Stiff Little Fingers were the first band I every saw, back in 1980, at the Glasgow Apollo. Tonight I’m off to see them again (for maybe the sixth, seventh, eighth time), at the Forum in Kentish Town.

There’s a Blues Brothers quote that seems appropriate here. And it’s not the one about sunglasses.

BREAKING: American Nazi wins Republican primary in Illinois’ Third Congressional District.

And I see that downstream people have posted the requisite clip.

Professor Hawking told us to loook up at the stars… he probably didn’t live in London.

Aw, Stephen Hawking, man. It’s not exactly sad, because he had a good life, especially compared to the two-year prognosis he was given. But still.

His name will forever be written in evaporating black holes.

OK, so I’m watching Stranger Things, and in season 2, episode 8, it gets really weird. You need to know BASIC to reboot the security system?

But then I remembered: it’s set in the eighties. So it almost makes sense.

I should just mention that Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is brilliant. Best film I’ve seen this year. And I’ve seen Black Panther. (Which, don’t get me wrong, is also great.)

Once again Carrot Weather shows how it’s tuned in to the Zeitgeist.

It’s amusing to see that this article, called ‘Why Decentralization Matters,’ is on Medium.

Where’s Alanis Morissette? (Sorry, ‘Ironic’ cliché.)

Oh, well done, Orbit. I salute not just the publication, but the use of weapons language:

We’re thrilled that the Estate has given us permission to publish the collection, and that owing to special circumstances Ken MacLeod has agreed to join the team working on it.

You can’t leave it there, Star Trek! I mean, you totally can; it’s a great place to leave it. But when’s season 2? 🖖

I’m on an Edinburgh-London train that seemingly has no power sockets (here in coach H, next to the café, at least). What?!? What decade are we in?

Luckily, phone, iPad, headphones, and Kindle all have enough charge for the journey. And I have the season finale of Star Trek: Discovery downloaded. Off we go, then. 🖖

A year ago today I was on a train to Edinburgh. It was snowing at Peterborough.

Today I am also on a train to Edinburgh. No snow, but it’s so crowded that I can’t get to the buffet car. Well, I could, but I’d have to push my way past so many people that I can’t face it. This is why you should buy your sandwiches before you get aboard.

Why is it so crowded, though? Is there something going on that I don’t know about? Or is it something to do with the fact that Virgin run the franchise now?

Marina Hyde has been on fire at the Guardian lately, but this headline is just something else: A-hole in a K-hole: Katie Hopkins’ ketamine adventures

Newspaper journalists don’t usually write their own headlines, but whoever came up with that one deserves an award.

I’m reminded by last year’s post (though really by Facebook: that’s one thing it’s good at) that Feb 7 is recognised by some as International Clash Day. Doesn’t feel like a year, etc. 🎵 #internationalclashday

I have job news. Or I will, soon, I hope. Just waiting for some paperwork…

(OK, Mr Mysterious, that’s enough.)

Why does using psychic powers always cause nosebleeds?

(Still watching Stranger Things.) 📺

12:00:00: Hamilton tickets go on sale. 12:00:01: Ticketmaster site grinds to a halt.

(12:10-ish: I book six tickets!)

I don’t suppose the government will listen, but this Brexit poll is interesting.

I just heard the harmonica on ‘Garageland’ for the first time. I’ve heard that song thousands of times over… err, nearly forty years.

These Beats X headphones are really quite good. 🎵

I’m wildly behind the TV curve, in that I’m just watching Stranger Things now. But I’ve got to say they’re killing it with the music choices.