Mid-air refuelling

Got my six-monthly Covid jab. The next 24-48 hours will inevitably involve some unpleasant flu-like symptoms. Better than the alternative!

Backed Professor DM's "Deathbringer" TRPG on BackerKit. I like deadliness of the rules and the unreconstructed nature of the art.

Are you into Chess? The latest ep of the "Perpetual Chess Podcast", with special guest Bruce Pandolfini, is equally entertaining and insightful, supported by an unmatched authority lightly worn.

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2026/7/14/ep-490-bruce-pandolfini-on-50-years-of-teaching-chessnbsp

Saw the fourth flick in the "Roundup" series, from 2024. As the villains keep getting nastier (and stabbier), watching Don Ho's rule-bending detective punch seven shades outta them grows increasingly more satisfying. And knowing the actor himself beat UFC powerhouse Alex Pereira's score when they had a contest on one of those video-arcade punching machines in Korea only adds to the believability of the blows.

Did the Sherlock Holmes-themed "Exit The Game" on my own last night. Was so impressed with the ingenuity of the design and the sneakiness of the puzzles! Scored 5/10 possible stars. I was fast, but had to use several clues. I suspect the next "E/T/G" I tackle will be easier because - SPOILERS AHEAD!!! - I now know a problem may require combining separate puzzle elements, scrutinising/utilising the packaging, temporarily breaking a game rule (a line of text urged me to "rebel")... Physical challenge-wise, I had to assemble two little cardboard cabinets with drawers! I also had to line up depictions of a room's contents in order, foreground to background, on wooden skewers to plot the trajectory of a bullet! Cheers to PG for recommending this range of escape rooms in a box, of which he and his missus have solved a few.

Spiral staircase syndrome

It's been so cold here the past two days, I've had to wear gloves while hanging washing on the line and collecting it again. When I was in junior high, there was a lad who sported skiing gloves in the playground in winter because he was prone to chilblains. Poor bastard, I thought. Now, I am that bastard.

"University Challenge" is backeroonie. If "Chef & My Fridge" is what I *tell* people is my favourite active program, "U/C" is my favourite-favourite. The questions are always easier at the beginning of the season. I got 17 correct today before the students could answer. Imperial look like genuine contenders.

Finally read all of the novel "Railsea". I bought my signed hardcover from Books Kino in 2012. At the time, I was working on an MMA mag and I recall discussing it with a bloke from the auto mag across the room. Not sure why I never finished it then. Anyway, I deshelved it recently and righted that wrong.

Think: "Moby Dick" meets "Snowpiercer", only weirder and bolder than that, with an old-fashioned principled young hero, linguistic/narrative quirks and a surreal development that threatens to derail the enterprise but doesn't. The conclusion left me feeling I was in Robert Silverberg territory (compliment).

Pine wine with a P

UFC 329: Every fighter who I particularly wanted to win did so - Wang Cong, Oz's own Robert "Bobby Knuckles" Whittaker in his light-heavyweight debut, King Green, Paddy Pimblett and Max Holloway. Result.

The Nagoya Basho is under way. Let's go, Hoshoryu! Also Tobizaru! Also Tamawashi...in the lower juryo division. Maybe the "Iron Man" can keep his incredible career record going a little longer down there.

In a different sort of weekend activity, joyriders left a thrashed, half-stripped car in the car park up the road. Not the best advertisement for this suburb. It was mostly gone this morning, save for a lone wheel.

I like Moss Monsters.

Assorted containers to catch the leaks

DOCO OF THE WEEK

Amazing talent, amazing life.

ALSO VIEWING: "The Sandman" S2, "Myth Hunters", "Better Late Than Single" S2.

To be brave, one must first be frightened

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

It's giving 16-bit JRPG final boss. By Matthew Waite. First time I'd heard his name. Hope he's not an A.I. guy.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Feestje Op Min Graf" by The Opposites (Netherlands). If you were to party on a grave, this'd get it started :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GByPAwU-Wtk

Commended >>> "Here With Me" by KI/KI (also Netherlands), "Through The Beam" by Triggerfinger (Belgium), "Someday, Somewhere" by Jungle (UK) with its killer dance routine, and "Energy" by Sane Wav (Zimbabwe). Additionally, I'm a month late on two bangers - "Suave" by Akriila (Chile) feat. Jane Remover (US) and "Where you @" by Margad (Mongolia). And, while the single didn't do much for me, the live performance of "Den Danske Sommer" by Tobias Rahim & Birthe Kjaer (Denmark x2) in front of a rapturous audience at the Roskilde Festival was lovely.

GAMING MAG OF THE WEEK

Issue #8. Inhaled every word in a couple of sittings. Thanks, SC.

ANIME REDUX DEBUT

It's back, baby! With classic-feel characters, janky retro tech, a little wackiness, ace intro/outro and no time to over-explain.

PODCAST OF THE WEEK

13 episodes. Examines its subject from every angle, in an organically rambling fashion. Biggest takeaway: almost all nice people.

Gohan / mifan

"Miniature Masters"! Episode 1 of a new reality contest centred on minis. Painting, basing, kit-bashing, even sculpting. Contestants from various countries (including a fella from Oz). The celeb judges are legit. One has 27 Golden Demons and two Slayer Swords! The supply room is awesomely well stocked - a painter's dream. Based on the unique works produced in this opener, and both the insightful remarks and game-related decisions made by the organisers, I have high hopes for the rest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5z5FIN9F7o

In other news, congrats to the male Blues on repeating the success of their female counterparts back in May. Cleary has nothing left to prove in the rugby-league arena (if he even did before). Daley should retire as coach on this huge positive. Suck eggs, Maroons.

Scramble D

Rock-solid release. The story is underrated and, indeed, somewhat revolutionary for "Who" in '66. Simplistic animated movement, but the likenesses are fine and it's the real audio. Lengthy documentaries "Innes Lloyd: The Producer" and "Remembering Forgetting 'The Savages'" are worth the price on their own!

These crunchfords are grouse - chickeny, herby and slightly citrusy.

This Thai brew's OK. Goes down easy. Goes with crisps and vintage scifi!