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Author Archives: Simon
Pavement: Echelon Your dreams
Do I have a favourite Pavement song? I don’t think I do. Some I like more than others, but for the most part my favourite at any moment is the one I’m listening to right then. But, of course, there … Continue reading
Why not Mars?
Why not Mars? Maciej Ceglowski questions the wisdom of a manned mission to Mars.
Posted in Links
Hot Spring Amber
While I was dozing off yesterday in a relaxation chair at a hot spring in the Japanese countryside my brain recognised a slight similarity in the bland piano background music to Dick Diver’s very much not bland song Amber and … Continue reading
Mastodon – Links and Styles
Of the issues with Mastodon raised by Dave Winer, the ones I’m most interested in are links and styles. It’s baffling to me that in 2023 we’re still looking at raw urls and that although I can insert little emoji … Continue reading
Posted in Internet
Fire Ceremony
A new year ceremony at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. Continue reading
Posted in Life, Photographs
If Pressed
He stands by the door, all ready to go — 250 yen in his left pocket, bus fare, and 550 yen in his right, which is for the subway. He knows he should probably get one of those cards that … Continue reading
Posted in Life
Calendar Days is Back
I made it through a week or so without having Calendar Days playing on repeat in my head. It’s back now, especially the verse that goes “There’s a kind of quiet. A fighter jet’s applause. They’re all saw toothed fragments. … Continue reading
Posted in Life
The Phone Disguised
Despite the valiant attempt to disguise it, nothing can hide the futuristic technology lurking with this box plonked down randomly in the Sumiyoshi Taisha grounds. It’s trying to fit in with this, so it’s a kind of high bar.
Sliding Doors and Blazing Flames
One week into my Japan trip and I have not done much at all — lots of cleaning, spending time with family, eating and drinking — which is pretty much how I planned to spend the first week. Probably the … Continue reading
Locational Connections
I used to be very into audiobooks. I mostly listened to them while taking walks around the neighbourhood. It has been yonks since I listened to an audiobook. Not for any particular reason — just a thing that happened. Same … Continue reading
Posted in Life
Fast Tracks and Face Masks
The other day I arrived back in Japan after three years away. After having closed its doors to foreign tourists for so long Japan is really keen to get people back here. You still have to show you’ve been triple … Continue reading
Tricky Cake
It was over ten years ago, but I still clearly remember the night I came home from work and was offered this delicious looking coffee spongecake. I spent a good long while trying to cut off a piece with my … Continue reading
Ghost of Tsushima – Welcome to Iki Island
I’ve started playing Ghost of Tsushima’s Iki Island expansion. I’m playing it differently than I did the main Tsushima campaign. This time, whenever I see a golden bird flutter overhead, I follow it and find out where it leads instead … Continue reading
Posted in Games
Tagged Ghost of Tsushima
Blue Badges
Continuing my tradition of absolutely not seeing what was coming — I remember thinking that the word “blog” would never catch on and that nobody would put up with seeing ads in their Instagram feed — I am baffled to … Continue reading
Posted in Internet
Salt & Fat’s Butter Tomato Sauce
The day ten years ago this recipe for tomato-butter sauce was posted on Salt & Fat was the day I started to cook. Until then I had prepared plenty of food and certainly thought that I had been cooking, but … Continue reading
Posted in Food