The Off Topic Topic

[Sheilbh]

Yes - now the entire spire is visible without any scaffolding I assume we've moved to a high alert status for biological attacks.

[Josquius]

Its only the fact that someone died that has the cathedral not really milking that for advertising.

[Sheilbh]

Do other cathedrals do a lot of advertising?

[Josquius]

Do other cathedrals do a lot of advertising?

Local tourist board then :p

[HVC]

Do other cathedrals do a lot of advertising?

... missionaries?

[Sheilbh]

In mega-year of elections Indonesia (which I feel is like the big important country that gets least coverage) has just elected a right-wing authoritarian, in one round, apparently following a successful Tik Tok re-brand as a cuddly grandpa figure

Also I feel like one of the big shifts from 2016 is that I think Wall Street is now comfortable with Trump/right-wing populism now - see Dimon's comments, or the response Milei got at Davos.

[Josquius]

Well that sucks.
Is he doing the usual right wing populist in the tropics thing and declaring war on the jungles?

[Sheilbh]

Semi-relatedly - new English translation out of Revolusi about Indonesian independence by David van Reybrouck, whose book on Congo is exceptional. If it's half as good as the Congo book it'll be very worth getting.

[Maladict]

Semi-relatedly - new English translation out of Revolusi about Indonesian independence by David van Reybrouck, whose book on Congo is exceptional. If it's half as good as the Congo book it'll be very worth getting.

I think it doesn't quite match Congo, but definitely a good read.

[Syt]

Cycling in 1899 was a lot more extreme!

[Josquius]

And book agents 

[Maladict]

Man I wish I had a way of defending myself against book agents while cycling.

[The Brain]

Shooting dogs recreationally was more acceptable back then.

[Tamas]

Dogs coming at you while you cycle is of no joking matter.

[Josephus]

What's a foot pad?