Purple flowers

On today's "University Challenge", the Queen's Belfast team had three American members and one Irish, while their opponents Southampton also sported an American. Nothing against Yank quizzers - Brandon Blackwell (2019-20) is one of the best players EVER to appear on the show - I'm merely observing that they are becoming increasingly prevalent. Anyhoo...the Qs on "Star Wars" planets were a gift. I managed to answer 16 right before the contestants.

Couldn't last 16 minutes watching the new "Golden Axe" cartoon. Painfully unfunny. Waste of a licence. Whoever decided to make it an adult comedy (both terms used loosely) is a fool.

CURRENT PIXEL READING

CURRENT PIXEL REARRANGING

"Scriver" [Steam]. Smashed it first go tonight. Sure, there are higher levels/additional challenges available, but it was so easy I'm already worried there won't be much replayablity.

May as well finish the bottle

There was one Knights flag in our street prior to the men's team's upset win in Auckland on Sunday. Now, there are three flying outside different houses. Doubt we'll defeat the Panthers, but no harm in dreaming.

Pod rec! Experts, not adverts. Extensive back catalogue. So far, I've listened to episodes about gut bacteria, language acquisition and modern cities.

RS2 and I rewatched the Director's Cut of this. Totally holds up. Even the 1982 computer displays. Shame Kirstie Alley didn't return as Saavik.

Enter the prize

It's hot here and there's been smoke in the air all day, like bushfire season has come early. Bloody hope not. 

Netflix's portrait of the infamous Oz breakdancer tells you everything you need to know in 1h12m. Most importantly that: 1. R. and her hubby/coach/#1 fan deluded themselves into believing *that* routine might tickle the fancy of at least one judge (I think they're still slightly deluded about it), 2. There's no substance to the rumours of favouritism or foul play in her Olympic qualification, AND 3. She's a nice enough sort, just quirky and somewhat naive. I wish her well.

Did you catch King Casey's cinematic armbar submission at UFC 331? Check out her eyes in the slo-mo replay - deadly focus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxuKT_J2f64

Tea and anchovy toast

What a disappointment after the first Eleven/Eleanor collection. No shade on Miles Taylor or Jasmine Bayes, who I want to hear engaging in intriguing, exciting adventures. Sadly, what "H/I/P/S" offers is lame conspiracy, tedious treading water and an unwelcome unreality scenario. Spoiler warning for the next bit... I couldn't care less about the Judoon, Slitheen, the Shadow Proclamation or Lake Silencio! Bundle them together in such a convoluted way and you're bordering on fanwank. There are too many annoying alien voices and, for that matter, too many minor characters played by Nick Briggs. He's a multi-talented fellow and I do like him, but he's instantly recognisable - it takes you out of the tale.

Definitely less of a disappointment is Prog 2500 of Brit institution "2000AD", which will turn 50 next February. While the cover's nothing special, the book size has been upped to accommodate seven yarns, each of which is either a Part 1 or a standalone. Two are very good, two are good, two are middling and one gets an N/A because pages of text, even with illos in the borders, have no place in comics (look at how they ruined the "X-Men" titles). Can't complain about that strike rate for the money. There's also heaps of variety in the writing and art styles, as you'd want in a milestone anthology like this. A proper dose of Thrill Power!

At each other's Throaties

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Mattia Monaco. Bananas.

SONGS OF THE WEEK

* "Woof" by Esme Emerson (UK)

* "The Return" by Q-Tip & MC Lyte feat. Mos Def (US)

* "Mogo" by Fatoumata Diawara (Mali-France).

RANDOM RPG REMINISCENCE OF THE WEEK

Have I mentioned the haunted-house convention module with a GM who seemed to believe it was his duty to frustrate our every move? I'm talking: monster appears, hits PC, disappears, no chance to interact with in any way. One mate walked out of the session, went and listened to a rugby-league game on his car radio.

CURRENT PIXEL READING (iPad)

Brush contacts

Pod rec! While John Pollock, Wai Ting and co. from POST Wrestling have kept me infotained for years, this guy's summaries of the week in American pro rasslin' are just so listenable. Besides a classic smooth DJ voice and the ability to maintain an uninterrupted patter, he's the kinda storyteller who makes every topic interesting.

"Supergirl" was utter shite. I won't bore you with my specific complaints. I already bored PG with a page full! The sole positive was lead actress Milly Alcock, who was beaut in a bad role.

Constructed a fun, competitive Brawl deck based around T'Challa, The Black Panther. Am still honing the thing, but I was sidetracked by "A Pig Quest" on the C64. Incredibly polished and deep! Honestly, had it been around back in the day (1MB cart...I dunno), it could have taken the Beige Breadbin to another level.

https://www.protovision.games/games/apig.php?language=en

BEER OF THE WEEK ^^^

Also eyeballing... "Physical 100: Mexico" (binged the initial seven eps), "The Colosseum With Dan Snow", footy finals.

Shelob lives!

"D&D: Arcana Unleashed - Deadfall" was released today. My copy should arrive tomorrow. When our pal MD was assiduously collecting the original Forgotten Realms supplements in the late '80s/early '90s, our group was deeply fascinated by the Red Wizards. (Even more so than we were by the Zhentarim.) I guess I still am :-) "Deadfall" is a spy thriller for Levels 11-20.

As I type, the Oz men's cricket team is engaged in an ODI against Zimbabwe. Such matches are no longer foregone conclusions. Former "minnows" can beat us now - sometimes comprehensively. Sporting of speak, the 2026 Asian Games commences on Saturday in Japan. Making its debut: Virtual Taekwondo! Yes, with VR headsets, sensors and zero contact. They were discussing it on the Korean news last night. Call me a dinosaur but I reckon it sounds stupid.