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Thanks everyone! We were away for a long weekend of eating and drinking. Our son lives in the NE of the UK, so we spent a couple of days with him. Then we spent two days at The Black Swan at Olstead https://www.blackswanoldstead.co.uk/ , a two michelin star restaurant. That was quite an experience. 7 courses in the tasting menu with a glass of matching wines with each course. This is really in the middle of nowhere down a single track road. As it got narrower and narrower we honestly wondered if we were on the right road. Got back a few hours ago - and I feel as if I've put on quite a bit of weight! Cheers all!

Thanks all. It's a bit difficult to comprehend (at times anyway) where the time goes. I remember a lot of what's happened in the last 25 years or so but at the same time don't. But I think I'll continue Operation Ostrich and try not to have today feel like much more than any other day. That said, minus work it was a great day of catching up with some friends and family and having good food at home and now breaking my no-drinking-till Thursday rule to enjoy a wee dram of the good stuff.

Danny sure could sing.

I read an article about the best breakfast burrito in the Bay Area and the winner had cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, beef tallow tater tots, crema and avocado. I didn't have tots so I heated up some fries and then fried them in the bacon fat. Adding a bit of salsa as I eat. It's almost too decadent and I'm considering going back to bed.

Not a standard TV show, but a YouTube channel. Armistead Maupin was a young conservative Viet Nam vet. Who moved to San Fransisco in 1971. He moved there for a job with the Associated Press. He was a closeted gay man who learned quickly once in SF to be honest with himself and others about who he was. He made friends with many people, including Harvey Milk and Rock Hudson. He started a weekly story in the SF Chronicle, which turned into the 'Tales of the City' series of books. I've run into him a few times in my life. First in a bar in Seattle, not long after reading the first book. And a few years back in the Castro, as well as the Pride Parade I attended with Colin and Brent. One of the early jobs I did after moving back here in 2017, was to remodel his old house after he sold it to a Yuppy Tech. A-hole. Claire's chase lounge that Al and I built several years back is built from the primary bedroom deck boards the new owner had me dismantle. He now lives in London with his partner, and has been doing these 'fireside chats' on YouTube that are just amazing. He and his generation paved the way for me and subsequent generations. He talks about having to be completely closeted, the AIDS epidemic, Rock's friendship, Harvey and his assassination... It's history coming straight from a man that lived it, and it's fascinating to me. Look up Armistead Maupin on YouTube if you may have any interest. And for those not familiar with the Tales of the City books or TV series, you certainly don't need to be gay to thoroughly enjoy them. They're a fun romp through time, with lots of then current events tossed in for good measure.

Let's fucking do this.

We Like It Here by Snarky Puppy (2014) https://open.qobuz.com/album/aazibgbisyolb Example: Killer set. After some research this was a Live in Studio - which they filmed. So: Playlist. I do like me some snarky.

Happy Birthday Nate! (last years prompts, but this years images, has AI / Nano Banana 2 improved?)

I hope you have a great day and don't feel like this by tonight! Happy 50th Mr DIYer! Cheers!

Petaluma (West) Acme Burger 'n Acme Larger, Fish 'n Chips, Chocolate Shake

Confused because I think Michelle Trachtenberg died last year. She definitely missed this war. RIP Mr Sedaka. I'm pretty sure I was working at the Concord Pavilion the night he played there in 1977. My brother was the booking and marketing director and I had random jobs in the parking lot or handing out flyers for upcoming shows.

Leonard Nimoy died 11 years ago. Seen here with his '63 Buick Riviera. Bill Hicks died 32 years ago (technically yesterday). During his short but intense career, Bill languished in relative obscurity in the states but saw much greater success in the UK and Canada. This routine, taken from his Relentless special in the UK, is and will always be his greatest rant. The above is a cut down version because some evil-annoying-idiot-fucks keep copyright striking Bill's work. This rant wasn't really part of the Relentless material, but more an off-the-cuff riff that he improvised on stage and later turned into a routine. In 2004 or so I shared it with a friend who worked in marketing (web development, specifically) and she left the industry shortly thereafter. She's been a RN for 20 years at this point and couldn't be happier with her career change. I'm not saying ~3 minutes of Bill ranting was the impetus, but I strongly suspect it helped. Also shout out to Fila Brazillia for including this bit in its entirety at the end of "6ft Wasp" from their 1995 album Maim That Tune. The Brits were ahead of the curve on a great many things in the 90s and that included an appreciation for Bill Hicks and his very specific brand of excoriating comedy.

Heard this on the local college radio station the other day and kind of liked it. Need to look into them more.

Digging deeper into Courtney Marie Andrews. May Your Kindness Remain and the Covid-era Loose Future. Ex.

Yorgos Lanthimos Steps Back From the Movie Camera, and Picks Up Another One https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/arts/design/yorgos-lanthimos-photography-athens.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QFA.lpn0.ZIMYDk_kueUe&smid=nytcore-ios-share (gift article) https://www.onassis.org/whats-on/yorgos-lanthimos-photographs

^^ This is the similar feeling to a woman I know and with whom I used to work. She would always say she is from Persia, not Iran. And that's because the government there defined what Iran is today...and she's not a part of that. I reached out to her today, she is happy and relieved that the leader is gone. Like many, she hopes it's a beginning of more freedoms for the people (and she has family there still). But like above, she still worries about the future depending on how things progress, and what "fills the void." I hope that things will progress for a better future for the people. But with people like Trump and Netanyahu influencing things, not so sure....

Does this clinch next year's Nobel Peace Prize?

Al Fresco Friday Fish

^ While on the subject, The Netherlands' Tiny Desk(ish).

Glad you enjoyed it! Pelageya has been one of my favourite singers for the past 10 years or so, she has a really good feel for the music and how to interpret it. She could be singing anything from Soviet love songs to new age pop and it all somehow sounds right. Singing in Portuguese, just because And back to Soviet love songs

Steve loves to smile for pictures

Another one from a while back.

Happy Birthday to the heart of Head-Case! Have an incredible day Nate!

Happy birthday!

Wishing you a great birthday Nate -- cheers -

Happy Birthday!

Damn it! How did I miss this? Happy belated Birthday Renato!

Sounds pretty good! Good germans, playing their "hitler horns", as my twin brother calls them (rotary valve trumpets).

Edit: Sorry - I didn't see this was posted already in the Hot Garbage thread....

Sic semper tyrannis, inshallah.

"...look at Miko's pants...just...just the pants alone..."

The Green Knight, but fun.

No, not yet. I bet the Nobel Peace Prize will go to whoever stops Trump.

Have a fantastic day. May it be an eleven!

That whole concert is really good! I don't suppose any coke was in play here though

^^^ I've had a live version of that song for a couple decades, on CD-MP3 and now my iPhone. Not as good quality sound, but WHAT A FUCKING GOOD SONG! Even my (non-Stretch) son Andrew chased this down and has it on his playlist. That and Romeo were my favorites by them in the day.....

https://open.qobuz.com/album/co1dqk3g73krk

Happy (11th, 40th) Birthday, Namaan!

Happy Belated Birthday!

After 21 years we finally get a video (also is there a setting to not auto play the dailymotion videos?}

Pepperoni, mushroom and onion pizza

Last night. Absolutely delicious Birthday rib dinner at Al's place. Complete with chocolate cake and my favorite people!