I learned something about blackberries last year.
When they come in season is bliss. Growing up, my best friend across the street had bushes right next to his pool, and raspberries farther from the pool. Blackberries were my favorite. The old wives’ tale said you had to wait thirty minutes to go swimming after eating. We would jump out of the pool, grab blackberries, and dive right back in. I wonder if that unbothered habit made me question a lot of other “traditional” knowledge.
On my pancakes, I also preferred boysenberry syrup to maple. I’ve come around to the greatness of maple syrup, but it also seems hard to find berry syrup these days?
Here in the East Bay we get lots of blackberry bushes; they’re on the sides of trails all over. I love riding my bike and spotting those dark ripe berries, followed by the joy of picking and eating as many as I can spot. The bushes ripen over weeks, and you can often just ride past the same spot every week or two, and fill up once again. I don’t mind the pricking of the thorns, it makes them all the sweeter.
But, what did I learn last year? Well, I noticed the berry at the very tip of the bunch ripens first. I had never noticed this. Is it something about this environment or the local variety? I am not sure. Whatever the cause, it gives additional character to the seasonal progression.
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We went to Ireland and Scotland in June. My sister lives there, so it’s on a rotation with New Jersey, and Chicago. We visited Galway and Cork, and then spent three days over in Edinburgh. Any time I fly all the way to Ireland, which I’ve done five times now, I may as well fly another hour or two, to visit another new country.
Ireland was lovely and green and it’s always great to visit my sister and brother-in-law. And I get to force them into a board or card game.
Scotland was the new country this time, specifically just Edinburgh because of time and kid-travel constraints. The accents were solid, the castle and the royal mile was pretty. I’d say it’s one of my favorite cities of the British Isles. My sister and I went on a hike for my birthday, up the steep hill Arthur’s Seat, about 850 feet up. We had a broad view of the city and surrounding landscape, and a few hours to just chat about life, which I know I’m lucky that my sister and I gel well.
After the hike we stopped by Holyroodhouse, the castle where the British royalty stay when in town. They have a cafe, and we stopped for food and drink on a beautiful patio. Specifically I tried Irn Bru, something like gatorade crossed with cream soda. I know it’s considered an acquired taste, but I think it would have been decent if it didn’t have fake sugar.
I want to return to Scotland, and venture into the highlands, but I think that’ll be when we’re not quite so bound up with naps and strollers, and the kids are both down to hike a bit.
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Keeper is one of the most beautiful video games I’ve ever played. A game from last year, by Double Fine, the “gameplay” is basic, but that’s not the point. When the aesthetics land, they are breathtaking. I just got a new PC, which came with some free Microsoft Gamepass, and I thought I’d give Keeper a try. It was lambasted for framerate issues, and I’m not surprised it’s a beast. Runs fine on my machine; though they may have also done some optimization since launch.
Enjoyed this interesting article on a show (The Amazing Digital Circus) I had vague knowledge of, and now think maybe I should watch!
Been exploring some rappers lately, and I cannot listen to these albums, Dre, Kendrick, Kanye, with the kids nearby. But they do pop. Instead of my own rap mix, I will point you to my favorite rap mix, by DJ Woody, from fifteen years ago.
musicforprogramming.net - Remember this nugget? I’m coding a lot on Seldom Falls recently, and most music is bad for me while doing so. This has worked better.
I was reflecting on my discomfort with AI, and I settled on an analogy: It’s like pesticides. There can be value, it can be powerful, but also maybe we shouldn’t cropdust the whole environment. There may be consequences that could have been prevented by a more considered and wholesome approach.
Until next time, friends!
Randall