We went to a games bar in Bordeaux (https://www.lilaandthebarber.com/) and they had this game – but no rulebook. The game consists of two decks of cards (orange goal cards and blue adjective cards), a puck (to indicate the guesser), a set of cards numbered one to eight and a board like so: Finn ended upContinue reading “The mystery of the Platypus”
Author Archives: Ben Vost
Ace in the Pi-hole
I’ve had a Raspberry Pi sitting on the shelf since the Pi Zero W came out. It was only a tenner and I thought it would come in useful at some point… Using it on the TV with Scratch was short-lived and it’s not pokey enough to be a Plex server so on the shelfContinue reading “Ace in the Pi-hole”
Prey train
Prey, Dan Trachtenberg 2022 Prey is a new prequel to the Predator franchise, set in 1719. In a North America still largely native, we find Naru (Amber Midthunder). She’s a young female Comanche who doesn’t like the way she’s treated by the men of the tribe as “just a woman”. She wants to be partContinue reading “Prey train”
Asian-inspired smoked haddock chowder
I really like a clam chowder and I really like Asian food – Japanese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, etc. So, I thought I’d combine the two and use some reduced price smoked haddock I found at the supermarket, rather than more expensive shellfish. Ingredients 1 clove of garlic Three or four firm potatoes A teaspoon ofContinue reading “Asian-inspired smoked haddock chowder”
The H2 Phantasm
One option often brought up by people as an alternative to fossil fuels is hydrogen. I try to explain why this isn’t a solution for personal transport
An Uncharted Moon Souvenir on the Nile in two parts
I watched several films in the last week. Moonfall (2022) This is very big and very dumb. There might be a small modicum of accurate scientific information in here, but it’s swamped by the dodgy dialogue and terrible exposition. The cast does their best with what they’re given, but even an actor of Oscar-winner HalleContinue reading “An Uncharted Moon Souvenir on the Nile in two parts”
⬛🟨🟩Words, words, word-le🟩🟨⬛
I’ve always loved word games. Crosswords, word searches, Scrabble, Upwords, Boggle and now in the digital era, Words with Friends and the latest jam, Wordle. My bell curve for success is getting better as I get used to the way Wordle works and my discovery that far from making the game harder, “Hard mode” actuallyContinue reading “⬛🟨🟩Words, words, word-le🟩🟨⬛”
Review: The Last Duel
THE LAST DUEL (2021, USA/UK, dir. Ridley Scott, 18 cert, 152 mins)The title of the film refers to the last government-sanctioned (or imposed) trial by combat in France. Duelling did carry on in a much less official basis for many decades longer but it was a private affair. The film starts by showing us theContinue reading “Review: The Last Duel”
Review: Eternals (2021)
Went to see this film this morning (before picking up a ukelele) and didn’t really enjoy it. It’s such a poisoned chalice for Chloe Zhao – if it doesn’t succeed, she’ll get the blame because she’s an Oscar winner. It really does show, by the way. How some of the shots are constructed is excellentContinue reading “Review: Eternals (2021)”
Review: Dune (2021)
Directed by Denis VilleneuveDune opens with a discordant sound that really sets the tone for the film and the vivid blue Warner Bros credits are a stark colour contrast to the ochre tones that dominate the rest of the film. As usual with Denis Villeneuve films, the visual in spectacle is assured and measured. QuickContinue reading “Review: Dune (2021)”