March 23rd - March 29th 2026

TV

• Fruits Basket | 2019 - Still good, still going!
• Bloom Into You | Season 1 - The maturing and expanding of the story is welcome!

Music

• Lights | Xylitol - Whole album is an excellent electronic, PS1-adjacent vibes.

Podcasts

• Vocoder: How a piece of military tech changed music forever | Version History - Simply the best Version History has come up with so far. As the child of a hip-hop dancer and a (at one time) professional dancer brother, the talk box has been a part of my life forever. I had never heard of the Vocoder, and apparently that was very much there too. I had never heard of Chromeo and these MF have some sexy, nerdy voices. They are so clearly passionate and knowledgeable and attractive. The history and importance of the Vocoder cannot be understated and this was the most fun way to learn about it.

News/Essays

• Historic Chat Control Vote in the EU Parliament: MEPs Vote to End Untargeted Mass Scanning of Private Chats | Patrick Breyer - We are still getting wins, folks.
• China’s First ‘Barbecue University’ Opens for Enrollment | Sixth Tone - On its face, this is a silly little article with a headline you have to share in every groupchat. Underneath is an existential question about the nature and purpose of education - vocation or consciousness raising? Investments are broad - community groups, civic clubs, private industry, and local governments all necessary to open the BBQ university. This is unique in that instead of existing with trade training - focused on getting a certificate or apprenticeship - it instead uses the language and infrastructure of the ‘university.’ It’s interesting!
• The Rapid Rise of China’s Merch-Driven F1 Fandom | Sixth Tone - I had assumed there would be some commentary about rising economies and the wealth-induced populatory of luxury brands that typically sponsor F1, but instead it’s an interesting read on fake marriage certificates and custom jewelry for sale - truly a fandom. Huh.
• Notes Towards A ‘Woke 2’ | AfterMath | Gita Jackson - An article that finally captures my recurring argument that we are beyond “what” politics, and desperately need to move on to what material steps we can take.

Books/Manga

• Blue Flag | Viz Media - I had picked this up on a whim at Friends of the Library book sale and not expectations going in. Art style is solid and the dialogue isn’t a turn off, but I was pretty confident I would be moving on fairly quickly. AND THEN. Boom this a yuri for yaoi story, and now I’m back in haha.

YouTube

• Maybe We Don’t Need a Firefly Revival | The Backdrop, Second Wind - In the wake of AfterMath’s Woke 2 pieces, I think this is an excellent companion piece in which the millenial, Woke sensibility comes into sharp relief in exceptionally clear ways with remakes. What was powerful (visibility), what is known (actor/director issues), and what is considered as positive impact have all shifted so drastically that what made these series so powerful is gone.
• Viewer sent me a Broken Commodore 16 - serious damage! | Sayaka’s Attic - Good, cozy viewing :)