Ian Rapley

Amazing!

According to online stores, Green Star Japan is coming out in paperback at the end of the month. That's a nice surprise, and just in time for Christmas.

www.foyles.co.uk/author/81753...

I want an alert whenever there's a wrist spinner bowling in international cricket.

Today: ✅

Alana King has to be one of the funnest bowlers in the world to watch. Just a shame Georgia Wareham is on the bench.

#cricket

I profoundly do not want to have to have a bloody app for every shop I go into.

Ok, I'm pretty sure these ones are Do Not Eat.

A good horticultural show

A decent Windsor knot in a cutaway collar.

I hadn't thought of Instagram as a Twitter replacement, but it's noticeable that my useage has shifted dramatically from the main feed into the stories, which is the most twittery bit.

Fascinating article, featuring biodiversity, u-turns/j-turns, Peter Matanle's work on depopulation, and areas the size of Wales as a bonus.

I'm going to be honest, it was all a bit over my head. I'm not sure I got through the whole thing.

Coincidentally, I put it on the English department's book swap shelves last week, and noticed this morning someone had taken it.

Sheep shearing is serious business, so maybe rock skipping?

Fitzgerald: So we beat on, boats against the current, obliterated without warning from above.

Even with the "want to know more" at the end.

Starship Troopers (2025)

indifferent and went to see another woman instead. Everyone, even people who were not directly concerned, felt indignant about this callous behavior, and the woman’s family was much grieved. The man himself, however, showed not the slightest pity.

I remember a certain woman who was both attractive and good-natured and who furthermore had excellent hand-writing. Yet when she sent a beautifully written poem to the man of her choice, he replied with some pretentious jottings and did not even bother to visit her. She wept endearingly, but he was

St. James the Great Dauntsey

a doom panel with jesus on a rainbow, heaven to his right and hell to his left. under jesus is mary and john the baptist. people are leaving their shrouds to be judged and 3 people are quite happily being rounded up into hells mouth

3 people being led into hell quite happily by 2 demons and a chain. one bloke has gone in, you can see his little legs in the fire

skull memorial plaque

Went to see the wonderful Dauntsey Doom painting. Hell looks fantastically delightful. And a skull friend!

I remember thinking his testimony to the phone hacking inquiry was so craven that it was completely career ending. How little did I know.

4'32"!! Looks like I'm going to need a road trip.

To the park, where we indulged in Park Run amid much moaning and complaining.

Also, identifying all but the most obvious types seems to be really really hard.

Detectorists, imo.

A selection of fungi

We did a bit of a survey of the field - at least 12 different fungi. It's amazing how different it is year to year: some years we have been inundated with fly agarics, this year none. The same for some type of waxcaps.

A toadstool in the moss

It's a good year for fungi, it seems. Allegedly porcini are not mistakable for anything named angel of torment or the like, and plenty of people here forage for them, but I'm still dubious about the risk/reward.

I could have sworn I got the recommendation for Children Of Time from @thinkingpoker.bsky.social but I can't find any evidence of it.

Anyway, the series is some of the best sf I've read in ages. Like Thomas Nagel in space!

I've noticed very similar marks on some of our Ribston Pippens. There doesn't seem to be any impact on the flesh underneath though.

Just don't make the mistake of laying the gold cables north/south.

Job Details

Oxford uni is looking for a specialist in pre modern Japanese history. Hens teeth, etc etc.

my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

The Japanese diplomatic papers I've used often come in the form of an original written by the principal, a copy written by some junior in allegedly clearer hand, and then a typed version (for sending?). They're very entertaining, but have not materially improved my ability to decipher originals.

What alternatives are there to Academia.edu?

Ycha fi.