Happened, not happens. Sheesh.

The start of May is my one year retirement anniversary. Here’s how that happens, and how the last year has been for me.

A lovely walk with the excellent @knolleary.net today

I repaired my clutch case using some coarse sandpaper, a wire brush and a scotch-brite pad (plus a new badge) and left only some mild battle scarring. Quite happy with this result.

Breakfast and a walk down at Barton On Sea this morning. I love the fact this is only four miles from home.

Today’s experimentation includes midi visualisation and projection mapping in TouchDesigner

“You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning … So now, less than five years later … you can almost see the high-water mark – that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back” - Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

I’d forgotten this moment. Post-2019 election, in which Johnson had won a thumping 80 seat majority, Starmer was positioning himself as a radical socialist. It worked until it didn’t. If he’d actually been a radical he wouldn’t currently be the least popular prime minister since records began.

These people. The depths of self abasement continue to stagger me.

Portrait of the artist as a young (and no longer so young) man

I don’t know I’d call it music, but I’ve been making some fun bleeps and bloops this week. I’m trying to stream live for 20 minutes each day here www.tiktok.com/@deer_png Enjoying inviting people in and getting live feedback. I’d love to do a real-world live open mic set eventually.

Dehydrating some prunes. I know prunes are already just dried plums but I think this will make them better.

Sir Oliver Robbins is definitely feeling a bit free-er to talk about the circumstances of Mandelson’s clearance in today’s Foreign Office Committee hearing. This could be an interesting morning.

Big fan of Emily Thornberry

This Snapchat smart glasses pic reminds me of the photo of Scoble that convinced everyone Google Glass was irredeemably naff

Yes, retirement is treating me well

Every time I hear a group with a name like Labour Friends of Israel, I think: imagine being friends with Israel. Israel, we need to talk.

Tonight’s Electronic Music Open Mic #EMOM in Bournemouth: - Wattsy AF - Pylon Buzz - Nytram - Bluepool - Forgotten Worlds

First haircut for a year. Before and after.

🪂🪂🪂

High drama at Tebay services just now

Tracked down a little bit of history

Lowther Castle

Having fun on Ullswater today

Roger Sloman (Keith) and Alison Steadman (Candice Marie) were both 29 years old when Nuts in May was filmed in 1975.

30 years together

Had fun today making some generative music vm.tiktok.com/ZNRCbLTys/

Well today’s Green Party spring conference is fascinating so far. It has everything. Tech woes, volunteers trying very hard to make things work, frustrated members, a controversial amendment, a potential DDoS attack, a vote of no confidence that first needs a way to take a vote securely. Wowsers.

Pleased to report that Project Hail Mary is a faithful and fun adaptation of a great book. Really enjoyed the Everyman cinema in Winchester too. A proper cinema with tables, food served at your seat, cushions, the works.

Following a fracture last week, I need to be assessed by the adult virtual triage clinic apparently. Which seems to be, theoretically, a way to avoid some patients needing to come back to hospital. However..

For rest and recuperation related reasons, I’ve recently bought some second hand games for my neglected Xbox One: CoD Modern Warfare 3 (tedious, returned it the next day), CoD Cold War (much more fun), Far Cry 5 (seems ok) and just installed Skyrim today (which I know is going to be a DEEP timesink)

‘I Swear’ is very good

It could be worse you know. The US could have (any perhaps one day will) an authoritarian cult-of-personality fascist regime that’s also competent.

I would strongly recommend not breaking your collarbone if you help it. It’s a very annoying injury.

Go for a ride with me

Experimenting with the Insta360 X5 camera. Hazel approves.

We've just hit 215,000 members. More than 2,000 people a day have joined us since our historic win in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Come and be a part of the movement which is making hope normal again. Join us 👇

I did my first Alexander Technique session today. Absolutely loved it!

My son just read the first chapter of Hitch Hikers Guide to me. He especially enjoyed “beware of the leopard”. Feeling like a very happy dad.

I joined the Green Party today 💚

Beard progress

Russell is one of the best communicators in the world. Enjoy five minutes of him telling a story (including a rather fun bit that I hadn’t heard before!) and giving some good advice.

There was another by-election yesterday; a council by-election in Shirley (Southampton) following the resignation of the LD councilor. Liberal Democrat - 27.3% (-11.9) Labour - 26.7% (+2.7) Reform - 19.0% (New) Green - 15.1% (+7.5) Conservative - 8.1% (-16.1) www.southampton.gov.uk/news/article...

It’s a pity that Tarantino is such a weirdo pervazoid. Some of his films are great but honestly the cringey lingering shots of feet! Stop making the audience part of your kink you creep.

Well that’s encouraging. Maybe Labour will learn from it and give up their weird obsession with courting the racists. And if they don’t, they’re becoming less relevant by the day anyway. 2029 is going to be a country of tactical voters hoping they are doing the right thing.

Really sad to see this news. Red Dwarf was a huge part of growing up for me, and I’ve enjoyed introducing it to my son. (Seeing his gleeful repetition of “everybody’s dead, Dave” reassured me of its continuing appeal!) www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/1719...

I want everyone to be happy but I also want the previous Twitter board (I’m looking at you Jack, Bret, Parag, Martha, …) to regularly wake up in absolute horror at what they allowed to happen. The singular solution to extend the light of consciousness my absolute arse.

Does anyone else have the sore throat that makes you want to go to bed and cry for a bit?

Happy by-election day to all who celebrate

Since @pcsunionlondon.bsky.social have posted this in The Other Place but not here, I’ll do it for them. PCS is reporting that Cabinet Office has named Capita as preferred bidder for a £700,000,000 civil service payroll contract. Wow. CS pensions is quite the case study. /cc @radiobeartime.com