The Off Topic Topic

[Sheilbh]

Joyce is a phenomenal craftsman, and is able to write well in a multitude of styles (he's very well aware of this fact and, at points, beats you over the head with it in Ulysses.)  He creates a cast of vivid characters in Ulysses and sharp images so that you can almost see Dublin in June of 1904.  Personally, I find the sheer weirdness of the second part of the novel fascinating.  Also I don't think the novel is that obtuse; there's a couple hard chapters (Proteus, the Wandering Rocks), but nothing more difficult than Faulkner.  A layman could read this book with only some basic explanatory notes.

I agree. There's sections that I think work better read aloud (which is true of all of Finnegans Wake too) - I think Joyce is the prose writer I think who works most through the sound of words.

But I don't think Ulysses generally deserves its reputation as sort of singularly difficult. There are sections that are moreso than others but personally I find reading aloud helps navigates those sections.

Semi-relatedly the Samuel Beckett movie looks better than I expected (I've always thought Beckett in the resistance deserves a film on its own) Although Aidan Gillen seems an odd Joyce.

[Sheilbh]

On Iceland. This seems sub-optimal for a town centre:
https://x.com/WxNB_/status/1724076210311791005

Edit: Although this is one of those things that always makes me think how lucky Britain is. Not really on any geological fault-lines, relatively benign climate and no snakes/spiders/bears etc that can kill you.

[HVC]

That's one way to get wider streets

[Josquius]

After like 3 years (admittedly not particularly putting huge time into it every month due to other concerns) I've finally overcame the fight against perfectionism and finished a little mini-doc 

[Maladict]

After like 3 years (admittedly not particularly putting huge time into it every month due to other concerns) I've finally overcame the fight against perfectionism and finished a little mini-doc 

Link or it didn't happen.

[grumbler]

That's one way to get wider streets

People who wanted to live further from downtown will be pleased.

[Josquius]

After like 3 years (admittedly not particularly putting huge time into it every month due to other concerns) I've finally overcame the fight against perfectionism and finished a little mini-doc 

Link or it didn't happen.

Its mega niche. Not sure if anyone here (or anyone outside of my head really...) can/would want to follow it. But hey ho. :p

[Legbiter]

On Iceland. This seems sub-optimal for a town centre:
https://x.com/WxNB_/status/1724076210311791005

Edit: Although this is one of those things that always makes me think how lucky Britain is. Not really on any geological fault-lines, relatively benign climate and no snakes/spiders/bears etc that can kill you.

It's a depression that's sinking half the town about 7cm per day making this officially the worst natural disaster since the 1973 Heimaey eruption even if things were to die down completely. Magma is still flowing into the lava dike causing uplift and earthquakes so if past events are any guide it's only a matter of days until the magma finds a weak spot in the crust and surfaces. Work on barriers around the power plant is around the clock now.



Most likely eruption site is thought to be around Hagafell at this point but really it's anyone's guess at this point. The old crater row on this photo last erupted about 2000 years ago.

[Maladict]

After like 3 years (admittedly not particularly putting huge time into it every month due to other concerns) I've finally overcame the fight against perfectionism and finished a little mini-doc 

Link or it didn't happen.

Its mega niche. Not sure if anyone here (or anyone outside of my head really...) can/would want to follow it. But hey ho. :p

I enjoyed that 

Did need the subtitles occasionaly 

[Josquius]

After like 3 years (admittedly not particularly putting huge time into it every month due to other concerns) I've finally overcame the fight against perfectionism and finished a little mini-doc 

Link or it didn't happen.

Its mega niche. Not sure if anyone here (or anyone outside of my head really...) can/would want to follow it. But hey ho. :p

I enjoyed that 

Did need the subtitles occasionaly 

Oh thanks. Didn't expect anyone would given its so local.

When you say need subtitles... You mean for the dialect use (intentional ) or some product of inconsistent recording quality /level /mix?

[Maladict]

Oh thanks. Didn't expect anyone would given its so local.

When you say need subtitles... You mean for the dialect use (intentional ) or some product of inconsistent recording quality /level /mix?

Yeah the dialect, sound quality is fine.
I've spent some time in Newcastle and travelled around by train, so it's not a completely random place for me.

[Threviel]

It was somewhat understandable most of the time, lovely voice and production.

Why are there high rise ruins in the background?

[Josquius]

It was somewhat understandable most of the time, lovely voice and production.

Why are there high rise ruins in the background?

Thanks.

Demolition of underway of some 1960s tower blocks.
Posted a few months back- I quite like this photo of it, seeing a slice inside all the homes.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-61167210

[Tamas]

Building so many flats there when the same ground space could have allowed up to 6 terraced houses.

[Threviel]

Ohh, good. I was afraid Yorkshire was under Detroitification.