An arms fair sounds like the least fun type of fair.

A “super sour” chewy sweet/candy can also do the same thing, whilst being a bit more… subtle.

I think so, but it was a long time ago! I think I was trying to play the anthem on piano, and whilst working it out, suddenly thought “this is just the Gummy Bears theme tune slowed down”.

With some more talent, confidence and free time, I would have attempted to produce a recorded version in the last decade or so - but I never did, so if anyone else can, please do so. It’s probably worth quite a few “Internet points” :)

The verse of the Gummy Bears theme tune is just the Soviet Union National Anthem speeded up. Same chord sequence.

If you put the Gummy Bears lyrics and the English translation of the Soviet Anthem next to each other, the two sets of lyrics are pretty much interchangeable.

Commie Bears.

Enjoy :)

Ah, the “Rimworld diet”.

We used to suffer from this, but now have a cat-based monitoring system:

3 cats sleep on bed = perfectly clean
2 cats sleep on bed = clean enough
1 cat sleeps on bed = prepare to change sheets
0 cats sleep on bed = change bedsheets now

I don’t think it’s just Gen-Z.

Here’s former Manchester United and England footballer Gary Neville, telling us about his “mini-retirements”

Gary Neville - Mini-Retirements (youtube link)

Gary is 50 years old.

“I’m so furious with their absolute incompetence, I’m going to cross out ‘best wishes’ and simply write ‘regards’ at the end of this email”

*20 minutes later*

“WHAT HAVE I DONE! I AM A MONSTER!”

Much of Britain, certainly.

They can get through a gap of 1-2mm (about 1/32 - 1/16 inches) through cracks round door frames, along the holes for water pipes, in tiny cracks between bricks or concrete.

They have an amazing sense of smell and are especially fond of cat food or that tiny bit of lettuce that fell underneath the fridge.

Brilliant, thanks. I’ll see how I get on with Pushing Ice, but popped the others on the wishlist. I imagine I will very much like stuff like this, so added Fred Saberhagen too (The Berserker ones I’ve heard of before).

Thanks for the suggestion, his stuff looks interesting. I realised I already have (but haven’t yet read) “Pushing Ice”, which looks like a standalone novel - but looks like there’s also a whole set of works in the “Revelation Space” universe. Any recommendations of specific books of his?

I used Photoshop 6.0 and Premiere 6.0. Not CS6, original 6.

🪦