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Simon J. Reynolds

@semperaliquid.net
147 followers 68 following 597 posts

People are Adventures: sometimes disagreeable, mostly delightful, always instructive. My nephew Les painted the birds above, and although the witty labels are mine, the©️ is his. Enjoy his art on a scale it deserves at lesliereynolds.africa.

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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 15h
Exactly! Were it standard TC fare I’d not be interested. I mean, he’s great fun and all, but not really worth a cinema trip these days. But at your urging (not to mention J&J’s implicit 👍👍) it’ll be worth the adventure.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 23h
Intriguing! Sounds like at the very least it deserves to be given a chance. We must try to give it a go.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 04/10/2026
They should give acting masterclasses on "The Art of Dramatic Stillness When You Have Nothing to Say or Do". Quite a trick.🐈🐈‍⬛
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 01/10/2026
I figured!
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 01/10/2026
HCR often talks about mischiefs so flagrant that she says they "set my hair on fire". Is Jake willing to endure that level of outrage?
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 01/10/2026
Finally! The wisdom and reassurance of a Heather Cox Richardson (aka @hcrichardson.bsky.social ) for the UK in its hour of need! Politics Cat twice a week?
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 30/09/2026
Just caught Kate Walsh’s unmistakable continuity voice on #BBC1 , introducing The Candyman. 🫪🫪 Pure honeyed menace… 😱 @katevoice.bsky.social 😱
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 29/09/2026
Scared little black & yellow guy bottom left: "What the hiss? Just me and a bunch of angry snakes? HEEEEEEEEELLLLP!!!" Great teamwork!👏👏
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 28/09/2026
📖 "Looking at Each Other", my cycling-meets-mythology epic, is available from: Amazon £9.60/US$12.69; Audible £3.65/US$6.36, narr Kate Walsh @katevoice.bsky.social Or read it in chunks (which may or may not be in the right order, but 🤷 ) at #LAEO. #books #booksky #poetry #cycling #mythology
Book cover, consisting of an image by Robin Reynolds showing a bicycle chainwheel superimposed on a blurred eye and behind the chainwheel, two helmeted cyclists eyeballing one another. The text of the cover reads: "Looking at Each Other or Orpheus Re-Cycled: The Perils of Reciprocal Oculation by Simon J. Reynolds Illustrated by Robin Reynolds" followed by a blurb that says "Poets, prophets, and bloody cyclists! A wonderful take on a peerless sport.–Ned Boulting".
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 28/09/2026
Missed this one—I was busy storming the Bastille (or was that a different year? French numbers can be so confusing)—but we look forward to seeing you in conversation with the great Mary Beard on Oct 17 at the Wimbledon Book Fest. Loving Orator! (Who would have thought it? Cicero a human being!)
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 28/09/2026
Les Vacances de M Hulot [Tati] La leggenda del pianista sul oceano [Tornatore] Ποτέ την Κυριακή (Never on Sunday) [Dassin] Volver [Almadóvar]
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 28/09/2026
Yo también.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 27/09/2026
Ah yes, the good old bad old days! I remember those. But not with nostalgia.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
What victory? I claim no victory, except over my own occasional suicide fantasies. And just to be clear, I'm not the one here suggesting what we should *all* call people. This is my personal coping strategy for dealing with and defying a child-murdering monster and his regime.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Certainly not deliberately. And I doubt if people are that easily confused, especially as I (almost) only refer to him prefaced as the "US SoD" in periodic posts linking to a clip of his disgusting "not a fair fight" spiel in March. And, er, I did fact-check his full name first. Then there's this:
The Hon Peter B Hegseth testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 21.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Touché. But I don't discriminate indiscriminately.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Emphatically not!
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Then it's not a great look. And I'm sorry but I'm not going to apologise. (And it's not what I'm saying. I don't agree that nomenclature is a *basic* human right, up there with clean water, free speech, freedom from discrimination etc etc. Names are not mere labels; they have context.).
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Hateful. Just like his owner. By the w, I wouldn't want anyone to think that by putting quotes around "man", I was implying femininity in him. Absolutely not: that would be promotion. No, I only meant to suggest a level of degradation that makes him undeserving of any sort of human label!
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
This is all very well—and I don't disagree in broad principle—but I refuse to think of or refer to the US SoD as anything other than *Peter* Hegseth. Even that turns my stomach. And if it hurts his feelings, too bad, but he ain't my good old buddy buddy "Pete".
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Pete H? Wow — not THE Peter H, the US SoD who cheerfully slaughters schoolgirls in the name of an unfair fight? 🤔 Nah, you can’t fool me! You’re José, the golden-voiced queen of commentary! What gave you away? That sod would never use a woke word like “kind”. Not this “man”: youtu.be/lqxYdhYohGY?...
youtu.be
Hegseth: "This was never meant to be a fair fight"
YouTube video by KING 5 Seattle
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Really? Has it come to this? Makes me weep! (Oops, I forgot… biological boys don’t cry.)
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Reposted by Simon J. Reynolds
Janet Hill @saskajanet.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Never before has a turtle turtled this hard. Zoom in and appreciate The Foot
A fantastic painted turtle stands on a snag in a stream. Turtle has a smooth black carapace with bright red edges. Its neck and legs are a glorious riot of yellow racing stripes. It has its neck fully extended staring at the sky and the back right leg and foot are completely extended. This is an epic pose by a creature at the peak of its powers.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Beautiful. (And that’s just the ALT text!) Like something out of Katherine Rundell, such is the sense of heroic power and movement: “Never fear, Captain T is here.” I can almost hear Ride of the Valkyries. 🎶 7am in London and my day is complete! Thank you.🙏
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 24/09/2026
Saddam Insane really is furious that the sobriquet “Donald Chump” is being used of him. And when Insane is mad, watch out… 🤭
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 23/09/2026
Joe clearly has the indomitable stage presence of an Olivier; Jake, though, appears to be allowing his attention to wander a little. Probably the effect of hunger...
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 23/09/2026
👏 which is the British way of saying
static.klipy.com
Saved By The Bell Audience Clapping & Cheering
Alt: Saved By The Bell Audience Clapping & Cheering
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 23/09/2026
Axes to the White House, on the other hand…
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 23/09/2026
Access to the White House is “a privilege, not a right”? Oh sure! Tell that to DT! Seriously. Somebody he respects needs to explain it to him! 🤔 Hmmm, yes, I see the difficulty.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 22/09/2026
[Prompt 1882] Who turned on that light? And me looking such a fright, My makeup half done! #poetry #micropoetry #haiku #haikuhorrorprompt #flicker
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 22/09/2026
Can't say I'm not flattered, though it is a little over-familiar—normally only my brothers are allowed to call me Si.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 22/09/2026
"Whaddya mean extra ordinary? You calling me an even more ordinary loser than yourselves? I'm the greatest loser the world has ever seen. If losing was an Olympic sport I'd come home with the gold medal! (Not by winning it, obviously.) Thank you for your inattention to this mutter."
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 22/09/2026
My earnest commiserations, from the heart. My late brother suffered the torment of a long, slow decline to the point where the only person he recognised—and that probably only emotionally—was his wife. Consider yourself hugged, embraced and, if possible, comforted.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
Perhaps he thought people would spoil the fun he was having with perspective? Not to mention the pleasure I take in contemplating it.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
The dominance of that chandelier draws the eye and rather consigns the huddle to peripheral vision, making them seem all the more sinister and furtive. First, Second and Third Murderers? Princes, beware!
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
I wondered when / whether this might happen.👏
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
Dear @jbf1755.bsky.social , As a secular Christian, I want to thank you for last night’s Thoughts, which I do appreciate. I was all adream so missed the live stream, but Rosie appears well-focused and content. And Ialso see having fun as an act of defiance! www.youtube.com/live/Zp-Roni...
youtube.com
A Few Thoughts For Those Who Can't Sleep -- Sepetmber 20 Edition
YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
I guess you didn't want to be held in contempt of court...
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
'These wounds I had at Agincat.'
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
Me too! I cancelled my subscription yesterday, with a sharply worded note. The arrogance of these people!
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
Not the same, I agree, but still liable to bring tears to the eyes, depending on thickness of shirt.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
In Richard 3 (or III, but I need to save on character-count), Richmond slays the king and declares "The day is ours, the BLOODY dog is dead." At least, that's how I delivered the line in primary school—got quite a laugh, I'm told. None of this woke pandering to "public sensibility" in Shakespeare!
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 21/09/2026
I can certainly believe that, having been a keen rider bareback in the day.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 20/09/2026
Bitcoin mining! I'd bet any money you like - even crypto - that Dr HCR (or, as some people call her, @hcrichardson.bsky.social ) is right about the true purpose of "data centres". It makes perfect sense -- the complaints of noise, the power/water use. (±minute 29.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fTE...
youtube.com
What the Heck Just Happened? With Heather and Joanne
YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 20/09/2026
Okay, so instead of idly speculating (see repost), I roused myself to DuckDuckGo it. The results showed that, post-stabbing, Salman Rushdie's sales did indeed surge, if not soar. And I was part of that! Talk about unintended consequences... #books #booksky #rushdie londondaily.com/uk-sales-of-...
londondaily.com
UK sales of The Satanic Verses surge after Rushdie stabbing - London Daily
Publisher Vintage has ordered a reprint following rush to buy the 1988 novel in the wake of the attack on the author earlier this month
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 20/09/2026
It's scary, isn't it! Let's hope we all survive long enough to play your game. Good luck!🐈‍⬛
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 20/09/2026
Only 100%? Well, 1000% of doubters, deniers and dumbos agree that so-called statistics is some kind of leftist witchcraft, because their spokespresident (who unarguably won by a landslide of money) says it is. Trumped again, "ex-perts"!
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 20/09/2026
2080s, huh? You might want to shorten that timeline by, I don't know... say two thirds? Just saying.🫣
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 20/09/2026
But it will.
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Simon J. Reynolds @semperaliquid.net · 20/09/2026
It would be interesting to know how much the attack stimulated sales of “The Satanic Verses”, thereby putting the assailant himself ironically in breach of the fatwa he thought to obey. Very funny book, by the way. #books #booksky #rushdie youtu.be/0TmWA2qDmMU?...
youtu.be
‘Tell the damn story’: Salman Rushdie on free speech & new doc on recovery from 2022 knife attack
YouTube video by MS NOW
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