Ladies of letters

As a dude from the other side of the globe who wasn't even born when "Ms." launched, this nearly two-hour doco (released in 2025) was an education. Granted, I'm interested in anything to do with the history of magazine publishing, but I reckon most inquisitive folks would find it worthwhile. It's not just a praise-fest, either, as former staff admit important areas where they coulda done better and the film-makers note two famous writers who later cut ties with the publication. But let's not end on a downer. "Ms." mag, which still exists today albeit in a limited form, has clearly enriched the lives of millions of American women.

Current paper reading (ta, SC)

Publisher blurb:

"For 70 years, they guarded the British Empire. Oblivion and Fogg, inseparable friends, bound together by a shared fate. Until one night in Berlin, in the aftermath of the Second World War, and a secret that tore them apart.

"But there must always be an account...and the past has a habit of catching up to the present.

"Now, recalled to the Retirement Bureau from which no-one can retire, Fogg and Oblivion must face up to a past of terrible war and unacknowledged heroism - a life of dusty corridors and secret rooms, of furtive meetings and blood-stained fields - to answer one last, impossible question:

"What makes a hero?"

Doolally

Preposterous from beginning to end. Technically well constructed, though. And GG might not be discerning in her role choices but she's a solid actress - nailing every expression required. Which is fortunate, since for the majority of the movie we are either seeing her beautiful face react to the latest unexpected obstacle or watching her gallop around central London like a gazelle. Wait, whaddaya mean I was perving on a stuntwoman?

Dip yer lid

"Beyond Words" update: Got the gold trophy on all but two annoying levels. Unlocked most of the gear and achievements. Might be done with it.

In other news, lurve this bombshell...er, bombshell from the slick C64 demo "All Your Baddies Are Belong To Us" by the group AMID.

Distant days, other days

As I was coming out of the sushi bar, a family pulled up in their family sedan. The mother exited her driver's door normally. The three kids climbed out of the other three windows like gleeful monkeys. I was suddenly reminded of how much I used to enjoy doing that as a child. Partly because I wanted to imitate Bo and Luke Duke from "The Dukes Of Hazzard"*. Partly 'cos it was Something I Wasn't Supposed To Do. And partly, I guess, because back then your natural instinct was to turn every activity possible into a physical challenge. Continuing down the road, I found that the bridge spanning the local river had collapsed, so I was forced to jump across the 25-metre gap while clutching tight my bag of sushi rolls.

*Blissfully unaware of the future controversy surrounding their Dodge Charger's problematic livery.

Fruit salad

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Gabriel Hernandez Walta. It caught my attention, then the blurb made me more curious... The premise sees the mysterious death of one of the stars of a "Friends"-like TV phenomenon leading to the uncovering of dark secrets about the show. One assumes the real-life tragedy of MP (RIP) was the inspiration for the tale.

SONG OF THE WEEK

For the vibes, the new live clip of "Everything Will Be Alright" by Kraftklub feat. Fred Rabe (Germany).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8Cj2jrIw0c

Commended >>> "Brown Eyes Mafia" by Abrila (Argentina) and "No More Shot" by Tune Up Channel (India). I also discovered Dear Seattle's sublime cover of the Missy Higgins track "The Special Two" seven years late. Considering the original is a piano ballad in which M. laments stealing a guy from her older sister, hearing the lyrics as a forceful male rock vocal gives things an unusual spin.

RANDOM TRPG REMINISCENCE OF THE WEEK

I miss when you'd borrow a "D&D" module from a pal and find that next to key encounters were descending tallies of monster HP marked in pencil. Or else they'd been erased but the impressions on the paper remained faintly visible to the trained eye. Brave adventurers had been this way before - and more would follow!

"Coin detected in pocket!"

This is tops. Am working through the book-faithful chapters in 1P mode. It's elegant and challenging, with oodles of replayability. Stylish presentation, too.

"Beyond Words" [Steam] is also tops. Word builder + engine builder + level explorer. Wild horses were only *just* able to drag me away to blog a hasty reco.