Tape 05 YouTube video by Boards of Canada

Didn't expect to be listening to new Boards of Canada music today. This is lush and cinematic and creepy and beautiful all at the same time. #nowplaying

414) Water From an Ancient Well by pioneer of Cape jazz, Abdullah Ibrahim. This sits at the cooler end of the jazz spectrum, with a bit of swing chucked in for good measure. It's interesting melodically even if it isn't the type of jazz I'd normally listen to. It has an effortless feel to it.

Apologies to @drniklaw.bsky.social for the lack of progress on 'the list'. Normal service will resume soon.

Sun, sun, sun (flowers), here it comes. #allotment #gardening

GOTD || Praggnanandhaa vs Javokhir Sindarov || FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 R3 YouTube video by agadmator's Chess Channel

It's great to see Sindarov play such bold, attacking chess in the Candidates. He absolutely steam rollers Pragg in this game, and with the black pieces too. Also, Sindarov was my pick at the start of the tournament, so these performances make me feel like I know what I'm talking about.

Take using AI chat bots to learn languages. They have a use, but many people find there's a limit to which they can chat with a stochastic parrot that has no inner world. Discussing music or ethics with a machine that has no real care for either becomes tiring extremely quickly.

I remember Magnus Carlsen saying something along the lines that he doesn't play AI bots, as such games lack a psychological dimension that makes chess interesting. It's a point that has broader application.

The camelia has given the garden its first flower of 2026. Spring is now officially springing. #gardening

I'll check it out!

Interesting. Although Chicago wasn't the birthplace of these genres it definitely played a crucial role in transforming and popularising variants of all three. A lot of this is a consequence of the Great Migration (e.g. Waters, Wolf and BB King all migrated from the Delta.).

Misunderstood YouTube video by Wilco - Topic

#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic

Day 16 - A song about being misunderstood

'Misunderstood' by Wilco.

New Paths to Helicon Pt I YouTube video by Mogwai - Topic

#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic

Day 15 - A Song That Defines An Artist

'New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1' by Mogwai

I'm flying the Scottish flag once more. Mogwai have created so much incredible music in their career, but this single from 1997 captures what I call 'unhurried Mowai'. It's magical.

A bunch of Carolina Repear seedlings crammed into a tiny pot.

When you're not convinced your old Chocolate Carolina Repear seeds are still viable and chuck a load in a tiny pot only for the whole lot to germinate. #allotment #gardening

👏👏👏

The slowest of slow hand claps those phone manufacturers who have developed a swipe text system that produces gibberish and have allied this with a keyboard whose buttons are so small it's impossible to tap type accurately. Bravo.

A pea seedling in a growing tray, having just broken the soil.

Peas to meet you! #allotment

Max Dowman eh? I don't think I've ever seen a teenager move with the ball like he does. His balance is absurd.

Ooft! We're about five months away from that. Is there a Blackpool in Peru I don't know about?

I'm late with this observation, but it's worth noting the extent to which Instagram has been enshittified. You used to be able to view a hashtag feed chronologically (I used to browse the allotment one). Now it's packed with the same crap infulencer posts. This means your own posts are rarely seen.

Basil seedlings in a trough.

The basil is on its way #allotment

A Kashmiri chilli seedling. It's still early days in the chilli growing calendar here in Scotland. #allotment

Jon Hopkins with Ram Dass, East Forest - Sit Around The Fire (Official Video) YouTube video by Jon Hopkins

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge

Day 14 - A song that feels like advice.

'Sit Around The Fire' by Jon Hopkins (with Ram Daas)

When the piano kicks in...

Monehjags!

Sigur Rós: Festival (Inni) YouTube video by Sigur Rós

#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic

Day 13 - A song with an unexpected drop.

'Festival' by Sigur Rós

La couverture de "Cœur de crystal" par Frédéric Lenoir.

Mon prochain livre. Voyons s'il est aussi bon que « L'âme du monde ».

Four Tet - Morning Side YouTube video by FutureSoundStation

#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic

Day 12 - A Perfect Song For Background Listening.

'Morning Side' by Four Tet

When I'm working I like something with a driving beat in the background. The Morning/Evening EP is massively underrated. The samples of Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar are gorgeous.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (Official Video) YouTube video by Pink Floyd

#MusicChallenge
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic

Day 11 - A Song With A Subtle Meaning

'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd

It's a song about Syd Barrett of course, but it's also a wider commentary on fame, alienation, betrayed ideals, fading dreams, commercialisation and the music industry machine.

On the bright side, at least the algorithm's obsession with convincing me to do Tai Chi walking has abated.

I'm unsure as to why YouTube thinks I need luggage that can survive being thrown from a plane.

Quit ChatGPT: right now! Your subscription is bankrolling authoritarianism | Rutger Bregman As a historian, I’ve studied the major consumer boycotts of history. We can take down ChatGPT and send a powerful signal to Silicon Valley, says author and historian Rutger Bregman

#QuitGPT Don't feed the machine.