Let's go, Seahawks!

Am normally a Colts fan. However, given my dislike of the cheating Patriots...

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Aaron Hazouri. Tells a goofy story and makes me feel like I'm a kid again.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Dawn" by Yama (Japan). Very private singer whose music speaks for itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGWA5o4GkiU

Commended >>> "Kyiv" by Apashe & Alina Pash (Belgium & Ukraine). Amazing. Also the new live concert version of "Can't Express It Any Other Way" by Roy Kim (Korea). What a voice!

Regarding RK... If you will permit me a second YT link, this is the type of prank I endorse: one that, rather than scaring or embarrassing people, brings wonder into our everyday lives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3DYjRjkYr0

BEST PHOTO OF A RIB-EYE STEAK I TOOK THIS WEEK

At The Tradies in Dickson, ACT. Couldn't fault any aspect. Killer garlic sauce.

Wombling free

Heading to Cancon - Australia's biggest, oldest gaming convention - for the first time in a decade. Going solo as it was a last-minute decision. Will be attending on all three days. Am currently booked in for six TTRPG sessions, where three of the modules are using systems I haven't played before. Also planning on doing some championship eating around Canberra. Expect a photo-filled report upon my return ;-P

Infernal and eternal

First Korean variety program to reach five seasons on Netsy. Season 1 of island dating game "S/I" was good. S2 was great. S3 was ruined by too much focus on one (indecisive) guy. S4 had a similar flaw, except it wasn't as annoying, and the main character was a gal. Four episodes in, S5 is shaping up to be more balanced. Then again, it could end up being dominated by blokes chasing Mina Sue. We'll see. The studio hosts help a lot, although they could probably stand to drop one fella (not Dex). "A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms"? Nah, didn't get a chance yet. Too, erm, busy.

Five colours, only creatures

A work in progress, but it can win games. Better than being in the flock of sheep playing identical Hei Bai enchantments decks.

Rainy daze

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

On a day when I read three Black Widow GNs (ta, PG), I've gone for a "Green Lantern - Galactic Slam" cov by Taurin Clarke. Maybe if there'd been one this cleverly rendered of Natasha about to punch an alien pro wrestler in his cocky mug...

SONG OF THE WEEK

The sweet, soothing, incomprehensible "Amodi" by Bedford Falls (Georgia).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGXbwx470gw

Commended choons >>> Chartbait "Ur Girlfriend's A Lawyer" by Hana Lili (Wales), hard-to-classify "Laundromat" by Halima (it's complicated), the angelic cover of "Jolene" by Nessa Barrett (US), and the boffin funk of "Evie" by Holy Fuck (Canada).

BEST PHOTO OF CRUMBED PRAWNS I TOOK THIS WEEK

You can tell by the tiny trails it was Kewpie Mayo, can't ya? If I remember correctly, this not-unhealthy fush'n'chups variant was accompanied by a mocktail comprising fake tequila, pink grapefruit cordial, fresh lime juice and soda water. 

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7.5/10 for the cinematic "Starfleet Academy" opener, 6.5 for the down-to-Earth Ep. 2. *Excellent* performances and SFX, sets, etc. Sustainable? Coupla plotholes that have since been pointed out to me aside, the show has huge potential.

I met another you, in blue

Got a Covid booster that, as usual, wrecked me for the better part of 48 hours. I don't mind putting up with that every time if I never have to suffer with the real thing again. Without going into detail, my two bouts of the accursed virus were so traumatic they've left me mentally scarred.

To animation, then :-) S8 of "Rick And Morty" was more of the same - and that's fine. Binged the lot. Initial eps of "Jujutsu Kaisen" S3 were so-so. "Hell's Paradise" S2 opener also more of the same (and also acceptable). Thumbs up for "The Jack-Of-All-Trades Becomes A Swordsman Once More". A salute to multiclassing! Takes me back to my "D&D" 1E days. I'm on board for the duration. Thumbs down for "Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games To Put Food On The Table". Too slow, too icky, and the dreamy aesthetic doesn't work for me. S2 of "Frieren" reportedly commences tonight.

Probability Street

While the four chapters of this 2024 mostly action flick only just hang together - despite narration, animation and recurring characters - and the alien-technology through line is never satisfactorily developed, I can see it being a future cult favourite. The stars and upcoming talents (Ji-young Yoo!) are fully committed to the wackiness, not least Tom Hanks in a cameo as a preachy video-store owner. The soundtrack is pleasingly eclectic. The vibe of 1987 Oakland, California as a place with something weird "in the air" definitely comes across. There are dashes of romance, humour and pathos, all of which feel natural. There's a pinch of history, too. And the downtrodden goodies repeatedly triumph over the cartoonish baddies in ways that are either figuratively kick-arse or literally lop-limb.

RS2 and I found this co-operative card game too easy in 2P mode and too limited in the strategy required for success to warrant many replays. At the same time, we both thought it nailed the theme of Federation plebs attempting to slack off as much as possible without being busted by their commanding officers. I'd like to give it another crack in 3P mode, with fellow "Lower Decks" fans CM and AM.

As with any true-crime podcast, you ask yourself whether a horrible, senseless murder should be turned into mass entertainment - especially when the intro feels inappopriately fanciful. However, this 50-year-old case has, arguably, never been conclusively solved. With a single episode still to come (out of 12), there are no less than six males who might be classed as suspects. Typically for such pods, it's a tale of blunders and bad behaviour by police and lawyers, as well as by wealthy parents and other supposed caregivers, and even by the then-teenagers closest to the crime. Which is not to say the poor victim was guilty of anything except perhaps trusting the wrong person/s. Much is made in the podcast of a familial connection to the Kennedy Clan and, to be honest, it's interesting and justified.

Came a cropper

While carrying a bucket of weeds across the yard, I stumbled in a hole concealed by grass and went flying. As it always does in these situations, time seemed to slow. I kept trying to find my footing, then eventually accepted that wasn't going to happen. Landed in a kind of dive, on hard ground, some distance from the hidden hazard. Jarred my hands and forearms. Lightly grazed one arm. Badly skinned one knee. Fortunately, I didn't hurt my chest (with the bolts from the surgery). Even more fortunately, Emma Stone wasn't watching. Would hate to alter her opinion that I'm a super-cool guy.

Squeaky gate

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

DC's golden girl (in all but hair) as rendered by Mitch Gerads. The way her Lasso Of Truth becomes scribbled hearts won mine.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Designed To Lose" by The Twilight Sad (Scotland).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kooPFvDf8rI

Commended: "The Blue" by Chesuqi (England) and the bedroom cover of Djo's "End Of Beginning" by Pacifica (Argentina).

BEST PHOTO OF A CHICKEN KATSU DON SET MEAL I TOOK THIS WEEK

Over three days, at various venues, I drank Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo. Realised I prefer Sapporo to the others. What a journey of self-discovery!

OOS - JA

A neighbour's German shepherd wouldn't stop barking (I suspect it wanted to join them in their backyard pool and wasn't allowed), so I fired up the ol' stereo and consulted my CD bookcases. I grabbed Jon Anderson's 1976 concept album "Olias Of Sunhillow", thinking, "I'll have outgrown this. One spin to mask the noise of the yapping dog, then it'll go to a charity shop." Am now onto my third spin. I still really like it. Prog rock x world music x '70s electronica. Wizards rescuing people from a doomed planet in a hippie spaceship protected by the power of love. Or something. Don't worry about the lyrics. Just soak in the sound of JA's wonderful voice, eleventy exotic instruments and a complete absence of over-excited German shepherd.

Triple-stripe toothpaste

Reading

Borrowed from local library.

Artists including Foss, Matthews. Themes such as skull planets, cryosleep.

Watching

~Athletes versus academics.

Season 2 production values even more impressive. I liked the "OG" twist.

Building

Christmas present from sister EM.

Pics from LEGO site. Am putting mine together with deliberate slowness.

Are planets islands?

Tiny part of a wall mural that caught my fancy and tickled my eye.

--

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/genius-game

Lacks the intensity of the Korean original. Still very watchable.

Constitutional anarchy

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Ivan Talavera. Amid a field of flawed or unexciting covs, we settle for a decent take on Magik; pouting, green eyes shining.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Breath" by Yoon Mirae (Korea). Love the slightly rough edge to her soulful voice. Love the poetic lyrics. Love the enigmatic road-trip video.

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

Commended: "Ember" by Kim Pureum (K.) was so nearly SOTW.

BEST PHOTO OF A SCHNITTY I TOOK THIS WEEK

I was dining solo for this'un. The fam also devoured a delicious seven-course Chinese banquet, which I didn't try to snap due to the low light in the restaurant alcove in which we were seated.

The collective noun for sneezes is...

...a buffet.

My armchair scores for the latest Christmas series of "University Challenge": 21, 22, 22, 22, 17, 17, 23, 24, 16, 18. Not too shabby IIDSSM.

Early days, but am enjoying the playful language and the story of this -

The Addster Question >>> Why, in my "D&D"-mad youth, did I never base an encounter on the monster chess of "Archon"?

Fannuals spaniels

More retro reading arrived. Not to mention my brand-new C64! I now have four remakes of that machine. (Can you tell I regret ever letting my 1980s one go?)

NYEP

Last year, I summarised RS2's party thusly:

Old faces and new. Friendly magpies. Interesting convos. Eight players on the "Jackbox" trivia/ bluffing/ drawing, etc. videogame (along with audience quasi-players). Rich food. Too much beer and wine. Six of us testing out the "Let's Hit Each Other With Fake Swords" not-exactly-a-boardgame. Watching distant fireworks from the top of a hill. Big sparklers. Little sparklers. Triggered memories. Reminiscing. Plenty of laughs.

This year's equivalent synopsis would be:

Old faces and new. A lone friendly magpie. Amusing convos. 10/12 players on "Jackbox" voting/social-deduction games. Food with a Greek streak, and some extremely rich desserts. Not too much beer. Almost too much tucker. The boardgame "Dixit" (inc. heaps of extra picture cards). Big sparklers. Glow-in-the-dark Frisbee. Watching distant fireworks from the top of a hill. SkyView astronomy app. A thoroughly pleasant time.