The man who was What is Thursday?

While I generally catch up on videogame news on Wednesday, I do the same for "Doctor Who" news on Thursday. Most weeks, I'll rewatch a classic "D/W" story or listen to a Big Finish audio. I've given up on the Disney production. Nothing against the actors or themes, I simply can't stand the writing and, in my opinion, disrespect towards the program's legacy. If you enjoy the present style, good for you. There's plenty of other "Who" to keep me happy.

When there's a footy match, Thursday nights are special. When there isn't, they are disappointing.

Pod rec:

What is Wednesday?

It is mighty Odin's day :-)

Further to that, it is scrambled eggs, solo boardgaming or a solo gamebook, and admin crap.

The new Fantasy Premier League site is active. My initial 2025-26 team is pretty wacky. Mid-table obscurity, here I come!

What is Tuesday?

On this particular Tuesday, I did my annual tax return with my agent. I won't claim that's always the case, but I have acquired from my mother and late father the habit of scheduling appointments/running errands on Tuesdays, based on the unsubstantiated belief it's the least busy weekday.

Tuesday is "University Challenge"! As an avid viewer and armchair player of the telly quiz for decades, when the regular or Christmas series aren't screening, I find the day feels empty.

For a long time, my subscription copies of "The Phantom" would be delivered every second Tuesday. Not anymore. Now, whether due to publisher or postal service, when they land in my mailbox seems completely random. Regardless, I still often read comics, graphic novels and manga on Tues arvo.

In the What is Monday? entry, I could have mentioned Danish lessons. I do those every day. Sometimes, I peruse the website of the "Politiken" newspaper to see how many headlines I can decipher.

Oh! I solve the "Wordle" online puzzle on a daily basis, too. Perhaps I should have saved that for What is Wednesday?, with its gaming focus.

Pod rec:

Unlearn how to yearn

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

Cheating with this'un. Old Gerald Brom artwork of Elric - which I reckon nails the character - being utilised for a new "Heavy Metal" cov.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Meidai" by Radwimps (Japan). Band back on form. Would be incredible live. That said, I dislike the stylised gunplay in the clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NepAfC8iKw

You should also have a gander at "Tech Noir 2" by Gunship (UK) for the retro-tastic claymation video. Finally, although four months old, the cover of Lola Young's "Messy" by The Dreggs (Straya!) is a fine thing.

BEST DOCO I SAW IN THE PAST WEEK

Enthralling. Chilling. Bizarre twist. They call this crusading Swedish journo The Real Lisbeth Salander ("The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo").

RIP, Tom Lehrer

What a wit.

What a champ, e.g. putting his songs into the public domain.

And what an innings - 97!

Rest in peace.

Possibly my fave TL tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJ9HrZq7Ro

What is Monday?

Unlike Bob Geldof and Garfield, I don't hate Mondays. Of course, BG was only singing about a nutter who hated Mondays. And Garfield doesn't have to drag himself outta bed to travel to a school or workplace, so his hatred makes no sense.

Monday is a day for "starting as you mean to go on", whether by eating healthier, exercising more or undertaking sumfink else positive in yer life.

Monday is when I like to do certain jobs around the house. I won't go into detail because we all carry out menial chores and they're boring...but v. satisfying to tick off the mental to-do list.

We usually have sushi for lunch on Monday, from the excellent cafe at the top of our street. They recently added onigiri to the menu, which was exciting. Today, I had crumbed prawn'n'avo rolls + my own soy sauce + pickled radish strips from the Korean supermarket.

On Monday, I like to finish reading a magazine. It's just a tradition. At the moment, I'm reading the latest ish of "SFX" on my iPad. Am also making my way through a stack of "Amiga Addict" back issues from PG. On top of those, a package arrived earlier from SC containing half a dozen volumes of gaming journal "Wyrd Science" - which look fantastic.

If there's a TV program I eagerly await on Monday, it's long-running Korean cooking contest "Chef & My Fridge" [Netflix], where famous chefs compete to produce the best meals from the ingredients in a celebrity's refrigerator within a 15-minute time limit, amid much good-natured ribbing.

I email my three dear sisters a collective message every Monday morning (and a second every Friday afternoon).

Another thing I try to do on Monday is send a cool postcard to RS1, who is a p-card maniac. "Cool" could mean an unexpected card image, new set of Aussie stamps, funny sticker(s) or some interesting geek trivia written up by me. Or all of the above!

There was a local internet radio show I used to tune in to on Monday evenings. It covered fresh releases from bands/solo artists in this area. Ain't done so for a while, though. I go through phases.

Monday is when I pen the week's fixtures for the teams I follow onto a whiteboard so that I don't miss a chance to watch live...or at least see a result. The sides included obviously change with the sporting seasons. Current lineup: Knights women, Knights men, Matildas, Montedio Yamagata, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Wix, Wallabies, Swans, Oz men's cricket, UFC.

Anyway, along with a small amount of paid work and light exercise and the occasional spot of gardening, that's Monday.

The setting sun forgave them all

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Noobovich. Very cute figures, though the background could be improved (and the logo sucks - not N.'s fault). Anything referencing ancient Egypt instantly scores points with me.

SONG OF THE WEEK

From Mongolia. Weekly winner by a long chalk - despite the beer plug! Rad, rad, rad. I heart her voice, even when the notes nearly border on shrill. And his voice. And the music. Have played many times already.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f3I3wV-n44

IVE's "Be Alright" (Korea) also quite all right.

ONLY FILM I SAW IN THE PAST WEEK

Wouldn't have given this the time of day*. Not my style of animation, for one. However, sister EM told me how entertaining she and my niece had found it. Honestly, I didn't mind it, either.

*Half past a monkey's arse and a quarter to his balls.

An immaturity beyond my years

Pod rec:

(The first 2/6 eps are currently available.)

Official blurb - 

In July 1985, far-flung Norfolk Island became the centre of a real-life international spy thriller. Four French agents sail there after bombing the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, killing Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira. Australian police take them into custody on behalf of their New Zealand counterparts but then, bafflingly, allow them to sail away, never to face justice. On the 40-year anniversary of the bombing, award-winning journalist Richard Baker goes on an adventure from Paris to the Pacific to get the real story - and ultimately uncover the role that Australia played in the global headline-making affair.

New arrivals:

Mushy Ps & Qs

Having missed a few boardgame nights with the gang due to health, work and timetable clashes, I made it to one. We played 5P "Power Grid" using the German map. I won, which is rare when I am the least experienced and usually the least strategic boardgamer at our table. But I'll take the W!

On the electronic front, I've just gotten into psychedelic shooter "Akka Arrh" [Steam]. At first, it didn't even feel like a game, but then I began to grok the systems involved...and could only bow down to the genius of Jeff Minter (and Giles). So expertly tuned. Must try to have another sesh this weekend.

Am still exploring this season's new anime. "The Summer Hikaru Died" appears a fairly intriguing folk-horror tale. There are elements I like and some I don't. One thumb up, one thumb down. "Tougen Anki", in which humans battle demons for the zillionth time, may have saved itself with the closing scenes of Ep. 1. Two thumbs sideways. Not guaranteed I will see either through to the end. The anime I've actually most enjoyed lately was "The Apothecary Diaries".

I thought WWE Evolution was rock solid. Since I mainly watch the women's matches on the weekly AEW and WWE/NXT shows, an all-gals event was fine with me.

Open the podcatcher doors, HAL

If you dug the Netflix expose "Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard", you should listen to "Hot Money: Agent Of Chaos". Sixth episode was released today.

Heart Strings XVI

Can take me months to accumulate a batch of these. Not for Instalment 16. Just kept spotting babes with bows in my e-travels.

1. Stunning unnamed model from the webpage of Medieval re-enactment/LARP clothing company Armstreet (armstreet.com).

2. I believe this is an Instagram piccy of the lovely Dark Lady Cosplay portraying Sylvanas Windrunner from "World Of Warcraft".

3. Figure of High Elf Archer from "Goblin Slayer".

4.-5. Matilda Lutz in the title role in upcoming flick "Red Sonja". Her weapon looks wrong in that second shot.

6. A crossbow is acceptable for Rachel Nichols as Scarlett in "G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra".

7. The cover of "Wonder Woman #69" by the incomparable Brian Bolland. It's possible I have this boarded and bagged somewhere.

Got 17 correct (before the contestants) on "U/C". The questions are always easier early in the series.

How about that Sydney FC-Wrexham game? Not what I expected given the way the Welsh side confidently dealt with Melbourne Victory. They now need a strong win against Wellington Phoenix to finish their Down Under tour on a high.

Where did I put my invisible-ink pen?

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

Dark as farq. Wall-worthy (minus the text), I reckon. By Dike Ruan.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Fiercely competitive field! Gotta give the award to retro-poppery "Des Betises" by Flora Fishbach (France). Takes until the 0:48 mark to reveal its amazing true colours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeRp4K2sn7M

Commended: "What You Doing" by Pacifica (Argentina), "GG" by Jvcki Vai x vangdale (Korea), and the powerfully real "Shame" by Skunk Anansie (UK). Almost making the cut were the newies by Dorofeeva & Positiff (Ukraine), Creespy & BIG Naughty (Korea), and Chrom (Germany). More than a hint of Depeche Mode/Erasure about that last number.

SURPRISINGLY HARDCORE HEIST DRAMA

Cops as bad as the crims. Overlong, but I'm still keen for Part 2.

"University Challenge" has returned for another season. Hurrah!

Polar koala

Ricint riidyng:

Recent building:

Watching: "Better Late Than Single". I know, I know - the irony of this post.

Wet Model-T Ford contest

The Danes have an expression - "slug kamelen" - meaning take the compromise. Literally, swallow the camel. It derives from a Bible verse.

While you can buy camel meat in Australia, it's not common. When I lived in Darwin, there was a popular pie shop that sold a camel variety.

If said bakery had been run by a Danish couple, that would add the perfect twist to this entry. Alas, I dunno who ran it. Sadan er livet.

Signal fires in a downpour

Pro tip: If you find yourself with a zero-alcohol beer that tastes too bland, a dash of pure lemon or lime juice works wonders.

Watching: Three-part Netsy documentary "The Diamond Heist". A cracker!

Hearing: The back catalogue of the "Within Reason" podcast (religion, philosophy and adjacent) is proving intellectually invigorating :-)

That's why they call them ghost towns

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Fernando Ruiz & Rich Koslowski. Normally, I wouldn't pay attention to an "Archie" cover unless it depicted, say, Betty and Veronica as drawn by Adam Hughes. However, this homage to the original "Clerks" poster is just plain cool.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Elements" by Wytch Hazel. If Blue Oyster Cult had dropped this track in 2025, I'd be on it like a car bonnet. The fact it's by an English covertly Christian-metal group shouldn't change that. Mystical lyrics + magical riffs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrgJjKQzx-w

Commended: "Pack It Out" by Arrested Development (US), "Wilderness" by Eyes Set To Kill (US) and the mighty Glasto performance of "It Must Change" by Anohni And The Johnsons (US). Go, America.

OK-EST SEQUEL I SAW IN THE PAST WEEK

"Sonic 3" was passable as well.

Spare an orichalcum piece, guvnor?

"Halls Of Torment" [Steam] rocks. One of those bullet-hell roguelikes (except it's enemies not bullets). Put a different way: maybe 65% "Diablo", 35% "Vampire Survivors". You can permanently power up a character so they'll be stronger on future delves. AND you can later refund everything you've spent if ya unlock a better chara and wanna improve their base version instead. Loads of quests. Dangerously addictive for these reasons.

39 fish fingers in the box

Got a Covid booster on Friday. I always have a reaction. Woke up in the wee hours of Saturday with my arm hurting, feeling wretched; like I was coming down with something serious. Fortunately, that didn't last too long. Was a tad weak and achey for the rest of the day (still managed to clean the car). Back to normal-ish now.

We took some more of my late father's library to the Book Nook. Half a dozen Lee Child thrillers, plus karate, kungfu and chi-energy manuals. While an elderly gent perused the bookcases full of freebies, a bunch of high-school lads were lazing in the armchairs, pigging out on junk food. "There are some martial-arts books here, boys, if youse are into yer martial arts," I said. Vague mumblings. Realised after that they'd be far, FAR more likely just to view tutorials on YouTube or TikTok.

Was time to grab another Audible release to accompany my daily perambles. Spied "The Complete George Smiley Radio Dramas" as a single item. Of course, I read all eight of those Le Carres as a younger man. But I'm happy to revisit them as Beeb productions (albeit condensed tellings) with A-list casts. Done deal!

Heart Strings XV

A never-ending mission to document lovely lady archers of note. Doesn't matter if they're only pretending :-)

1. Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy gets fashionably tribal for US "Vogue" magazine in 2010.

2. Cosplayer Meagan Orzel as Aloy from the videogame "Horizon Zero Dawn". Credit: As you can see from the logo, the excellent pic of MO is by a photographer known as The Kaigan. Hope they don't mind me reposting it on this humble non-commercial site.

3. Jasmine Blackborow guest-starring as Marie on TV's "The Librarians: The Next Chapter". Specifically, S01E04 - "And The Thief Of Love". A guilty pleasure of a B-grade genre show.

4. Officially licensed statue of the character Catti-Brie from the Drizz't Do'Urden novels.

5. & 6. Yuval Gonen as Arishat in the movie "Gladiator II". Wish she'd been less of a plot device. Main dude wasn't that charismatic. I thought YG lit up the screen more than he did. Shots (arrows) fired!

The party reaches the dragon's lair

But the mighty black wyrm they were sent to slay is more of a smokey grey. It looks old and sick and blind. The "treasure horde" upon which it curls is made up not of gold and gems but rusted, twisted metal scraps.

With some effort, the dragon lifts its head towards the party, sniffing the air. The creature opens its jaws and unleashes its breath weapon: a series of hacking coughs. Head returns to metal pillow. Pathetic shiver runs through withered wings.

How can this be when the Sorcerer Royal seemed so certain a fearsome ebon drake had taken up residence herein? A beast he was sure posed a large enough threat to the kingdom to risk sending away its six greatest protectors...

Luigi Kart

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Greg Smallwood. An easy pick from a weak field, no offence to GS. Retro futurism FTW.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Chateaubriand" by Wednesday Campanella (Japan). Catchy madness - with visuals to match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ks5XU-hxQI

Commended: "Bawa Daku Pergi" by Soundwave (Indonesia) and the ethereal "Adrenalin" by Sirena (Germany).

BEST DOCO I SAW IN THE PAST WEEK

Enjoyed Hugh Grant chiller "Heretic" as well. Fiendishly brilliant! Didn't over-explain.

New arrivals >>>

Playing: "Jaws Of The Lion". Tried to solo this legacy boardgame during the Pando, only to grow bored with the perfect information/lack of surprise/repetitive combat and pack it away. Have resumed my quest!