CubaDupa 25 party preparation


Finished reading: Mother and Sons, Inc. by Kathryn Reyerson 📚

Very interesting historical study of a medieval widow and her business and family interests in pre-Plague southern France.


Finished reading: Tournament by David Crouch 📚

Excellent history and resource for information on historical medieval tournaments.


Finished reading: The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera 📚

Not sure what I thought about this one. Much of it I enjoyed, but I felt the story was undermined but the ability of the central antagonist’s ability to completely alter reality, including unmaking the past - how can a coherent story be told in this way ?


Today’s mail

Man Alone (John Mulgan)

A Queer History of the United States (Michael Bronski)

Faithbreaker (Hannah Kaner)

At Swim, Two Boys (Jamie O’Neill)


Morning walk

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Rainwashed morning, Pōneke


Dusk.

Eketāhuna Country Cottage.


Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras was a total blast 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ !


Had a great time marshalling at the Wellington Pride Parade 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️!


Delighted to participate in the first ever Featherston Pride Parade 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️!


Finished reading: All Systems Red by Martha Wells 📚

Excellent beginning to the Murderbot Diaries series. Creates an entire world and complex but alt-human character in a very short book. Excellently done.


Finished reading: Grave Empire by Richard Swan 📚

Excellent start to the second series of books on the Sovan Empire. This series jumps forwards hundreds of years from the first, shifting from a medieval to an early industrial period.


Finished reading: On James Baldwin by Colm Toibin 📚

Exquisite short overview of the writing of James Baldwin by one of our greatest living writers. Shares Baldwin’s exploration on our inner lives within the context of the damage that malignant concepts of race and masculinity inflict on us, regardless of our gender or race.


Morning walk


Finished listening to the audiobook of Poof by James Tolcher 📚

An incredible powerful, brutal and yet redemptive autobiographical novel. Reveals the deep scars in masculinity - both gay and straight - and the horrendous harm this continues to cause. Expertly written searing truth so vital it hurts.


Institutional overreach

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) is meant to hold police to account - not proposed further restrictions on public protest. Outrageous institutional overreach.

Police watchdog calls for protest restrictions


Stop using Amazon Kindle (before it's too late)

From 26 February 2025, Amazon will stop you downloading your *own* Kindle eBooks. You will be forever stuck in Amazon’s grip.

 

If you’d like to escape, download all your Kindle ebooks now before it's too late:

https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transfer-usb

Remove the DRM using Calibre:

https://calibre-ebook.com/

 

Ideally, start using a service that supports local bookstores:

- Libro (audiobooks): https://libro.fm/

- Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/ebooks

 

Or if you prefer another option:

- Apple Books: https://www.apple.com/apple-books/

- Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/nz/en

- Tom's Guide to DRM free ebooks: https://www.tomsguide.com/tablets/e-readers/no-kindle-no-problem-5-places-to-buy-drm-free-e-books

 


Excellent dinner at Rosella with Bill


Patterns