Craig M. Ranapia
@craigmranapia.bsky.social
"This heaven gives me migraine."
Old enough to know better at the ends of the earth (New Zealand). I am large and contain multitudes, all of them intensely irritating. (Same-sex) married. Catholic. Conservative-ish. Cis-male. Jane Austen cultist.
Old enough to know better at the ends of the earth (New Zealand). I am large and contain multitudes, all of them intensely irritating. (Same-sex) married. Catholic. Conservative-ish. Cis-male. Jane Austen cultist.
Hear me out... All-cat remake of THE SHINING. Make it happen, you Hollywood cowards!
November 30, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Hear me out... All-cat remake of THE SHINING. Make it happen, you Hollywood cowards!
"Our meaning is in how we live in an imperfect world, in our time. We have no other."
Tom Stoppard, 'The Coast of Utopia: Salvage'
Tom Stoppard, 'The Coast of Utopia: Salvage'
November 30, 2025 at 1:12 AM
"Our meaning is in how we live in an imperfect world, in our time. We have no other."
Tom Stoppard, 'The Coast of Utopia: Salvage'
Tom Stoppard, 'The Coast of Utopia: Salvage'
THIS - and not just for Gen Z. An algorithm that will just leave you alone to aimlessly shuffle through the virtual shelves is not how any of this works, or ever will. #BookSky
There was an article in The Guardian a few weeks back about how Gen Z find bookshops preferable to online shopping, and a key factor was that an algorithm will offer you 6000 books identical to the one you just finished whereas a bookseller will offer you three that are different but meet the vibe.
November 30, 2025 at 12:22 AM
THIS - and not just for Gen Z. An algorithm that will just leave you alone to aimlessly shuffle through the virtual shelves is not how any of this works, or ever will. #BookSky
Probably too soon, but one thing that makes me sad about the death of Tom Stoppard is that so much of his best work will probably never be professionally mounted in NZ because the elaborate production requirements and VERY large casts will never be commercially viable.
a man with a beard and mustache is wearing a suit and tie and yawning .
Alt: a man with a beard and mustache is wearing a suit and tie and yawning .
media.tenor.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Probably too soon, but one thing that makes me sad about the death of Tom Stoppard is that so much of his best work will probably never be professionally mounted in NZ because the elaborate production requirements and VERY large casts will never be commercially viable.
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
By the way: 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", the film, is on YouTube.
You should watch it. In memory of Tom Stoppard.
You should watch it. In memory of Tom Stoppard.
November 29, 2025 at 11:58 PM
By the way: 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", the film, is on YouTube.
You should watch it. In memory of Tom Stoppard.
You should watch it. In memory of Tom Stoppard.
With the death of Tom Stoppard, let's take a minute to consider how unlikely it is we'll see in out lifetimes another playwright whose name alone was enough to get a four hour, five act history play with a cast of FORTY commercially staged in the West End with a Broadway transfer.
a man in a suit and tie with the words the end of an era
Alt: a man in a suit and tie with the words the end of an era
media.tenor.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:54 PM
With the death of Tom Stoppard, let's take a minute to consider how unlikely it is we'll see in out lifetimes another playwright whose name alone was enough to get a four hour, five act history play with a cast of FORTY commercially staged in the West End with a Broadway transfer.
Nobody needs another link to the New Yorker handjob of Louis CK, but I think we can all usefully ask if "cancelled" means anything when its being applied to someone doing press for his tour and a new book.
a woman with a caption that says did that sentence just make some sense that i 'm not in on ?
Alt: a woman with a caption that says did that sentence just make some sense that i 'm not in on ?
media.tenor.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Nobody needs another link to the New Yorker handjob of Louis CK, but I think we can all usefully ask if "cancelled" means anything when its being applied to someone doing press for his tour and a new book.
THIS. There's also no algorithm that will ever replicate the human connections of an informed enthusiastic store clerk saying "If you like that, try *this* and *that* has been really popular. Or have you considered something eltirely different?"
Now "browsing" means Netflix compiles your recent watch history and feeds you more of the exact same thing. Or Amazon analyzes your buy history and gives you a list of 15 books with basically the same title. You rarely stumble upon something new or different by chance. It's eroding our curiosity.
November 29, 2025 at 10:59 PM
THIS. There's also no algorithm that will ever replicate the human connections of an informed enthusiastic store clerk saying "If you like that, try *this* and *that* has been really popular. Or have you considered something eltirely different?"
"The names for things don't come first. Words stagger after, hopelessly trying to become the sensation." (The Coast of Utopia)
RIP Tom Stoppard - playwright, screenwriter and professional clever bastard. #BookSky #MovieSky
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...
RIP Tom Stoppard - playwright, screenwriter and professional clever bastard. #BookSky #MovieSky
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:27 PM
"The names for things don't come first. Words stagger after, hopelessly trying to become the sensation." (The Coast of Utopia)
RIP Tom Stoppard - playwright, screenwriter and professional clever bastard. #BookSky #MovieSky
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...
RIP Tom Stoppard - playwright, screenwriter and professional clever bastard. #BookSky #MovieSky
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...
Not just specific war crimes, but crimes that eighty years ago at the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals, Axis military leaders were prosecuted, convicted and executed for.
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Not just specific war crimes, but crimes that eighty years ago at the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals, Axis military leaders were prosecuted, convicted and executed for.
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
...This photo of Ant with the Headless Chickens in 1990 is by Jonathan Ganley; the Headless Chickens story is by Russell Brown.
Our thoughts are with his family, and many friends. 2/2
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/inc...
Our thoughts are with his family, and many friends. 2/2
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/inc...
Incubator - Article | AudioCulture
Incubator control room, mid-1990s.
Incubator Studios was not a typical professional recording studio. Apart from anything else, it was situated in a six-bedroom flat. Yet it became a key part of Auckl...
www.audioculture.co.nz
November 28, 2025 at 6:57 AM
...This photo of Ant with the Headless Chickens in 1990 is by Jonathan Ganley; the Headless Chickens story is by Russell Brown.
Our thoughts are with his family, and many friends. 2/2
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/inc...
Our thoughts are with his family, and many friends. 2/2
www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/inc...
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
We are terribly sad to hear that Ant Nevison has passed away. He played guitar in Headless Chickens, co-founded Incubator studio, was a highly respected film soundie – and an excellent human being... 1/2 audioculture.co.nz/profile/head...
November 28, 2025 at 6:57 AM
We are terribly sad to hear that Ant Nevison has passed away. He played guitar in Headless Chickens, co-founded Incubator studio, was a highly respected film soundie – and an excellent human being... 1/2 audioculture.co.nz/profile/head...
Feeling irrationally angry about having to blow $100 replacing my perfectly functional if elderly 3G flip phone before the network is shut down.
a man with a beard wearing a t-shirt that says here 's a tech tip on it
Alt: a man with a beard wearing a t-shirt that says here 's a tech tip on it
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Feeling irrationally angry about having to blow $100 replacing my perfectly functional if elderly 3G flip phone before the network is shut down.
Necessary Addendum: I don't say this anywhere near as often as I should, but every podcast requires MASSIVE investments of time, energy and creativity - especially when you don't have corporate backing. It's seen (or heard) and appreciated.
Sad that @charliejane.bsky.social & @annaleen.bsky.social are calling time on OUR OPINIONS ARE CORRECT - one of my faves in the SFF pod space. But true as it ever was that the secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go... Time for archive surfing!
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes
Episodes — our opinions are correct
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Necessary Addendum: I don't say this anywhere near as often as I should, but every podcast requires MASSIVE investments of time, energy and creativity - especially when you don't have corporate backing. It's seen (or heard) and appreciated.
Sad that @charliejane.bsky.social & @annaleen.bsky.social are calling time on OUR OPINIONS ARE CORRECT - one of my faves in the SFF pod space. But true as it ever was that the secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go... Time for archive surfing!
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes
Episodes — our opinions are correct
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Sad that @charliejane.bsky.social & @annaleen.bsky.social are calling time on OUR OPINIONS ARE CORRECT - one of my faves in the SFF pod space. But true as it ever was that the secret to a long life is knowing when its time to go... Time for archive surfing!
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes
www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes
When is it not the season for an elaborate straight-faced black comedy where Tom Cruise utterly fails to get what he really wants for Christmas: A spite shag after his wife hurt his feelings?
One of the reasons why EYES WIDE SHUT has become such an unlikely Christmas movie is that it’s basically the IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE of fucking. www.vulture.com/2019/06/eyes...
November 28, 2025 at 5:51 AM
When is it not the season for an elaborate straight-faced black comedy where Tom Cruise utterly fails to get what he really wants for Christmas: A spite shag after his wife hurt his feelings?
But remember folks, it's indecorous to notice that this geriatric shithead is increasingly incapable of sustaining a train of thought without it derailing into a nightmarish explosion of crass word salad.
November 28, 2025 at 4:56 AM
But remember folks, it's indecorous to notice that this geriatric shithead is increasingly incapable of sustaining a train of thought without it derailing into a nightmarish explosion of crass word salad.
Happy to stand corrected - not least because I'm too old to be misplacing shade. But Dog in Heaven, people, this was a leade that shouldn't have been buried. Talking up public transport is part of your job!
It's a bit buried in the middle of this unnecessarily long story, but it's there:
“If you can, travel outside of those peak times and also catch public transport, there's a great train station at Sylvia Park, and then it's a very short five-minute walk across to Ikea,” Howard said.
“If you can, travel outside of those peak times and also catch public transport, there's a great train station at Sylvia Park, and then it's a very short five-minute walk across to Ikea,” Howard said.
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Happy to stand corrected - not least because I'm too old to be misplacing shade. But Dog in Heaven, people, this was a leade that shouldn't have been buried. Talking up public transport is part of your job!
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
so anyone who has like an ounce of experience with the outdoors knows bamboo actually burns really poorly. Also anyone who has been following this and isn't a racist freak knows this was almost certainly an issue of the cladding like Grenfell was but I know that doesn't get the weird sinophobia hit!
While bamboo scaffolding is considered a treasured Hong Kong tradition, it’s recently drawn scrutiny for being combustible and prone to deterioration over time.
Hong Kong’s bamboo scaffolding, a centuries-old technique, comes under scrutiny after city’s deadliest fire in years | CNN
The Hong Kong residential towers engulfed by smoke and flames on Wednesday were surrounded by an ancient construction material familiar to anyone who’s spent time in the one of the world’s most densel...
www.cnn.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
so anyone who has like an ounce of experience with the outdoors knows bamboo actually burns really poorly. Also anyone who has been following this and isn't a racist freak knows this was almost certainly an issue of the cladding like Grenfell was but I know that doesn't get the weird sinophobia hit!
Traditions are fine things, but do Americans *have* to mark Genocidal White Supremacy Day by opening their gobs to projectile mouth-shart incredibly racist bullshit every damn year? Asking for the rest of the planet...
November 28, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Traditions are fine things, but do Americans *have* to mark Genocidal White Supremacy Day by opening their gobs to projectile mouth-shart incredibly racist bullshit every damn year? Asking for the rest of the planet...
To put it bluntly, Labour leaders in Australia and the UK had the great good fortune to be facing opponents about as palatable as pulled pork sliders at a Jewish-Muslim pot luck.
The NZ Labour Party and Chris Hipkins presume the same stars will align for them. I really wish they'd stop it. #nzpol
The NZ Labour Party and Chris Hipkins presume the same stars will align for them. I really wish they'd stop it. #nzpol
a man is standing in a tunnel and talking to a woman .
Alt: a man is standing in a tunnel and talking to a woman .
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
To put it bluntly, Labour leaders in Australia and the UK had the great good fortune to be facing opponents about as palatable as pulled pork sliders at a Jewish-Muslim pot luck.
The NZ Labour Party and Chris Hipkins presume the same stars will align for them. I really wish they'd stop it. #nzpol
The NZ Labour Party and Chris Hipkins presume the same stars will align for them. I really wish they'd stop it. #nzpol
THIS. I know it sounds insufferably pretentious, but democracy doesn't work when one or more components (like a loyal opposition that checks, balances and opposes the government) just can't be arsed coming to work. #nzpol
Labour conference this weekend, so presumably we'll start to get concrete action soon after that.
I'm not a Labour person, but I definitely want Labour to be the most active/appealing version of itself. #nzpol
I'm not certain it'll actually *happen,* but hey there's always hope.
I'm not a Labour person, but I definitely want Labour to be the most active/appealing version of itself. #nzpol
I'm not certain it'll actually *happen,* but hey there's always hope.
November 27, 2025 at 11:46 PM
THIS. I know it sounds insufferably pretentious, but democracy doesn't work when one or more components (like a loyal opposition that checks, balances and opposes the government) just can't be arsed coming to work. #nzpol
Reposted by Craig M. Ranapia
has labour tried running against national?
November 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
has labour tried running against national?
'Tis the season to be sad that "no kink at Thanksgiving" snowflakes have ruined everything. EVERYTHING.
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 PM
'Tis the season to be sad that "no kink at Thanksgiving" snowflakes have ruined everything. EVERYTHING.