Night of the Cleaning Dead

(December 22, 2013)

Detecting Youtube Movies

(December 18, 2013)

I play Youtube movies as background noise on a small USB monitor in the hall.  However, there seems to be no way to determine whether a Youtube clip is a “still image” thing or a real moving clip.  Lots of people just show a still image of an album cover and put some music on … Continue reading Detecting Youtube Movies

Clairvoyancy

(December 16, 2013)

Last night I dreamt that I was mentioned in the index of Martin Aston’s 4AD biography “Facing the Other Way”.  Which I bought a couple of weeks ago, but haven’t looked at yet.  So I just checked… … and I’m not. But it turns out that I’m on the akwnowledgement page.  (With a mention of … Continue reading Clairvoyancy

Meh. Amazon.

(December 15, 2013)

I was reading yet another story about how Amazon working conditions totally suck, so I thought it was about time to ditch Amazon.  And I’m someone who orders stuff from Amazon like every other day. But the question remains, as ever: Why do all non-Amazon web shops suck?  Badly? For books I’ve now used bookstore.co.uk … Continue reading Meh. Amazon.

IT”S SPREADING!!1!

(December 15, 2013)

As all y’all remember clearly, some kinda weird white fungus attacked a pretty big aloe and killified it totally.  But look!  This plant was totally OK just a couple weeks ago: It’s spread!  To a different room!  But it’s still only attacking aloes. And, eww.  It’s leaving this grey residue on the sill: I think … Continue reading IT”S SPREADING!!1!

Best Albums of 2013

(December 11, 2013)

According to Emacs, these are the albums I bought this year and listened the most to: Pet Shop Boys Electric Adult. The Way Things Fall The Knife Shaking The Habitual Dead Can Dance Anastasis In Concert Scout Niblett It’s Up To Emma Gretchen Phillips Do you ever wish for more? Grouper The Man Who Died … Continue reading Best Albums of 2013

Useful Consumer Review

(December 6, 2013)

I buy quite a few DVDs, and I’m even able to play some of them under Linux, even though I’ve paid for them.  (DRM is all about keeping people who pay for your stuff from watching your stuff.  Pirates find away around that stuff anyway.) But I’m going away on a holiday next month, and … Continue reading Useful Consumer Review

I Heart Japan

(December 4, 2013)

I ordered an album by Tujiko Noriko and Nobukazu Takemura (two of my favourite artists) the other week and forgot all about it.  Today I got this in the mail: What’s that purple thing? It’s a bird!!! This is already my favourite album, and I haven’t even heard it yet.