Today's political debate is extremist and anti-expert, replacing any inclination toward trusting knowledgeable individuals to create nuanced solutions with the requirements that everyone has to have an opinion on everything and everyone's opinion is equally valid. I suspect my thoughts are already relatively well known to readers; however, Una's aren't. So I asked her for … Continue reading Una Nation, Una Way
Musings
Sandwiches Are Mostly Bread
I've been roleplaying for longer than I've been writing and—while the protagonists in my books don't politely go when I close the document—I still find RPG characters have a bigger presence than those in my books, which makes creating ones I enjoy being with even more important. However—unlike writing a book—I don't have control over … Continue reading Sandwiches Are Mostly Bread
Air Conditioning Ninja*
No longer will I feel like the bad guy in a Western, when I wear a mask while shopping. Henceforth, thanks to the most wonderful Changes Bristol, I shall feel like a very stylish bad guy in a superhero film. Unfortunately, the masks are made by volunteers from donated materials, so it was pure fortune … Continue reading Air Conditioning Ninja*
Taking Off Faith
I've read a great many fantasy stories that feature characters wrestling with religion, faith, and their place in the universe. But, despite really enjoying that quest for meaning, I've played in few roleplaying games that feature a similar arc. Which might reveal two key ways in which roleplaying isn't just telling stories. Yesterday, a fellow … Continue reading Taking Off Faith
Against the Love of It
In response to last week's post about tearing down statues, Misha Burnett pointed out that positive discrimination denies white males jobs, grants, and other things they are qualified for. And I agree totally with his unstated assumption that it isn't fair to punish white males for the actions of their ancestors, in the same way … Continue reading Against the Love of It
Casting the Last Straw
Imagine you're driving along the road and someone cuts you up. I suspect you at least thought about swearing. Maybe thought about leaning on the horn. Did you think about writing a letter to the newspaper asking people to drive more carefully? Now, imagine you arrive at work and find a parking space, but just … Continue reading Casting the Last Straw
The Book is Not the Book
Since at least my A-Levels, I've believed each book is a product of the text and the reader rather than having a single objective meaning. I realised yesterday that the greatest evidence of this lies not in complex literary theory, but rather in re-reading. When I first moved out of my mother's house, I—as many … Continue reading The Book is Not the Book
String of Conflicts
I greatly enjoyed the string duel between Bill Bailey and Soumik Datta in Tinselworm. Salut Salon have elevated the "competition" to another level though: https://youtu.be/BKezUd_xw20 Today's random thought has been: a piano has strings, but is it a stringed instrument.
Virtual Hands Across the Ocean
As someone who works from home, and enjoys books and cats more than parties, I'm used to not seeing friends and relations all the time; however, social distancing is still grating on me so this TED talk about finding meaningful ways to interact interested me. https://www.ted.com/talks/priya_parker_how_to_create_meaningful_connections_while_apart Not all of these will work for everyone: I … Continue reading Virtual Hands Across the Ocean
Hanging by the Wire
Parker Gayan's "Preset" flicked its neon way across my feed and proved a pleasant thing to viddy with my morning caff-shot. “A disgraced veteran with a troubled past works as a negotiator in a futuristic post-war Korea battling with gangs, robots, and his own grip on reality.” https://youtu.be/0z7xaQawCmo Like many short films, it has the … Continue reading Hanging by the Wire
