pearce

Today is the 69th day of the year

How weird because giving the private sector “more scope” in the UK did not work out well - see below headline.
Studies consistently show that private sector involvement in public health leads to poorer health outcomes - RNZ noted this last year:
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Drop something BLUE

I finally read Fifty Sounds and really enjoyed it. I didn't expect so much Wittgenstein. Very clever structure as well. Thanks for the recommendation!

One story, "The Queen," was inspired by the same mythological character as a trashy '80s movie I saw years ago called Lady Terminator: Nyai Roro Kidul, aka the queen of the Southern Sea. The result could not be more different. Anyway, I recommend Apple and Knife very highly.

Do I know anyone else who read Apple and Knife by Intan Paramaditha? It's a collection of horror stories, all dealing with gender, class etc in Indonesia. Really great stuff, vivid imagery, interesting themes. Some stories reminded me of Angela Carter, especially those that draw on folk stories.

Oh no, I jumped the gun by reading a whole bunch of horror by women last month, and now I'm reading a fantasy novel by a woman instead!

After finishing a mere 12 books in the entirety of 2025, I've managed to get through 14 in February 2026 (19 this year to date). Feels great. Gotta take these small wins.

This is a flying lampshade.

Oh, so THIS is what they meant by localism

I'm not on this episode, but Scott is so give it a listen!

My #1 gripe about podcasts I otherwise like - and this is very common - is a massive discrepancy between the volume levels of the participants. One person is in your ear, one person is in the room, one person is down the hall. Please please please wear headphones and use equalization.

Maybe, but they've restricted replies. "Coolest" has different variants; Hesei resembles a heavy metal cover, so cool in one way, but late Showa resembles Cookie Monster, so cool in a different way.

I assume John Constantine worked hard to put that thing where it is, and you should probably leave it be.

Happy 72nd birthday to Poison Ivy Rorschach, lead guitarist/producer/songwriter for The Cramps, born 20 February, 1953. Seldom seen since her retirement after the death of her soulmate, Lux Interior, in 2009. I hope she is doing well, wherever she is.

RIP Frederick Wiseman. Maybe now Shirley Clarke's 1964 film The Cool World will finally be re-released (he produced it and suppressed its home media release for some reason).

I didn't know Jan well at the time, we were in the same Chemistry class, but I was watching the cops come closer with clubs and shields while skinheads threw bottles, when she came up and said "Pearce, we have to get our of here." I've never stopped being grateful. Haven't seen her for decades now.

Last night I watched Friday the 13th Part 2. First time I saw it was when I was 17, late night at my friend Verity's house, right after a different friend, Jan, helped me escape in her VW bug from a party that was being broken up by the riot police. Being a teenager in the Hutt was a time and a half

This was right under your post in my timeline

bsky.app/profile/jera...

Ever since I consciously started reading more books, my social media scrolling and podcast listening have dropped off dramatically without my even making an effort in those directions. It's been very pleasant.

As George Clinton said, "Gaga googa ga ga googa, ga ga goo ga ga."

If what you say is true, the Shaolin and the Wu Tang could be dangerous!

When the Beasties say "like a pinch on the neck of Mr. Spock" in Intergalactic, the phrasing implies that it's Spocks neck being pinched rather than him applying the pinch.

No particular reason for saying this today, but when it comes to a man's terrible behaviour, "not held accountable by a court of law" is very different to "innocent."

I have anecdotally heard that every cinema in Wellington was offered and declined it. Hoyts has it playing in several NZ cities and there's one independent Auckland cinema that took it. Hope it's being similarly frozen out there.

Satoshi Kon talks about how Requiem for a Dream took from his film Perfect Blue (1997)

Aw bless

"Judith Collins appointed President of the Law Commission" doesn't seem like much to celebrate

A wee reminder that they handed out $6M for the Michelin Man #nzpol