes?” At which point you can politely point out that they have been speaking over you this whole time and you did not buy tickets to this one man show and could he please show you the exit."

September 18, 2022 in useful |

Funk and chess

Funk from the discount bin and a Fischer vs Spassky chess game.

September 18, 2022 in Music |

Iman is my leader

Go big or go home

The real Iman

September 18, 2022 |

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