Unseen

A couple observations on some cultural difference between the UK and the USA from comparing their mystery/detective series with American cop shows.

First, almost invariable when UK cops visit someone while gathering information, they are offered tea or tea and biscuits. Even substituting coffee for tea, that never happens in American…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:
North Korea have said they want Trump to win so that he will let them have nuclear weapons.

Wake up! a) NK doesn’t need anyone’s permission to have nuclear weapons and b) NK already possesses nuclear weapons. It is estimated that they have around 50 nuclear warheads as of January 2024, with the capability to produce more.…[Read more]

“I’m not leaving the GOP. It left me.”

A very well-recorded concert in Prague the last week or so and it includes some of the songs from the new Keep Me Fed album. Pau singing the song Sharks is a highlight and Ale takes a more prominent than usual role on the song as well.

Picking up on the previous post which centered on Paulina, it’s always a treat when she sings lead, and here she does so in their new song, Sharks, performed for the very first time in public. The video is just barely acceptable, the audio lacks much bass at all, but Pau (when you can see her) steals the show, and not just for…[Read more]

An early video showing how good they were even then. Notice how Ale plays the ridiculously intricate bass part i pa overhand, presumably because her little fingers couldn’t reach those notes or make that stretch playing underhanded.

Compare it to the original by muse from one of their live concerts and your mind will be suitably blown. Their ages…[Read more]

@ Belle Rose

For sure, we are all going to die.

The US used a drone to kill an Iranian general. What might be the consequences?

One advantage of assassination by drone is that, as in Ukraine, the drone operator can be rather far away from the target, whereas a moderately good marksman with a suitable weapon has to be within a few hundred feet.

Aside from the inspect0r Lynley series, another  nearly perfect series is Wire In The Blood (don’t ask me to explain the title). Here is the first episode of the first season, The Mermaids Singing. If the first two minutes or so don’t draw you in, then this series probably isn’t for you. One drawback for many people is that it’s from the early…[Read more]

While I don’t think any British detective series comes even close to Midsomer Murders for longevity, the Vera series is a long one with 11 seasons. I’ve watched the first four and can’t figure out what the appeal is. I didn’t expect it to be as dark/gruesome as it is. And I don’t hold that against it. After all, I absolutely loved Wire in the…[Read more]