The Swipe Volume 3 Chapter 13
All of a sudden, I’m playing catchup to my salad and spinach from the garden. The good green stuff is constantly in need of cutting and eating. Not a bad thing, of course—C and I are filled with fibre, vitamins and iron. And an armful of spinach melts to a few spoonfuls of concentrated goodness in a hot pan. I just wish the same could be said for my cucumbers and tomatoes, which are taking their own sweet time. Yes, I know it’s only May but still.
Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.
Rob is reading…
The Wager by David Grann. The true stories of the mutiny and murders swirling around the tragic wreck of a ship of His Majesty’s Navy in 1740. The actual truth will never be known as two parties of survivors told two very different accounts, and swore to their veracity even unto death. It’s a hell of a read—bold, detailed and bulging with jaw-dropping, horrifying details of the life on the ocean waves.
Rob is watching…
Doctor Who. The new season is the best in years. The writing is confident and crisp, the pairing of Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu crackles with energy and yes, that Netflix money is being spent wisely cos the show looks gorgeous. I’m actually looking forward to Saturday nights again. As a sidebar, autoplay on iPlayer led us back to the start of NuWho (20 years ago!). I’d forgotten how good Christopher Ecclestone and Billie Piper were together. Sure, the effects look a little dated, but the scripts and performances still shine. Honestly, despite the bumps in the road, this show remains a great British institution, rolling along with grace and charm.
Rob is listening…
L’ Impératrice. Mellow French synth vibes. Perfect for a sunny Saturday morning, no?
Rob is eating…
Fish finger sandwiches. Simple, right? But there’s a joy to that simplicity, and the elements have to be on point. I actually prefer to use a soft bun or muffin rather than squidgy white bread—you get a bit more structural integrity. Tartar sauce is non-negotiable, as is a square of melty industrial cheese. A little greenery stops the whole thing turning into a Filet-o-fish. Although, actually, who am I kidding, I’d eat a pair of those right now…
Rob’s Low-Key Obsession Of The Week…
The third in the Now You See Me magical heist movies just dropped a trailer, finally using the title which should have been a no-brainer for the second. It looks, let’s not kid ourselves, terrible. But at the same time magnificent. How many fedoras can you cram into one two-minute trailer anyway?
The big problem with electric cars (putting aside the contentious issue of charging infrastructure for a minute) is that they’re just too complicated and expensive. I love the idea of this American startup, which strips things right back to basics and provides you with a decent local runabout for something like £17K. I’m almost tempted.
Title sequences, done right, can be a real boost to a movie. You’re lured in, given a taste of what’s to happen. The mood is set, the appetite piqued. Think about Bond movies, Se7en, Halloween. Johan Liedgren discusses the start of Top Gun, how and why it succeeds and how the titles to Top Gun: Maverick, while using the same elements, does not.
Siobhan Phillips for Vittles (you’ve renewed your subscription, right?) on the niche pleasures of the restaurant cookbook. I don’t own many of that type, although I found both the Dishoom and Honey & Co books to be surprisingly readable in their own right, not just as collections of recipes.
The story of Tim Friede, who deliberately allowed himself to be bitten by venomous reptiles hundreds of times. His blood could now be the base building block for a universal anti-venom. Obviously, I admire the commitment to the bit but the big question hanging over the whole endeavour—how on earth did Tim decide that was a good thing to do in the first place?
On ugly book covers. I find some of these to be delightful. Sometimes, elegant restraint is simply not the way to go.
Don’t Judge A Book By The Cover
I’m loving the memes swirling around Pope Jake-Elwood The First, especially as he’s giving the Orange Administration a poke in the eye from day one. But let’s take a peek at some ecclesiastical roleplay, which looks like a big ol’ conclave of chuckles. Intrigue! Duels! Sexy robes! How can you resist?
Who needs F1 when you can have 24 Hours Of Lemons? This feels to me like a gathering of the true believers—the folks who like cars because of their flaws and their quirks, an event focussed on the sheer joy of haring round a track, hoping the brakes don’t drop off the wheels. Cars and drivers with personalities instead of machines driving machines.
A really good interview with one of my musical heroes. Bob Mould talks music, embracing his inner bear and how wrestling saved his life. Bob is a legend, an icon and his new album is a solid blast of joy. Fire it up while you read this one.
You’ve probably seen The 48 Things Women Hear That Men Never Do, but it should be highlighted for those in the Readership who have yet to spend two minutes wondering what the fuck is wrong with humanity. Please also check out the opposite angle, which might help to explain a few things.
Comics legend Fabio Bá on how important it is to go that extra few yards in your creative life, to make sure your art is as good as it can be. Detail is key, and even though Google Search is fundamentally broken, you can still find the fact which makes your prose sing in a matter of seconds. If you’re serious about your work, be serious. Case in point—the extra five seconds it took to put the correct accent on Fabio’s surname.
The Beths have new tunes. What more do you need to know?
In conclusion, pack your life as full as this burrito.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nonononoyes/s/6o08LQpkZ3
See you in seven, fellow travellers.
