πŸ–‹οΈ Maybe ...

… maybe not. It’s all about the lens through which you view the story.


πŸŽ₯ On The Waterfront β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

In a nutshell - if you havent seen it - watch it. If you have seen it - watch it again.


πŸ“Ί Dark Matter β˜…β˜…β˜…

To save you the click through … yep … good watch.


πŸ“Ί Resident Alien β˜…β˜…β˜…

It’s quirky and different. Wont be everyone’s cup of tea - but definitely worth a try out. I loved it.


πŸ“Ί Just finished Legends .. based on a true story it says - and seemingly not wrong according to πŸ”—The Radio Times Not half bad - with ‘Alan Partridge’ playing the boss - straight down the middle. That said - a lot of the full story definitely not in the show. Future series?

β˜…β˜…β˜…

Β 

branded line

πŸ–‡οΈ Review Ratings


A paywalled Atlantic piece - but not paywalled on the Wayback machine: πŸ”— The Lure of a Fully Randomized Life

When I first learned about Max’s experiment, I thought he had found a convenient way to dodge taking responsibility for his decisions. Sorry, the computer made me do it. But I came to see that no matter where the algorithm sent him, Max had cultivated an admirable equanimity about where he ended up. He’d traded the security of knowing exactly where he was going for the serenity of being present wherever he arrived.

πŸ’¬ Simone Stolzoff

The whole piece reminded me of πŸ–‡οΈ The Diceman



πŸ“Ί Finished Imperfect Women last night. Really rather good. Seem to be more and more of these ‘secrets wrapped up in Russian Dolls’ stories. They aren’t always great.

β˜…β˜…β˜…

Β 

branded line

πŸ–‡οΈ Review Ratings


πŸ‘οΈ Turns out when I wrote - “πŸ–‡οΈ We are back” - we weren’t quite. Just learned another little thing about Micro.Blog that I had never completely absorbed. Thank you @sod - we are now back .. at least functionally - css and layout remains a WIP.


Crucial Track 🎡 May 24, 2026

"iFiesta Fatal! (Album Edit)" by B-Tribe

Listen on Apple Music

I was on a work trip in Finland. My hosts decided to expose me to some Helsinki night life. I can still picture it all - but sadly no pictures to share. At one point we were in a bar/restaurant/nightclub - which it was dependant on the time of day - and this music like no other swept through the whole place and I just disappeared into it.

This was the track. Got back to the UK - bought the album - and it turns also out their second - clearly wasn't in the vanguard on this one. I also bought 3, 4 and 5 as they came out - they never failied to suck me in.

There is a sixth - do not own it - but of course in my online library - though a little different to its predecessors.

And all of this came to mind yesterday as I was wrestling with πŸ–‡οΈ my blog issues - to pick one random post that didnt arrive until today.

BUT - iFiesta Fatal! kept me sane.

Fiesta Fatal?

View John Philpin's Crucial Tracks profile

Listen to my Apple Music playlist


πŸ‘οΈ And we are back - normal service has been resumed.

Special shout outs to @sod and @AndySylvester who were on the end of email helping me bottom out my problems (I have many) and unknowingly @danielpunkass who I was not in contact with - but is the brains behind Mars Edit - without which some of what Sven and Andy asked of me in problem solving would not have been possible.

And when I say ‘normal’ - that is with respect to the MB feed.

Life is not so normal on the πŸ–‡οΈ website which is

  • using sumo - not my theme
  • only two plugins - not 11
  • a confused mashup of CSS -

But all fixable. Right?

Good to be home.


πŸ”— Perfect or better?

I guess this is the philosophy behind the rework of my πŸ–‡οΈ Hub, πŸ–‡οΈ Blog and πŸ–‡οΈ Wiki … all three are definitely better and definitely not perfect.


πŸ“ΊπŸ”— The Lincoln Lawyer - series 4 - βœ…

I will need to return to finish - but in a nutshell - well worth a watch, but make sure you go through the first three before you start - it will add to your enjoyment.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Β 

branded line

πŸ–‡οΈ Review Ratings


πŸ“ΊπŸ”— A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 1 β˜…β˜…β˜…

A total surprise and some great twists.

Once again - will return for the formal rating.

Β 

branded line

πŸ–‡οΈ Review Ratings


πŸ“Ί I saw this promoted, checked out the trailer and realised I had watched it.

That is how memorable this show is … β˜…

πŸ”— North Shore Season 1

Β 

branded line

πŸ–‡οΈ Review Ratings


Yes - yes - I did watch πŸ“ΊπŸ”— Pluribus Season 1 .. finally - I mean it’s not a loser, but truly have a hard time understanding what everybody was raving about.

β˜…β˜…β˜…

Β 

branded line

πŸ–‡οΈ Review Ratings


πŸ“Ί Parish β˜…β˜…

My Review - despite Giancarlo .. overall .. yeah - no.


Watched - all 8 Homelands. Not in a binge I hasten to add and actually not too shabby - although Claire Danes does seem to act with 4 or 5 expressions to cover all eventualities. Suspension of belief is - as always with such shows - necessary. For all of that β˜…β˜…β˜…

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 1

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 2

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 3

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 4

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 5

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 6

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 7

πŸ”—πŸ“Ί Homeland Season 8

Β 

branded line

πŸ–‡οΈ Review Ratings


Crucial Track 🎡 May 16, 2026

"Oh Well (Live)" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Listen on Apple Music

Talking of superb covers … as I wrote πŸ–‡οΈ here not even a month ago - a glorious cover of track by Fleetwood Mac. Before John and Stevie. Even before Christine.

Bonus Round ...

πŸ”—πŸŽπŸŽ΅ PartONE that Tom covered.

πŸ”—πŸŽπŸŽ΅ PartTWO that Tom did not cover - totally different and Peter Green's favourite part.

both performed by Fleetwood Mac.

Entry image

View John Philpin's Crucial Tracks profile

Listen to my Apple Music playlist


πŸ“Ί Watched: Series 1,2 and 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Watching: Series 4 now.