I want it on record now that I've always been a fan of Abi. I don't want any accusations of being a fair weather supporter.

Catching up on the sumo now. I can't believe I'm already 3 days behind.

I'm awake and missed less than half of makuuchi.

Just remembered that it's sumo tomorrow. Am I prepared to wake up early enough to watch it live? January is a bad month for waking up early.

This was an excellent idea. Especially as I was already committed to not leaving the sofa for the next 4 hours.

Is there a likely heir to become the new Kise Oyakata?

Do any heya have Chanukah celebrations? I think the rikishi would appreciate latkes.

I feel particularly affected when other Jewish people across the world are massacred, as they were yesterday. It’s normal and reasonable. It’s equally normal and reasonable for the Palestinian diaspora to have felt similarly in the last 2 years when so many Palestinians have been massacred in Gaza.

epic will pay for every game that gets claimed this way so yes, you are still giving money to rowling (and by extension an international campaign against trans people) by claiming this there are other, better franchises - let this one go

Organising a Fred Hampton Rainbow Coalition between the War on Christmas fighters and the War on Motorists militias.

In case it makes news: there was a World Zionist Org aliyah fair at a London synagogue today and Jewish pro-Palestine groups protested against it. Various right wing or pro-Israel groups are pretending they were just protesting a synagogue for the sake of it and that the protestors were not Jews.

I saw Ura do one of his body drops in person! And I had a good view of his warm up meditation. (Also the rest of the event was very good).

The worst train disruption I've ever seen (excluding snow). Fortunately my manager let me leave work early so I won't be late to dinner before the sumo.

How thorough are the bag checks at RAH? I'll need snacks while watching the sumo.

Ura has his knees out!

My London sumo tickets have arrived!

Terrified that the government is going to use the Manchester attack to do something really racist or pass some draconian legislation.

Wishing everyone who is fasting a good fast, and the rest of us a good sneaking out for lunch during the additional service.

Happy 5786.

About 14% of the UK population voted for Labour at the last general election. I know this includes children and adults not eligible to vote, but they're still suffering along with the rest of us.

One of the (many) good things about sumo is it gives us an excuse to focus on something enjoyable for 90 days a year.

Lunar eclipse or second Death Star?

Declaring the Butlerian Jihad but it's the wrong Butler.

Most bigots are cis het. They are not closeted gay or trans people. They are cis het. Stop blaming queer people for their own oppression. And stop making me have to keep repeating this.

Inspired by this post I made chili the same way last night and it was delicious. I used the dried chillies I already had from the Vietnamese shop, which are probably less suitable but still tasty.

St Peter as The Fisherman.

Sad, even shocking, news for those who follow the lower divisions: the very popular gyoji, Shikimori Kazenosuke, is no longer on the JSA's employees list. The circumstances are as yet unclear.

Over 600 people turned up to yesterday’s Foreign Office protest led by Jews & Israelis from Mi-neged and Na'amod to demand SANCTIONS NOW on Israel. The UK government must do everything in its power to stop the destruction, deliberate starvation, and genocide of Gaza and its people.

The most important part of the tournament. It's a pink macaroon this basho.

I couldn't gasp hard enough so had to immediately do a second, smaller gasp to make up for it.

Not sure who my favourite for the yusho is, but I definitely want to see a 3 way play off.

Ura Musume Pretty Basho

Looks like it's broken. There's no way that's the actual list of tournament leaders.

Tamawashi is 40 years old and currently in contention to win the top division. For reference, the oldest rider in the Tour De France is Geraint Thomas, who is only 39.

It's taken me 2 years but I've finally found the Tournament Leaders page on the Japan Sumo Association website. I can never remember who's in the lead because Ura is leading the tournament for my heart. www.sumo.or.jp/EnHonbashoMa...

They imprisoned Paddington!

It says a lot that I'm disappointed because the Ura - Tobizaru bout was merely exciting.

One of the great triumphs of the UK’s right-wing media in the last decade or so is creating an environment where people who are at risk of getting a sun burn from opening the fridge door for too long can lecture Diane Abbott about racism and it isn’t widely seen as utterly absurd

But my hair is curlier than that.

For Kachi Clash I picked the rikishi that I genuinely thought would do well. I'm currently ranked joint 1328. For Stablemasters I just picked my faves and I'm only 1 point behind the leaders. Conclusion: I should have more faith in my boys.

It's Saint Swithin's day tomorrow and I can't find any kipper. What will I have for breakfast?

Gefilte fish is delicious. All the varieties are. If you don't like it then I just have to assume that my mum is a better cook than yours.

For some reason the 1290-1656 volume of English Jewish history is very slim. This wouldn't leave much training data for the AI.

The silver lining is that now I can describe the biggest gig I've ever played as playing immediately before Bob Vylan, rather than playing immediately after Cock Sparrer. (It was the same gig, what a weird lineup).

DIY > AI

There's no spotted dick, but I've spotted plenty of dicks.

Protest in reading tommorow

My love of socialism causes me to go around sighing too.

The most important part of the sumo tournament.

His bow twirling has defined what the ceremony should look like for me.