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First item published on 2026-08-14T18:45:41.000Z
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<title type="text">Terence Eden’s Blog</title>
<subtitle type="text">Regular nonsense about tech and its effects 🙃</subtitle>
<updated>2026-08-14T18:10:20Z</updated>
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<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Target Audience ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-target-audience/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74018</id>
<updated>2026-08-14T18:10:20Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-14T18:45:41Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Easily the best show I've seen at the Fringe. For plot-related reasons, a television company asks a literary genius to create a "pro-weapons sitcom". It is a fast paced mix of the sitcoms 2012 and Episodes. The jokes come at a steady pace - some attack with the furiousity of bullets, others the the subtlety of a knife in the night. All four of the cast are spectacular. Turning the…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-target-audience/"><![CDATA[<p>Easily the best show I've seen at the Fringe.</p>
<p>For plot-related reasons, a television company asks a literary genius to create a "pro-weapons sitcom".</p>
<p>It is a fast paced mix of the sitcoms 2012 and Episodes. The jokes come at a steady pace - some attack with the furiousity of bullets, others the the subtlety of a knife in the night.</p>
<p>All four of the cast are spectacular. Turning the sometimes-stock characters into powerful avatars. The amoral Zuckerbergian horror of data driven decision making is the perfect manure in which to grow comedy roses.</p>
<p>It stands well against any classic farce and I hope it tours until the end of the world.</p>
<p>A special shout out to the Pleasance Above for being the most comfortable venue in Edinburgh! Raked auditorium, cushioned seats, and air conditioning all make for a delightful theatrical experience.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Stand-up Philosophy ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-stand-up-philosophy/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74015</id>
<updated>2026-08-14T14:53:00Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-14T15:16:26Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[For a pay-what-you-want show this was decent. Three comedians doing sets on the theme of philosophy - followed by a Q&A where the audience poses philosophical conundrums to them. It more-or-less works as a gimmick. Although an early afternoon crowd may have been more likely to ask questions anonymously. I've never seen a Sikh doing an unnervingly accurate impression of Trump before. Daman…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-stand-up-philosophy/"><![CDATA[<p>For a pay-what-you-want show this was decent. Three comedians doing sets on the theme of philosophy - followed by a Q&A where the audience poses philosophical conundrums to them.</p>
<p>It more-or-less works as a gimmick. Although an early afternoon crowd may have been more likely to ask questions anonymously.</p>
<p>I've never seen a Sikh doing an unnervingly accurate impression of Trump before. <a href="https://www.damanbamrah.com/">Daman Bamrah</a> did a perfect routine which blended his philosophy with the perils of the bum-gun. An unexpected but hilarious combination.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sidsingh.org/">Sid Singh</a>'s set trod a fairly standard path through reactions to racism, but his discussion at the end about the inherent problems involved in writing controversial material was excellent.</p>
<p>Tying it all together was <a href="https://www.alexfarrowcomedy.com/">Alex Farrow</a> who perfectly brought together the various philosophical strands and proved why Albert Camus was a fan of Stewart Lee.</p>
<p>A great set of acts at a decent price.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Waiting for Wonka ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-waiting-for-wonka/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74091</id>
<updated>2026-08-14T12:21:21Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-14T12:31:07Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[This play is fucked up! Such a brilliant concept - what happened to the kids from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after they were rejected by Wonka? Stuck together in a Big-Brotheresque household, they trauma-dump on each other. New Zealand's Half Trick have shrunk their full-length play into a Fringe-standard 60 minutes. That does make it a little brusque and, simultaneously, a bit…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-waiting-for-wonka/"><![CDATA[<p>This play is <em>fucked up!</em> Such a brilliant concept - what happened to the kids from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory <em>after</em> they were rejected by Wonka? Stuck together in a Big-Brotheresque household, they trauma-dump on each other.</p>
<p><a href="https://halftrick.com/#wonka"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/naughty.webp" alt="Waiting for Wonka poster saying naughty children get nothing." width="800" height="1125" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-74093"></a></p>
<p>New Zealand's Half Trick have shrunk their full-length play into a Fringe-standard 60 minutes. That does make it a little brusque and, simultaneously, a bit repetitive. The characters don't get quite enough room to breathe. Mike Teavee has, of course, become an incel online troll - perfect! - but the rest haven't changed much.</p>
<p>The horrors of industrial accidents mixed with corporate malfeasance makes for an excellent comedy. The cast inhabit their characters perfectly, each totally believable as a childhood favourite who has become a deeply troubled adult.</p>
<p>I'd be delighted to read a full length novelisation of the script. It is a witty and terrifying update to a book I devoured as a child. Only now do I realise that it was also devouring me. Truly when you gaze into the lake of chocolate…</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas ★★★★⯪]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-doris-dolly-and-the-dressing-room-divas/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74012</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T21:32:42Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-13T22:23:25Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Quite simply marvellous! Three Scottish divas giving us their interpretations of the greats while backed by an excellent pianist. So many shows at the Fringe skimp on sets and props - not this! A luscious array of costumes, hats, wigs, and ruby slippers bring the characters to life. The framing is thin but serviceable - the backstage helpers are reminiscing about their favourite stars and bring …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-doris-dolly-and-the-dressing-room-divas/"><![CDATA[<p>Quite simply marvellous! Three Scottish divas giving us their interpretations of the greats while backed by an excellent pianist.</p>
<p>So many shows at the Fringe skimp on sets and props - not this! A luscious array of costumes, hats, wigs, and ruby slippers bring the characters to life.</p>
<p>The framing is thin but serviceable - the backstage helpers are reminiscing about their favourite stars and bring them back to stage. It is a fun and campy evening, without ever straying into parody or obsequiousness.</p>
<p>Sadly a few technical gremlins crept in, but the cast are absolute troopers and dispensed with them.</p>
<p>Oh, and there's an incredible Sweary Poppins who steals the show.</p>
<p>In amongst the Fringe's high concept art, fiendish new writing, and blokey-standup, it was a real treat to see a good old fashioned revue.</p>
<p>Highly recommend.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: The Musical Mystery Caller ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-the-musical-mystery-caller/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74064</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T19:01:23Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-13T20:21:53Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Walking down the street, I noticed a ringing phone box so, naturally, I answered it. What happened next was a few minutes of pure fringe magic! I had a little chat with the caller, he welcomed me to the smallest venue in the fringe, and then he improvised a banger of a song based on my peculiar proclivities. What a treat to have a front row experience at a one man (and one audience member)…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-the-musical-mystery-caller/"><![CDATA[<p>Walking down the street, I noticed a ringing phone box so, naturally, I answered it.</p>
<p>What happened next was a few minutes of pure fringe magic!</p>
<p>I had a little chat with the caller, he welcomed me to the smallest venue in the fringe, and then he improvised a banger of a song based on my peculiar proclivities.</p>
<p>What a treat to have a front row experience at a one man (and one audience member) show. The song was heartfelt and beautiful, played and sung with panache - albeit down a twisted copper pair of limited bandwidth.</p>
<p>He didn't reverse the charges, so it didn't cost me a penny! Which, given the high prices of most shows, was an absolute bargain 😃</p>
<p>If you hear a phone ringing, you should always answer it and say hello.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Imagepipe_59.webp" alt="Me in a phone box listening intently." width="1542" height="2048" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-74067">
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Miscast Sondheim ★★☆☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-miscast-sondheim/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74045</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T18:05:07Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-13T18:45:15Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm not sure what they're teaching at LAMDA, but it certainly isn't vocal projection. We were forewarned about the technical difficulties - but if a trained stage singer can't reach the 6th row of a tiny theatre, that can't be blamed on the backstage team. The show advertises itself as: What happens when you take Sondheim’s most beloved music and turn it on its head? Ingénues become villains, vi…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-miscast-sondheim/"><![CDATA[<p>I'm not sure what they're teaching at LAMDA, but it certainly isn't vocal projection. We were forewarned about the technical difficulties - but if a trained stage singer can't reach the 6th row of a tiny theatre, that can't be blamed on the backstage team.</p>
<p>The show advertises itself as:</p>
<blockquote><p>What happens when you take Sondheim’s most beloved music and turn it on its head? Ingénues become villains, villains deliver delicate ballads, and comic sidekicks step into tragedy.</p></blockquote>
<p>But, bluntly, that's not what was delivered. The gender swapping and colour-blind casting was fine, but there was no sense that this was a twist on the songs. They were all delivered in a straightforward fashion.</p>
<p>In fairness, there were a couple of truly excellent singers - Adam Boggs McDonald was spectacular and Paulina Hill was an absolute showstopper. The twist on Agony by Angelia Castillo and Adelia Castillo worked well.</p>
<p>Sadly the rest was over promised and under delivered.</p>
<p>Another show seen purely in the basis that we had an hour free and the venue was close. That's generally a pretty sound strategy for seeing shows - but you have to accept the risk that you might not like what you get.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Hot Flush – A Bold, We’re Old(ish) Burlesque Show ★★★☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hot-flush-a-bold-were-oldish-burlesque-show/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74009</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T16:25:57Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-13T16:45:02Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Are menopausal women hot? It is often said that pornographic actresses move straight from "barely legal" to "MILF" without so much as moment in between. Unlike the fringe's other burlesque shows - which seem to exclusively feature nymphettes and twinks with nary a grey hair between them - Hot Flush focuses on the over 40s. Look, you probably don't want to read a review of how tempting I found…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hot-flush-a-bold-were-oldish-burlesque-show/"><![CDATA[<p>Are menopausal women hot? It is often said that pornographic actresses move straight from "barely legal" to "MILF" without so much as moment in between. Unlike the fringe's other burlesque shows - which seem to exclusively feature nymphettes and twinks with nary a grey hair between them - Hot Flush focuses on the over 40s.</p>
<p>Look, you probably don't want to read a review of how tempting I found each temptress, nor a multivariant testing of their erotic powers - so let's just say this…</p>
<p>The lecture in the middle about the menopause and how to cope with it was very educational.</p>
<p>The performers were all talented and the costumes (before removal) were sufficiently sufficient for their purpose.</p>
<p>The main problem is that it is staged at the <em>least</em> sexy venue on the fringe. A basement meeting room which looks more suitable for a regional sales conference than a burlesque. Perhaps if they were going for a Belinda Blinked cabaret it might have worked better.</p>
<p>The performers coped well with the technical difficulties (no doubt caused by a moralising theatre ghost) and recovered their momentum well.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Eleanor Morton: The Mermaid ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-eleanor-morton-the-mermaid/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74006</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T13:44:52Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-13T14:55:59Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The undisputed queen of short-form viral video comedy snacks takes to the stage. Well, swims to the stage. The Mermaid is a delightful and gentle amble through the confusing world of a girl who just wants to become a mermaid. Less standup and more storytelling, nevertheless it packs in the laughs with some rather clever jokes, a bit of bawdy humour, and - a rarity on The Fringe - a decently…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-eleanor-morton-the-mermaid/"><![CDATA[<p>The undisputed queen of short-form viral video comedy snacks takes to the stage. Well, swims to the stage.</p>
<p>The Mermaid is a delightful and gentle amble through the confusing world of a girl who just wants to become a mermaid. Less standup and more storytelling, nevertheless it packs in the laughs with some rather clever jokes, a bit of bawdy humour, and - a rarity on The Fringe - a decently designed set!</p>
<p>It stands out by being well-rehearsed (surprisingly not a given here) and with no technical glitches during the performance (and, again, I cannot stress enough how unique that is). Eleanor Morton is an absolute professional who knows how to put on a quality show.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Book Review: Coding Literacy by Annette Vee ★★⯪☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/book-review-coding-literacy-by-annette-vee/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72659</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T11:41:26Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-13T11:34:09Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Book Review"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="coding"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Computer Science"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[This is a disappointing and frustrating book - not least because it so nearly hits the mark. The subtitle is "How Computer Programming Is Changing Writing" - but it never gets close to discussing that topic, let alone deeply examining it. Instead, it is a book mostly focussed on the history of what we mean by "literacy" and, by contrast, what it meant to be "illiterate". As per the standard…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/book-review-coding-literacy-by-annette-vee/"><![CDATA[<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/m_9780262340236-cover.jpeg" alt="Book cover." width="304" height="450" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-72660">
<p>This is a disappointing and frustrating book - not least because it so <em>nearly</em> hits the mark.</p>
<p>The subtitle is "How Computer Programming Is Changing Writing" - but it never gets close to discussing that topic, let alone deeply examining it. Instead, it is a book mostly focussed on the history of what we mean by "literacy" and, by contrast, what it meant to be "illiterate".</p>
<p>As per the standard for academic monographs, it is more interested in endlessly discussing the semantics of a term than engaging with its impacts. The historic stuff is genuinely fascinating. But the endless diversions about what Academic A thinks and how Academic B rebuts is a little tedious. There are clear parallels between a pre-literate society relying on the village scribe and the modern family having that one cousin who "knows computers" - but it is only weakly explored.</p>
<p>There are moments when it seems like the author is really going to delve in to what coding literacy actually means:</p>
<blockquote><p>The relationship between programming as a practice and computer science as a discipline is a central tension in the contemporary programming campaigns that invoke literacy,</p></blockquote>
<p>But it rarely goes beyond surface level. Most people can write - but only few can write a novel. Many can engage is literary criticism - but few take it any further. How does that model fit on to coding? The book doesn't discuss, but there's an easy parallel there. Only a few people can write an app, but many can use it. Anyone can write a review of an app, but not many can do so from a position of literacy.</p>
<p>This was published in 2017, so written a decade or so before LLMs became seemingly ubiquitous. Nevertheless, there are some historic titbits which seem to fit nicely into today's world:</p>
<blockquote><p>As early as 1961, Peter Elias claimed that training in programming languages would soon cease because “undergraduates will face the console with such a natural keyboard and such a natural language that there will be little left, if anything, to the teaching of programming. [At this point, we] should hope that it would have disappeared from the curricula of all but a moderate group of specialists.”</p></blockquote>
<p>But, as the book <em>does</em> briefly discuss, the way the brain is changed by coding literacy forces people to think more in line with a computer. Even if you tell an LLM "build me an app to do xyz", you still need to think about what you're doing, why you're doing it, what edge-cases you need to consider, etc.</p>
<p>But then it is back to the interminable academic squabbling about whether Wittgenstein's definition of an inconsequential term is compatible with Chomsky's.</p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest weakness is that there is almost a complete absence of code! A few examples of <abbr title="Beginners' All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code">BASIC</abbr> would have done <em>so</em> much to demonstrate how a restricted language set changes how people write and therefore think.</p>
<p>There's a brief exploration about how the typewriter and typesetting changed language and literacy - but where's the examination about how the tyranny of <abbr title="American National Standards Institute">ANSI</abbr> layout curtailed the way programmers wrote? There's an amazing exploration to be done about why coders use <code>=></code> rather than <code>→</code> and how various other symbols got co-opted into their languages.</p>
<p>Instead, it is back to the history books again.</p>
<p>Here's another good example about how writing changed literacy:</p>
<blockquote><p>Written texts provide fewer cues than oral delivery about how to “take” them; for example, ironically, sincerely, or jokingly. Readers must interpret texts, supplying the illocutionary force of the text themselves.</p></blockquote>
<p>It seems obvious to me that this is directly comparable with something like a code review. It isn't immediately clear what a programmer means when they write something down - and even comments can be misleading. What sort of "oral traditions" are we building up?</p>
<p>The book then mostly abandons any pretence of talking about code. I think the author really wanted to write a history book but needed the (then) coolness of tying it to the various "get kids to code" campaigns.</p>
<p>Towards the end, it <em>almost</em> returns to the topic at hand.</p>
<blockquote><p>We choose our words in terms of what is potentially reportable on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter</p>
<p>[…]</p>
<p>Although few people know how to program the devices on which code and computation ride into our lives, their manifestations influence us anyhow. In various ways, we have learned to see ourselves as “computed” by the devices and networks on which we depend.</p></blockquote>
<p>As we might say nowadays "Hey chat! Guess the Cheeto didn't unalive himself today!" - but that isn't really about coding. The people using those substitute words are ignorant of how algorithms really work and think that their clever doublespeak can bypass censorship.</p>
<p>We desperately need more people to be literate in what coding means. Sadly this book only every lightly touches on what coding literacy does to our language, our thoughts, and our society.</p>
<p>I'm giving it 2.5 stars because the history was genuinely interesting - but it completely fails to engage with the topic it promised.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72659&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73981</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T21:09:24Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T21:22:09Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[There are at least four different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!. This is different because it is the unauthorized musical parody. Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue. Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/"><![CDATA[<p>There are at least <em>four</em> different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/">Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!</a>. This is different because it is the <em>unauthorized</em> musical parody.</p>
<p>Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue.</p>
<p>Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of gay hockey sticks.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fef3a413-0f72-4faf-a33e-691bbd4af37c.jpg" alt="Two hockey player biting a puck." width="250" height="250" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73984">
<p>So, how does it compare to its twin?</p>
<p>It is good, but <em>deeply</em> conservative. The whole thing is framed through the eyes of a middle-age suburban mom which, sure, is probably a large part of the target audience but felt a bit retrograde. While the other show had a plentiful amount of <em>acrobatic</em> simulated sex with near-nude performers, this only has a couple of shirtless scenes and the actors are reduced to having a couple of trysts with literal mannequins. Weirdly, the one sex scene they perform together takes place behind a sheet. The leads kiss only twice which, for a parody of a show famed for its explicitness makes it all feel a bit Hays Code.</p>
<p>The songs, however, are sumptuous. A full score accompanies the incredibly talented cast. This is <em>very</em> off-Broadway - with soaring melodies, powerful solos, and solid reprises. At times it feels more like a parody of Broadway shows than of the TV show.</p>
<p>That isn't to say this is bad. It is <em>very</em> good. The script is full of delightful references and silly jokes. The lyrics at times are downright <em>filthy</em>! It is an excellent show and well worth seeing - but my heart remains with the <em>other</em> parody.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73981&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - James Rowland: Team Viking ★★⯪☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73961</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T17:30:11Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T19:20:01Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer. Sadly, it did nothing for me. I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive. There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/"><![CDATA[<p>This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer.</p>
<p>Sadly, it did nothing for me.</p>
<p>I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive.</p>
<p>There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy and catharsis. It is probably the perfect show for some people but I wasn't the right audience for it.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73961&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Garrett Millerick: We Tried it Your Way ★☆☆☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73971</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T17:25:43Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T17:55:57Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him? Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious. He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/"><![CDATA[<p>Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him?</p>
<p>Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious.</p>
<p>He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating segment was like something from an incel forum. Bitter and uncomfortable.</p>
<p>There's a minor point that's made about whether AI comedy is cheating (yes) and if comedians need to be worried (no). But even when he goes back to performing his organic routine, it is dire. There are a few chuckles to be had, but most of the audience were just looking stricken with second hand embarrassment.</p>
<p>The delivery is a one note rant, the jokes are the shouting of an angry disillusioned man, and the AI is a clanker of the worst order.</p>
<p>Dire.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73971&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: When Vincent Met John ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73949</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T14:51:06Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T15:30:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four. When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour. What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation?…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/"><![CDATA[<p>I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four.</p>
<p>When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour.</p>
<p>What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation? They were both tortured artists whose influence spanned the world and only grew after their untimely deaths.</p>
<p>It is incredible!</p>
<p>Much like Yasmina Reza's "Art" this is a meticulous argument about the nature of creativity. And, much like, <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02/theatre-review-the-last-laugh/">The Last Laugh</a> this feature fastidiously observed recreation of beloved figures.</p>
<p>Can Lennon conceive of someone who doesn't recognise Him? Can van Gogh conceive of Yoko Ono's conceptual art? Is Lennon's braggadocio an impediment to his happiness? Is van Gogh's obsessive nature blocking him from progressing?</p>
<p>The script sizzles. Lennon almost seems to speak in rhyming couplets - as befits a lyricist and poet. It is peppered with throwaway references to his cannon (including many deep cuts for the obsessives). One of those plays where I immediately want to grab the script and study it to death.</p>
<p>Both actors utterly inhabit their characters and give play off each other perfectly. The direction is precise and inventive. Even the set construction is perfectly attuned to the needs of the show.</p>
<p>An astounding piece of theatre and strongly recommended.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73949&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Justina Seselskaite: Settled ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73930</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T20:24:54Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T22:23:14Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like. It was sublime! There's a …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/"><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like.</p>
<p>It was sublime!</p>
<p>There's a rich history of foreign comedians coming to these shores and <del>stealing our jobs</del> making us laugh by pointing out the UK's foibles as only an outsider can. Seselskaite has a witty outlook on the perils of being mistaken for Polish while working in Waitrose, how high-class a Wetherspoons is, and what's up with Manchester’s weird obsession with bees.</p>
<p>The show isn't the most innovative thing on the Fringe; it's mostly straight stand-up. But the game of "guess which English song was plagiarised by Lithuanian singers" was surprisingly entertaining. OK, I won a badge by guessing correctly, so I'm biased.</p>
<p>Settled is a solid piece of work which has obviously been road-tested and honed into a tight set. Excellent observational stand-up from a unique perspective (come on, how many other Lithuanian comedians have you been to see?).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/justina-seselskaite-settled"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/settled-poster.webp" alt="Poster for a comedy show." width="1347" height="1679" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73933"></a></p>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Handel Nine German Arias ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73911</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T19:49:10Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T20:21:05Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love. So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/"><![CDATA[<p>Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love.</p>
<p>So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest hits.</p>
<p>I'm too much of a philistine to assess its merits - but there's always pleasure watching technically accomplished professionals at the top of their game. I assumed they played the right notes (and in the right order) as the music was delightful.</p>
<p>It was restful and restorative after a long day pounding Edinburgh's pavements.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73911&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Hamlet The Musical ★★☆☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73906</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T15:57:53Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T18:19:16Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="shakespeare"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵 There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs. It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby. The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force perfo…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/"><![CDATA[<p>🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵</p>
<p>There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs.</p>
<p>It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby.</p>
<p>The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force performance as Hamlet. But for every decent pun there's a piece of uninspired mugging to the audience.</p>
<p>The main weakness is that it looks <em>cheap</em>. There can be a certain charm to "we'll put on the show right here - I just think Fringe audiences deserve better than tatty cardboard props and flimsy plastic swords.</p>
<p>Tightened up, it could be something really special - it just fell flat for me.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Afronauts ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73891</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T15:44:03Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T16:17:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (a 100% real thing) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race. Told in an acrobatic style, naturally. It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/"><![CDATA[<p>Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Makuka_Nkoloso">a 100% real thing</a>) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race.</p>
<p>Told in an acrobatic style, naturally.</p>
<p>It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human pyramids, handstands, cartwheels, and aerial work.</p>
<p>An absolutely joyful cast of kinesthetic clowns bring to life the bizarre and (again) <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/story-behind-zambian-space-program">absolutely true story</a>.</p>
<p>Lots of fun, a heartfelt message, and a zippy soundtrack. No way to describe it other than fun for all ages.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Noted ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73887</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T12:04:04Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T12:45:28Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"… This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday. The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper lit…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/"><![CDATA[<p>It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"…</p>
<p>This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday.</p>
<p>The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper litters the floor as the cast rip them from their bodies to reveal more underneath.</p>
<p>I found it enjoyable enough for an early morning show - but the children around me went bananas for it!</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Gadget Review: Soundpeats UU2 POP Clip2 Earphones ★★★★⯪]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72972</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T06:17:53Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T11:34:37Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="bluetooth"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="gadget"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="headphones"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="usb-c"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the UU2 Clip2 compare. Design The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world.…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/"><![CDATA[<p>Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/11/gadget-review-soundpeats-clip1-cuff-headphones/">the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff</a>. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the <a href="https://soundpeats.com/en-gb/products/soundpeats-pop-clip-physical-bttons-clip-on-earbuds">UU2 Clip2</a> compare.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/soundpeats-clip2-promo.webp" alt="A small cuff style headphone set, charging box, and short cable." width="1500" height="1500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72976">
<h2 id="design"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#design">Design</a></h2>
<p>The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world. Rather than sticking the buds in your earholes, they clip around the flappy bits of your ears. The aren't like a bulldog clip - more like a gentle caress. The speaker sits just outside your ear canal, so you can still hear ambient sounds from around you. Look, you do <em>not</em> want a close-up of my waxy lugs, so here's a model:</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/model-wearing-ear-cuffs.webp" alt="model wearing ear cuffs." width="913" height="684" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72977">
<p>You don't have to wear them in that position. Mine tend to hang around my earlobes - your ears might be a different shape.</p>
<p>They are <em>ridiculously</em> comfortable. I've had them on for a several hour train journey and forgot they were there. They don't leave a mark, they don't ache, they don't pinch, and most importantly they don't fall off. Even if I shook my head vigorously or did any exercise, they stayed put.</p>
<p>I am happy to declare them the most comfortable headphones I own - even more so than my <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/11/review-aftershokz-titanium-bone-conducting-headphones/">Bone Conducting headset</a>.</p>
<p>But, of course, there are some downsides. The previous version had touch-only controls which were a bit shit. It was far too easy to accidentally brush your finger against your ears and skip a track. The Clip2 improves this somewhat by adding a small physical button to each headphone. You can set them to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume (if you can remember the precise sequence of taps you need).</p>
<p>Bluetooth range was good - I was able to wander all over my house without losing connection. Sound quality - even on the default setting - was excellent. You can push up the bass or fiddle with the equaliser if that'll make you happy. Battery life is going to depend on how hard you drive them and if you choose a more energy efficient codec or not. They lasted several hours in my test and recharged quickly in their included case. Naturally, the case has a USB-C connection so it'll use the same cable as all your other gadgets.</p>
<h2 id="android"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#android">Android</a></h2>
<p>They just work. They paired instantly, accepted AAC as a high quality audio codec, the sound quality was excellent as was the microphone quality. Once I used the app to switch to <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a>, the Clip2 restarted and Android started playing in the higher fidelity mode.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/LDAC.webp" alt="LDAC in Android." width="504" height="704" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72983">
<h3 id="app"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#app">App</a></h3>
<p><em>*sigh*</em> Why is that hardware manufacturers make the crappiest software? You don't <em>need</em> the app - everything will work without it. But if you want to customise the buttons, change the EQ, or enable <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a> you'll need it.</p>
<p>Annoyingly, you can't do <em>anything</em> unless you're logged in and have an Internet connection. Want to change the EQ while you're on a train with no signal? Tough.</p>
<p>The app also handles firmware updates - there was one waiting for me - but doesn't offer any information beyond the usual platitudes of bug fixes and stability improvements.</p>
<p>Note, you need the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xingkeqi.peats">PeatsAudio app</a> not the "Soundpeats" app.</p>
<p>Honestly, find an EQ you like, update the firmware, toggle the settings, then uninstall it.</p>
<p>There are <em>some</em> nice touches - like the personalised EQ test - but it is slim pickings. Here are some screenshots.</p>
<p><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eq.webp" alt="Various default EQ options." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72984" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/More-functions.webp" alt="Lots of functions in a settings screen." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72985" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/effects.webp" alt="Various sound effects." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72982" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/adaptive.webp" alt="Personalised EQ test." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72981" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/buttons.webp" alt="Various options triggered by tapping on buttons." width="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-72980" style="display:inline"></p>
<h2 id="linux"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#linux">Linux</a></h2>
<p>Yup! Connected perfectly the first time and gave access to all the supported codecs.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/linux-soundpeats.webp" alt="Linux config screen showing AAC and SBC codecs." width="787" height="377" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72979">
<h2 id="a-few-niggles"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#a-few-niggles">A Few Niggles</a></h2>
<p>Despite looking superficially similar to the Clip1 - these new ones don't fit into the charging case of the originals. That's unfortunate. I guess they don't want users mixing up pairs and getting confused?</p>
<p>Rather annoyingly, they don't pause the sound when you take them off. The old Clip1 would detect if it was in-ear and pause if you popped one out to chat to someone.</p>
<p>They supply a short USB-A to C lead. That's just e-Waste and shouldn't be included.</p>
<p>Because of the design they won't block out all external noise and there's no noise cancelling function. But that's offset by the fact that they do let you retain some awareness of your surroundings.</p>
<h2 id="price-and-final-thoughts"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#price-and-final-thoughts">Price and Final Thoughts</a></h2>
<p>The Clip2 cuff headphones are usually around £60, but <a href="https://link.amazon/B00MTYd9T">are on offer now for about £48</a>. I think that's excellent value for money.</p>
<p>Readers of this blog can use code <code>SPUU2810</code> for 30% off until August 31, 2026.</p>
<p>I am an absolute convert to cuff-style. They don't tightly grip your head like bone-conducting ones, they're less noisy than rear-firing open-ear cans, and they're a good deal more comfortable than sticking something deep in your ear-wax chambers.</p>
<p>The app is a bit shit - but you'll probably only use it once. The buttons are slightly fiddly, but I can't see a way to make them any more tactile without sacrificing their small size.</p>
<p>Sounds quality - on Linux and Android - was excellent. They're perfect if you spend a long time with headphones on.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72972&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: 15 Minutes of Shame ★★★★⯪]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73830</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T20:29:30Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T20:43:10Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right? Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is right there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery! Then reality hits. The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/"><![CDATA[<p>Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right?</p>
<p>Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is <em>right</em> there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery!</p>
<p>Then reality hits.</p>
<p>The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped straight out of LinkedIn. Under a lesser cast, lines about synergising brand strategy to optimise the subscriber funnel would sound contrived; here they sound like hyper-savvy young adults rationalising their poor decisions. If influencers are the dominant cultural force in the world, then it seems right that their language now infiltrates dialogue in the same way "Valley Girl" speech conquered early 2000s TV and movies.</p>
<p>The cast - Ellen Pallant and Anton Bibby - flit about the stage with poise and grace. Their kinetic energy buzzes out into the audience who remained transfixed throughout the performance. They each have an intensity and passion which fills the space - fully bringing to life characters dominated by hubris and helplessness. Full praise must go to Adébayo Bolaji, the director, for finding a way to stage the show without it becoming tawdry and exploitative.</p>
<p>The political polemic around the exploitation of the working class (and of the working girl) isn't exactly subtle. But it fits right in with the themes of being in slavish thrall to both bosses, the algorithm, and - ultimately - the fans who love/hate you.</p>
<p>The ending feels a bit abrupt, but had the audience gleefully discussing it as we were expelled into the cold light of day.</p>
<iframe title="15 Minutes of Shame trailer" width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1Yq7uuyF5E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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Raw text
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <?xml-stylesheet href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/atom-style.xsl" type="text/xsl"?> <feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" xml:lang="en-GB" > <title type="text">Terence Eden’s Blog</title> <subtitle type="text">Regular nonsense about tech and its effects 🙃</subtitle> <updated>2026-08-14T18:10:20Z</updated> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/feed/atom/</id> <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/feed/atom/" /> <generator uri="https://wordpress.org/" version="7.0.4">WordPress</generator> <icon>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cropped-avatar-32x32.jpeg</icon> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Target Audience ★★★★★]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-target-audience/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74018</id> <updated>2026-08-14T18:10:20Z</updated> <published>2026-08-14T18:45:41Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Easily the best show I've seen at the Fringe. For plot-related reasons, a television company asks a literary genius to create a "pro-weapons sitcom". It is a fast paced mix of the sitcoms 2012 and Episodes. The jokes come at a steady pace - some attack with the furiousity of bullets, others the the subtlety of a knife in the night. All four of the cast are spectacular. Turning the…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-target-audience/"><![CDATA[<p>Easily the best show I've seen at the Fringe.</p> <p>For plot-related reasons, a television company asks a literary genius to create a "pro-weapons sitcom".</p> <p>It is a fast paced mix of the sitcoms 2012 and Episodes. The jokes come at a steady pace - some attack with the furiousity of bullets, others the the subtlety of a knife in the night.</p> <p>All four of the cast are spectacular. Turning the sometimes-stock characters into powerful avatars. The amoral Zuckerbergian horror of data driven decision making is the perfect manure in which to grow comedy roses.</p> <p>It stands well against any classic farce and I hope it tours until the end of the world.</p> <p>A special shout out to the Pleasance Above for being the most comfortable venue in Edinburgh! Raked auditorium, cushioned seats, and air conditioning all make for a delightful theatrical experience.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74018&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-target-audience/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-target-audience/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Stand-up Philosophy ★★★⯪☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-stand-up-philosophy/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74015</id> <updated>2026-08-14T14:53:00Z</updated> <published>2026-08-14T15:16:26Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[For a pay-what-you-want show this was decent. Three comedians doing sets on the theme of philosophy - followed by a Q&A where the audience poses philosophical conundrums to them. It more-or-less works as a gimmick. Although an early afternoon crowd may have been more likely to ask questions anonymously. I've never seen a Sikh doing an unnervingly accurate impression of Trump before. Daman…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-stand-up-philosophy/"><![CDATA[<p>For a pay-what-you-want show this was decent. Three comedians doing sets on the theme of philosophy - followed by a Q&A where the audience poses philosophical conundrums to them.</p> <p>It more-or-less works as a gimmick. Although an early afternoon crowd may have been more likely to ask questions anonymously.</p> <p>I've never seen a Sikh doing an unnervingly accurate impression of Trump before. <a href="https://www.damanbamrah.com/">Daman Bamrah</a> did a perfect routine which blended his philosophy with the perils of the bum-gun. An unexpected but hilarious combination.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sidsingh.org/">Sid Singh</a>'s set trod a fairly standard path through reactions to racism, but his discussion at the end about the inherent problems involved in writing controversial material was excellent.</p> <p>Tying it all together was <a href="https://www.alexfarrowcomedy.com/">Alex Farrow</a> who perfectly brought together the various philosophical strands and proved why Albert Camus was a fan of Stewart Lee.</p> <p>A great set of acts at a decent price.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74015&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-stand-up-philosophy/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-stand-up-philosophy/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Waiting for Wonka ★★★⯪☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-waiting-for-wonka/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74091</id> <updated>2026-08-14T12:21:21Z</updated> <published>2026-08-14T12:31:07Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[This play is fucked up! Such a brilliant concept - what happened to the kids from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after they were rejected by Wonka? Stuck together in a Big-Brotheresque household, they trauma-dump on each other. New Zealand's Half Trick have shrunk their full-length play into a Fringe-standard 60 minutes. That does make it a little brusque and, simultaneously, a bit…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-waiting-for-wonka/"><![CDATA[<p>This play is <em>fucked up!</em> Such a brilliant concept - what happened to the kids from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory <em>after</em> they were rejected by Wonka? Stuck together in a Big-Brotheresque household, they trauma-dump on each other.</p> <p><a href="https://halftrick.com/#wonka"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/naughty.webp" alt="Waiting for Wonka poster saying naughty children get nothing." width="800" height="1125" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-74093"></a></p> <p>New Zealand's Half Trick have shrunk their full-length play into a Fringe-standard 60 minutes. That does make it a little brusque and, simultaneously, a bit repetitive. The characters don't get quite enough room to breathe. Mike Teavee has, of course, become an incel online troll - perfect! - but the rest haven't changed much.</p> <p>The horrors of industrial accidents mixed with corporate malfeasance makes for an excellent comedy. The cast inhabit their characters perfectly, each totally believable as a childhood favourite who has become a deeply troubled adult.</p> <p>I'd be delighted to read a full length novelisation of the script. It is a witty and terrifying update to a book I devoured as a child. Only now do I realise that it was also devouring me. Truly when you gaze into the lake of chocolate…</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74091&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-waiting-for-wonka/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-waiting-for-wonka/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas ★★★★⯪]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-doris-dolly-and-the-dressing-room-divas/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74012</id> <updated>2026-08-13T21:32:42Z</updated> <published>2026-08-13T22:23:25Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Quite simply marvellous! Three Scottish divas giving us their interpretations of the greats while backed by an excellent pianist. So many shows at the Fringe skimp on sets and props - not this! A luscious array of costumes, hats, wigs, and ruby slippers bring the characters to life. The framing is thin but serviceable - the backstage helpers are reminiscing about their favourite stars and bring …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-doris-dolly-and-the-dressing-room-divas/"><![CDATA[<p>Quite simply marvellous! Three Scottish divas giving us their interpretations of the greats while backed by an excellent pianist.</p> <p>So many shows at the Fringe skimp on sets and props - not this! A luscious array of costumes, hats, wigs, and ruby slippers bring the characters to life.</p> <p>The framing is thin but serviceable - the backstage helpers are reminiscing about their favourite stars and bring them back to stage. It is a fun and campy evening, without ever straying into parody or obsequiousness.</p> <p>Sadly a few technical gremlins crept in, but the cast are absolute troopers and dispensed with them.</p> <p>Oh, and there's an incredible Sweary Poppins who steals the show.</p> <p>In amongst the Fringe's high concept art, fiendish new writing, and blokey-standup, it was a real treat to see a good old fashioned revue.</p> <p>Highly recommend.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74012&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-doris-dolly-and-the-dressing-room-divas/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-doris-dolly-and-the-dressing-room-divas/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: The Musical Mystery Caller ★★★★★]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-the-musical-mystery-caller/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74064</id> <updated>2026-08-13T19:01:23Z</updated> <published>2026-08-13T20:21:53Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Walking down the street, I noticed a ringing phone box so, naturally, I answered it. What happened next was a few minutes of pure fringe magic! I had a little chat with the caller, he welcomed me to the smallest venue in the fringe, and then he improvised a banger of a song based on my peculiar proclivities. What a treat to have a front row experience at a one man (and one audience member)…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-the-musical-mystery-caller/"><![CDATA[<p>Walking down the street, I noticed a ringing phone box so, naturally, I answered it.</p> <p>What happened next was a few minutes of pure fringe magic!</p> <p>I had a little chat with the caller, he welcomed me to the smallest venue in the fringe, and then he improvised a banger of a song based on my peculiar proclivities.</p> <p>What a treat to have a front row experience at a one man (and one audience member) show. The song was heartfelt and beautiful, played and sung with panache - albeit down a twisted copper pair of limited bandwidth.</p> <p>He didn't reverse the charges, so it didn't cost me a penny! Which, given the high prices of most shows, was an absolute bargain 😃</p> <p>If you hear a phone ringing, you should always answer it and say hello.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Imagepipe_59.webp" alt="Me in a phone box listening intently." width="1542" height="2048" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-74067"> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74064&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-the-musical-mystery-caller/#comments" thr:count="1" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-the-musical-mystery-caller/feed/atom/" thr:count="1" /> <thr:total>1</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Miscast Sondheim ★★☆☆☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-miscast-sondheim/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74045</id> <updated>2026-08-13T18:05:07Z</updated> <published>2026-08-13T18:45:15Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm not sure what they're teaching at LAMDA, but it certainly isn't vocal projection. We were forewarned about the technical difficulties - but if a trained stage singer can't reach the 6th row of a tiny theatre, that can't be blamed on the backstage team. The show advertises itself as: What happens when you take Sondheim’s most beloved music and turn it on its head? Ingénues become villains, vi…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-miscast-sondheim/"><![CDATA[<p>I'm not sure what they're teaching at LAMDA, but it certainly isn't vocal projection. We were forewarned about the technical difficulties - but if a trained stage singer can't reach the 6th row of a tiny theatre, that can't be blamed on the backstage team.</p> <p>The show advertises itself as:</p> <blockquote><p>What happens when you take Sondheim’s most beloved music and turn it on its head? Ingénues become villains, villains deliver delicate ballads, and comic sidekicks step into tragedy.</p></blockquote> <p>But, bluntly, that's not what was delivered. The gender swapping and colour-blind casting was fine, but there was no sense that this was a twist on the songs. They were all delivered in a straightforward fashion.</p> <p>In fairness, there were a couple of truly excellent singers - Adam Boggs McDonald was spectacular and Paulina Hill was an absolute showstopper. The twist on Agony by Angelia Castillo and Adelia Castillo worked well.</p> <p>Sadly the rest was over promised and under delivered.</p> <p>Another show seen purely in the basis that we had an hour free and the venue was close. That's generally a pretty sound strategy for seeing shows - but you have to accept the risk that you might not like what you get.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74045&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-miscast-sondheim/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-miscast-sondheim/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Hot Flush – A Bold, We’re Old(ish) Burlesque Show ★★★☆☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hot-flush-a-bold-were-oldish-burlesque-show/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74009</id> <updated>2026-08-13T16:25:57Z</updated> <published>2026-08-13T16:45:02Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Are menopausal women hot? It is often said that pornographic actresses move straight from "barely legal" to "MILF" without so much as moment in between. Unlike the fringe's other burlesque shows - which seem to exclusively feature nymphettes and twinks with nary a grey hair between them - Hot Flush focuses on the over 40s. Look, you probably don't want to read a review of how tempting I found…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hot-flush-a-bold-were-oldish-burlesque-show/"><![CDATA[<p>Are menopausal women hot? It is often said that pornographic actresses move straight from "barely legal" to "MILF" without so much as moment in between. Unlike the fringe's other burlesque shows - which seem to exclusively feature nymphettes and twinks with nary a grey hair between them - Hot Flush focuses on the over 40s.</p> <p>Look, you probably don't want to read a review of how tempting I found each temptress, nor a multivariant testing of their erotic powers - so let's just say this…</p> <p>The lecture in the middle about the menopause and how to cope with it was very educational.</p> <p>The performers were all talented and the costumes (before removal) were sufficiently sufficient for their purpose.</p> <p>The main problem is that it is staged at the <em>least</em> sexy venue on the fringe. A basement meeting room which looks more suitable for a regional sales conference than a burlesque. Perhaps if they were going for a Belinda Blinked cabaret it might have worked better.</p> <p>The performers coped well with the technical difficulties (no doubt caused by a moralising theatre ghost) and recovered their momentum well.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74009&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hot-flush-a-bold-were-oldish-burlesque-show/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hot-flush-a-bold-were-oldish-burlesque-show/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Eleanor Morton: The Mermaid ★★★⯪☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-eleanor-morton-the-mermaid/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74006</id> <updated>2026-08-13T13:44:52Z</updated> <published>2026-08-13T14:55:59Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The undisputed queen of short-form viral video comedy snacks takes to the stage. Well, swims to the stage. The Mermaid is a delightful and gentle amble through the confusing world of a girl who just wants to become a mermaid. Less standup and more storytelling, nevertheless it packs in the laughs with some rather clever jokes, a bit of bawdy humour, and - a rarity on The Fringe - a decently…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-eleanor-morton-the-mermaid/"><![CDATA[<p>The undisputed queen of short-form viral video comedy snacks takes to the stage. Well, swims to the stage.</p> <p>The Mermaid is a delightful and gentle amble through the confusing world of a girl who just wants to become a mermaid. Less standup and more storytelling, nevertheless it packs in the laughs with some rather clever jokes, a bit of bawdy humour, and - a rarity on The Fringe - a decently designed set!</p> <p>It stands out by being well-rehearsed (surprisingly not a given here) and with no technical glitches during the performance (and, again, I cannot stress enough how unique that is). Eleanor Morton is an absolute professional who knows how to put on a quality show.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74006&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-eleanor-morton-the-mermaid/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-eleanor-morton-the-mermaid/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Book Review: Coding Literacy by Annette Vee ★★⯪☆☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/book-review-coding-literacy-by-annette-vee/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72659</id> <updated>2026-08-13T11:41:26Z</updated> <published>2026-08-13T11:34:09Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Book Review" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="coding" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Computer Science" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[This is a disappointing and frustrating book - not least because it so nearly hits the mark. The subtitle is "How Computer Programming Is Changing Writing" - but it never gets close to discussing that topic, let alone deeply examining it. Instead, it is a book mostly focussed on the history of what we mean by "literacy" and, by contrast, what it meant to be "illiterate". As per the standard…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/book-review-coding-literacy-by-annette-vee/"><![CDATA[<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/m_9780262340236-cover.jpeg" alt="Book cover." width="304" height="450" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-72660"> <p>This is a disappointing and frustrating book - not least because it so <em>nearly</em> hits the mark.</p> <p>The subtitle is "How Computer Programming Is Changing Writing" - but it never gets close to discussing that topic, let alone deeply examining it. Instead, it is a book mostly focussed on the history of what we mean by "literacy" and, by contrast, what it meant to be "illiterate".</p> <p>As per the standard for academic monographs, it is more interested in endlessly discussing the semantics of a term than engaging with its impacts. The historic stuff is genuinely fascinating. But the endless diversions about what Academic A thinks and how Academic B rebuts is a little tedious. There are clear parallels between a pre-literate society relying on the village scribe and the modern family having that one cousin who "knows computers" - but it is only weakly explored.</p> <p>There are moments when it seems like the author is really going to delve in to what coding literacy actually means:</p> <blockquote><p>The relationship between programming as a practice and computer science as a discipline is a central tension in the contemporary programming campaigns that invoke literacy,</p></blockquote> <p>But it rarely goes beyond surface level. Most people can write - but only few can write a novel. Many can engage is literary criticism - but few take it any further. How does that model fit on to coding? The book doesn't discuss, but there's an easy parallel there. Only a few people can write an app, but many can use it. Anyone can write a review of an app, but not many can do so from a position of literacy.</p> <p>This was published in 2017, so written a decade or so before LLMs became seemingly ubiquitous. Nevertheless, there are some historic titbits which seem to fit nicely into today's world:</p> <blockquote><p>As early as 1961, Peter Elias claimed that training in programming languages would soon cease because “undergraduates will face the console with such a natural keyboard and such a natural language that there will be little left, if anything, to the teaching of programming. [At this point, we] should hope that it would have disappeared from the curricula of all but a moderate group of specialists.”</p></blockquote> <p>But, as the book <em>does</em> briefly discuss, the way the brain is changed by coding literacy forces people to think more in line with a computer. Even if you tell an LLM "build me an app to do xyz", you still need to think about what you're doing, why you're doing it, what edge-cases you need to consider, etc.</p> <p>But then it is back to the interminable academic squabbling about whether Wittgenstein's definition of an inconsequential term is compatible with Chomsky's.</p> <p>Perhaps the biggest weakness is that there is almost a complete absence of code! A few examples of <abbr title="Beginners' All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code">BASIC</abbr> would have done <em>so</em> much to demonstrate how a restricted language set changes how people write and therefore think.</p> <p>There's a brief exploration about how the typewriter and typesetting changed language and literacy - but where's the examination about how the tyranny of <abbr title="American National Standards Institute">ANSI</abbr> layout curtailed the way programmers wrote? There's an amazing exploration to be done about why coders use <code>=></code> rather than <code>→</code> and how various other symbols got co-opted into their languages.</p> <p>Instead, it is back to the history books again.</p> <p>Here's another good example about how writing changed literacy:</p> <blockquote><p>Written texts provide fewer cues than oral delivery about how to “take” them; for example, ironically, sincerely, or jokingly. Readers must interpret texts, supplying the illocutionary force of the text themselves.</p></blockquote> <p>It seems obvious to me that this is directly comparable with something like a code review. It isn't immediately clear what a programmer means when they write something down - and even comments can be misleading. What sort of "oral traditions" are we building up?</p> <p>The book then mostly abandons any pretence of talking about code. I think the author really wanted to write a history book but needed the (then) coolness of tying it to the various "get kids to code" campaigns.</p> <p>Towards the end, it <em>almost</em> returns to the topic at hand.</p> <blockquote><p>We choose our words in terms of what is potentially reportable on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter</p> <p>[…]</p> <p>Although few people know how to program the devices on which code and computation ride into our lives, their manifestations influence us anyhow. In various ways, we have learned to see ourselves as “computed” by the devices and networks on which we depend.</p></blockquote> <p>As we might say nowadays "Hey chat! Guess the Cheeto didn't unalive himself today!" - but that isn't really about coding. The people using those substitute words are ignorant of how algorithms really work and think that their clever doublespeak can bypass censorship.</p> <p>We desperately need more people to be literate in what coding means. Sadly this book only every lightly touches on what coding literacy does to our language, our thoughts, and our society.</p> <p>I'm giving it 2.5 stars because the history was genuinely interesting - but it completely fails to engage with the topic it promised.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72659&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/book-review-coding-literacy-by-annette-vee/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/book-review-coding-literacy-by-annette-vee/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody ★★★★☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73981</id> <updated>2026-08-12T21:09:24Z</updated> <published>2026-08-12T21:22:09Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[There are at least four different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!. This is different because it is the unauthorized musical parody. Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue. Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/"><![CDATA[<p>There are at least <em>four</em> different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/">Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!</a>. This is different because it is the <em>unauthorized</em> musical parody.</p> <p>Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue.</p> <p>Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of gay hockey sticks.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fef3a413-0f72-4faf-a33e-691bbd4af37c.jpg" alt="Two hockey player biting a puck." width="250" height="250" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73984"> <p>So, how does it compare to its twin?</p> <p>It is good, but <em>deeply</em> conservative. The whole thing is framed through the eyes of a middle-age suburban mom which, sure, is probably a large part of the target audience but felt a bit retrograde. While the other show had a plentiful amount of <em>acrobatic</em> simulated sex with near-nude performers, this only has a couple of shirtless scenes and the actors are reduced to having a couple of trysts with literal mannequins. Weirdly, the one sex scene they perform together takes place behind a sheet. The leads kiss only twice which, for a parody of a show famed for its explicitness makes it all feel a bit Hays Code.</p> <p>The songs, however, are sumptuous. A full score accompanies the incredibly talented cast. This is <em>very</em> off-Broadway - with soaring melodies, powerful solos, and solid reprises. At times it feels more like a parody of Broadway shows than of the TV show.</p> <p>That isn't to say this is bad. It is <em>very</em> good. The script is full of delightful references and silly jokes. The lyrics at times are downright <em>filthy</em>! It is an excellent show and well worth seeing - but my heart remains with the <em>other</em> parody.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73981&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - James Rowland: Team Viking ★★⯪☆☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73961</id> <updated>2026-08-12T17:30:11Z</updated> <published>2026-08-12T19:20:01Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer. Sadly, it did nothing for me. I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive. There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/"><![CDATA[<p>This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer.</p> <p>Sadly, it did nothing for me.</p> <p>I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive.</p> <p>There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy and catharsis. It is probably the perfect show for some people but I wasn't the right audience for it.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73961&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Garrett Millerick: We Tried it Your Way ★☆☆☆☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73971</id> <updated>2026-08-12T17:25:43Z</updated> <published>2026-08-12T17:55:57Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him? Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious. He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/"><![CDATA[<p>Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him?</p> <p>Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious.</p> <p>He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating segment was like something from an incel forum. Bitter and uncomfortable.</p> <p>There's a minor point that's made about whether AI comedy is cheating (yes) and if comedians need to be worried (no). But even when he goes back to performing his organic routine, it is dire. There are a few chuckles to be had, but most of the audience were just looking stricken with second hand embarrassment.</p> <p>The delivery is a one note rant, the jokes are the shouting of an angry disillusioned man, and the AI is a clanker of the worst order.</p> <p>Dire.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73971&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: When Vincent Met John ★★★★★]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73949</id> <updated>2026-08-12T14:51:06Z</updated> <published>2026-08-12T15:30:12Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four. When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour. What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation?…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/"><![CDATA[<p>I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four.</p> <p>When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour.</p> <p>What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation? They were both tortured artists whose influence spanned the world and only grew after their untimely deaths.</p> <p>It is incredible!</p> <p>Much like Yasmina Reza's "Art" this is a meticulous argument about the nature of creativity. And, much like, <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02/theatre-review-the-last-laugh/">The Last Laugh</a> this feature fastidiously observed recreation of beloved figures.</p> <p>Can Lennon conceive of someone who doesn't recognise Him? Can van Gogh conceive of Yoko Ono's conceptual art? Is Lennon's braggadocio an impediment to his happiness? Is van Gogh's obsessive nature blocking him from progressing?</p> <p>The script sizzles. Lennon almost seems to speak in rhyming couplets - as befits a lyricist and poet. It is peppered with throwaway references to his cannon (including many deep cuts for the obsessives). One of those plays where I immediately want to grab the script and study it to death.</p> <p>Both actors utterly inhabit their characters and give play off each other perfectly. The direction is precise and inventive. Even the set construction is perfectly attuned to the needs of the show.</p> <p>An astounding piece of theatre and strongly recommended.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73949&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Justina Seselskaite: Settled ★★★★☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73930</id> <updated>2026-08-11T20:24:54Z</updated> <published>2026-08-11T22:23:14Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like. It was sublime! There's a …]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/"><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like.</p> <p>It was sublime!</p> <p>There's a rich history of foreign comedians coming to these shores and <del>stealing our jobs</del> making us laugh by pointing out the UK's foibles as only an outsider can. Seselskaite has a witty outlook on the perils of being mistaken for Polish while working in Waitrose, how high-class a Wetherspoons is, and what's up with Manchester’s weird obsession with bees.</p> <p>The show isn't the most innovative thing on the Fringe; it's mostly straight stand-up. But the game of "guess which English song was plagiarised by Lithuanian singers" was surprisingly entertaining. OK, I won a badge by guessing correctly, so I'm biased.</p> <p>Settled is a solid piece of work which has obviously been road-tested and honed into a tight set. Excellent observational stand-up from a unique perspective (come on, how many other Lithuanian comedians have you been to see?).</p> <p><a href="https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/justina-seselskaite-settled"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/settled-poster.webp" alt="Poster for a comedy show." width="1347" height="1679" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73933"></a></p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73930&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Handel Nine German Arias ★★★⯪☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73911</id> <updated>2026-08-11T19:49:10Z</updated> <published>2026-08-11T20:21:05Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love. So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/"><![CDATA[<p>Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love.</p> <p>So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest hits.</p> <p>I'm too much of a philistine to assess its merits - but there's always pleasure watching technically accomplished professionals at the top of their game. I assumed they played the right notes (and in the right order) as the music was delightful.</p> <p>It was restful and restorative after a long day pounding Edinburgh's pavements.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73911&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Hamlet The Musical ★★☆☆☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73906</id> <updated>2026-08-11T15:57:53Z</updated> <published>2026-08-11T18:19:16Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="shakespeare" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵 There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs. It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby. The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force perfo…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/"><![CDATA[<p>🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵</p> <p>There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs.</p> <p>It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby.</p> <p>The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force performance as Hamlet. But for every decent pun there's a piece of uninspired mugging to the audience.</p> <p>The main weakness is that it looks <em>cheap</em>. There can be a certain charm to "we'll put on the show right here - I just think Fringe audiences deserve better than tatty cardboard props and flimsy plastic swords.</p> <p>Tightened up, it could be something really special - it just fell flat for me.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73906&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Afronauts ★★★★☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73891</id> <updated>2026-08-11T15:44:03Z</updated> <published>2026-08-11T16:17:12Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (a 100% real thing) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race. Told in an acrobatic style, naturally. It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/"><![CDATA[<p>Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Makuka_Nkoloso">a 100% real thing</a>) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race.</p> <p>Told in an acrobatic style, naturally.</p> <p>It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human pyramids, handstands, cartwheels, and aerial work.</p> <p>An absolutely joyful cast of kinesthetic clowns bring to life the bizarre and (again) <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/story-behind-zambian-space-program">absolutely true story</a>.</p> <p>Lots of fun, a heartfelt message, and a zippy soundtrack. No way to describe it other than fun for all ages.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73891&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Noted ★★★⯪☆]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73887</id> <updated>2026-08-11T12:04:04Z</updated> <published>2026-08-11T12:45:28Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"… This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday. The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper lit…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/"><![CDATA[<p>It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"…</p> <p>This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday.</p> <p>The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper litters the floor as the cast rip them from their bodies to reveal more underneath.</p> <p>I found it enjoyable enough for an early morning show - but the children around me went bananas for it!</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73887&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Gadget Review: Soundpeats UU2 POP Clip2 Earphones ★★★★⯪]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72972</id> <updated>2026-08-12T06:17:53Z</updated> <published>2026-08-11T11:34:37Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="bluetooth" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="gadget" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="headphones" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="usb-c" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the UU2 Clip2 compare. Design The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world.…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/"><![CDATA[<p>Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/11/gadget-review-soundpeats-clip1-cuff-headphones/">the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff</a>. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the <a href="https://soundpeats.com/en-gb/products/soundpeats-pop-clip-physical-bttons-clip-on-earbuds">UU2 Clip2</a> compare.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/soundpeats-clip2-promo.webp" alt="A small cuff style headphone set, charging box, and short cable." width="1500" height="1500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72976"> <h2 id="design"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#design">Design</a></h2> <p>The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world. Rather than sticking the buds in your earholes, they clip around the flappy bits of your ears. The aren't like a bulldog clip - more like a gentle caress. The speaker sits just outside your ear canal, so you can still hear ambient sounds from around you. Look, you do <em>not</em> want a close-up of my waxy lugs, so here's a model:</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/model-wearing-ear-cuffs.webp" alt="model wearing ear cuffs." width="913" height="684" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72977"> <p>You don't have to wear them in that position. Mine tend to hang around my earlobes - your ears might be a different shape.</p> <p>They are <em>ridiculously</em> comfortable. I've had them on for a several hour train journey and forgot they were there. They don't leave a mark, they don't ache, they don't pinch, and most importantly they don't fall off. Even if I shook my head vigorously or did any exercise, they stayed put.</p> <p>I am happy to declare them the most comfortable headphones I own - even more so than my <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/11/review-aftershokz-titanium-bone-conducting-headphones/">Bone Conducting headset</a>.</p> <p>But, of course, there are some downsides. The previous version had touch-only controls which were a bit shit. It was far too easy to accidentally brush your finger against your ears and skip a track. The Clip2 improves this somewhat by adding a small physical button to each headphone. You can set them to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume (if you can remember the precise sequence of taps you need).</p> <p>Bluetooth range was good - I was able to wander all over my house without losing connection. Sound quality - even on the default setting - was excellent. You can push up the bass or fiddle with the equaliser if that'll make you happy. Battery life is going to depend on how hard you drive them and if you choose a more energy efficient codec or not. They lasted several hours in my test and recharged quickly in their included case. Naturally, the case has a USB-C connection so it'll use the same cable as all your other gadgets.</p> <h2 id="android"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#android">Android</a></h2> <p>They just work. They paired instantly, accepted AAC as a high quality audio codec, the sound quality was excellent as was the microphone quality. Once I used the app to switch to <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a>, the Clip2 restarted and Android started playing in the higher fidelity mode.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/LDAC.webp" alt="LDAC in Android." width="504" height="704" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72983"> <h3 id="app"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#app">App</a></h3> <p><em>*sigh*</em> Why is that hardware manufacturers make the crappiest software? You don't <em>need</em> the app - everything will work without it. But if you want to customise the buttons, change the EQ, or enable <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a> you'll need it.</p> <p>Annoyingly, you can't do <em>anything</em> unless you're logged in and have an Internet connection. Want to change the EQ while you're on a train with no signal? Tough.</p> <p>The app also handles firmware updates - there was one waiting for me - but doesn't offer any information beyond the usual platitudes of bug fixes and stability improvements.</p> <p>Note, you need the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xingkeqi.peats">PeatsAudio app</a> not the "Soundpeats" app.</p> <p>Honestly, find an EQ you like, update the firmware, toggle the settings, then uninstall it.</p> <p>There are <em>some</em> nice touches - like the personalised EQ test - but it is slim pickings. Here are some screenshots.</p> <p><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eq.webp" alt="Various default EQ options." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72984" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/More-functions.webp" alt="Lots of functions in a settings screen." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72985" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/effects.webp" alt="Various sound effects." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72982" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/adaptive.webp" alt="Personalised EQ test." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72981" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/buttons.webp" alt="Various options triggered by tapping on buttons." width="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-72980" style="display:inline"></p> <h2 id="linux"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#linux">Linux</a></h2> <p>Yup! Connected perfectly the first time and gave access to all the supported codecs.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/linux-soundpeats.webp" alt="Linux config screen showing AAC and SBC codecs." width="787" height="377" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72979"> <h2 id="a-few-niggles"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#a-few-niggles">A Few Niggles</a></h2> <p>Despite looking superficially similar to the Clip1 - these new ones don't fit into the charging case of the originals. That's unfortunate. I guess they don't want users mixing up pairs and getting confused?</p> <p>Rather annoyingly, they don't pause the sound when you take them off. The old Clip1 would detect if it was in-ear and pause if you popped one out to chat to someone.</p> <p>They supply a short USB-A to C lead. That's just e-Waste and shouldn't be included.</p> <p>Because of the design they won't block out all external noise and there's no noise cancelling function. But that's offset by the fact that they do let you retain some awareness of your surroundings.</p> <h2 id="price-and-final-thoughts"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#price-and-final-thoughts">Price and Final Thoughts</a></h2> <p>The Clip2 cuff headphones are usually around £60, but <a href="https://link.amazon/B00MTYd9T">are on offer now for about £48</a>. I think that's excellent value for money.</p> <p>Readers of this blog can use code <code>SPUU2810</code> for 30% off until August 31, 2026.</p> <p>I am an absolute convert to cuff-style. They don't tightly grip your head like bone-conducting ones, they're less noisy than rear-firing open-ear cans, and they're a good deal more comfortable than sticking something deep in your ear-wax chambers.</p> <p>The app is a bit shit - but you'll probably only use it once. The buttons are slightly fiddly, but I can't see a way to make them any more tactile without sacrificing their small size.</p> <p>Sounds quality - on Linux and Android - was excellent. They're perfect if you spend a long time with headphones on.</p> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72972&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#comments" thr:count="0" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/feed/atom/" thr:count="0" /> <thr:total>0</thr:total> </entry> <entry> <author> <name>@edent</name> <uri>https://edent.tel/</uri> </author> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: 15 Minutes of Shame ★★★★⯪]]></title> <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/" /> <id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73830</id> <updated>2026-08-10T20:29:30Z</updated> <published>2026-08-10T20:43:10Z</published> <category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" /> <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right? Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is right there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery! Then reality hits. The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped…]]></summary> <content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/"><![CDATA[<p>Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right?</p> <p>Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is <em>right</em> there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery!</p> <p>Then reality hits.</p> <p>The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped straight out of LinkedIn. Under a lesser cast, lines about synergising brand strategy to optimise the subscriber funnel would sound contrived; here they sound like hyper-savvy young adults rationalising their poor decisions. If influencers are the dominant cultural force in the world, then it seems right that their language now infiltrates dialogue in the same way "Valley Girl" speech conquered early 2000s TV and movies.</p> <p>The cast - Ellen Pallant and Anton Bibby - flit about the stage with poise and grace. Their kinetic energy buzzes out into the audience who remained transfixed throughout the performance. They each have an intensity and passion which fills the space - fully bringing to life characters dominated by hubris and helplessness. Full praise must go to Adébayo Bolaji, the director, for finding a way to stage the show without it becoming tawdry and exploitative.</p> <p>The political polemic around the exploitation of the working class (and of the working girl) isn't exactly subtle. But it fits right in with the themes of being in slavish thrall to both bosses, the algorithm, and - ultimately - the fans who love/hate you.</p> <p>The ending feels a bit abrupt, but had the audience gleefully discussing it as we were expelled into the cold light of day.</p> <iframe title="15 Minutes of Shame trailer" width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1Yq7uuyF5E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73830&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content> <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/#comments" thr:count="3" /> <link rel="replies" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/feed/atom/" thr:count="3" /> <thr:total>3</thr:total> </entry> </feed>
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"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Target Audience ★★★★★",
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"content": "<p>Easily the best show I've seen at the Fringe.</p>\n\n<p>For plot-related reasons, a television company asks a literary genius to create a \"pro-weapons sitcom\".</p>\n\n<p>It is a fast paced mix of the sitcoms 2012 and Episodes. The jokes come at a steady pace - some attack with the furiousity of bullets, others the the subtlety of a knife in the night.</p>\n\n<p>All four of the cast are spectacular. Turning the sometimes-stock characters into powerful avatars. The amoral Zuckerbergian horror of data driven decision making is the perfect manure in which to grow comedy roses.</p>\n\n<p>It stands well against any classic farce and I hope it tours until the end of the world.</p>\n\n<p>A special shout out to the Pleasance Above for being the most comfortable venue in Edinburgh! Raked auditorium, cushioned seats, and air conditioning all make for a delightful theatrical experience.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74018&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Stand-up Philosophy ★★★⯪☆",
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"content": "<p>For a pay-what-you-want show this was decent. Three comedians doing sets on the theme of philosophy - followed by a Q&A where the audience poses philosophical conundrums to them.</p>\n\n<p>It more-or-less works as a gimmick. Although an early afternoon crowd may have been more likely to ask questions anonymously.</p>\n\n<p>I've never seen a Sikh doing an unnervingly accurate impression of Trump before. <a href=\"https://www.damanbamrah.com/\">Daman Bamrah</a> did a perfect routine which blended his philosophy with the perils of the bum-gun. An unexpected but hilarious combination.</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.sidsingh.org/\">Sid Singh</a>'s set trod a fairly standard path through reactions to racism, but his discussion at the end about the inherent problems involved in writing controversial material was excellent.</p>\n\n<p>Tying it all together was <a href=\"https://www.alexfarrowcomedy.com/\">Alex Farrow</a> who perfectly brought together the various philosophical strands and proved why Albert Camus was a fan of Stewart Lee.</p>\n\n<p>A great set of acts at a decent price.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74015&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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"published": "2026-08-14T12:31:07.000Z",
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"content": "<p>This play is <em>fucked up!</em> Such a brilliant concept - what happened to the kids from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory <em>after</em> they were rejected by Wonka? Stuck together in a Big-Brotheresque household, they trauma-dump on each other.</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://halftrick.com/#wonka\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/naughty.webp\" alt=\"Waiting for Wonka poster saying naughty children get nothing.\" width=\"800\" height=\"1125\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-74093\"></a></p>\n\n<p>New Zealand's Half Trick have shrunk their full-length play into a Fringe-standard 60 minutes. That does make it a little brusque and, simultaneously, a bit repetitive. The characters don't get quite enough room to breathe. Mike Teavee has, of course, become an incel online troll - perfect! - but the rest haven't changed much.</p>\n\n<p>The horrors of industrial accidents mixed with corporate malfeasance makes for an excellent comedy. The cast inhabit their characters perfectly, each totally believable as a childhood favourite who has become a deeply troubled adult.</p>\n\n<p>I'd be delighted to read a full length novelisation of the script. It is a witty and terrifying update to a book I devoured as a child. Only now do I realise that it was also devouring me. Truly when you gaze into the lake of chocolate…</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74091&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74012",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas ★★★★⯪",
"description": "Quite simply marvellous! Three Scottish divas giving us their interpretations of the greats while backed by an excellent pianist. So many shows at the Fringe skimp on sets and props - not this! A luscious array of costumes, hats, wigs, and ruby slippers bring the characters to life. The framing is thin but serviceable - the backstage helpers are reminiscing about their favourite stars and bring …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-doris-dolly-and-the-dressing-room-divas/",
"published": "2026-08-13T22:23:25.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-13T21:32:42.000Z",
"content": "<p>Quite simply marvellous! Three Scottish divas giving us their interpretations of the greats while backed by an excellent pianist.</p>\n\n<p>So many shows at the Fringe skimp on sets and props - not this! A luscious array of costumes, hats, wigs, and ruby slippers bring the characters to life.</p>\n\n<p>The framing is thin but serviceable - the backstage helpers are reminiscing about their favourite stars and bring them back to stage. It is a fun and campy evening, without ever straying into parody or obsequiousness.</p>\n\n<p>Sadly a few technical gremlins crept in, but the cast are absolute troopers and dispensed with them.</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and there's an incredible Sweary Poppins who steals the show.</p>\n\n<p>In amongst the Fringe's high concept art, fiendish new writing, and blokey-standup, it was a real treat to see a good old fashioned revue.</p>\n\n<p>Highly recommend.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74012&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74064",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: The Musical Mystery Caller ★★★★★",
"description": "Walking down the street, I noticed a ringing phone box so, naturally, I answered it. What happened next was a few minutes of pure fringe magic! I had a little chat with the caller, he welcomed me to the smallest venue in the fringe, and then he improvised a banger of a song based on my peculiar proclivities. What a treat to have a front row experience at a one man (and one audience member)…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-the-musical-mystery-caller/",
"published": "2026-08-13T20:21:53.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-13T19:01:23.000Z",
"content": "<p>Walking down the street, I noticed a ringing phone box so, naturally, I answered it.</p>\n\n<p>What happened next was a few minutes of pure fringe magic!</p>\n\n<p>I had a little chat with the caller, he welcomed me to the smallest venue in the fringe, and then he improvised a banger of a song based on my peculiar proclivities.</p>\n\n<p>What a treat to have a front row experience at a one man (and one audience member) show. The song was heartfelt and beautiful, played and sung with panache - albeit down a twisted copper pair of limited bandwidth.</p>\n\n<p>He didn't reverse the charges, so it didn't cost me a penny! Which, given the high prices of most shows, was an absolute bargain 😃</p>\n\n<p>If you hear a phone ringing, you should always answer it and say hello.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Imagepipe_59.webp\" alt=\"Me in a phone box listening intently.\" width=\"1542\" height=\"2048\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-74067\">\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74064&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74045",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Miscast Sondheim ★★☆☆☆",
"description": "I'm not sure what they're teaching at LAMDA, but it certainly isn't vocal projection. We were forewarned about the technical difficulties - but if a trained stage singer can't reach the 6th row of a tiny theatre, that can't be blamed on the backstage team. The show advertises itself as: What happens when you take Sondheim’s most beloved music and turn it on its head? Ingénues become villains, vi…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-miscast-sondheim/",
"published": "2026-08-13T18:45:15.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-13T18:05:07.000Z",
"content": "<p>I'm not sure what they're teaching at LAMDA, but it certainly isn't vocal projection. We were forewarned about the technical difficulties - but if a trained stage singer can't reach the 6th row of a tiny theatre, that can't be blamed on the backstage team.</p>\n\n<p>The show advertises itself as:</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>What happens when you take Sondheim’s most beloved music and turn it on its head? Ingénues become villains, villains deliver delicate ballads, and comic sidekicks step into tragedy.</p></blockquote>\n\n<p>But, bluntly, that's not what was delivered. The gender swapping and colour-blind casting was fine, but there was no sense that this was a twist on the songs. They were all delivered in a straightforward fashion.</p>\n\n<p>In fairness, there were a couple of truly excellent singers - Adam Boggs McDonald was spectacular and Paulina Hill was an absolute showstopper. The twist on Agony by Angelia Castillo and Adelia Castillo worked well.</p>\n\n<p>Sadly the rest was over promised and under delivered.</p>\n\n<p>Another show seen purely in the basis that we had an hour free and the venue was close. That's generally a pretty sound strategy for seeing shows - but you have to accept the risk that you might not like what you get.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74045&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74009",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Hot Flush – A Bold, We’re Old(ish) Burlesque Show ★★★☆☆",
"description": "Are menopausal women hot? It is often said that pornographic actresses move straight from \"barely legal\" to \"MILF\" without so much as moment in between. Unlike the fringe's other burlesque shows - which seem to exclusively feature nymphettes and twinks with nary a grey hair between them - Hot Flush focuses on the over 40s. Look, you probably don't want to read a review of how tempting I found…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hot-flush-a-bold-were-oldish-burlesque-show/",
"published": "2026-08-13T16:45:02.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-13T16:25:57.000Z",
"content": "<p>Are menopausal women hot? It is often said that pornographic actresses move straight from \"barely legal\" to \"MILF\" without so much as moment in between. Unlike the fringe's other burlesque shows - which seem to exclusively feature nymphettes and twinks with nary a grey hair between them - Hot Flush focuses on the over 40s.</p>\n\n<p>Look, you probably don't want to read a review of how tempting I found each temptress, nor a multivariant testing of their erotic powers - so let's just say this…</p>\n\n<p>The lecture in the middle about the menopause and how to cope with it was very educational.</p>\n\n<p>The performers were all talented and the costumes (before removal) were sufficiently sufficient for their purpose.</p>\n\n<p>The main problem is that it is staged at the <em>least</em> sexy venue on the fringe. A basement meeting room which looks more suitable for a regional sales conference than a burlesque. Perhaps if they were going for a Belinda Blinked cabaret it might have worked better.</p>\n\n<p>The performers coped well with the technical difficulties (no doubt caused by a moralising theatre ghost) and recovered their momentum well.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74009&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=74006",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Eleanor Morton: The Mermaid ★★★⯪☆",
"description": "The undisputed queen of short-form viral video comedy snacks takes to the stage. Well, swims to the stage. The Mermaid is a delightful and gentle amble through the confusing world of a girl who just wants to become a mermaid. Less standup and more storytelling, nevertheless it packs in the laughs with some rather clever jokes, a bit of bawdy humour, and - a rarity on The Fringe - a decently…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-eleanor-morton-the-mermaid/",
"published": "2026-08-13T14:55:59.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-13T13:44:52.000Z",
"content": "<p>The undisputed queen of short-form viral video comedy snacks takes to the stage. Well, swims to the stage.</p>\n\n<p>The Mermaid is a delightful and gentle amble through the confusing world of a girl who just wants to become a mermaid. Less standup and more storytelling, nevertheless it packs in the laughs with some rather clever jokes, a bit of bawdy humour, and - a rarity on The Fringe - a decently designed set!</p>\n\n<p>It stands out by being well-rehearsed (surprisingly not a given here) and with no technical glitches during the performance (and, again, I cannot stress enough how unique that is). Eleanor Morton is an absolute professional who knows how to put on a quality show.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=74006&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72659",
"title": "Book Review: Coding Literacy by Annette Vee ★★⯪☆☆",
"description": "This is a disappointing and frustrating book - not least because it so nearly hits the mark. The subtitle is \"How Computer Programming Is Changing Writing\" - but it never gets close to discussing that topic, let alone deeply examining it. Instead, it is a book mostly focussed on the history of what we mean by \"literacy\" and, by contrast, what it meant to be \"illiterate\". As per the standard…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/book-review-coding-literacy-by-annette-vee/",
"published": "2026-08-13T11:34:09.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-13T11:41:26.000Z",
"content": "<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/m_9780262340236-cover.jpeg\" alt=\"Book cover.\" width=\"304\" height=\"450\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-72660\">\n\n<p>This is a disappointing and frustrating book - not least because it so <em>nearly</em> hits the mark.</p>\n\n<p>The subtitle is \"How Computer Programming Is Changing Writing\" - but it never gets close to discussing that topic, let alone deeply examining it. Instead, it is a book mostly focussed on the history of what we mean by \"literacy\" and, by contrast, what it meant to be \"illiterate\".</p>\n\n<p>As per the standard for academic monographs, it is more interested in endlessly discussing the semantics of a term than engaging with its impacts. The historic stuff is genuinely fascinating. But the endless diversions about what Academic A thinks and how Academic B rebuts is a little tedious. There are clear parallels between a pre-literate society relying on the village scribe and the modern family having that one cousin who \"knows computers\" - but it is only weakly explored.</p>\n\n<p>There are moments when it seems like the author is really going to delve in to what coding literacy actually means:</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>The relationship between programming as a practice and computer science as a discipline is a central tension in the contemporary programming campaigns that invoke literacy,</p></blockquote>\n\n<p>But it rarely goes beyond surface level. Most people can write - but only few can write a novel. Many can engage is literary criticism - but few take it any further. How does that model fit on to coding? The book doesn't discuss, but there's an easy parallel there. Only a few people can write an app, but many can use it. Anyone can write a review of an app, but not many can do so from a position of literacy.</p>\n\n<p>This was published in 2017, so written a decade or so before LLMs became seemingly ubiquitous. Nevertheless, there are some historic titbits which seem to fit nicely into today's world:</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>As early as 1961, Peter Elias claimed that training in programming languages would soon cease because “undergraduates will face the console with such a natural keyboard and such a natural language that there will be little left, if anything, to the teaching of programming. [At this point, we] should hope that it would have disappeared from the curricula of all but a moderate group of specialists.”</p></blockquote>\n\n<p>But, as the book <em>does</em> briefly discuss, the way the brain is changed by coding literacy forces people to think more in line with a computer. Even if you tell an LLM \"build me an app to do xyz\", you still need to think about what you're doing, why you're doing it, what edge-cases you need to consider, etc.</p>\n\n<p>But then it is back to the interminable academic squabbling about whether Wittgenstein's definition of an inconsequential term is compatible with Chomsky's.</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps the biggest weakness is that there is almost a complete absence of code! A few examples of <abbr title=\"Beginners' All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code\">BASIC</abbr> would have done <em>so</em> much to demonstrate how a restricted language set changes how people write and therefore think.</p>\n\n<p>There's a brief exploration about how the typewriter and typesetting changed language and literacy - but where's the examination about how the tyranny of <abbr title=\"American National Standards Institute\">ANSI</abbr> layout curtailed the way programmers wrote? There's an amazing exploration to be done about why coders use <code>=></code> rather than <code>→</code> and how various other symbols got co-opted into their languages.</p>\n\n<p>Instead, it is back to the history books again.</p>\n\n<p>Here's another good example about how writing changed literacy:</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>Written texts provide fewer cues than oral delivery about how to “take” them; for example, ironically, sincerely, or jokingly. Readers must interpret texts, supplying the illocutionary force of the text themselves.</p></blockquote>\n\n<p>It seems obvious to me that this is directly comparable with something like a code review. It isn't immediately clear what a programmer means when they write something down - and even comments can be misleading. What sort of \"oral traditions\" are we building up?</p>\n\n<p>The book then mostly abandons any pretence of talking about code. I think the author really wanted to write a history book but needed the (then) coolness of tying it to the various \"get kids to code\" campaigns.</p>\n\n<p>Towards the end, it <em>almost</em> returns to the topic at hand.</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>We choose our words in terms of what is potentially reportable on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter</p>\n\n<p>[…]</p>\n\n<p>Although few people know how to program the devices on which code and computation ride into our lives, their manifestations influence us anyhow. In various ways, we have learned to see ourselves as “computed” by the devices and networks on which we depend.</p></blockquote>\n\n<p>As we might say nowadays \"Hey chat! Guess the Cheeto didn't unalive himself today!\" - but that isn't really about coding. The people using those substitute words are ignorant of how algorithms really work and think that their clever doublespeak can bypass censorship.</p>\n\n<p>We desperately need more people to be literate in what coding means. Sadly this book only every lightly touches on what coding literacy does to our language, our thoughts, and our society.</p>\n\n<p>I'm giving it 2.5 stars because the history was genuinely interesting - but it completely fails to engage with the topic it promised.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72659&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73981",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody ★★★★☆",
"description": "There are at least four different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!. This is different because it is the unauthorized musical parody. Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue. Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/",
"published": "2026-08-12T21:22:09.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-12T21:09:24.000Z",
"content": "<p>There are at least <em>four</em> different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/\">Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!</a>. This is different because it is the <em>unauthorized</em> musical parody.</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue.</p>\n\n<p>Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of gay hockey sticks.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fef3a413-0f72-4faf-a33e-691bbd4af37c.jpg\" alt=\"Two hockey player biting a puck.\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-73984\">\n\n<p>So, how does it compare to its twin?</p>\n\n<p>It is good, but <em>deeply</em> conservative. The whole thing is framed through the eyes of a middle-age suburban mom which, sure, is probably a large part of the target audience but felt a bit retrograde. While the other show had a plentiful amount of <em>acrobatic</em> simulated sex with near-nude performers, this only has a couple of shirtless scenes and the actors are reduced to having a couple of trysts with literal mannequins. Weirdly, the one sex scene they perform together takes place behind a sheet. The leads kiss only twice which, for a parody of a show famed for its explicitness makes it all feel a bit Hays Code.</p>\n\n<p>The songs, however, are sumptuous. A full score accompanies the incredibly talented cast. This is <em>very</em> off-Broadway - with soaring melodies, powerful solos, and solid reprises. At times it feels more like a parody of Broadway shows than of the TV show.</p>\n\n<p>That isn't to say this is bad. It is <em>very</em> good. The script is full of delightful references and silly jokes. The lyrics at times are downright <em>filthy</em>! It is an excellent show and well worth seeing - but my heart remains with the <em>other</em> parody.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73981&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73961",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - James Rowland: Team Viking ★★⯪☆☆",
"description": "This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer. Sadly, it did nothing for me. I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive. There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/",
"published": "2026-08-12T19:20:01.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-12T17:30:11.000Z",
"content": "<p>This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer.</p>\n\n<p>Sadly, it did nothing for me.</p>\n\n<p>I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive.</p>\n\n<p>There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy and catharsis. It is probably the perfect show for some people but I wasn't the right audience for it.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73961&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73971",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Garrett Millerick: We Tried it Your Way ★☆☆☆☆",
"description": "Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him? Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious. He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/",
"published": "2026-08-12T17:55:57.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-12T17:25:43.000Z",
"content": "<p>Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him?</p>\n\n<p>Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious.</p>\n\n<p>He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating segment was like something from an incel forum. Bitter and uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>There's a minor point that's made about whether AI comedy is cheating (yes) and if comedians need to be worried (no). But even when he goes back to performing his organic routine, it is dire. There are a few chuckles to be had, but most of the audience were just looking stricken with second hand embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>The delivery is a one note rant, the jokes are the shouting of an angry disillusioned man, and the AI is a clanker of the worst order.</p>\n\n<p>Dire.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73971&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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"name": "@edent",
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"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73949",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: When Vincent Met John ★★★★★",
"description": "I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four. When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour. What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation?…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/",
"published": "2026-08-12T15:30:12.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-12T14:51:06.000Z",
"content": "<p>I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four.</p>\n\n<p>When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour.</p>\n\n<p>What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation? They were both tortured artists whose influence spanned the world and only grew after their untimely deaths.</p>\n\n<p>It is incredible!</p>\n\n<p>Much like Yasmina Reza's \"Art\" this is a meticulous argument about the nature of creativity. And, much like, <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02/theatre-review-the-last-laugh/\">The Last Laugh</a> this feature fastidiously observed recreation of beloved figures.</p>\n\n<p>Can Lennon conceive of someone who doesn't recognise Him? Can van Gogh conceive of Yoko Ono's conceptual art? Is Lennon's braggadocio an impediment to his happiness? Is van Gogh's obsessive nature blocking him from progressing?</p>\n\n<p>The script sizzles. Lennon almost seems to speak in rhyming couplets - as befits a lyricist and poet. It is peppered with throwaway references to his cannon (including many deep cuts for the obsessives). One of those plays where I immediately want to grab the script and study it to death.</p>\n\n<p>Both actors utterly inhabit their characters and give play off each other perfectly. The direction is precise and inventive. Even the set construction is perfectly attuned to the needs of the show.</p>\n\n<p>An astounding piece of theatre and strongly recommended.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73949&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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{
"name": "@edent",
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{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "Theatre Review",
"term": "Theatre Review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
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},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73930",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Justina Seselskaite: Settled ★★★★☆",
"description": "Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like. It was sublime! There's a …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/",
"published": "2026-08-11T22:23:14.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T20:24:54.000Z",
"content": "<p>Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like.</p>\n\n<p>It was sublime!</p>\n\n<p>There's a rich history of foreign comedians coming to these shores and <del>stealing our jobs</del> making us laugh by pointing out the UK's foibles as only an outsider can. Seselskaite has a witty outlook on the perils of being mistaken for Polish while working in Waitrose, how high-class a Wetherspoons is, and what's up with Manchester’s weird obsession with bees.</p>\n\n<p>The show isn't the most innovative thing on the Fringe; it's mostly straight stand-up. But the game of \"guess which English song was plagiarised by Lithuanian singers\" was surprisingly entertaining. OK, I won a badge by guessing correctly, so I'm biased.</p>\n\n<p>Settled is a solid piece of work which has obviously been road-tested and honed into a tight set. Excellent observational stand-up from a unique perspective (come on, how many other Lithuanian comedians have you been to see?).</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/justina-seselskaite-settled\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/settled-poster.webp\" alt=\"Poster for a comedy show.\" width=\"1347\" height=\"1679\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-73933\"></a></p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73930&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
"media": [],
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{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
"url": "https://edent.tel/"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "comedy",
"term": "comedy",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73911",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Handel Nine German Arias ★★★⯪☆",
"description": "Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a \"zany\" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love. So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/",
"published": "2026-08-11T20:21:05.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T19:49:10.000Z",
"content": "<p>Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a \"zany\" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love.</p>\n\n<p>So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest hits.</p>\n\n<p>I'm too much of a philistine to assess its merits - but there's always pleasure watching technically accomplished professionals at the top of their game. I assumed they played the right notes (and in the right order) as the music was delightful.</p>\n\n<p>It was restful and restorative after a long day pounding Edinburgh's pavements.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73911&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
"media": [],
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{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
"url": "https://edent.tel/"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73906",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Hamlet The Musical ★★☆☆☆",
"description": "🎼\"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On\"🎵 There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs. It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby. The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force perfo…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/",
"published": "2026-08-11T18:19:16.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T15:57:53.000Z",
"content": "<p>🎼\"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On\"🎵</p>\n\n<p>There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs.</p>\n\n<p>It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby.</p>\n\n<p>The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force performance as Hamlet. But for every decent pun there's a piece of uninspired mugging to the audience.</p>\n\n<p>The main weakness is that it looks <em>cheap</em>. There can be a certain charm to \"we'll put on the show right here - I just think Fringe audiences deserve better than tatty cardboard props and flimsy plastic swords.</p>\n\n<p>Tightened up, it could be something really special - it just fell flat for me.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73906&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
"media": [],
"authors": [
{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
"url": "https://edent.tel/"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "shakespeare",
"term": "shakespeare",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "Theatre Review",
"term": "Theatre Review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73891",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Afronauts ★★★★☆",
"description": "Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of \"For All Mankind\" where the Zambia Space Academy (a 100% real thing) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race. Told in an acrobatic style, naturally. It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/",
"published": "2026-08-11T16:17:12.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T15:44:03.000Z",
"content": "<p>Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of \"For All Mankind\" where the Zambia Space Academy (<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Makuka_Nkoloso\">a 100% real thing</a>) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race.</p>\n\n<p>Told in an acrobatic style, naturally.</p>\n\n<p>It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human pyramids, handstands, cartwheels, and aerial work.</p>\n\n<p>An absolutely joyful cast of kinesthetic clowns bring to life the bizarre and (again) <a href=\"https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/story-behind-zambian-space-program\">absolutely true story</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Lots of fun, a heartfelt message, and a zippy soundtrack. No way to describe it other than fun for all ages.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73891&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
"media": [],
"authors": [
{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
"url": "https://edent.tel/"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73887",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Noted ★★★⯪☆",
"description": "It is a brave children's show which starts with the song \"I'm a smooth muthafukker\"… This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday. The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper lit…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/",
"published": "2026-08-11T12:45:28.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T12:04:04.000Z",
"content": "<p>It is a brave children's show which starts with the song \"I'm a smooth muthafukker\"…</p>\n\n<p>This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday.</p>\n\n<p>The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper litters the floor as the cast rip them from their bodies to reveal more underneath.</p>\n\n<p>I found it enjoyable enough for an early morning show - but the children around me went bananas for it!</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73887&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
"media": [],
"authors": [
{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
"url": "https://edent.tel/"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72972",
"title": "Gadget Review: Soundpeats UU2 POP Clip2 Earphones ★★★★⯪",
"description": "Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the UU2 Clip2 compare. Design The \"cuff\" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world.…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/",
"published": "2026-08-11T11:34:37.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-12T06:17:53.000Z",
"content": "<p>Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/11/gadget-review-soundpeats-clip1-cuff-headphones/\">the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff</a>. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the <a href=\"https://soundpeats.com/en-gb/products/soundpeats-pop-clip-physical-bttons-clip-on-earbuds\">UU2 Clip2</a> compare.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/soundpeats-clip2-promo.webp\" alt=\"A small cuff style headphone set, charging box, and short cable.\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72976\">\n\n<h2 id=\"design\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#design\">Design</a></h2>\n\n<p>The \"cuff\" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world. Rather than sticking the buds in your earholes, they clip around the flappy bits of your ears. The aren't like a bulldog clip - more like a gentle caress. The speaker sits just outside your ear canal, so you can still hear ambient sounds from around you. Look, you do <em>not</em> want a close-up of my waxy lugs, so here's a model:</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/model-wearing-ear-cuffs.webp\" alt=\"model wearing ear cuffs.\" width=\"913\" height=\"684\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72977\">\n\n<p>You don't have to wear them in that position. Mine tend to hang around my earlobes - your ears might be a different shape.</p>\n\n<p>They are <em>ridiculously</em> comfortable. I've had them on for a several hour train journey and forgot they were there. They don't leave a mark, they don't ache, they don't pinch, and most importantly they don't fall off. Even if I shook my head vigorously or did any exercise, they stayed put.</p>\n\n<p>I am happy to declare them the most comfortable headphones I own - even more so than my <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/11/review-aftershokz-titanium-bone-conducting-headphones/\">Bone Conducting headset</a>.</p>\n\n<p>But, of course, there are some downsides. The previous version had touch-only controls which were a bit shit. It was far too easy to accidentally brush your finger against your ears and skip a track. The Clip2 improves this somewhat by adding a small physical button to each headphone. You can set them to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume (if you can remember the precise sequence of taps you need).</p>\n\n<p>Bluetooth range was good - I was able to wander all over my house without losing connection. Sound quality - even on the default setting - was excellent. You can push up the bass or fiddle with the equaliser if that'll make you happy. Battery life is going to depend on how hard you drive them and if you choose a more energy efficient codec or not. They lasted several hours in my test and recharged quickly in their included case. Naturally, the case has a USB-C connection so it'll use the same cable as all your other gadgets.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"android\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#android\">Android</a></h2>\n\n<p>They just work. They paired instantly, accepted AAC as a high quality audio codec, the sound quality was excellent as was the microphone quality. Once I used the app to switch to <a href=\"https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it\">LDAC</a>, the Clip2 restarted and Android started playing in the higher fidelity mode.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/LDAC.webp\" alt=\"LDAC in Android.\" width=\"504\" height=\"704\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72983\">\n\n<h3 id=\"app\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#app\">App</a></h3>\n\n<p><em>*sigh*</em> Why is that hardware manufacturers make the crappiest software? You don't <em>need</em> the app - everything will work without it. But if you want to customise the buttons, change the EQ, or enable <a href=\"https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it\">LDAC</a> you'll need it.</p>\n\n<p>Annoyingly, you can't do <em>anything</em> unless you're logged in and have an Internet connection. Want to change the EQ while you're on a train with no signal? Tough.</p>\n\n<p>The app also handles firmware updates - there was one waiting for me - but doesn't offer any information beyond the usual platitudes of bug fixes and stability improvements.</p>\n\n<p>Note, you need the <a href=\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xingkeqi.peats\">PeatsAudio app</a> not the \"Soundpeats\" app.</p>\n\n<p>Honestly, find an EQ you like, update the firmware, toggle the settings, then uninstall it.</p>\n\n<p>There are <em>some</em> nice touches - like the personalised EQ test - but it is slim pickings. Here are some screenshots.</p>\n\n<p><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eq.webp\" alt=\"Various default EQ options.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72984\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/More-functions.webp\" alt=\"Lots of functions in a settings screen.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72985\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/effects.webp\" alt=\"Various sound effects.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72982\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/adaptive.webp\" alt=\"Personalised EQ test.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72981\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/buttons.webp\" alt=\"Various options triggered by tapping on buttons.\" width=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72980\" style=\"display:inline\"></p>\n\n<h2 id=\"linux\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#linux\">Linux</a></h2>\n\n<p>Yup! Connected perfectly the first time and gave access to all the supported codecs.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/linux-soundpeats.webp\" alt=\"Linux config screen showing AAC and SBC codecs.\" width=\"787\" height=\"377\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72979\">\n\n<h2 id=\"a-few-niggles\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#a-few-niggles\">A Few Niggles</a></h2>\n\n<p>Despite looking superficially similar to the Clip1 - these new ones don't fit into the charging case of the originals. That's unfortunate. I guess they don't want users mixing up pairs and getting confused?</p>\n\n<p>Rather annoyingly, they don't pause the sound when you take them off. The old Clip1 would detect if it was in-ear and pause if you popped one out to chat to someone.</p>\n\n<p>They supply a short USB-A to C lead. That's just e-Waste and shouldn't be included.</p>\n\n<p>Because of the design they won't block out all external noise and there's no noise cancelling function. But that's offset by the fact that they do let you retain some awareness of your surroundings.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"price-and-final-thoughts\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#price-and-final-thoughts\">Price and Final Thoughts</a></h2>\n\n<p>The Clip2 cuff headphones are usually around £60, but <a href=\"https://link.amazon/B00MTYd9T\">are on offer now for about £48</a>. I think that's excellent value for money.</p>\n\n<p>Readers of this blog can use code <code>SPUU2810</code> for 30% off until August 31, 2026.</p>\n\n<p>I am an absolute convert to cuff-style. They don't tightly grip your head like bone-conducting ones, they're less noisy than rear-firing open-ear cans, and they're a good deal more comfortable than sticking something deep in your ear-wax chambers.</p>\n\n<p>The app is a bit shit - but you'll probably only use it once. The buttons are slightly fiddly, but I can't see a way to make them any more tactile without sacrificing their small size.</p>\n\n<p>Sounds quality - on Linux and Android - was excellent. They're perfect if you spend a long time with headphones on.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72972&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73830",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: 15 Minutes of Shame ★★★★⯪",
"description": "Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right? Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is right there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery! Then reality hits. The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/",
"published": "2026-08-10T20:43:10.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-10T20:29:30.000Z",
"content": "<p>Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right?</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is <em>right</em> there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery!</p>\n\n<p>Then reality hits.</p>\n\n<p>The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped straight out of LinkedIn. Under a lesser cast, lines about synergising brand strategy to optimise the subscriber funnel would sound contrived; here they sound like hyper-savvy young adults rationalising their poor decisions. If influencers are the dominant cultural force in the world, then it seems right that their language now infiltrates dialogue in the same way \"Valley Girl\" speech conquered early 2000s TV and movies.</p>\n\n<p>The cast - Ellen Pallant and Anton Bibby - flit about the stage with poise and grace. Their kinetic energy buzzes out into the audience who remained transfixed throughout the performance. They each have an intensity and passion which fills the space - fully bringing to life characters dominated by hubris and helplessness. Full praise must go to Adébayo Bolaji, the director, for finding a way to stage the show without it becoming tawdry and exploitative.</p>\n\n<p>The political polemic around the exploitation of the working class (and of the working girl) isn't exactly subtle. But it fits right in with the themes of being in slavish thrall to both bosses, the algorithm, and - ultimately - the fans who love/hate you.</p>\n\n<p>The ending feels a bit abrupt, but had the audience gleefully discussing it as we were expelled into the cold light of day.</p>\n\n<iframe title=\"15 Minutes of Shame trailer\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1Yq7uuyF5E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"></iframe>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73830&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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