iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 22/05/2026

This extremely infrequent post is brought to you by a long week, a nice beer, some warm weather, and me remembering that The Battle of Los Angeles includes some absolute belters.

A screengrab of Sleep Now in the Fire, from Rage Against the Machine's album The Battle of Los Angeles, playing on Tidal.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 07/05/2026

Been almost as rubbish posting here as I have raising funds, but I'm running the Hackney Half yet again, this time for Medical Aid for Palestinians. I know times are tough, and the media keep trying to convince us that supporting Palestinians is racist, but... www.justgiving.com/page/smorgan...

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 17/03/2026

All of which is to say that I stand by my original @letterboxd.social review:

Screenshot of my Letterboxd review of One Battle After Another, which reads:

"Believe (some of) the hype.

This is entertaining as heck, looks phenomenal, and has some extremely salient things to say about Amerikkka, but... I can't shake a slight sense that it maybe has a little too much of a Centrist Dad kinda outlook on increasingly polarised political ideologies.

In the same way that an unwavering identification with DiCaprio's character sucked all of the redemptive potential out of Killers of the Flower Moon, his otherwise excellent performance here shifts from wide-eyed revolutionary to 'a man with responsibilities' (albeit a berobed, 'reefer-smoking' man, that is as heavily indebted to Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski as was 'Doc' Sportello in PTA's previous Pynchon paranoia adap, Inherent Vice).

And so this cynic's paradise of a satire paints a world in which there are objects of ridicule on both sides, even if the powerful baddies - caricatured members of a secretive, yet comical white supremacist cabal - feel inherently more dangerous than the failed/failing idealogues who are mostly found fumbling in the dark. I mean, the film even takes time to poke fun at contemporary culture's penchant for pronouns and safe spaces, precisely the kind of thing about which every Centrist Dad makes 'harmless' jokes. All that being said, the film's coda does at least offer some indication of where our sympathies should lie amid these cyclical battles. (Sidenote: I particularly appreciated the subtle ways in which it drew attention to the settler colonial complex rather than simply ignoring it.)

Don't get me wrong, I bloody loved this. But also, don't get this film wrong, it ain't some revolutionary tract slipped under the Hollywood radar. It is rather good though."

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 12/03/2026

Wait. So if Iran are the 'hidden hand' behind Hamas, Hezbollah, etc., and Russia is the 'hidden hand' behind Iran, who is the 'hidden hand' behind Russia and is it puppets all the way down?

A screenshot of the Guardian website with a headline reading: "Putin's 'hidden have' lies behind Iran's drone tactics, UK defence secretary says".

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 28/02/2026

Utterly gutless. These supposed 'leaders' have the moral fortitude of those pissweak little toadies that hang around with bullies, and go squealing to the teacher the bullied kids start fighting back.

Screenshot of a Guardian update on the situation in the middle east. The headline reads: "UK, Germany and France condemn Iranian attacks" and goes on to note that: "The UK, Germany and France have condemned Iranian attacks on countries in the region, saying Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes.

They did not comment on US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

British prime minister Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a statement Saturday saying their countries didn’t take part in the strikes on Iran but are in close contact with the US, Israel and partners in the region.

The three countries have led efforts to reach a negotiated solution over Iran’s nuclear program."

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 25/02/2026

Our youngest is desperate to see Freya Skye live, and having just missed out on presale tickets (again) for new dates in November, I went looking (again) for tickets for her shows next month. Once again, absolutely fuck anyone making a quick buck off scalping.

Screenshot of StubHub listings for seated tickets for Freya Skye, with cheapest listed tickets priced at £304.

Screenshot of Vividseats listings for seated tickets for Freya Skye, with cheapest listed tickets priced at £210.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 23/01/2026

Now that everyone is talking about SINNERS again, I'm going to remind you that if you want a more sustained fix of Indigenous vampire hunters, Warwick Thornton and Brendan Fletcher have got you covered.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 16/01/2026

Not every day that you hear the mighty You Am I on British radio, even if it does require BBC 6 Music to be undertaking some sort of 1990s nostalgiafest.

A photo of my TVs display screen showing You Am I's Berlin Chair playing in Craig Charles' Radio 6 Music show.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 15/01/2026

Finally catching up with S5 of Stranger Things. When Max emerges from a rock crevice, I immediately thought of Picnic at Hanging Rock, and now ep.4 has picked up the thread and, lo and behold, there be panpipes! 😂

A still from S5e4 of Stranger Things. A shaft of sunlight illuminates a sparsely decorated cave, as Max shows Holly her 'home'.

A still from Picnic at Hanging Rock. A shaft of sunlight illuminates a sparsely populated scene of Victorian schoolgirls lounging in the shadow of Ngannelong.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 18/12/2025

Speaking on behalf of dual citizens of Australian origin, let me just say #NotAllUKPassportHolders. #SnickoCircus 😂 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

Screengrab from ABC News article reading: "That revelation, which had the remarkable side-effect of prompting the exact same "void series" joke out of every human with a UK passport, was a perfect storm for England."

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 07/11/2025

Just realised that Signature Entertainment have both FEAR BELOW and BEAST OF WAR on their books, and now I want to know which cinema in London (or elsewhere) wants me to host a double bill of 1940s-set Australian killer shark films. Actually, maybe this is one for you @fwfilmfestival.bsky.social?

Screenshot of two marketing images from the Signature Entertainment website. On the top is a promotional image for Beast of War, which carries the title, and a photo with a burning, sinking warship in the background, a massive shark fin in the foreground, and four men on a raft in the mid-ground. The bottom image is for Fear Below, and features the title, and an underwater image of a giant shark looming up, Jaws-style on an unsuspecting diver, who floats just below a small boat.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 29/10/2025

The legacies of Empire. 😂

Rubbish on the side of the road in Hackney. A blue, partly crushed can of Fosters beer lays beside a discarded, disposable cup from Amala Chai.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 17/10/2025

This is pretty niche, I know, but Marnie and Gabe from MUSTANGS FC definitely had a secret baby and that secret baby definitely grew up to be Alex Badalato. I will not be taking questions.

A still from Australian TV series Mustangs FC. Marnie and Gabe walk down a path in dappled sunlight. Gabe is carrying a football looking ahead, whilst Marnie steals a glance at him.

Current Socceroo (and Young Socceroo) Alexander Badalato stands against a white backdrop. He is wearing a blue-green zipped Socceroos pullover, and holding two trophies from the recent U20 AFC Asian Cup, the team's winners trophy and his trophy for Player of the Tournament.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 08/10/2025

Unwound cancelling their UK/EU tour has definitely harshed my Wednesday vibes. 😭

Screenshot of an email from Dice.FM reading: "Postponement: Band Statement
A message from the event organiser

The band is disappointed to announce that we must postpone our scheduled UK/EURO tour dates. The decision hasn’t come easy, and we’ll make it up to you come 2026.

For now we appreciate your well wishes and respect for our privacy. Take care of yourself and each other while we’re gone.

The new date for 2026 will be announced as soon as possible."

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 03/10/2025

I saw Dennis fronting The (International) Nose Conspiracy a few times, but this was my first (and last) time seeing the legendary Refused. Don't think I've been at Brixton Academy since the kinda average ATDI reunion many moons ago, but this was rather less lacklustre. 😂 #TerriblePhotosOfGreatBands

A fairly average photo of a great band. Refused, on stage at the Brixton Academy.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 18/09/2025

Fkn LOL at the name of Nexstar's founder and majority shareholder. Perry A. Sook by name, and very much a sook by nature.

Partial screenshot showing what could easily be an AI composite of a media executive (gammony white, receding grey hairline), accompanied by the text: "Perry A. Sook - Founder of Nexstar Media Group".

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 26/07/2025

So much for "PROTECT ARE WOMEN/CHILDREN" etc. 🙄🤬

A screenshot of a Guardian headline, reading "More than 40% attested for last summer's riots had been reported for domestic abuse".

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 05/07/2025

Case in point: these are my 'Four Favourites' on @letterboxd.social, but they make me deeply uncomfortable every time I look at them. 😂

A screenshot of my 'Favorites' on Letterboxd, which includes Les Quatre Cent Coups, Gummo, The Overlanders, and Wake in Fright.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 02/07/2025

Big Fucking Noter! Thoroughly awesome stuff from @senatorbriggs.bsky.social and co.

A photo of Big Noter playing live at Oslo, London on 2 July 2025. Bright, colourful lights spread across the stage, as the guitarist and bass player rock out, and the drummer and vocalist trade metaphorical rock blows up stage.

A photo of Big Noter playing live at Oslo, London on 2 July 2025. Green spotlights pierce the haze as vicalist Adam Briggs spits hardcore bars, wearing a 'You're Welcome' t-shirt.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 30/06/2025

The UK establishment has gutted social housing, is increasingly abandoning the welfare state, and fiddling while the world burns, plus it's set about crushing all dissent in some sort of lurch towards fascism, but why in earth wouldn't you want to bring children into this world?

A screenshot of a Guardian headline: "Birthrate: Brigid Phillipson says she wants more young people in UK to have children"

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 25/06/2025

Thanks for bringing all the necessary sonic angles last night, Ted - amazing to see Gang of Four one last time! One question, the Dice ticket listing for the Shannon/Narducy/REM extravaganza implies you might be doing a solo set in support, is that correct?

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 19/06/2025

The first part of Picnic @ 50 will be hybrid, and features my keynote, followed by a bunch of colleagues (incl. @samtwyfordmoore.bsky.social and @tugcekutlu.bsky.social) dialing in remotely. If anyone's interested in tuning in to the hybrid bit, let me know, and I'll sling you the Google Meets link.

A screenshot of text from the Picnic @ 50 symposium programme, reading as follows:

"Programme

9-9.30am Arrival and Registration

9.30-10.30am Keynote: Dr. Stephen Morgan (King’s College London)
‘“Waiting a Million Years, Just For Us”: Picnic at Hanging Rock and the
possessive logic of settler national cinemas’

10.30-10.45am Coffee/Tea Refreshment Break

10.45am-12.15pm Panel 1

‘The making of Picnic… inside Australia’s film and television studio system’ - Quentin Turnour (National Archives of Australia, Audiovisual Preservation)

‘Aftermath: Picnic at Hanging Rock and the Australian response’ - Stephen Gaunson (RMIT University)

‘Sylvia Lawson and the critical reception of Picnic at Hanging Rock’ - Sam Twyford-Moore (University of Technology, Sydney)"

A screenshot of text from the Picnic @ 50 symposium programme, reading as follows:

"12.15pm-1.30pm Panel 2

‘A séance with Lady Lindsay: candles for Miranda and the flickering
trans/nationalisms of Picnic’ - Allison Craven (James Cook University)

‘The unseen Indigenous figure: Refiguring the Gothic in Picnic at Hanging Rock’ - Carl Reinecke (University of Warwick/Monash University)

‘Unresolved Mysteries: Reappraising the Gothic and Colonial Undertones of Picnic at Hanging Rock’ - Tuğçe Kutlu (Ankara University)"

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 19/06/2025

Keep forgetting to post about it (everything's frantic, prepping for this + working to get the @londonaustfilm.bsky.social festival line-up sorted), but I'm doing my first keynote tomorrow, as part of the PICNIC @ 50 symposium at @sheffielduni.bsky.social, organised by Jonathan Rayner and SCRIF.

Information for the Picnic @ 50 symposium, organised by the Sheffield Centre for Research in Film, which takes place on June 20th as a hybrid event. The poster mostly features text, as well as the title screen from Peter Weir's film Picnic At Hanging Rock, which will be the focus on the symposium.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 13/06/2025

I (musically) grew up on the periphery (kinda literally) of Adelaide's 618 scene in the late 90s/early 2000s, and while I've been to plenty of hardcore shows since, it took a gang of Asians from Western Sydney to get me properly in the pit again after almost two decades. Thanks Speed!

A blurry, chaotic photo of the pit during Speed's set at Outbreak London.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 07/06/2025

Found ourselves kidless at relatively late notice (sleepovers ahoy!), and briefly considered going to see THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND, only to find that almost all the screenings nearby are basically sold out, or heading that way. I thought cinema was supposed to be dead, guys?

Screenshot of seating map for a screening of The Ballad of Wallis Island at Everyman Screen on the Green.

Screenshot of seating map for a screening of The Ballad of Wallis Island at Hackney Picturehouse.

Screenshot of seating map for a screening of The Ballad of Wallis Island at the Barbican.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 07/06/2025

When you're heading to a festival with plans to see four specific bands, and two of them are an exact clash. FML. Also, not enjoying the news that sales are so crap that the promoters are now flogging tix for a tenner. At least it'll mean less crowds, I guess.

Screenshot from the Lido app, showing clashing stage times for Knocked Loose and Sunny Day Real Estate.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 04/06/2025

Accidental 'dodgy mothers' double bill tonight, w/ two absolute crackers: WANDA to open the BFI's Barbara Loden season (wonderfully intro'd by season curator @cinemiasma.bsky.social) + then home for Gillian Armstrong's wonderful HIGH TIDE (for the lockdown Aussie film club that will never die!)

A screenshot from Letterboxd showing the last two films I watched. The poster for High Tide features a tight close up of Judy Davis' face, with sunglasses reflecting her backing singer character and her young, estranged daughter (Claudia Karvan), surrounded by neon scribbles that look decidedly 1980s. The poster for Wanda features Barbara Loden's titular character partly obscured by a police officer's shoulder, as she looks on distraught. Both films have a score of four stars.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 17/05/2025

I knew that Ingrid Weir played one of the daughters in THE LAST WAVE, but how did I not know that the other one was Katrina Sedgwick, who would go on to be Adelaide Film Fest honcho, ABC commissioner, ACMI boss, etc.? Also, always fun to see Storm Boy himself, Greg Rowe, pop up at the start.

Screenshot of the IMdB cast credits for Peter Weir's The Last Wave, listing three cast members: Greg Rowe as Carl; Katrina Sedgwick as Sophie Burton; and Ingrid Weir as Grace Burton.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 14/05/2025

In-laws visiting from Aus just posted about visiting Clarkson's farm/pub thing, and it led me to this image, so I'm sharing it as a reminder to never drink Hawkstone beer. What is it about right-wing nuts and appropriating the imagery of ideologies they purport to despise? It's the bantz, isn't it?

A haunting image publicising Hawkstone Beer, a beer label co-created by professional dirtbag Jeremy Clarkson. At the centre of the image is a painting of Clarkson and some other weasel cosplaying as uniformed Communists, whilst the text around the outside of the circular image reads 'Welcome to the Mighty and Glorious Independent Republic of Hawkstone'. The mural is painted on the black wall of a godforsaken Cotswolds drinking establishment, with beer kegs lined up along the wall. The only redeeming feature of this image is the small bunch of sunflowers out of focus and 'dirtying' the frame in the lower foreground.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 14/05/2025

Happy DEAD PIONEERS day, London! Cannot wait to see Gregg Deal (and his performance art piece turned punk powerhouse) spit Native American survivance directly into the heart of the settler colonial empire. Still some tix on @dicefm.bsky.social. @hasslerecords.bsky.social @silverpr.bsky.social

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 03/05/2025

Yeah, nah. That's not really how it works.

Screenshot from Guardian website, including a headline reading: "Counting under way as Australians pick their next prime minister"

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 30/04/2025

There's also @sgj.bsky.social's new book, THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER, a fancy copy of which I've ordered from @blackcrowbooks.bsky.social. Although technically about vampires on Blackfeet land, the snippet I've just read suggests that it is really a horror about surviving in contemporary academia.

A screengrab of a short excerpt from Stephen Graham Jones' THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER, which reads: "In January, I wasn't exactly denied tenure, but I was told that, instead of continuing with my application, I consider asking for the extension I'm currently on. The issue wasn't my teaching - I'm the dayworker of Communication and Journalism, covering all the 1000- and 2000-level courses - it was that my publications aren't up to University of Wyoming "standards for promotion." See: get a book under contract, Etsy, and then we'll talk. And if you don't? Then all your schooling, all your dreams of being a professor, they're smoke, and you're out in the cold."

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 30/04/2025

It's got both Jordan brothers, Michael B. and his slightly older (but less famous) twin, Michael A.

A foyer standee for Ryan Coogler's SINNERS.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 30/04/2025

Finally sitting down for this little delight...

A photo of the special IMAX 70mm poster for Ryan Coogler's SINNERS.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 29/04/2025

Meant to be doing the Hackney Half in a few weeks, but I am currently...

A detail photo of Lidl's prime animal fat product, "Simply... Lard".

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 27/04/2025

I'm not crying, you're crying. 😭🥳🎉

Liverpool FC, Premier League Champions 2024/25!!!

This is a very poor photo of my TV screen with a smiling Mo Salah and the words 'Liverpool Champions' at the bottom.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 26/04/2025

Guys, I think I've just discovered how the Pope really died...

A screengrab detail from the Letterboxd app in which the 'Popular this week' section is headed by Sinners and Conclave. The posters for the two films are positioned in such a way that it looks like Michael B Jordan's character from Sinners is pointing a gun directly at Ralph Fiennes' character from Conclave.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 16/04/2025

Repost with the first album you bought with your own money.

A cassette recording of Boyz II Men's 1991 album Cooleyhighharmony. The cassette itself sits to the right of the album cover, which features the group's name at the top in a red lozenge shape, and the album title at the bottom. The main image features the group posed in a portrait, all wearing white woolen knits, white dress shirts, and bowties, as well as a variety of red baseball caps.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 11/04/2025

The last couple of years, we've spent this time of year in Adelaide, so today's visit to @rbgkew.bsky.social brought some much needed frolicking amongst the eucalypts.

A bright sun forces its way through a bushel of eucalyptus leaves, silhouetted against a bright blue sky. Two Kew Gardens glasshouses are on the horizon.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 10/04/2025

I'm only coming if Germaine will be there...

A photo of a page from the Australian Express, a London-based publication for ex-pats. The headline reads 'Hoges has Picnic in Regent Park', and it features Paul Hogan seated on the left, in front of a lake, smiling in a relaxed pose as he chats to John 'Strop' Cornell. Between them, Germaine Greer kneels on a picnic rug, opening a wicker basket, and looking at Strop. The image's caption reads: "Any'ow 'av a go at Hoges. Your (sic) right. Hoges is in London - he's here to produce another Hogan abroad program. He is seen above with Germaine Greer and Hogans (sic) manager John Cornell on location in Regents Park."

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 10/04/2025

Oh, and I emerged with the most punk rock double bill of all time...

A photo of today's Fopp purchases, Penelope Spheeris' punk rock classic SUBURBIA, and Baz Luhrmann's retromaniacal fever dream ELVIS.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 10/04/2025

Popped into Fopp on my way back to the office from recording some things for some forthcoming somethings, and in completely unrelated news, I spotted this marvellous @indicator.bsky.social creation, which may or may not be tarnished by my waffling face, should you happen to alight upon the extras.

A copy of Indicator's release of Harlequin in the wild (aka a shelf in Fopp). The cover features a close up of a mysterious man (Robert Powell), whose pale face is framed by a harlequinesque border pattern, a reaching hand, and a pistol.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 09/04/2025

What in the Philip K Dick is going on?

A screenshot of a Guardian news headline that reads "UK creating ‘murder prediction’ tool to identify people most likely to kill", which is basically the plot of Philip K Dick's novella The Minority Report, in which a 'pre-crime' bureau employs 'precogs' to track down future criminals before they can crime.

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