This is where I might post short items. Like what I’m currently listening to, or reading, or watching.
It’s organised in a fediverse-like timeline. It might not get used very much, I don’t know. I like the idea, but we’ll see how it goes.
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This page lists entries for the current year. For past entries consult the Now archive.
So I had intended to write in this place a bit more frequently, and a bit shorter. But for a few reasons I’ve not managed that. So here’s a few things I’ve felt like writing about in August and early September.
Firstly, I finished The Terraformers. Fantastic book. Really different vibe. It’s about a future, space-bound humanity. As I was reading it I was trying to put my finger on just why it felt so different. And coincidentally, Adam Becker had on his podcast Lucian Walkowicz and Erika Nesvold, talking about the idea of “space colonisation”. And how that word, “colonisation”, is really bound up in how we talk about space, how we imagine it. How it’s part of the colonialist worldview. And this is why this book felt fresh: it’s not about space colonisation; it feels anti-colonial.
I’ve also started reading Death of the Author, by Nnedi Okorafor. It’s really good. Not what I expected, but in a good way. Not felt up to reading for the last week or so but hoping to get back to it in the next few days.
I’ve been watching a few good TV shows, too. Ludwig, on BBC; David Mitchell is really on form in this, very funny, think I prefer the second season over the first, which is unusual. Trigger Point, on ITV, with Vicky McClure; nice thriller kind of thing about bomb disposal, exciting even if it did get a bit silly. The Other Girl, on BBC; this was darker than I expected but really compelling and tense.
I’ve been pretty exhausted so not progressed massively with my studying, but still kept up my 30 minutes every day on Classical Arabic. Really starting to get into sentence structure and analysing stuff beyond single words or fragments; it’s getting really interesting now.
Musically, the biggest thing has been discovering ZAINAB. In particular, her deput EP, Canal View - some fantastic Urdu house. Love the track Azadi - “Freedom” - such a vibe. Azadi on Youtube has English subtitles; powerful video. Also watched a couple of live shows she did: ZAINAB | Boiler Room: Montréal is just wild, and ZAINAB (fka ZEEMUFFIN) House Set: Live from Brooklyn Rooftop is incredible, really uplifting party.
Finished reading The Last Murder at the End of the World, by Stuart Turton. Bought it on impulse when it was on sale for 99p. Never read anything by him before. But really enjoyed it a lot. One of the reader reviews says “unlike anything I’ve ever read before”, and yeah, I’d agree with that. Now reading The Terraformers, by Annalee Newitz. Heard them recently on Adam Becker’s podcast, and they sound like the kind of person I want to support. They have a new non-fiction book, Stories are Weapons, which I’d like to listen to on audiobook next too.
Started doing a Phoenix course. Given how many people seem to be deskilling themselves with “AI”, I feel like learning how to do things is only going to be more important in the future. So I decided to start working on my own skills.
Finished all the ‘beginner’ modules in the Classical Arabic course I’ve been doing. Roughly 100 hours of study over the last four months. Minimum of half an hour per day, every day; a bit more at weekends and on leave. Now onto the ‘intermediate’ stuff.
Been listening to some Chez Damier; his compilation Aspire to inspire. Really fantastic retrospective of his work. Also revisiting some singles I bought this year. The new Groove Armada track Love’s Theme is just gorgeous, such a good sound, instant classic. Soneec & Soultizer In Your Eyes is still probably record of the year for me, and it came out on 2 January; just so good.