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Post by oh oooh on Dec 17, 2023 10:10:59 GMT
1. How's it been for you?
2. Cultural highlight?
3. Favourite new film?
4. Favourite new music?
5. Favourite book?
6. Favourite meal?
7. Best trip?
8. What have you learned?
9. Hero of the year?
10. Cunt of the year?
Preludin:
1. Thread of the year?
2. Poster of the year?
3. Funniest post?
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Post by adamcoan on Dec 17, 2023 10:21:21 GMT
Meh.
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rayge
Administrator
Invisible
Posts: 8,793
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Post by rayge on Dec 17, 2023 10:30:51 GMT
1. How's it been for you? OK. Up and down. A bit isolated. I'm 75 and starting to look it, although I still don't feel or act it. But nobody I know died, so that's a plus.2. Cultural highlight? Angeball and the recovery of the team identity that drew me to Spurs in the first place3. Favourite new film? n/a - not seen any4. Favourite new music? n/a - not heard any5. Favourite book? haven't read any
6. Favourite meal? breakfast
7. Best trip? Couple of walks out on the Quantocks. The only time I've been more than 25 miles from home was the fortnight in France. Which was decidedly mixed.
8. What have you learned? I forget
9. Hero of the year? Don't really do heroes, but for the sake of not yet another n/a answer, Son Heung-Min or Ange Postecoglu
10. Cunt of the year? All of them
Preludin: 1. Thread of the year? Gimme a short list and I'll choose
2. Poster of the year? Darkness Fish
3. Funniest post? No side or snide, but there have genuinely been many; my memory's crap, though.
Sorry it's all a bit bland and dull, but that's the way my life looks from outside. I am more or less content, though.
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Post by tory on Dec 18, 2023 14:25:24 GMT
2023 has been a mixture. This time last year we were living in temporary accommodation due to building work. That has now finished, but our top half of the house is still unfinished. Most of it is done - I can't tell you what it feels like to have screed underfloor heating with wooden floors - but it's not complete. Work has been exhausting - particularly from October onwards - and I'm not as confident as I was before, perhaps because my dept has had a shift of personnel and it feels different. We have also had the threat of a £20,000 bill for replacing our lease car's engine for the last 8 weeks, but thankfully this seems to have been sorted and we don't have to pay a penny. It was like the sword of damocles over us whilst the warranty section decided whether we were liable or not. I've not seen as many people as I would have liked.
Cultural highlight - Tannhauser with Dougie in February. Expensive but worth every penny paid. It pretty much calibrated my view of culture there and then. Can many people sign AND act for 4 hours straight?
Sporting highlight - Seeing West Ham win a trophy was lovely.
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Post by Stacy Heydon on Dec 18, 2023 14:48:51 GMT
Cultural highlight - Tannhauser with Dougie in February. Expensive but worth every penny paid. It pretty much calibrated my view of culture there and then. Can many people sign AND act for 4 hours straight? I think so..those deaf audiences can be pretty demanding! |
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Post by DarknessFish on Dec 18, 2023 15:54:37 GMT
It's hard to give a short summary of a year, it's been pretty much like the last few years, just a bit less covidy. Same job, same home, same wife, same child. Must be time for a midlife crisis. Work has been really demanding, and I do wonder if taking it seriously for a while was a bit of a mistake, the risk/reward ratio for actually doing stuff is far too high. Got to find a way to seem important but do nothing.
Highlight of the year for me was the trip to Berlin, we haven't done a city trip for a while, and it's such a beautiful, impressive and interesting place. Made up for a summer holiday in Kos which was basically spoiled by the wife and child complaining that it was always too hot. Best album of the year was the final effort from Paavoharju, Yon mustia kukkia, and a personal highlight was annoying Lauri Ainala from the band over on rateyourmusic.com, then reviewing the album by way of apology.
I've only read one book published this year, Kia Abdullah's Those People Next Door, which was basically a pretty shit TV movie script around the theme of racist neighbours. The Cider House Rules was probably the best book I read this year, it was a joy to return to John Irving after getting sick of his style a while back. For film, Oppenheimer is the only thing I can recall seeing at the cinema, and it was pretty good in an old-fashioned 'men in hats talking' type of flick. Might have seen some newer films on Netflix, but I guess they'd be pretty bad. I have low expectations of film in general, and they're usually met.
I won't do a hero of the year, because they'll inevitably turn out to be a complete shit, and Boris Johnson is still cunt of the year for turning this country and its political system into the sewer it currently is. As for this place, I don't want to slag anyone off, nor will I attempt to thank everyone individually because I'll inevitably forget someone. But it's sometimes a great place to forget about the world and chat shit, and that's a good thing.
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Sneelock
god
you're gonna break another heart
Posts: 8,549
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Post by Sneelock on Dec 18, 2023 17:45:29 GMT
1. How's it been for you? Neither fish nor fowl. Age is teaching me to roll with the punches. roll, roll, roll in the hay! I'll live. 2. Cultural highlight?My wife took me to the Banksy exhibit for my Birthday. I know he's not for everybody but he is sure the FUCK for me. it was very nearly an out of body experience. the "immersive" portion especially. 3. Favourite new film?once again the movie that bugs me the most might eventually be the one I liked best. I'm not sure HOW I feel about it but it certainly made an impression.
I streamed all my movies this year. If my wife hadn't spent money on Banksy - I doubt I'd have done that. I'm still spooked about big places full of people. "Bardo" seems like an 8 1/2 sort of thing but it has heavy issues of cultural identity. while I don't really understand these issues I think they make for a very vibrant spin on a sort of movie I enjoy. 4. Favourite new music? this is harder. despite my best efforts, my musical arteries ARE clogging a bit. I've been streaming Excello and "songs the cramps liked" type playlists to complement my musical quagmire. I DO hear new stuff I like but I have no car radio and I don't drive with headphones due to a couple of close calls. my cheesy little blue-tooth speaker doesn't really flatter newer stuff but suits the past just fine. Listening at home is pretty hard to do right now. I never have a car radio. it's part of the CURSE. 5. Favourite book?I like the writer Steve Almond. I read his first novel. ("All the Secrets of the World" I think ) I couldn't tell you very much about it. It went down okay. more cultural issues I don't entirely understand. He's a good enough writer that I finished it and got something out of it. starting books has become as intimidating as finishing them. I really enjoy "the four fingers of death" by Rick Moody but life interferes every time I pick it up. I WILL finish the fucker just to see if there's a point to the thing. it's fun but it's a novel within a novel type thing. the very thing that makes it fun also makes it easy for life to intrude on it.
6. Favourite meal?forget what I said about not going anywhere. I was shanghaied into going to a Brazilian Steakhouse. we have a chain out here called Fogo de Chao. I don't eat out much so it was pretty splendiferous as far as I was concenred. 7. Best trip?I took the 405 to the 101 and got off at Topanga. 8. What have you learned?Last Year a Tina Turner song was very helpful to me. "I don't care who's wrong or right - I don't really want to fight no more" I'm still taking that to heart but somethings gotta give. People I enjoy have accepted some things I find very hard to accept. this IS going to cause me some trouble somewhere down the line. I need to get ready for that 9. Hero of the year?each and every person who told Elon Musk to go fuck himself after he ruined Twitter. 10. Cunt of the year?hmmm, let me think about that for a nano-second. I know! Elon Musk! He's been problematic for a while. since the lockdown he's been a rampaging jackass. the more he's a jackass the more some people champion him. I take small but significant satisfaction from the opportunity to name him Cunt of the Year.
Preludin:
1. Thread of the year? "roald dahl censored". the political threads can really be interesting when people actually engage with why they feel the way they do instead of just grabbing the brickbats out of habit. still, enough brickbats to make it lively. I also enjoyed the Joy Division-Closer thread. opinions are interesting! 2. Poster of the year?Hats off to D.F. Another fine year. 3. Funniest post?in that roald dahl thread somebody mentions the marketing strategy of changing a product in a significant way - having it belly-flop in the marketplace and then re-introducing the original with much promotion. davey responded: "classic coke" it's funny because it's true.
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Post by adamcoan on Dec 18, 2023 18:03:14 GMT
I took the 405 to the 101 and got off at Topanga.
God, just once in my life can i say that to someone having done it.
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Post by fearlessfreap on Dec 18, 2023 18:07:54 GMT
1. How's it been for you?
Ok, no illnesses, everyone is still alive, I've been able to avoid people.
2. Cultural highlight?
Taylor Taylor Taylor - nothing but Taylor!
3. Favourite new film?
Taylor!
4. Favourite new music?
Are you kidding? Taylor!
5. Favourite book?
A Swiftie's guide to Taylor!
6. Favourite meal?
I made a good grilled chicken the other night.
7. Best trip?
Scenic Elmira, NY
8. What have you learned?
You can't fight City Hall
9. Hero of the year?
A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich (same as every year) No, it was Taylor! of course.
10. Cunt of the year?
The asshole who dinged my car door in the Target parking lot while I was inside
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Sneelock
god
you're gonna break another heart
Posts: 8,549
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Post by Sneelock on Dec 18, 2023 18:20:03 GMT
I think it was Taylor.
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Post by Half Machine Lipschitz on Dec 18, 2023 19:03:24 GMT
The first 2/3rds of the year were pretty decent, including a week spent on the beach in Negril and a nice long lazy summer, but work kicked my ass this past autumn, and I had serious doubts about my ability to keep doing what I do while maintaining both my mental and physical health. The cyclical nature of the auction industry sometimes lulls me into complacency before slamming me over the head with a giant deadline frying pan, but I'm now off for a three week Christmas break with nothing to do but rest and putter about. I only wish my dog was still here so I could hang out with her.
There wasn't much in the way of 'new' things in my life, arts-wise. I know I saw some films, but I'll be damned if I can remember what they were, and I listened to plenty of music, but it was all over the place and not much of it really sticks out as being in anyway pivotal, except perhaps for some King Gizzard jams that helped me pass some stressful times. I read a bunch of books, and my favourites were a couple of Jim Harrison's older novels: 'Farmer' and 'The English Major'.
I acquired a Rhodes electric piano earlier this year and have been having a ton of fun jamming with some friends, playing covers and learning more about music in general. I also, after almost three decades with them, gave my 1960's drum kit a much needed tune up, which was quite nerve-wracking as I had to (without getting too technical) cut the edges of the shells with a router and not fuck them up completely, but they turned out great and now sound better than ever.
Let's see...
Favourite meal was probably all the stuff we ate in Jamaica, but the curry chicken with rice & peas stands out.
Hero of the year is probably my wife - oh yeah, we got married this year! - for dealing with a lot of crap at work and at home, including witnessing our dog killing a stray cat that wandered into our yard this summer, then dealing with the dog collapsing while out for a walk and ultimately being the first to find Jenny after she died in our house while we were at work.
Cunt of the year was the tumor on Jenny's heart that took her far too soon.
I haven't a clue what the thread of the year may have been, but I'm glad Jimmy/AdamCoan decided to stick around.
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Post by oh oooh on Dec 29, 2023 9:37:22 GMT
1. How's it been for you?
It's been OK. Let's say 'overcast with sunny patches'. Like most of us, I think, I'm very well aware now that I'm getting towards the upper end of what's known as 'middle age', and the resulting difficulties are beginning to show. Nothing terribly serious so far (although the knee/leg trouble at the end of summer was a worry) but getting old isn't anything to look forward to - not in itself. HOWEVER - like last year, there's been some enjoyable trips, some interesting bits of work, and several happy moments.
2. Cultural highlight?
The Make-Up in Glasgow in October were huge fun. They're still a great live act, and Ian Svenonius is a ridiculous frontman in all the right ways, and some of the wrong ones. And it was a real pleasure to go to the Berlinale again in February.
3. Favourite new film?
I've seen a few but not much really knocked me out - although (as I mentioned in the film thread) the most recent two were very good. Maybe Dream Scenario is my pick of the year. I'm off to see Past Lives later and (from what I've heard) that also could be a contender.
4. Favourite new music?
It's really just bits I hear repeatedly on 6 Music, I have to confess. But those evening shows - especially Riley and Coe - are made for a geezer like me.
5. Favourite book?
Book?
6. Favourite meal?
The Chinese banquet with students was fun, although the food itself was a kind of mixed experience! in terms of sheer eating pleasure, I don't know. I probably enjoyed my cheese on toast at home after a couple of hours teaching as much as any 'high level' thing.
7. Best trip?
This last one, probably. Berlin and Prague - in quite different ways - really give me a lot.
8. What have you learned?
I've been reminded that when you spend time with someone, especially when you get close, you learn more about yourself. It's not always good.
9. Hero of the year?
I don't really have anyone for this year.
10. Cunt of the year?
All Tories. Sorry, I would hate reading that from anyone else, it's so drearily predictable and half-baked. And, I mean, you can't blame them for everything, and they're not ALL absolute cunts, but.....seriously. Just fuck off.
Preludin:
1. Thread of the year?
Anything that isn't one of those endless 'oh now it's your turn' things.
2. Poster of the year?
There are so many decent folk, great writers, wits, everyone serves a different purpose, so to speak. But I'll second the nomination for Jimmy.
3. Funniest post?
Like I said last year, it's funny when people lose their temper. Always a bigger chuckle than when someone's actually doing the 'witty' thing. But I'll refrain from singling anything out...
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Post by osgood on Dec 29, 2023 12:49:28 GMT
1. How's it been for you?
Retirement in February was the highlight by some miles. I started a few things then, flamenco guitar lessons, gym, long walks, volunteering, plus being in charge of housekeeping, since my wife went back to work at roughly the same time. It is starting to feel a bit too much and I might need to decelerate a bit, to allow for some more rest. But in general an excellent year in personal terms.
2. Cultural highlight?
Nothing remarkable
3. Favourite new film?
Haven't gone to a cinema theater since 2020,. I've enjoyed different films on TV but it's not the same and in fact nothing comes to my mind right now which comes to prove something, I guess.
4. Favourite new music?
I can't say I have not liked some things I've heard, but these days it's like my brain is coated with some kind of waterproof layer that makes permeation more difficult, at least in endurable terms.
Lately sax player Trish Clowes has made a big impression on me.
5. Favourite book?
Ed Yong's An Immense World and S.A. Cosby's Razorblade Tears
6. Favourite meal?
Nothing out of the usual, but my cooking is improving.
7. Best trip?
None remarkable, looking forward to a trip to Galicia later this year, haven't been there on holidays in decades.
8. What have you learned?
It's good to acknowledge I can be wrong.
9. Hero of the year?
Nothing comes to mind, might come back on this.
10. Cunt of the year?
A few Spanish right wing politicians could win this, but I'll go for our regional Madrid president.
Preludin:
1. Thread of the year?
Hard to tell right now
2. Poster of the year?
There are many I enjoy reading, in fact that's the case with most of the regulars. Maybe Snee is the one that never fails to bring a smile
3. Funniest post?
Can't recall.
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toomanyhatz
god
I've met him/her. He/she's great!!
Posts: 3,242
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Post by toomanyhatz on Dec 29, 2023 21:58:34 GMT
1. How's it been for you? Pretty shitty for the most part. My mom started the year in hospice care and, honestly, when she died in March it was a relief (to her too, I'm convinced). NOT A SINGLE BIT OF HELP in dealing with the aftermath was forthcoming. Not from the hospice, not from her doctors, not from any relatives, not from the social worker. How we treat our old people in this country is really embarrassing and backwards. The two important questions in reality are 1) How much money is left? and 2) Who gets it? Concern for the dignity of the dying and the emotional state of the mourners falls VERY far down on the list, however much our health system denies it. OK, rant over. But add to that my first major surgery, and losing not one but TWO long-held music gigs right at the end of the year, and I'm certainly optimistic about a better '24. It would be really hard for it to be any worse. 2. Cultural highlight?Well, I suppose I spent very little time thinking of He Who Used to Occupy the White House. That was nice. Although, I just thought of a way that '24 could be made worse... 3. Favourite new film?That Scorsese one, I guess. I've seen some good ones, but yet to see a truly great one. 4. Favourite new music? My favorite is probably the Paul Simon record. Yep, hatz goes for the old guard again. I also liked the Third Mind record, and not just because some pals were involved in it. I was made aware of Madison Cunningham, who I like quite a bit, though her record is from '22. Generally speaking, same as the films. Lots of good, little great. 5. Favourite book?The Dylan archives one (Mixing Up the Medicine) probably. I can't remember if I read it this year or last (it came out in '21) but This book (by a former BCB-er, no less!) is freaking brilliant. 6. Favourite meal?Not sure, but the wild mushroom gnocchi and treviso/feta/grape salad I had last night was pretty great. 7. Best trip?Our trip to Nashville was pretty fun, mostly because my wife's employer paid for most of it. Big plans in store for next year. Watch this space... 8. What have you learned?That humans don't really need a gallbladder. Don't miss the fucker at all - it was nothing but trouble. 9. Hero of the year?My wife. Same as every year. Not only puts up with me full time, but always lands on her feet no matter what difficulties the universe throws at her. 10. Cunt of the year?The Orange Antichrist, of course. 8 years running now! Preludin: 1. Thread of the year?I always like the Hit or Shit ones. The canon thread was great too until it (inevitably?) petered out. 2. Poster of the year?Me, of course. You'll appreciate me once I'm dead. Maybe. G's had some fine moments too, but we haven't had enough of him. 3. Funniest post?Can't think right now. Lots of funny moments in otherwise tedious posts.
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Sneelock
god
you're gonna break another heart
Posts: 8,549
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Post by Sneelock on Dec 29, 2023 23:23:33 GMT
Lots of funny moments in otherwise tedious posts. |
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