Plus Greg’s in a good mood, so it’s an easier introduction to his character. Then it’s the cake destruction that I think hooks people, and the duck felling that lands it.

I’ve had success with the gentle opening to S4E1 with first-timers. Many Americans know Mel and Noel from Bakeoff, the intro explains what a prize task is (few episodes do), and most of the entries are actual autographs on vegetables, setting a solid baseline for “stronger” prize tasks to come.

Taskmaster is my current special interest. This new season looks like it could be a good starting point for Americans.

(I have been recommend Series 4 to start, after which I suggest watching 11, then 16 or 19)

An index card with the hand lettering: “I know you believe you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I said.”

An index card hand-lettered by my grandfather in the 1960s? Or what my brain is yelling silently ALL THE TIME

WOK, Vol. 84: Stretching Every Nerve by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 84: Stretching Every Nerve
(November 2, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

The Steely Rag YouTube video by The Red-Headed Fiddlers - Topic

Tune of the Day: “The Steely Rag” by The Red-Headed Fiddler www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-mB...

Another day, another instance of Apple Music hallucinating that "Sincere" by The Buffalo Bills (Original Broadway Cast) is the same as “Sincere” by The Buffalo Bills (Motion-Picture Soundtrack).

Madness.

WOK, Vol. 83: Downhearted and Worried by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 83: Downhearted and Worried
(October 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

01 - Jessie Mae Hemphill - She-Wolf YouTube video by Bongo Joe Records

Song of the Day: “She-Wolf” by Jessie Mae Hemphill

youtu.be/QC1ocMfUABs?...

(tho I suppose many things are possible)

The Elvis concert movie was pretty tremendous

If you can see it on a big screen (IMAX, even) I doubt u will regret it

WOK, Vol. 82: Lost Inside Our Houses by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 82: Lost Inside Our Houses
(October 17, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

Sixteen Days In Georgia YouTube video by Kessinger Brothers - Topic

Song of the Day: “Sixteen Days in Georgia” by The Kessinger Brothers

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGv9...

Opinion | I Worked for Block. Its A.I. Job Cuts Aren’t What They Seem.

Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/o...

“Generative A.I. can get you 80 percent of the way to a company blog post with decent prompting. But a chatbot can't meet with the mayor, cast commercial actors or negotiate with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Not all the roles I've heard that Block is eliminating can be handled by A.I., yet executives are treating it as equally useful today to all disciplines.”

Glad the NYT keeps inviting @zamosta.bsky.social to write about these things.

WOK, Vol. 81: Places We Used to Go by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 81: Places We Used to Go
(October 12, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

Cold Mountain- You Will Be My Ain True Love YouTube video by Gawaine687

Song of the Day: "You Will Be My Ain True Love” by Alison Krauss (feat. Sting)

youtu.be/wU7MEtAYSkA?...

An exploration of Oakland’s trash The Trash Falcons have selected some odd, and sometimes creepy finds from their years of collecting trash around Lake Merritt for two new exhibits.

The Trash Falcons, who clean up around Lake Merritt, have two exhibits up at the Junior Center of Art and Science that turn their gleanings into art.

WOK, Vol. 80: I Feel Better Already by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 80: I Feel Better Already
(October 1, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

The Platt Brothers (Jonah Platt, Henry Platt & Ben Platt) - Ahavat Olam YouTube video by Being Jewish with Jonah Platt

Song of the Day: “Ahavat Olam” by The Platt Brothers youtu.be/1yhk_obX7CQ?...

WOK, Vol. 79: Can’t Help But Notice by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 79: Can’t Help But Notice
(September 30, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

Glen Campbell - These Days YouTube video by TheRecordCompany1

Song of the Day: “These Days” by Glen Campbell

youtu.be/bvQ77PoNJ6E?...

WOK, Vol. 78: The Ring Ding Dango by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 78: The Ring Ding Dango
(September 27, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

You Always Hurt The One You Love (1958 Version) YouTube video by The Mills Brothers - Topic

Song of the Day: “You Always Hurt the One You Love" (1958 Version) by The Mills Brothers

(Included as a cheat in the original Singing Detective soundtrack)

youtu.be/jcbvlLAVj4Y?...

WOK, Vol. 77: Sleep Disorders and Love by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 77: Sleep Disorders and Love
(September 24, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

[Theme From] The Girl in the Affair YouTube video by Jill Sobule - Topic

Song of the Day: “[Theme from] The Girl in the Affair” by Jill Sobule

youtu.be/UnfszQjELrQ?...

“Unfortunately for patriarchy, its foundations are set deep in a morass of horrible unsustainable lies, while feminism's foundations are set on a bedrock of deep and sustainable truths.”

WOK, Vol. 76: Where It All Went Wrong by @cjereneta on Apple Music Playlist · 20 Songs

Via WOK, Vol. 76: Where It All Went Wrong
(September 20, 2020)

music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

I May Never Get To Heaven YouTube video by Wanda Jackson - Topic

Song of the Day: “I May Never Get to Heaven (1961)” by Wanda Jackson.

Patsy Cline is of course the queen but one croaked half syllable (at 1:31) might make me place this one recording above Cline’s entire catalog.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-0S...