2026-02-09 03:41:42
I am nursing a hot cup of tea while I wait for the decongestants to kick in, allowing the steam up my nostrils and into my swollen aching sinuses. I don't know if it helps but it feels like I'm doing something and that's better than nothing.
Alice shared Matthew's Sunlight Optimism Calculator and it's fabulous — I shall be referring to it frequently in the coming weeks. Only 31 days until it's light after I finish work.
Stopped by the library on Saturday morning and picked up a really interesting looking book; "The Book Eaters" by Sunyi Dean. I have three weeks to power through it. The text is tiny to my old eyes though so, I imagine, I'll be renewing!
Every time we go to the library, we have such a good time we say we should go every week but then life gets in the way. Maybe this time is the time…
I have to write a self appraisal for work to outline my achievements. Something about my upbringing, mental health, and Gen-X makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable "showboating" like this.
However, we no longer live in a world where "work hard and your contribution will be recognised" — recognition will only be forthcoming if I "tell" people how hard I have worked.
Feels bollocks to me but, hey, thems the rules.
The hope is always here, always alive, but only your fierce caring can fan it into a fire to warm the world.
Merriman Lyon, "Silver on the Tree"
2026-02-08 21:35:56
Contrary to popular belief, Rage isn't banned. King pulled it from print in the late 1990s after it was found in the possessions of several school shooters.
Far from glorifying school shooters, King wrote a book about human interaction. A condemnation of clique-y society and poisonous “norms”.
This is the book Salinger wishes Catcher in the Rye could have been.
2026-02-08 00:08:35
I'm sat in a presentation about "agentic AI" — we're going to construct agents (chains of computer systems) to handle to mindless repetitive grunt work that we all hate doing.
In many ways, this sounds amazing. I can tell you the pain points of my job and you can get a computer to do it for me so I don't have to?! Amazing!
And then I write my self a note: If we automate the busy work, where is the impetus for change? When do we fix useless processes?
Jim Neilson's Saying “No” In an Age of Abundance touches on this too.
Organizations had an incentive to say “no” when development was constrained — “We can only do so much, so let’s make sure we do the most impactful things.”
Sadly, so much of this focus is on the bits of work I genuinely enjoy and rarely focused on the actual humdrum. I'd love for someone to automate away my timesheets or laborious approval uploads instead of writing code and wireframing UI.
2026-02-07 04:57:44
London-based hard rock three-piece, Calva Louise's "Con Corazon" is a Dead Sara-ish grungey "quiet-verse noisy-chorus" in a grimy basement with a slick af bass — heck of a scream on her!
Meanwhile, the latest album –2025's "Edge of the Abyss"– is drastically different and absolutely incredible. Touches of MSI, metalcore, frenetic synths, Spanish language screaming, 90's riffs, Mexican mythology. A new favourite!
New single "Ay Ya" by Christine and the Queens hits you with some bloopy, bassy, almost trip hop. Ethereal, dark, and downtempo.
Metric are back with typical Metric grubby indie pop. "Victim of Luck" is good but not incredible.
I remember seeing drag queen Sacha Velour doing a routine to "Deceptacon" once. Anyway, blending Sprints' urgh with Le Tigre's nyangh results in something very Fight Like Apes! I am enjoying!
Plaintive acoustic guitar folk verges on country in Nina Nebsit's "Seventeen". Minimal synth wash in the background with a crisp and bendy electric riff breaks up the finger-picking.
I have a soft spot for furious political rap; especially when it's punk or metal af. On "Illegal Aliens", Delilah Bon's anger spits over dirty guitar and clips of presidential speeches, their growl rasping like a cornered wild animal.
The second cover of the week, Chris Isaac's "Wicked Game" ably interpreted by The Anchoress. Lacking percussion, slight distortion on the piano, Catherine's gorgeous voice catches with emotion but soars when needed.
A powerful message from Paris Paloma on "Good Girl". I'm loving the pace and the sputtery 808-style drum fill. She has a beautiful voice.
I must confess I added this to my playlist because I loved the artwork. "Crossroads" by Obsidian Swing — never heard of them before but I quite like them. There's that processed metal vibe of Polaris; slick production scream-y vocals.
2026-02-07 03:45:57
From 2nd April 2026, Google is reclassifying as a "data processor" instead of a "data controller" for their reCAPTCHA service — that one where you have to prove you're human by clicking bicycles or school buses or traffic lights.
What this means is a net good for online privacy.
Although it doesn't affect historical data (anything they have already logged about you prior to April 2nd), they have no control over your personal data captured through the service from that date forwards.
This means they can only process it for the purpose of the reCAPTCHA service, in accordance with the rules of the website owner, and not forward it on to their other services whenever they feel like (mostly creepy advertising portfolios, I would wager).
2026-02-04 04:14:47
The final book in Cooper's epic The Dark is Rising Sequence ties all of the loose ends up neatly in a quite satisfying way that doesn't feel forced.
There's a lovely twist towards the end that plucks a heartstring or two but I won't spoil it here for anyone.
I will say that I was quite impressed with the denoument; the way Merriman explains what will happen now The Dark has been defeated for the "final time" feels oh so pertinent now.
We have delivered you from evil, but the evil that is inside men is at the last a matter for men to control.
The responsibility and the hope and the promise are in your hands—your hands and the hands of the children of all men on this earth.
The future cannot blame the present, just as the present cannot blame the past.
The hope is always here, always alive, but only your fierce caring can fan it into a fire to warm the world.
Merriman Lyon