Mountain High!?

 Here's one I didn't take earlier. A trip up  Everest as noted on X

Chinese drone maker @DJIGlobal  shared a breathtaking video of its DJI Mavic 3 Pro ​flying over Mount Everest on Weibo yesterday. The drone ascended 3,500 meters from the base camp to the summit of the highest mountain in the world.

The Link is below:-

https://x.com/yicaichina/status/1811012739361653196

 Hat tip to Mr Naughton for this.

Not much more to say really, just  enjoy it while the link lasts.

(Did I ever mention my fear of heights...? Ed)

Work, yes, heights, no!

Ear, Ear!

 

A visit to bigtown to make an appointment to have ears

syringed as a solution to pain! £70 gov and £6.50 for

a bottle of olive oil (10ml) while you are at it!

(At the point of need? 

Nye where are you when we need you? 

... On the  rotisserie again.)

Surprised to hear rock music, surprised to hear anything.

Is it  some thoughtless  person with a car radio 

making the most of the sunshine!

In fact it is a junior and very putative rock band in front of 

M&S, other shop fronts are available. 

Relating this later, I quip that Los Lobos are still safe. 

Are they still alive was the swift reply?

Bamba, Bamba

(Oh very good. I see what you did there. I'm just speechless ...Ed) 

And I'm a deaf, half blind, pinball wizard!

Bird Tunes

 A visit to Wingfield Barns for a concert given by Miranda Rutter and Rob Harbron. Rutter, a folk musician, fiddle and viola player, composer, performer and teacher, smashed it for us.  The  project Bird Tunes: a suite of newly composed tunes is inspired by birds and birdsong.  Very enjoyable! The Barns are in a lovely spot and the birds showed up to provide ambient sound. Asked if they had ever considered using the concrake (known to the friends of Coll as Cornflakes) as inspiration - no takers? However, The Blackbird Schottische is a real cracker.
 

In Time of War(s)

Long, long ago, in a university common room I saw a crumpled man with a crumpled face in a crumpled jacket smoking a cigarette. (It was a long time ago.) Keith's Mum said he was a poet. Here is part of a poem what he wrote.

...I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return...

At an early age I was vaccinated against poetry but I think this has something to say, now.
Within the crumples it seemed there might be great experience, humanity and compassion. Who knows?
Hat tip to John Naughton for reminding me.
(Ehmm, ehmm! Would we not have to get permission from Mr Auden for the use of September 1 1939 Ed.)
WH is late of his parish and we claim fair use which is more than I have had out of you, recently!

Here's One I Grew Earlier

 Once upon a time, far, far away (London) I grew a silver birch seed I was given in a pot. It was masquerading as some other tree and soon outgrew the pot. I planted it in a small garden in Hackney. It outgrew the garden. In fear that it would,  like some Beserker Beanstalk outgrow Hackney I moved it surreptitiosly to a Fen in Cambridgeshire! There it thrived and as you can see from the image below it has given Topsey a run for her money!

Good to see something growing, and a very small contribution to Carbon Capture.

(Ehmm! Nice to see you back again. Ed)

A little older, possibly a little wiser.

It's Only Me

 Interesting idea, tickled me anyway. The Carbon Sequestration Debate. Grifiths in Electrify cites the rawness of the technology and the cost/energy demands of the presently available processes as factors which argue against its implementation. In passing he refers to two further examples of CS one natural - Trees and one not -BOOKS!

So there you are, back at last, has there been much going on?

(*#@$*..Ed)

A Loss

 Mr Memex (John Naughton whom god preserve) provides some sad news in his daily dozen. 

The Irish Piper Paddy Maloney has died. The power behind the Chieftains Group, I enjoyed his music greatly,  a pleasure for many years. John provides a link here to a Beeb4 programme about the Chieftains. 

If you don't get round to that just watch these two, Paddy and Liam both now gone, make music and mischief here. Just watch for the half wink Liam gives Paddy part way through (43 sec). 

(Liam was never one for overemotion. May they both rest in peace... Ed)

Hiss and Deceased Notice!

 Seen  this morning in Memex 1.1

Interwebby Thing

My Dear Sir,
I am instructed by my client, Messers Buddhist Pizza Enterprises, to require you to cease and desist from the use of the phrase “Interwebby Thing”. This phrase is reserved by patents common, copyleft, and trademarxs in the territory of New Hiberia, associated islands and semi-detached bothies, for exclusive use by my client in the Buddhist Pizza Blog. I note with some regret your use of the phrase in a recent substandard, so-called, newsletter which I believe is scattered thither and yon like snuff at a wake.
(That’s telling him. I bet he is shivering in his boots, it's badly edited too … Ed) 

With temperature in the 40’s in most of continental europe I doubt it.
(Could there be any spondulics in this? Could we not, perchance, touch him up for a few bob, and call it quits? Otherwise, we could suggest he might get a visit from the lads in the GRU and he should watch the tea if he is ever eating out...Ed?)

I believe the DMP and associated prosecuting authorities might regard that as a touch criminal. 

(Pass me the dark glasses and me bicycle and I’ll be off...Ed!)
Eegit!

Despite the rant above, I have been a reader of Memex 1.1 for many years and would suggest you do the same or sign up to the newsletter if that is your thing. (If you know what is good for you...Ed!)

A Joyful Week for Some.

 

We met up with some friends at Minsmere for a walk and a picnic. The sky was overcast, the sea was a muddy brown, the tide was in but the day warm enough  to light  a glow in us. We have not seen our friends or many others for some time (Isn’t your other friend in Australia...Ed?) and it did feel good just to chat!
I had my first real meeting of the Avid Crime Readers yesterday since 2020 and again I enjoyed the experience of being with people.  As I’m sure you can guess, we did not spend much of the time discussing the book. I’m certain I made some of the points below but again it was good just to talk, face to un-masked face. In preparation for our email meeting I had set out a few notes. You may be interested - yes you at the back!
Ian Rankin - In a House of Lies. 2018
Back in the game again. It's like a big cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake! Straight  into the tapestry of the plot,  first the body, then Siobhan, the new team, Foxy and finally the wiley coyote himself, Rebus. As prickly as a pear and obscure as a dreek Sunday afternoon in February on Carlton Hill.
The plot developed  with sufficient complexity to hold my attention and provide  enjoyment. I'm not sure it would be the same for a first time buyer. However, there is a quality to the description of people and places that fills expectations from Rankin. A convoluted affair but life is seldom pure and never simple. That would be an apt thing to chisel onto Rebus's headstone. The characters have developed, Shiv and Foxy heading uncomfortably to middle age and John wheezing his way down the coughing road to that headstone. The supporting cast is well drawn with the 'Chugalugs' and Big Ger yet again  sufficiently believable that you could draw twirly black mustaches on them and get away with it. The reveal(s) and resolutions are just, immoral,  or amoral as you wish but they gave a satisfactory ending to a wet Sunday afternoon. Now where is that chocolate cake?

(Can I congratulate you, things seem to be on the up. The corvid business has served you well...Ed.)
But not many others and mind you don’t get your feet wet in that downpour!

Pimp My Barbie?!

 

One of my inlaws has a weakness (... where in god’s name is this going...Ed?)
As I was saying,  he enjoys alfresco cooking on a huge device which he refers to as the KJ. It is red and would give you the horrors if you met it in a dream. It looks more like a nuclear device than a BBQ++. I was reading my favourite Obscene Publication - The FT’s HTSI ( I can only caution again. Some people might read this gibberish and dob you in to the peelers. I have my professional position to consider as well as a growing family...Ed.) How to spend it, p 57 since you ask. In the Technopolis Column, by Jonathon Margolis, is a review entitled The Big Smoke - An all-American, app connected,  wood-fire cooking monster.
At the end he points out that he likes a YouTube video by Kosmo’s Q BBQ & Grilling store in Oklahoma City  (other stores are available and we’ll name them unless our fee is paid in bitcoin, promptly ...Ed) It suggests what they call a spot of “redneck  engineering” to do the trick, the stripy thing with the meat!
In a much more douce, pastoral, and vegan manner here is a photo I took this morning.
(So much better for our image ...Ed.)

I’m All Ears!

Spring is Here

 Well hello! Anybody there? Nice weather we're having. There's nothing like a drop of sunlight to raise the spirits.
(Where is all this unbridled optimism, joie de vivre and bonhomie coming from. I am sick, sore and tired of furbelows, vacillations, corvids and god knows what else and you pop up fresh as a daisy after 3 months without so much as a by your leave or phwatt! ...Ed)
It is, I grant you, the start of a brave new world and haven’t we had a few bumps on the road? I don’t think there is anything here to worry us. My good friend BJ, he has the ear of the Prime Mincer if the truth be told as so seldom isn’t, says  there is a little unpleasantness about sausages in the Irish Sea. I know, well above my paygrade and herself a vegetarian. I am happy to leave that sort of thing to the Prime Mincer. It is, BJ assures me, the fault of petty minded jobsworthy EU bureaucrats. However, your man has a solution to all this and with the 12th fast approaching he will put it in the inbox of the Prime Mincer before you can say “No Surrender!” All goods shipped from GB to NI should be labelled, regardless of origin or material -  JAFFA CAKES. Lets see Ursula the Lion and Big Jo pick the bones out of that.
I’m off now, there’s my ferry.
(#*!*?~#*... Ed)

Not a Lot Going On?

 I might have missed the odd thing or two but I thought it was worth getting back on the old tricycle. One such that has caught my attention is the perfidy of certain corporate entities. No names no pack drill for m'learned friends to get their briefs into but the mega the bitter. John Naughton (whom god preserve) reminds me of the much appreciated Larry Lessig who, it is alleged,  would believe that 

“....a corporation is a person when Texas executes one.”

 (Did he not have a walk on part in the West Wing...Ed?) 

I believe he was portrayed, successfully, by an accomplished thespian.

(Still lots of work for an editor then, thespian indeed...Ed!)

If you would like a little something to calm you down might I suggest Polegnala e Tudora Link

Which brings to mind Mrs Rupinka and the Trio Bulgarka. Enough as I have mentioned before to make  a straight archbishop kick a hole in a stained glass window. Nice to be back.

Bob A Sob

 I do not wish to  say that loneliness is not a real problem, a killer, and even in its less pathological states the cause of much mental suffering which any decent human would want to avoid for themselves or others. It was with gratitude, therefore, that we learned HM Gov. (thank u Grauniad again.) is about to pour largess of some £7m plus upon us for the purpose of relieving loneliness. Now, I have to admit this is crude but we have all suffered a little in the loneliness department at one time or another and let's say we all get a cup of this kindness cake to combat loneliness. By my reckoning that gives us 'roughly' 12p each or what we used to call a bob in pre-eu- decimalist days of imperial freedom (and poverty?) Not even enough for a cup of tea!

Hence the slogan Bob a Sob. It could catch on.

The Old Bull and Johnson

 I have in my hand a copy of the Beer Drinker's Companion by Frank Baillie. It was published in 1973 and my copy is dated 1974. It is a comprehensive guide to the beers that were available at the time and, full disclosure, of which I took refreshment. In addition, I own a well used Edinburgh Pub Guide - The Lore o' Reekie's Howffs and Hostelries - Published in 1976 by ' Pubs Board' (nothing to do with drinking I suppose...Ed?) Edinburgh University Students Publication Board since you ask. The Star Tavern ( 63 in the book, now the Star Bar.) was my local when I lived in Edinburgh. Very local I lived about 5 metres verically from the front door. The point is that despite my current  state of sobriety I know that of which I write and so...

 It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have to announce the death of the Pub.

Having survived years of religious persecution, a reletless bombing campaign by the Luftwaffe, the IRA and various rightwing and homophobic individuals the PUB was finally dealt the Coup de Grace by a Mr Boris Johnson, a Prime Mincer, who is described being as fit as an undertaker's dog, possibly.

The PUB RIP 2020

 

 

Crime and Publishment

 I might have mentioned before that I enjoy a good thriller and at this time sinking into a tale of murder, mystery and mayhem offers a measure of reassurance that all is well with the world. 

 I have recently finished 'A Simple Story' by Leonardo Sciascia. Just 40 pages of pure joy. It is a tale of Sicily that manges to capture the land, the language, criminality and society without descending into excess or cliche. Andrea Camilleri has made a great job of writing about ordinary decent criminals with that backdrop. Sciascia nails it for ordinary decent organised criminals,  and how the psychology of that thing of theirs denatures society just as the sulphurous atmosphere of the island corrodes the copper pans in a kitchen. Great stuff. Off you go then, order it from your local library!

America! Politics! They do things differently there!

 Dave Winer made the comment below on his Blog:-

Joe Biden could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot Donald Trump and I would still vote for him.

Not sure I would agree with that and not only because I don't have a pig in the race, or a vote anyway.

Dave Winer, who he? Well he's blogging today after his blog has been running for: 26 years, 0 months, 28 days, 10 hours, 0 minutes, 1 second.  I guess he is a blogger amongst other things. 

(So we need to get a shift on then... Ed) I have only the slightest knowledge of relativity but I'm pretty sure we can't subject the poor man to time dilation, possibly.

 

 

 

We just popped out

 Haven't really had a break from idleness this year so we just popped out. See Holiday Snaps below.

Somewhere warm and peaceful, we thought.

Gaia, Gaia, planet's on fire!

A merry little tune which I have linked before still there after 2 years and still gets the old wooden leg moving.  

Nice one Olie Julian

History as Horse Trading.

 Rewriting History 101

An interesting story from the Grauniad - link 

We offer as part of our Buddhist Pizza Editorial Services the following:-

Gerald Cohen was a central asian businessperson who was renown for his horsepersonship and the wide reach of his network of sales representatives. He ranged far and wide from his home in a humble yurt, named after his nana, Magnolia,  building one of the first worker collectives in history.  Those who traded with him claimed that, though he drove a hard bargain, he was always firm but fair.
CPPRC

 To turn to sweeter thoughts have you ever run across the Be Good Tanya's? Link 

(No I have to admit I have not. I believe I am a more careful driver than yourself ...Ed) 

Beep Beep

Lost in Translation No 92 in a Series.

 I may have mentioned Talking Politics before. Link 

The latest edition, 279 One-Term Presidents, contains a number of interesting ideas and discussion points together with a rare moment of levity in the post match analysis of 'Two nearly bald men fighting over a comb' contest. Apparently the Japanese Broadcaster had real difficulty with the translation of the proceedings as at many points 3 people were talking at once. So a fairly difficult time was had by all, especially with the rendition of the word 'Shitshow', used by commentators on mainstream US TV, into polite Japanese. 

(I hope we would never use language like that on this Blogg. Are you sure it should not be in quotes and italics behind  parenthetical disinfections with suitably placed asterisks...Ed?)

Absolutely!

HT to Memex 1.1 for this little gem, a real autumnal joy. 

As the man said Mother Nature spilled her box of crayons.

 

Two Nearly Bald Men Fighting Over A Comb

 If you want to take your mind off things then sometimes you just have to get up and dance. Link

And when he is in the mood Liam Og O'Flynn is your man. Besides who could resist the title -The Drunken Landlady! (Nice day for it. Might I suggest that there is more to our present troubles  than peluquery and terpsichory. Maybe peace, justice, and the well being of nations play a part? ...Ed!)

Shut up and dance!