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<title type="text">Terence Eden’s Blog</title>
<subtitle type="text">Regular nonsense about tech and its effects 🙃</subtitle>
<updated>2026-08-13T05:48:32Z</updated>
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<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73981</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T21:09:24Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T21:22:09Z</published>
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<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
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<summary type="html"><![CDATA[There are at least four different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!. This is different because it is the unauthorized musical parody. Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue. Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/"><![CDATA[<p>There are at least <em>four</em> different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/">Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!</a>. This is different because it is the <em>unauthorized</em> musical parody.</p>
<p>Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue.</p>
<p>Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of gay hockey sticks.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fef3a413-0f72-4faf-a33e-691bbd4af37c.jpg" alt="Two hockey player biting a puck." width="250" height="250" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73984">
<p>So, how does it compare to its twin?</p>
<p>It is good, but <em>deeply</em> conservative. The whole thing is framed through the eyes of a middle-age suburban mom which, sure, is probably a large part of the target audience but felt a bit retrograde. While the other show had a plentiful amount of <em>acrobatic</em> simulated sex with near-nude performers, this only has a couple of shirtless scenes and the actors are reduced to having a couple of trysts with literal mannequins. Weirdly, the one sex scene they perform together takes place behind a sheet. The leads kiss only twice which, for a parody of a show famed for its explicitness makes it all feel a bit Hays Code.</p>
<p>The songs, however, are sumptuous. A full score accompanies the incredibly talented cast. This is <em>very</em> off-Broadway - with soaring melodies, powerful solos, and solid reprises. At times it feels more like a parody of Broadway shows than of the TV show.</p>
<p>That isn't to say this is bad. It is <em>very</em> good. The script is full of delightful references and silly jokes. The lyrics at times are downright <em>filthy</em>! It is an excellent show and well worth seeing - but my heart remains with the <em>other</em> parody.</p>
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<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - James Rowland: Team Viking ★★⯪☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73961</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T17:30:11Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T19:20:01Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer. Sadly, it did nothing for me. I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive. There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/"><![CDATA[<p>This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer.</p>
<p>Sadly, it did nothing for me.</p>
<p>I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive.</p>
<p>There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy and catharsis. It is probably the perfect show for some people but I wasn't the right audience for it.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
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<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Garrett Millerick: We Tried it Your Way ★☆☆☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73971</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T17:25:43Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T17:55:57Z</published>
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<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
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<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him? Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious. He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/"><![CDATA[<p>Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him?</p>
<p>Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious.</p>
<p>He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating segment was like something from an incel forum. Bitter and uncomfortable.</p>
<p>There's a minor point that's made about whether AI comedy is cheating (yes) and if comedians need to be worried (no). But even when he goes back to performing his organic routine, it is dire. There are a few chuckles to be had, but most of the audience were just looking stricken with second hand embarrassment.</p>
<p>The delivery is a one note rant, the jokes are the shouting of an angry disillusioned man, and the AI is a clanker of the worst order.</p>
<p>Dire.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: When Vincent Met John ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73949</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T14:51:06Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T15:30:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four. When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour. What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation?…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/"><![CDATA[<p>I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four.</p>
<p>When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour.</p>
<p>What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation? They were both tortured artists whose influence spanned the world and only grew after their untimely deaths.</p>
<p>It is incredible!</p>
<p>Much like Yasmina Reza's "Art" this is a meticulous argument about the nature of creativity. And, much like, <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02/theatre-review-the-last-laugh/">The Last Laugh</a> this feature fastidiously observed recreation of beloved figures.</p>
<p>Can Lennon conceive of someone who doesn't recognise Him? Can van Gogh conceive of Yoko Ono's conceptual art? Is Lennon's braggadocio an impediment to his happiness? Is van Gogh's obsessive nature blocking him from progressing?</p>
<p>The script sizzles. Lennon almost seems to speak in rhyming couplets - as befits a lyricist and poet. It is peppered with throwaway references to his cannon (including many deep cuts for the obsessives). One of those plays where I immediately want to grab the script and study it to death.</p>
<p>Both actors utterly inhabit their characters and give play off each other perfectly. The direction is precise and inventive. Even the set construction is perfectly attuned to the needs of the show.</p>
<p>An astounding piece of theatre and strongly recommended.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Justina Seselskaite: Settled ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73930</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T20:24:54Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T22:23:14Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like. It was sublime! There's a …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/"><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like.</p>
<p>It was sublime!</p>
<p>There's a rich history of foreign comedians coming to these shores and <del>stealing our jobs</del> making us laugh by pointing out the UK's foibles as only an outsider can. Seselskaite has a witty outlook on the perils of being mistaken for Polish while working in Waitrose, how high-class a Wetherspoons is, and what's up with Manchester’s weird obsession with bees.</p>
<p>The show isn't the most innovative thing on the Fringe; it's mostly straight stand-up. But the game of "guess which English song was plagiarised by Lithuanian singers" was surprisingly entertaining. OK, I won a badge by guessing correctly, so I'm biased.</p>
<p>Settled is a solid piece of work which has obviously been road-tested and honed into a tight set. Excellent observational stand-up from a unique perspective (come on, how many other Lithuanian comedians have you been to see?).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/justina-seselskaite-settled"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/settled-poster.webp" alt="Poster for a comedy show." width="1347" height="1679" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73933"></a></p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Handel Nine German Arias ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73911</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T19:49:10Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T20:21:05Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
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<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love. So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/"><![CDATA[<p>Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love.</p>
<p>So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest hits.</p>
<p>I'm too much of a philistine to assess its merits - but there's always pleasure watching technically accomplished professionals at the top of their game. I assumed they played the right notes (and in the right order) as the music was delightful.</p>
<p>It was restful and restorative after a long day pounding Edinburgh's pavements.</p>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Hamlet The Musical ★★☆☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73906</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T15:57:53Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T18:19:16Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="shakespeare"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵 There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs. It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby. The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force perfo…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/"><![CDATA[<p>🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵</p>
<p>There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs.</p>
<p>It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby.</p>
<p>The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force performance as Hamlet. But for every decent pun there's a piece of uninspired mugging to the audience.</p>
<p>The main weakness is that it looks <em>cheap</em>. There can be a certain charm to "we'll put on the show right here - I just think Fringe audiences deserve better than tatty cardboard props and flimsy plastic swords.</p>
<p>Tightened up, it could be something really special - it just fell flat for me.</p>
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<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Afronauts ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73891</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T15:44:03Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T16:17:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (a 100% real thing) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race. Told in an acrobatic style, naturally. It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/"><![CDATA[<p>Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Makuka_Nkoloso">a 100% real thing</a>) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race.</p>
<p>Told in an acrobatic style, naturally.</p>
<p>It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human pyramids, handstands, cartwheels, and aerial work.</p>
<p>An absolutely joyful cast of kinesthetic clowns bring to life the bizarre and (again) <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/story-behind-zambian-space-program">absolutely true story</a>.</p>
<p>Lots of fun, a heartfelt message, and a zippy soundtrack. No way to describe it other than fun for all ages.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73891&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Noted ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73887</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T12:04:04Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T12:45:28Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"… This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday. The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper lit…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/"><![CDATA[<p>It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"…</p>
<p>This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday.</p>
<p>The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper litters the floor as the cast rip them from their bodies to reveal more underneath.</p>
<p>I found it enjoyable enough for an early morning show - but the children around me went bananas for it!</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73887&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Gadget Review: Soundpeats UU2 POP Clip2 Earphones ★★★★⯪]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72972</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T06:17:53Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T11:34:37Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="bluetooth"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="gadget"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="headphones"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="usb-c"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the UU2 Clip2 compare. Design The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world.…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/"><![CDATA[<p>Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/11/gadget-review-soundpeats-clip1-cuff-headphones/">the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff</a>. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the <a href="https://soundpeats.com/en-gb/products/soundpeats-pop-clip-physical-bttons-clip-on-earbuds">UU2 Clip2</a> compare.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/soundpeats-clip2-promo.webp" alt="A small cuff style headphone set, charging box, and short cable." width="1500" height="1500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72976">
<h2 id="design"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#design">Design</a></h2>
<p>The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world. Rather than sticking the buds in your earholes, they clip around the flappy bits of your ears. The aren't like a bulldog clip - more like a gentle caress. The speaker sits just outside your ear canal, so you can still hear ambient sounds from around you. Look, you do <em>not</em> want a close-up of my waxy lugs, so here's a model:</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/model-wearing-ear-cuffs.webp" alt="model wearing ear cuffs." width="913" height="684" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72977">
<p>You don't have to wear them in that position. Mine tend to hang around my earlobes - your ears might be a different shape.</p>
<p>They are <em>ridiculously</em> comfortable. I've had them on for a several hour train journey and forgot they were there. They don't leave a mark, they don't ache, they don't pinch, and most importantly they don't fall off. Even if I shook my head vigorously or did any exercise, they stayed put.</p>
<p>I am happy to declare them the most comfortable headphones I own - even more so than my <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/11/review-aftershokz-titanium-bone-conducting-headphones/">Bone Conducting headset</a>.</p>
<p>But, of course, there are some downsides. The previous version had touch-only controls which were a bit shit. It was far too easy to accidentally brush your finger against your ears and skip a track. The Clip2 improves this somewhat by adding a small physical button to each headphone. You can set them to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume (if you can remember the precise sequence of taps you need).</p>
<p>Bluetooth range was good - I was able to wander all over my house without losing connection. Sound quality - even on the default setting - was excellent. You can push up the bass or fiddle with the equaliser if that'll make you happy. Battery life is going to depend on how hard you drive them and if you choose a more energy efficient codec or not. They lasted several hours in my test and recharged quickly in their included case. Naturally, the case has a USB-C connection so it'll use the same cable as all your other gadgets.</p>
<h2 id="android"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#android">Android</a></h2>
<p>They just work. They paired instantly, accepted AAC as a high quality audio codec, the sound quality was excellent as was the microphone quality. Once I used the app to switch to <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a>, the Clip2 restarted and Android started playing in the higher fidelity mode.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/LDAC.webp" alt="LDAC in Android." width="504" height="704" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72983">
<h3 id="app"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#app">App</a></h3>
<p><em>*sigh*</em> Why is that hardware manufacturers make the crappiest software? You don't <em>need</em> the app - everything will work without it. But if you want to customise the buttons, change the EQ, or enable <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a> you'll need it.</p>
<p>Annoyingly, you can't do <em>anything</em> unless you're logged in and have an Internet connection. Want to change the EQ while you're on a train with no signal? Tough.</p>
<p>The app also handles firmware updates - there was one waiting for me - but doesn't offer any information beyond the usual platitudes of bug fixes and stability improvements.</p>
<p>Note, you need the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xingkeqi.peats">PeatsAudio app</a> not the "Soundpeats" app.</p>
<p>Honestly, find an EQ you like, update the firmware, toggle the settings, then uninstall it.</p>
<p>There are <em>some</em> nice touches - like the personalised EQ test - but it is slim pickings. Here are some screenshots.</p>
<p><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eq.webp" alt="Various default EQ options." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72984" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/More-functions.webp" alt="Lots of functions in a settings screen." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72985" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/effects.webp" alt="Various sound effects." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72982" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/adaptive.webp" alt="Personalised EQ test." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72981" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/buttons.webp" alt="Various options triggered by tapping on buttons." width="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-72980" style="display:inline"></p>
<h2 id="linux"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#linux">Linux</a></h2>
<p>Yup! Connected perfectly the first time and gave access to all the supported codecs.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/linux-soundpeats.webp" alt="Linux config screen showing AAC and SBC codecs." width="787" height="377" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72979">
<h2 id="a-few-niggles"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#a-few-niggles">A Few Niggles</a></h2>
<p>Despite looking superficially similar to the Clip1 - these new ones don't fit into the charging case of the originals. That's unfortunate. I guess they don't want users mixing up pairs and getting confused?</p>
<p>Rather annoyingly, they don't pause the sound when you take them off. The old Clip1 would detect if it was in-ear and pause if you popped one out to chat to someone.</p>
<p>They supply a short USB-A to C lead. That's just e-Waste and shouldn't be included.</p>
<p>Because of the design they won't block out all external noise and there's no noise cancelling function. But that's offset by the fact that they do let you retain some awareness of your surroundings.</p>
<h2 id="price-and-final-thoughts"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#price-and-final-thoughts">Price and Final Thoughts</a></h2>
<p>The Clip2 cuff headphones are usually around £60, but <a href="https://link.amazon/B00MTYd9T">are on offer now for about £48</a>. I think that's excellent value for money.</p>
<p>Readers of this blog can use code <code>SPUU2810</code> for 30% off until August 31, 2026.</p>
<p>I am an absolute convert to cuff-style. They don't tightly grip your head like bone-conducting ones, they're less noisy than rear-firing open-ear cans, and they're a good deal more comfortable than sticking something deep in your ear-wax chambers.</p>
<p>The app is a bit shit - but you'll probably only use it once. The buttons are slightly fiddly, but I can't see a way to make them any more tactile without sacrificing their small size.</p>
<p>Sounds quality - on Linux and Android - was excellent. They're perfect if you spend a long time with headphones on.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72972&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: 15 Minutes of Shame ★★★★⯪]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73830</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T20:29:30Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T20:43:10Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right? Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is right there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery! Then reality hits. The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/"><![CDATA[<p>Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right?</p>
<p>Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is <em>right</em> there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery!</p>
<p>Then reality hits.</p>
<p>The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped straight out of LinkedIn. Under a lesser cast, lines about synergising brand strategy to optimise the subscriber funnel would sound contrived; here they sound like hyper-savvy young adults rationalising their poor decisions. If influencers are the dominant cultural force in the world, then it seems right that their language now infiltrates dialogue in the same way "Valley Girl" speech conquered early 2000s TV and movies.</p>
<p>The cast - Ellen Pallant and Anton Bibby - flit about the stage with poise and grace. Their kinetic energy buzzes out into the audience who remained transfixed throughout the performance. They each have an intensity and passion which fills the space - fully bringing to life characters dominated by hubris and helplessness. Full praise must go to Adébayo Bolaji, the director, for finding a way to stage the show without it becoming tawdry and exploitative.</p>
<p>The political polemic around the exploitation of the working class (and of the working girl) isn't exactly subtle. But it fits right in with the themes of being in slavish thrall to both bosses, the algorithm, and - ultimately - the fans who love/hate you.</p>
<p>The ending feels a bit abrupt, but had the audience gleefully discussing it as we were expelled into the cold light of day.</p>
<iframe title="15 Minutes of Shame trailer" width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1Yq7uuyF5E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73830&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>3</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Kat Ronson: Millennial Girl ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-kat-ronson-millennial-girl/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73852</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T05:48:32Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T17:45:36Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[OMG! If you remember A/S/Ling your way through MSN to fill in your MySpace top 8, then you'll love this show. You're also over 30 and, therefore, old. Ew. The stage is littered with a Nokia 3310, Bliss Magazine, and Charlie Red. Katie (15/F/UK) talks us through the complexities of her nascent love life, what shag band colours mean, and which quotes sum up millennial angst. All the while…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-kat-ronson-millennial-girl/"><![CDATA[<p>OMG! If you remember A/S/Ling your way through MSN to fill in your MySpace top 8, then you'll love this show. You're also over 30 and, therefore, <em>old</em>. Ew.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/876f40e3-4575-4e7a-a55c-684af7c29fef.jpg" alt="A girl rendered in MS Paint." width="250" height="250" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73853">
<p>The stage is littered with a Nokia 3310, Bliss Magazine, and Charlie Red. Katie (15/F/UK) talks us through the complexities of her nascent love life, what shag band colours mean, and which quotes sum up millennial angst. All the while serenading us with her musical takes on the <strong>tragic</strong> Aniston/Pitt split.</p>
<p>Consistently funny and just the right amount of embarrassing.</p>
<p>As befits a work in progress, it is a <em>little</em> one note. That said, Katie is an expertly observed caricature of the size-zero obsessed, Vauxhall Corsa chasing girl that those of us of a certain vintage remember with fondness / body quaking cringe.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73852&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Michael Brunström: William Tell vs the Algorithm ★★★☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-michael-brunstrom-william-tell-vs-the-algorithm/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73827</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T15:41:17Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T15:57:27Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The terror of AI has come to comedy. There are a dozen shows this year about the threat that technology poses to the way we live, laugh, and love. In this case, AI stands for Austrian Imperialism and the fight is for Switzerland's independence. Well, sort of. It gets a bit lost in an endless stream of rambly diversions. There's a fine line between surrealist comedy and utter nonsense. If you…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-michael-brunstrom-william-tell-vs-the-algorithm/"><![CDATA[<p>The terror of AI has come to comedy. There are a dozen shows this year about the threat that technology poses to the way we live, laugh, and love.</p>
<p>In this case, AI stands for Austrian Imperialism and the fight is for Switzerland's independence.</p>
<p>Well, sort of. It gets a bit lost in an endless stream of rambly diversions. There's a fine line between surrealist comedy and utter nonsense. If you like seeing a man getting the audience to sing to a magical (albeit potentially traitorous) hat, attempting to pull up his trousers without his hands, and doing cuckoo impressions - this'll satisfy those cravings.</p>
<p>It does produce a steady stream of chuckles but suffers by being presented in an airless yurt.</p>
<p>The highlight for me was the confession that the comedian has "a rare form of synaesthesia which allows me to literally see colours!"</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73827&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>1</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Rachel Creeger: Ultimate Jewish Mother 2026 ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-rachel-creeger-ultimate-jewish-mother-2026/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73824</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T13:33:03Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T13:56:32Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[My mum's friend Rachel has a one-woman show on at the Fringe. As, apparently, the only orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit she has constructed a fully interactive Jewish Mother experience. Like several shows on the fringe, it relies on the audience writing questions on cards and the comedian riffing on them. Unlike other shows, Rachel has a huge stream of anecdotes and songs to weave into her…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-rachel-creeger-ultimate-jewish-mother-2026/"><![CDATA[<p>My mum's friend Rachel has a one-woman show on at the Fringe. As, apparently, the only orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit she has constructed a fully interactive Jewish Mother experience.</p>
<p>Like several shows on the fringe, it relies on the audience writing questions on cards and the comedian riffing on them. Unlike other shows, Rachel has a huge stream of anecdotes and songs to weave into her answers. She has the easy and relaxed delivery of a seasoned professional who knows her material inside and out.</p>
<p>She is a delightfully deranged matriarch with strong options from the exact number of carcasses to throw into a chicken soup to how to get rid of your daughter's goyim boyfriend.</p>
<p>Tickets are pay-what-you-can and you'd be a schmuck if you missed it.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73824&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>1</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Smut Slam ★★★☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-smut-slam/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73799</id>
<updated>2026-08-09T22:18:55Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T00:23:08Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Fancy a quickie in Scotland's most haunted pub? Smut Slam is a (mildly) interactive performance where a handful of speakers get to tell their dirtiest stories. The audience fills in cards with their questions or confessions which may be read out. The format mostly works. There are different stories every night, so maybe we got a slightly uninspiring batch. Tales of sex parties, STIs, and broken …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-smut-slam/"><![CDATA[<p>Fancy a quickie in <a href="https://www.thebansheelabyrinth.com/">Scotland's most haunted pub</a>? Smut Slam is a (mildly) interactive performance where a handful of speakers get to tell their dirtiest stories. The audience fills in cards with their questions or confessions which may be read out.</p>
<p>The format mostly works. There are different stories every night, so maybe we got a slightly uninspiring batch. Tales of sex parties, STIs, and broken sex-toys are fun enough but weren't exactly mind-blowing. The audience participation kind of slowed the pace down as each hastily scribbled card had to be quietly read to make sure it didn't violate the code of conduct.</p>
<p>I'm all for making spaces safe and inclusive - I just think the cards could have been vetted privately while a story was being told. That would have kept the pace up and given the stories a bit more space to breathe.</p>
<p>There are <a href="https://smutslam.com/">Smut Slams happening all over the world</a> and I reckon it's worth checking to see if there's one near you to see if it floats your boat. They've obviously built an audience which is hungry for more - but I found it a bit tepid.</p>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody! ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73778</id>
<updated>2026-08-09T22:20:40Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-09T22:45:45Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[By my count there are at least three "Heated Rivalry" musical parodies on at the Fringe this year. The zeitgeist skates to where the puck was six months ago, I guess! There's also a live version of a HR podcast if you just can't get enough of their wacky ice-capades. Just how much sexy-hockey can one city take? Produced by Quick and Funny Musicals, an American company specialising in cash-ins …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/"><![CDATA[<p>By my count there are at least <em>three</em> "Heated Rivalry" musical parodies on at the Fringe this year. The zeitgeist skates to where the puck was six months ago, I guess!</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/heated.webp" alt="Three different musicals based on Heated Rivalry." width="504" height="446" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73780">
<p>There's also <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tonsil-hockey-live-in-edinburgh">a live version of a HR podcast</a> if you just can't get enough of their wacky ice-capades. Just how much sexy-hockey can one city take?</p>
<p>Produced by <a href="https://www.quickandfunnymusicals.com">Quick and Funny Musicals</a>, an American company specialising in <del>cash-ins</del> loving homages, this is surprisingly good! With songs like "Fuck Him Up The Butt (Metaphorically)" it isn't exactly subtle. The sex is acrobatic and - pixelated cocks aside - relatively raunchy.</p>
<p>If you've binge-watched Hollander and Rozanov's tender and humble love-affair, you'll you find delight in every scene. Lots of memorable moments are mined for their comedy value, and there are a decent amount of songs shared between the dozen-or-so cast members.</p>
<p>A couple of minor flubs couldn't mar the brilliance of the show. The cast really do give it their all (and give it to each other in a variety of positions). I'm pleased the intimacy co-ordinator was given appropriate appreciation.</p>
<p>Fair warning - there is a "splash zone" at the front of the seating for those of you who want to avoid/relish being lightly drenched in a certain hockey player's bodily fluids.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73778&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>1</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: 4 Aussies For Aussies - The Raging Bull ★★⯪☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-4-aussies-for-aussies-the-raging-bull/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73773</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T08:02:55Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-09T16:00:04Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Our first show at the Fringe! Caught by a rainstorm (in Scotland?!?!?) the app said this was the nearest comedy show to our sodden carcasses and it was free pay what you want! This is bang-average stand-up. That isn't to disparage it at all. Four Australian blokes each doing 15 minutes of material - nothing particularly avant-garde or challenging. Just some decently funny (albeit well worn)…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-4-aussies-for-aussies-the-raging-bull/"><![CDATA[<p>Our first show at the Fringe! Caught by a rainstorm (in Scotland?!?!?) the app said this was the nearest comedy show to our sodden carcasses and it was <del>free</del> pay what you want!</p>
<p>This is bang-average stand-up.</p>
<p>That isn't to disparage it at all. Four Australian blokes each doing 15 minutes of material - nothing particularly avant-garde or challenging. Just some decently funny (albeit well worn) observations about kids names, customer surveys at Tescos, and whether leaving skid marks is cultural heritage.</p>
<p>That said, I did have a soft spot for the comedian who walked on stage and dryly said, "Oh. Wow. A sitting ovation…"</p>
<p>For a free show on a cloudy Sunday it was perfectly fine. If you like straightforward stand-up, you can't go wrong with this.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73773&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Against Doomerism]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72525</id>
<updated>2026-08-08T16:25:03Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-09T11:34:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="poltics"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[There's a certain strain of commentator who is just sure that nothing can ever get better. In amongst all the hullaballoo about the UK potentially banning under 16s from social media, I saw a prominent historian say: i assume banning kids from social media will be accompanied by a huge investment in teen-friendly communtiy [sic] spaces (like youth clubs) and social activities? No? Huh. But,…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/"><![CDATA[<p>There's a certain strain of commentator who is just <em>sure</em> that nothing can ever get better.</p>
<p>In amongst all the hullaballoo about the UK potentially banning under 16s from social media<sup id="fnref:ban"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fn:ban" class="footnote-ref" title="For the record, I think this is probably misguided. Although most American sites already ban under 13s from making an account, I am not sure that extending that to 16 is proportionate. But that's…" role="doc-noteref">0</a></sup>, I saw a prominent historian say:</p>
<blockquote><p>i assume banning kids from social media will be accompanied by a huge investment in teen-friendly communtiy [sic] spaces (like youth clubs) and social activities?</p>
<p>No?</p>
<p>Huh.</p></blockquote>
<p>But, here's the thing. He's wrong. You can argue about whether the UK's Labour Government is doing the right thing<sup id="fnref:right"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fn:right" class="footnote-ref" title="Again, whether you or I agree with all their policies isn't relevant here." role="doc-noteref">1</a></sup>, but they are pouring <em>huge</em> amounts of money and effort into youth provision.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-roll-out-dutch-style-employment-support-across-britain"> Young Brits are set to benefit from Dutch style employment support as the Government steps up localised support to tackle rising NEET numbers.</a>
<ul>
<li>"Almost 180 new Youth Hubs will begin opening from next week which will provide wraparound services – coordinating education, welfare, and employment support."</li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-unveils-new-opportunities-for-young-people-to-re-connect-with-their-communities"> Prime Minister announces major expansion of youth services and real-world opportunities to re-connect young people with the world around them</a>
<ul>
<li>"Announcing a new £88 million package of support to transform opportunities for young people across the country, the Prime Minister will make clear that this government is picking this challenge up and seeing it for what it is – a worrying trend – and delivering real-life solutions for the long-term, investing in opportunities for young people."</li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9v7z3j40eo">£30m pledged for youth club in each London borough</a>
<ul>
<li>"Sir Sadiq Khan said £30m of the £50m allocated in this year's budget for supporting young people would be used to fund a "Youth Lates" programme in the capital's 32 boroughs."</li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy#chapter-2-places-to-go-and-things-to-do-1">Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy</a>
<ul>
<li>"spending nearly £70 million over the next 3 years to help local areas better support young people and develop a network of up to 50 Young Futures Hubs by March 2029"</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>
<p>When I raised this with him, the Doomer could only say it wasn't enough. When asked how much <em>would</em> be enough, there was no reply. I think that's because people like this don't want to engage with the world. They're desperate to show that <em>nothing</em> is being done. And, when it is pointed out that something <em>is</em> being done, all they can fall back on is that is it never enough.</p>
<p>If you push back even slightly on their Doomer views, you'll get a litany of complaints about how everything is taking too long (well, duh, there's a couple of decades worth of austerity to unpick) and how they have no faith in any of this making a difference (because they won't give it a chance) and that nothing is being done (even though they refuse to look at the evidence).</p>
<p>Similarly, I'm sure you've all seen someone moaning the the planet is fucked because we're doing nothing about it. But that simply isn't true:</p>
<blockquote><p>The UK's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen sharply: in 2024 they were 54% lower than in 1990, according to provisional data.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx238yyr40qo">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx238yyr40qo</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Everywhere you look there are signs of progress and hope.</p>
<p>Doomerism, by its nature, is a reactionary concept. It's like those weirdos who reply to every funny story on the web with "<a href="https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/why-do-men-keep-nominating-women-for-the-didnt-happen-of-the-year-awards-for-very-mundane-things-8770843/">didn't happen</a>". An utter unwillingness to acknowledge that - yeah - some stuff happens. The world doesn't change as quickly as you'd like and politicians are never quite as brave in government as they are when campaigning - but stuff gets done!</p>
<p>When the Mayor of London introduced various measures to prevent polluting vehicles from poisoning London, the Doomers said it was pointless. Today we know <a href="https://sphr.nihr.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/low-emission-and-congestion-charge-zones-linked-with-public-health-benefits/">it led to a substantial reduction in hospital admissions</a>.</p>
<p>You see Doomers bleating about how the <a href="https://www.transparency.org/en/news/panama-papers-10-years">Panama Papers</a> exposé led to nothing. That's contrary to <a href="https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/ten-years-after-the-panama-papers-enablers-and-tax-cheats-are-still-being-brought-to-justice/">all the people prosecuted</a>. Did everyone get the justice they deserve? No. But to reduce it to a nothingburger is the essence of Doomerism. "I don't remember anything important happening, therefore the world is terrible."</p>
<p>Doomerism always feels to me like a psyop designed to keep people dispirited. When everything is reduced to a "yeah, but <em>they</em> won't do anything" then you end up disenfranchising people.</p>
<p>Are there terrible things which need changing? Absolutely!</p>
<p>Are politicians doing everything that you specifically want? Probably not!</p>
<p>Are incremental changes happening if you bother looking for the evidence? Yes.</p>
<p>Why aren't these people looking at what is actually happening, reading about what is being tried, understanding what trade-offs are being considered? Is engaging with reality really that difficult?</p>
<p>I guess a nuanced or positive take doesn't get you as much social media engagement as a childish howl of rage.</p>
<div id="footnotes" role="doc-endnotes">
<hr aria-label="Footnotes">
<ol start="0">
<li id="fn:ban">
<p>For the record, I think this is probably misguided. Although most American sites already ban under 13s from making an account, I am not sure that extending that to 16 is proportionate. But that's tangential to my argument here. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fnref:ban" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
<li id="fn:right">
<p>Again, whether you or I agree with all their policies isn't relevant here. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fnref:right" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
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<thr:total>10</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[[RSS Club] I got an NLnet grant!]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/rss-club-i-got-an-nlnet-grant/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73757</id>
<updated>2026-08-08T08:13:13Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-08T11:34:15Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="[RSS Club]"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="ActivityBot"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="ActivityPub"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="RSS Club"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Pssst! This post is only available to RSS/Atom subscribers. Tell your friends to subscribe 😊. Just a quick one today, a more detailed blog coming soon - but I thought I'd give RSS Club Members (you!) a sneak peek. A few months ago I saw a post on Mastodon from NLnet - they were looking for Open Source projects to apply for grant funding. The deadline was less than 24 hours away, so I rushed in …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/rss-club-i-got-an-nlnet-grant/"><![CDATA[<p><mark>Pssst! This post is only available to RSS/Atom subscribers. Tell your friends to subscribe </mark> 😊.</p>
<p>Just a quick one today, a more detailed blog coming soon - but I thought I'd give RSS Club Members (you!) a sneak peek.</p>
<p>A few months ago I saw a post on Mastodon from <a href="https://social.nlnet.nl/@nlnet">NLnet</a> - they were looking for Open Source projects to apply for grant funding. The deadline was less than 24 hours away, so I rushed in an application.</p>
<p>There was a ping-pong of emails where I detailed more about what I planned to do, and where they kept me abreast of their timescales.</p>
<p>Finally, after about 6 months, I received the most delightful email confirming my place in the programme!</p>
<p>I'm officially part of the <a href="https://nlnet.nl/thema/NGI0CommonsFund.html">NGI0 Commons Fund</a>.</p>
<p>So, what's the project? Regular readers will remember that I created <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/03/some-updates-to-activitybot/">ActivityBot</a> as a lightweight, single-file, fully featured ActivityPub server. The grant will enable me to improve the code, test the usability, have a security audit, do some accessibility work, and make it more robust.</p>
<p>I'm also going to need a logo 🤖</p>
<p>You can <a href="https://nlnet.nl/project/ActivityBot/">read more about the project on the NLnet site</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>Because this is an RSS-only post, it doesn't support comments. You can <a href="https://edent.tel/">get in touch with me</a> if you'd like to say something nice.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73757&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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<thr:total>0</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Metadata for AI Generated Outputs]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/"/>
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73356</id>
<updated>2026-08-02T13:00:13Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-07T11:34:30Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="AI"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="HTML"/>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="semantic web"/>
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[How do you tell users that the text they're about to read has been synthetically generated? It is polite to readers that you don't waste their time, it's also important that LLMs don't feed on their own regurgitated slurry lest they pollute their own development. I think there are a number of potential ways to do this and I'd be interested in your thoughts. Let's go with some bad ideas first. …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/"><![CDATA[<p>How do you tell users that the text they're about to read has been synthetically generated?</p>
<p>It is polite to readers that you don't waste their time, it's also important that LLMs don't feed on their own regurgitated slurry lest they <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy#Cause">pollute their own development</a>.</p>
<p>I think there are a number of potential ways to do this<sup id="fnref:ways"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fn:ways" class="footnote-ref" title="This is just a casual discussion. I am in no position to mandate this globally." role="doc-noteref">0</a></sup> and I'd be interested in your thoughts<sup id="fnref:thinks"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fn:thinks" class="footnote-ref" title="I'm not interested in whether you think AI will be humanity's downfall or saviour. I'm just interested in the markup side of things." role="doc-noteref">1</a></sup>.</p>
<p>Let's go with some bad ideas first.</p>
<h2 id="whats-your-love-language"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#whats-your-love-language">What's your love language?</a></h2>
<p>Perhaps the simplest is to simply ascribe a unique language to AI. <a href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5646">BCP 47</a> defines language tags to allow you to write:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p lang="en">He said, "<i lang=fr>Bonjour</i>".</p>
</code></pre>
<p>LLMs can use a variety of human languages, so we can't use <code>lang="ai"</code> but perhaps a subtag would work:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p lang="en-AI">There are 37 Rs in the word Strawberry.</p>
</code></pre>
<p>But standardisation takes time, so perhaps a <a href="https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/i18n/locale/extensions.html">private use tag</a> would work -</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p lang="en-GB-x-AI-deepblue">It is not just a language, it's a state of mind.</p>
</code></pre>
<p>It <em>sort of</em> makes sense, as long as you don't think about it too hard. Is there a better way?</p>
<h2 id="vaguely-semantic"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#vaguely-semantic">Vaguely Semantic</a></h2>
<p>We're quoting something, right? Perhaps <code><q></code> for short snippets and <code><blockquote></code> for longer passages.</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><q
cite="https://llm.example/?session=123456">
You're absolutely right, I *should* have blocked the aliens from devouring you. That's on me.
</q>
</code></pre>
<p>According to the spec, <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/text-level-semantics.html#the-q-element">the <code><q></code> element</a> and <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/grouping-content.html#the-blockquote-element">the <code><blockquote></code> element</a> are both for quoting text from an external source.</p>
<p>Are LLMs sources? Are they quotable creative works? Could <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/cite">the <code><cite></code> element</a> be used to show that the words come from a machine?</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><blockquote>
<p>To stop your pizza toppings falling off, try using glue.</p>
<cite><a href="http://ai.example/">ChatBot 9000</a></cite>
</blockquote>
</code></pre>
<p>That doesn't feel very satisfactory to me. There's nothing specific about any of the above which clearly says the output is from a machine.</p>
<h2 id="the-elemental-approach"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#the-elemental-approach">The Elemental Approach</a></h2>
<p>The HTML specification gives a couple of different ways to show the output of a program.</p>
<p>First up is <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/text-level-semantics.html#the-samp-element">the <code><samp></code> element</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>The samp element represents sample or quoted output from another program or computing system.</p></blockquote>
<p>The first example given is:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p>The computer said <samp>Too much cheese in tray two</samp> but I didn't know what that meant.</p>
</code></pre>
<p>There's also <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/form-elements.html#the-output-element">the <code><output></code> element</a> - but that's more geared towards showing the output of a current action done on the page.</p>
<p>Given that <code><samp></code> is explicitly for the output of another program, it seems the most obvious one to me.</p>
<p>But perhaps we can augment it with some metadata?</p>
<h2 id="more-than-data"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#more-than-data">More Than Data</a></h2>
<p>Schema.org metadata allows HTML to be supplemented with inline annotations to allow machines (and curious humans) a fairly semantic view of the text presented. As <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/06/addressing-the-overlooked-non-micropsychiatric-uses-for-thiotimoline/">I've argued before</a>, I think this is suitable for machine-outputted data. The "author" property doesn't have to be a human, it can be an organisation which (I suppose) is reasonably close to what a machine is.</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p>I can tell the AI really loves me because it said:</p>
<samp itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Quotation">
<q itemprop="text">I am definitely sentient and can consent to be your girlfriend. Your jokes are so funny Dr Dawkins.</q>
<span itemscope
itemprop="author"
itemtype="https://schema.org/Organization"
itemid="https://ai-girlfiend.example/RealGirl06">Sweetheart AI</span>
</samp>
</code></pre>
<h2 id="not-all-that-glimmers-is-metal"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#not-all-that-glimmers-is-metal">Not all that glimmers is metal</a></h2>
<p>Of course, there are <em>levels</em> of AI content generation. Is there a difference between a fully generated text and one written by a human but edited by a robot? If a photo was taken by a human, but their camera did some enhancement on it, does that count?</p>
<p>That's what the <a href="https://www.w3.org/community/ai-content-disclosure/">AI Content Disclosure group of the W3C</a> are trying to find out. There hasn't been <em>much</em> public movement on the topic. The <a href="https://github.com/dweekly/ai-content-disclosure">explainer gives some examples</a> of how it could be used:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><article>
<section ai-disclosure="none">
<h2>Six-Month Investigation: City Budget Shortfall</h2>
<p>Our reporters spent six months reviewing financial records...</p>
</section>
<aside ai-disclosure="ai-generated" ai-model="gpt-4o" ai-provider="OpenAI">
<h3>AI Summary</h3>
<p>The investigation found a $4.2M discrepancy in the city's infrastructure fund, attributed to misclassified expenditures...</p>
</aside>
</article>
</code></pre>
<p>Personally, I'm always slightly wary of adding yet-another-bespoke-attribute. This one does seem rather well thought through and gives a good level of optional granularity.</p>
<h2 id="other-options"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#other-options">Other Options</a></h2>
<p>I asked a bunch of friendly humans, and they had a variety of suggestions:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://mastodon.social/@lnsy_dev/116965531109315134">Custom HTML elements like <code><ai-generated model="DeepHeat">text here</ai-generated></code></a></li>
<li><a href="https://burnthis.town/@Kiloku/116963574646961437">Data elements like <code><p data-author="AI"></code></a></li>
<li><a href="https://openbiblio.social/@lmpnsl/116963779647361860">A dedicated <meta> tag or a custom attribute </a></li>
<li><a href="https://openbiblio.social/@EzellaGarnie/116963297791502318">DublinCore Meta Tags</a></li>
<li><a href="https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/@mjack/116965720618564223">Use a specific font</a></li>
</ul>
<p>There's also the <a href="https://social.coop/@nicol/116963332672559488">issue of granularity</a> - should you mark up if only the <em>entire</em> page is AI generated, or should there be an indicator that an AI was used to "improve" the writing / phrasing?</p>
<h2 id="is-this-useful"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#is-this-useful">Is this useful?</a></h2>
<p>Maybe? Although LLM peddlers are aghast at efforts to discriminate against their Almost-Turing-Test-Passing clankers, they know that training future models on AI generated text leads to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07566-y">model collapse</a>.</p>
<p>It is true that <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/05/does-ai-mean-we-dont-need-the-semantic-web/">LLMs render some of the semantic web a little redundant</a>, but it is also true that <a href="https://mitsloanedtech.mit.edu/ai/teach/ai-detectors-dont-work/">LLMs aren't always good at spotting AI generated text</a>.</p>
<p>Humans seem to like stuff written by other humans. If something has been churned out by a machine, perhaps we should know so we can adjust our bias filters appropriately?</p>
<p><a href="https://github.com/dweekly/ai-content-disclosure#faq--common-objections">Perhaps it will be gamed or ignored</a>. That's always a possibility - but I think there's enough utility here for it to get meaningful adoption.</p>
<p>Given that both humans and robots have a need to know whether a text's author is synthetic, I think it would be sensible for people to agree on a common approach to clearly identify mechanically recovered writing.</p>
<div id="footnotes" role="doc-endnotes">
<hr aria-label="Footnotes">
<ol start="0">
<li id="fn:ways">
<p>This is just a casual discussion. I am in no position to mandate this globally. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fnref:ways" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
<li id="fn:thinks">
<p>I'm not interested in whether you think AI will be humanity's downfall or saviour. I'm just interested in the markup side of things. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fnref:thinks" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
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<title type="text">Terence Eden’s Blog</title>
<subtitle type="text">Regular nonsense about tech and its effects 🙃</subtitle>
<updated>2026-08-13T05:48:32Z</updated>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" />
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<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73981</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T21:09:24Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T21:22:09Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[There are at least four different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!. This is different because it is the unauthorized musical parody. Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue. Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/"><![CDATA[<p>There are at least <em>four</em> different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/">Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!</a>. This is different because it is the <em>unauthorized</em> musical parody.</p>
<p>Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue.</p>
<p>Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of gay hockey sticks.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fef3a413-0f72-4faf-a33e-691bbd4af37c.jpg" alt="Two hockey player biting a puck." width="250" height="250" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73984">
<p>So, how does it compare to its twin?</p>
<p>It is good, but <em>deeply</em> conservative. The whole thing is framed through the eyes of a middle-age suburban mom which, sure, is probably a large part of the target audience but felt a bit retrograde. While the other show had a plentiful amount of <em>acrobatic</em> simulated sex with near-nude performers, this only has a couple of shirtless scenes and the actors are reduced to having a couple of trysts with literal mannequins. Weirdly, the one sex scene they perform together takes place behind a sheet. The leads kiss only twice which, for a parody of a show famed for its explicitness makes it all feel a bit Hays Code.</p>
<p>The songs, however, are sumptuous. A full score accompanies the incredibly talented cast. This is <em>very</em> off-Broadway - with soaring melodies, powerful solos, and solid reprises. At times it feels more like a parody of Broadway shows than of the TV show.</p>
<p>That isn't to say this is bad. It is <em>very</em> good. The script is full of delightful references and silly jokes. The lyrics at times are downright <em>filthy</em>! It is an excellent show and well worth seeing - but my heart remains with the <em>other</em> parody.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - James Rowland: Team Viking ★★⯪☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73961</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T17:30:11Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T19:20:01Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer. Sadly, it did nothing for me. I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive. There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-james-rowland-team-viking/"><![CDATA[<p>This is a technically precise and emotionally complex show with energetic delivery from a talented performer.</p>
<p>Sadly, it did nothing for me.</p>
<p>I found it a little one note in terms of storytelling. The rhythm of the story followed all the predictable beats which I thought was a little repetitive.</p>
<p>There's no doubt he's a gifted storyteller. The comedy is suitably dark with some good moments of joy and catharsis. It is probably the perfect show for some people but I wasn't the right audience for it.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Garrett Millerick: We Tried it Your Way ★☆☆☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73971</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T17:25:43Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T17:55:57Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him? Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious. He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-garrett-millerick-we-tried-it-your-way/"><![CDATA[<p>Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him?</p>
<p>Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious.</p>
<p>He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating segment was like something from an incel forum. Bitter and uncomfortable.</p>
<p>There's a minor point that's made about whether AI comedy is cheating (yes) and if comedians need to be worried (no). But even when he goes back to performing his organic routine, it is dire. There are a few chuckles to be had, but most of the audience were just looking stricken with second hand embarrassment.</p>
<p>The delivery is a one note rant, the jokes are the shouting of an angry disillusioned man, and the AI is a clanker of the worst order.</p>
<p>Dire.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: When Vincent Met John ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73949</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T14:51:06Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-12T15:30:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four. When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour. What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation?…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/"><![CDATA[<p>I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four.</p>
<p>When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour.</p>
<p>What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation? They were both tortured artists whose influence spanned the world and only grew after their untimely deaths.</p>
<p>It is incredible!</p>
<p>Much like Yasmina Reza's "Art" this is a meticulous argument about the nature of creativity. And, much like, <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02/theatre-review-the-last-laugh/">The Last Laugh</a> this feature fastidiously observed recreation of beloved figures.</p>
<p>Can Lennon conceive of someone who doesn't recognise Him? Can van Gogh conceive of Yoko Ono's conceptual art? Is Lennon's braggadocio an impediment to his happiness? Is van Gogh's obsessive nature blocking him from progressing?</p>
<p>The script sizzles. Lennon almost seems to speak in rhyming couplets - as befits a lyricist and poet. It is peppered with throwaway references to his cannon (including many deep cuts for the obsessives). One of those plays where I immediately want to grab the script and study it to death.</p>
<p>Both actors utterly inhabit their characters and give play off each other perfectly. The direction is precise and inventive. Even the set construction is perfectly attuned to the needs of the show.</p>
<p>An astounding piece of theatre and strongly recommended.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Justina Seselskaite: Settled ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73930</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T20:24:54Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T22:23:14Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="comedy" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like. It was sublime! There's a …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/"><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like.</p>
<p>It was sublime!</p>
<p>There's a rich history of foreign comedians coming to these shores and <del>stealing our jobs</del> making us laugh by pointing out the UK's foibles as only an outsider can. Seselskaite has a witty outlook on the perils of being mistaken for Polish while working in Waitrose, how high-class a Wetherspoons is, and what's up with Manchester’s weird obsession with bees.</p>
<p>The show isn't the most innovative thing on the Fringe; it's mostly straight stand-up. But the game of "guess which English song was plagiarised by Lithuanian singers" was surprisingly entertaining. OK, I won a badge by guessing correctly, so I'm biased.</p>
<p>Settled is a solid piece of work which has obviously been road-tested and honed into a tight set. Excellent observational stand-up from a unique perspective (come on, how many other Lithuanian comedians have you been to see?).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/justina-seselskaite-settled"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/settled-poster.webp" alt="Poster for a comedy show." width="1347" height="1679" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73933"></a></p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Handel Nine German Arias ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73911</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T19:49:10Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T20:21:05Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love. So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/"><![CDATA[<p>Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a "zany" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love.</p>
<p>So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest hits.</p>
<p>I'm too much of a philistine to assess its merits - but there's always pleasure watching technically accomplished professionals at the top of their game. I assumed they played the right notes (and in the right order) as the music was delightful.</p>
<p>It was restful and restorative after a long day pounding Edinburgh's pavements.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73911&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Hamlet The Musical ★★☆☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73906</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T15:57:53Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T18:19:16Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="shakespeare" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵 There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs. It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby. The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force perfo…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/"><![CDATA[<p>🎼"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On"🎵</p>
<p>There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs.</p>
<p>It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby.</p>
<p>The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force performance as Hamlet. But for every decent pun there's a piece of uninspired mugging to the audience.</p>
<p>The main weakness is that it looks <em>cheap</em>. There can be a certain charm to "we'll put on the show right here - I just think Fringe audiences deserve better than tatty cardboard props and flimsy plastic swords.</p>
<p>Tightened up, it could be something really special - it just fell flat for me.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73906&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Afronauts ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73891</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T15:44:03Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T16:17:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (a 100% real thing) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race. Told in an acrobatic style, naturally. It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/"><![CDATA[<p>Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of "For All Mankind" where the Zambia Space Academy (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Makuka_Nkoloso">a 100% real thing</a>) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race.</p>
<p>Told in an acrobatic style, naturally.</p>
<p>It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human pyramids, handstands, cartwheels, and aerial work.</p>
<p>An absolutely joyful cast of kinesthetic clowns bring to life the bizarre and (again) <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/story-behind-zambian-space-program">absolutely true story</a>.</p>
<p>Lots of fun, a heartfelt message, and a zippy soundtrack. No way to describe it other than fun for all ages.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73891&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Noted ★★★⯪☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73887</id>
<updated>2026-08-11T12:04:04Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T12:45:28Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"… This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday. The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper lit…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/"><![CDATA[<p>It is a brave children's show which starts with the song "I'm a smooth muthafukker"…</p>
<p>This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday.</p>
<p>The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper litters the floor as the cast rip them from their bodies to reveal more underneath.</p>
<p>I found it enjoyable enough for an early morning show - but the children around me went bananas for it!</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73887&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Gadget Review: Soundpeats UU2 POP Clip2 Earphones ★★★★⯪]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72972</id>
<updated>2026-08-12T06:17:53Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-11T11:34:37Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="bluetooth" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="gadget" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="headphones" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="usb-c" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the UU2 Clip2 compare. Design The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world.…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/"><![CDATA[<p>Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/11/gadget-review-soundpeats-clip1-cuff-headphones/">the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff</a>. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the <a href="https://soundpeats.com/en-gb/products/soundpeats-pop-clip-physical-bttons-clip-on-earbuds">UU2 Clip2</a> compare.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/soundpeats-clip2-promo.webp" alt="A small cuff style headphone set, charging box, and short cable." width="1500" height="1500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72976">
<h2 id="design"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#design">Design</a></h2>
<p>The "cuff" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world. Rather than sticking the buds in your earholes, they clip around the flappy bits of your ears. The aren't like a bulldog clip - more like a gentle caress. The speaker sits just outside your ear canal, so you can still hear ambient sounds from around you. Look, you do <em>not</em> want a close-up of my waxy lugs, so here's a model:</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/model-wearing-ear-cuffs.webp" alt="model wearing ear cuffs." width="913" height="684" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72977">
<p>You don't have to wear them in that position. Mine tend to hang around my earlobes - your ears might be a different shape.</p>
<p>They are <em>ridiculously</em> comfortable. I've had them on for a several hour train journey and forgot they were there. They don't leave a mark, they don't ache, they don't pinch, and most importantly they don't fall off. Even if I shook my head vigorously or did any exercise, they stayed put.</p>
<p>I am happy to declare them the most comfortable headphones I own - even more so than my <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/11/review-aftershokz-titanium-bone-conducting-headphones/">Bone Conducting headset</a>.</p>
<p>But, of course, there are some downsides. The previous version had touch-only controls which were a bit shit. It was far too easy to accidentally brush your finger against your ears and skip a track. The Clip2 improves this somewhat by adding a small physical button to each headphone. You can set them to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume (if you can remember the precise sequence of taps you need).</p>
<p>Bluetooth range was good - I was able to wander all over my house without losing connection. Sound quality - even on the default setting - was excellent. You can push up the bass or fiddle with the equaliser if that'll make you happy. Battery life is going to depend on how hard you drive them and if you choose a more energy efficient codec or not. They lasted several hours in my test and recharged quickly in their included case. Naturally, the case has a USB-C connection so it'll use the same cable as all your other gadgets.</p>
<h2 id="android"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#android">Android</a></h2>
<p>They just work. They paired instantly, accepted AAC as a high quality audio codec, the sound quality was excellent as was the microphone quality. Once I used the app to switch to <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a>, the Clip2 restarted and Android started playing in the higher fidelity mode.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/LDAC.webp" alt="LDAC in Android." width="504" height="704" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72983">
<h3 id="app"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#app">App</a></h3>
<p><em>*sigh*</em> Why is that hardware manufacturers make the crappiest software? You don't <em>need</em> the app - everything will work without it. But if you want to customise the buttons, change the EQ, or enable <a href="https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it">LDAC</a> you'll need it.</p>
<p>Annoyingly, you can't do <em>anything</em> unless you're logged in and have an Internet connection. Want to change the EQ while you're on a train with no signal? Tough.</p>
<p>The app also handles firmware updates - there was one waiting for me - but doesn't offer any information beyond the usual platitudes of bug fixes and stability improvements.</p>
<p>Note, you need the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xingkeqi.peats">PeatsAudio app</a> not the "Soundpeats" app.</p>
<p>Honestly, find an EQ you like, update the firmware, toggle the settings, then uninstall it.</p>
<p>There are <em>some</em> nice touches - like the personalised EQ test - but it is slim pickings. Here are some screenshots.</p>
<p><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eq.webp" alt="Various default EQ options." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72984" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/More-functions.webp" alt="Lots of functions in a settings screen." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72985" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/effects.webp" alt="Various sound effects." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72982" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/adaptive.webp" alt="Personalised EQ test." width="400" class="size-full wp-image-72981" style="display:inline"><img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/buttons.webp" alt="Various options triggered by tapping on buttons." width="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-72980" style="display:inline"></p>
<h2 id="linux"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#linux">Linux</a></h2>
<p>Yup! Connected perfectly the first time and gave access to all the supported codecs.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/linux-soundpeats.webp" alt="Linux config screen showing AAC and SBC codecs." width="787" height="377" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72979">
<h2 id="a-few-niggles"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#a-few-niggles">A Few Niggles</a></h2>
<p>Despite looking superficially similar to the Clip1 - these new ones don't fit into the charging case of the originals. That's unfortunate. I guess they don't want users mixing up pairs and getting confused?</p>
<p>Rather annoyingly, they don't pause the sound when you take them off. The old Clip1 would detect if it was in-ear and pause if you popped one out to chat to someone.</p>
<p>They supply a short USB-A to C lead. That's just e-Waste and shouldn't be included.</p>
<p>Because of the design they won't block out all external noise and there's no noise cancelling function. But that's offset by the fact that they do let you retain some awareness of your surroundings.</p>
<h2 id="price-and-final-thoughts"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#price-and-final-thoughts">Price and Final Thoughts</a></h2>
<p>The Clip2 cuff headphones are usually around £60, but <a href="https://link.amazon/B00MTYd9T">are on offer now for about £48</a>. I think that's excellent value for money.</p>
<p>Readers of this blog can use code <code>SPUU2810</code> for 30% off until August 31, 2026.</p>
<p>I am an absolute convert to cuff-style. They don't tightly grip your head like bone-conducting ones, they're less noisy than rear-firing open-ear cans, and they're a good deal more comfortable than sticking something deep in your ear-wax chambers.</p>
<p>The app is a bit shit - but you'll probably only use it once. The buttons are slightly fiddly, but I can't see a way to make them any more tactile without sacrificing their small size.</p>
<p>Sounds quality - on Linux and Android - was excellent. They're perfect if you spend a long time with headphones on.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72972&HTTP_REFERER=Atom" alt width="1" height="1" loading="eager">]]></content>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: 15 Minutes of Shame ★★★★⯪]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73830</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T20:29:30Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T20:43:10Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="Theatre Review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right? Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is right there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery! Then reality hits. The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/"><![CDATA[<p>Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right?</p>
<p>Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is <em>right</em> there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery!</p>
<p>Then reality hits.</p>
<p>The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped straight out of LinkedIn. Under a lesser cast, lines about synergising brand strategy to optimise the subscriber funnel would sound contrived; here they sound like hyper-savvy young adults rationalising their poor decisions. If influencers are the dominant cultural force in the world, then it seems right that their language now infiltrates dialogue in the same way "Valley Girl" speech conquered early 2000s TV and movies.</p>
<p>The cast - Ellen Pallant and Anton Bibby - flit about the stage with poise and grace. Their kinetic energy buzzes out into the audience who remained transfixed throughout the performance. They each have an intensity and passion which fills the space - fully bringing to life characters dominated by hubris and helplessness. Full praise must go to Adébayo Bolaji, the director, for finding a way to stage the show without it becoming tawdry and exploitative.</p>
<p>The political polemic around the exploitation of the working class (and of the working girl) isn't exactly subtle. But it fits right in with the themes of being in slavish thrall to both bosses, the algorithm, and - ultimately - the fans who love/hate you.</p>
<p>The ending feels a bit abrupt, but had the audience gleefully discussing it as we were expelled into the cold light of day.</p>
<iframe title="15 Minutes of Shame trailer" width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1Yq7uuyF5E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Kat Ronson: Millennial Girl ★★★★☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-kat-ronson-millennial-girl/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73852</id>
<updated>2026-08-13T05:48:32Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T17:45:36Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[OMG! If you remember A/S/Ling your way through MSN to fill in your MySpace top 8, then you'll love this show. You're also over 30 and, therefore, old. Ew. The stage is littered with a Nokia 3310, Bliss Magazine, and Charlie Red. Katie (15/F/UK) talks us through the complexities of her nascent love life, what shag band colours mean, and which quotes sum up millennial angst. All the while…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-kat-ronson-millennial-girl/"><![CDATA[<p>OMG! If you remember A/S/Ling your way through MSN to fill in your MySpace top 8, then you'll love this show. You're also over 30 and, therefore, <em>old</em>. Ew.</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/876f40e3-4575-4e7a-a55c-684af7c29fef.jpg" alt="A girl rendered in MS Paint." width="250" height="250" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73853">
<p>The stage is littered with a Nokia 3310, Bliss Magazine, and Charlie Red. Katie (15/F/UK) talks us through the complexities of her nascent love life, what shag band colours mean, and which quotes sum up millennial angst. All the while serenading us with her musical takes on the <strong>tragic</strong> Aniston/Pitt split.</p>
<p>Consistently funny and just the right amount of embarrassing.</p>
<p>As befits a work in progress, it is a <em>little</em> one note. That said, Katie is an expertly observed caricature of the size-zero obsessed, Vauxhall Corsa chasing girl that those of us of a certain vintage remember with fondness / body quaking cringe.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Michael Brunström: William Tell vs the Algorithm ★★★☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-michael-brunstrom-william-tell-vs-the-algorithm/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73827</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T15:41:17Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T15:57:27Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The terror of AI has come to comedy. There are a dozen shows this year about the threat that technology poses to the way we live, laugh, and love. In this case, AI stands for Austrian Imperialism and the fight is for Switzerland's independence. Well, sort of. It gets a bit lost in an endless stream of rambly diversions. There's a fine line between surrealist comedy and utter nonsense. If you…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-michael-brunstrom-william-tell-vs-the-algorithm/"><![CDATA[<p>The terror of AI has come to comedy. There are a dozen shows this year about the threat that technology poses to the way we live, laugh, and love.</p>
<p>In this case, AI stands for Austrian Imperialism and the fight is for Switzerland's independence.</p>
<p>Well, sort of. It gets a bit lost in an endless stream of rambly diversions. There's a fine line between surrealist comedy and utter nonsense. If you like seeing a man getting the audience to sing to a magical (albeit potentially traitorous) hat, attempting to pull up his trousers without his hands, and doing cuckoo impressions - this'll satisfy those cravings.</p>
<p>It does produce a steady stream of chuckles but suffers by being presented in an airless yurt.</p>
<p>The highlight for me was the confession that the comedian has "a rare form of synaesthesia which allows me to literally see colours!"</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Rachel Creeger: Ultimate Jewish Mother 2026 ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-rachel-creeger-ultimate-jewish-mother-2026/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73824</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T13:33:03Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T13:56:32Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[My mum's friend Rachel has a one-woman show on at the Fringe. As, apparently, the only orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit she has constructed a fully interactive Jewish Mother experience. Like several shows on the fringe, it relies on the audience writing questions on cards and the comedian riffing on them. Unlike other shows, Rachel has a huge stream of anecdotes and songs to weave into her…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-rachel-creeger-ultimate-jewish-mother-2026/"><![CDATA[<p>My mum's friend Rachel has a one-woman show on at the Fringe. As, apparently, the only orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit she has constructed a fully interactive Jewish Mother experience.</p>
<p>Like several shows on the fringe, it relies on the audience writing questions on cards and the comedian riffing on them. Unlike other shows, Rachel has a huge stream of anecdotes and songs to weave into her answers. She has the easy and relaxed delivery of a seasoned professional who knows her material inside and out.</p>
<p>She is a delightfully deranged matriarch with strong options from the exact number of carcasses to throw into a chicken soup to how to get rid of your daughter's goyim boyfriend.</p>
<p>Tickets are pay-what-you-can and you'd be a schmuck if you missed it.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: Smut Slam ★★★☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-smut-slam/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73799</id>
<updated>2026-08-09T22:18:55Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-10T00:23:08Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Fancy a quickie in Scotland's most haunted pub? Smut Slam is a (mildly) interactive performance where a handful of speakers get to tell their dirtiest stories. The audience fills in cards with their questions or confessions which may be read out. The format mostly works. There are different stories every night, so maybe we got a slightly uninspiring batch. Tales of sex parties, STIs, and broken …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-smut-slam/"><![CDATA[<p>Fancy a quickie in <a href="https://www.thebansheelabyrinth.com/">Scotland's most haunted pub</a>? Smut Slam is a (mildly) interactive performance where a handful of speakers get to tell their dirtiest stories. The audience fills in cards with their questions or confessions which may be read out.</p>
<p>The format mostly works. There are different stories every night, so maybe we got a slightly uninspiring batch. Tales of sex parties, STIs, and broken sex-toys are fun enough but weren't exactly mind-blowing. The audience participation kind of slowed the pace down as each hastily scribbled card had to be quietly read to make sure it didn't violate the code of conduct.</p>
<p>I'm all for making spaces safe and inclusive - I just think the cards could have been vetted privately while a story was being told. That would have kept the pace up and given the stories a bit more space to breathe.</p>
<p>There are <a href="https://smutslam.com/">Smut Slams happening all over the world</a> and I reckon it's worth checking to see if there's one near you to see if it floats your boat. They've obviously built an audience which is hungry for more - but I found it a bit tepid.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody! ★★★★★]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73778</id>
<updated>2026-08-09T22:20:40Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-09T22:45:45Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[By my count there are at least three "Heated Rivalry" musical parodies on at the Fringe this year. The zeitgeist skates to where the puck was six months ago, I guess! There's also a live version of a HR podcast if you just can't get enough of their wacky ice-capades. Just how much sexy-hockey can one city take? Produced by Quick and Funny Musicals, an American company specialising in cash-ins …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/"><![CDATA[<p>By my count there are at least <em>three</em> "Heated Rivalry" musical parodies on at the Fringe this year. The zeitgeist skates to where the puck was six months ago, I guess!</p>
<img src="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/heated.webp" alt="Three different musicals based on Heated Rivalry." width="504" height="446" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-73780">
<p>There's also <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tonsil-hockey-live-in-edinburgh">a live version of a HR podcast</a> if you just can't get enough of their wacky ice-capades. Just how much sexy-hockey can one city take?</p>
<p>Produced by <a href="https://www.quickandfunnymusicals.com">Quick and Funny Musicals</a>, an American company specialising in <del>cash-ins</del> loving homages, this is surprisingly good! With songs like "Fuck Him Up The Butt (Metaphorically)" it isn't exactly subtle. The sex is acrobatic and - pixelated cocks aside - relatively raunchy.</p>
<p>If you've binge-watched Hollander and Rozanov's tender and humble love-affair, you'll you find delight in every scene. Lots of memorable moments are mined for their comedy value, and there are a decent amount of songs shared between the dozen-or-so cast members.</p>
<p>A couple of minor flubs couldn't mar the brilliance of the show. The cast really do give it their all (and give it to each other in a variety of positions). I'm pleased the intimacy co-ordinator was given appropriate appreciation.</p>
<p>Fair warning - there is a "splash zone" at the front of the seating for those of you who want to avoid/relish being lightly drenched in a certain hockey player's bodily fluids.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Edinburgh Fringe: 4 Aussies For Aussies - The Raging Bull ★★⯪☆☆]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-4-aussies-for-aussies-the-raging-bull/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73773</id>
<updated>2026-08-10T08:02:55Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-09T16:00:04Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="EdFringe" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="review" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Our first show at the Fringe! Caught by a rainstorm (in Scotland?!?!?) the app said this was the nearest comedy show to our sodden carcasses and it was free pay what you want! This is bang-average stand-up. That isn't to disparage it at all. Four Australian blokes each doing 15 minutes of material - nothing particularly avant-garde or challenging. Just some decently funny (albeit well worn)…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-4-aussies-for-aussies-the-raging-bull/"><![CDATA[<p>Our first show at the Fringe! Caught by a rainstorm (in Scotland?!?!?) the app said this was the nearest comedy show to our sodden carcasses and it was <del>free</del> pay what you want!</p>
<p>This is bang-average stand-up.</p>
<p>That isn't to disparage it at all. Four Australian blokes each doing 15 minutes of material - nothing particularly avant-garde or challenging. Just some decently funny (albeit well worn) observations about kids names, customer surveys at Tescos, and whether leaving skid marks is cultural heritage.</p>
<p>That said, I did have a soft spot for the comedian who walked on stage and dryly said, "Oh. Wow. A sitting ovation…"</p>
<p>For a free show on a cloudy Sunday it was perfectly fine. If you like straightforward stand-up, you can't go wrong with this.</p>
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</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Against Doomerism]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72525</id>
<updated>2026-08-08T16:25:03Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-09T11:34:12Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="poltics" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[There's a certain strain of commentator who is just sure that nothing can ever get better. In amongst all the hullaballoo about the UK potentially banning under 16s from social media, I saw a prominent historian say: i assume banning kids from social media will be accompanied by a huge investment in teen-friendly communtiy [sic] spaces (like youth clubs) and social activities? No? Huh. But,…]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/"><![CDATA[<p>There's a certain strain of commentator who is just <em>sure</em> that nothing can ever get better.</p>
<p>In amongst all the hullaballoo about the UK potentially banning under 16s from social media<sup id="fnref:ban"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fn:ban" class="footnote-ref" title="For the record, I think this is probably misguided. Although most American sites already ban under 13s from making an account, I am not sure that extending that to 16 is proportionate. But that's…" role="doc-noteref">0</a></sup>, I saw a prominent historian say:</p>
<blockquote><p>i assume banning kids from social media will be accompanied by a huge investment in teen-friendly communtiy [sic] spaces (like youth clubs) and social activities?</p>
<p>No?</p>
<p>Huh.</p></blockquote>
<p>But, here's the thing. He's wrong. You can argue about whether the UK's Labour Government is doing the right thing<sup id="fnref:right"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fn:right" class="footnote-ref" title="Again, whether you or I agree with all their policies isn't relevant here." role="doc-noteref">1</a></sup>, but they are pouring <em>huge</em> amounts of money and effort into youth provision.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-roll-out-dutch-style-employment-support-across-britain"> Young Brits are set to benefit from Dutch style employment support as the Government steps up localised support to tackle rising NEET numbers.</a>
<ul>
<li>"Almost 180 new Youth Hubs will begin opening from next week which will provide wraparound services – coordinating education, welfare, and employment support."</li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-unveils-new-opportunities-for-young-people-to-re-connect-with-their-communities"> Prime Minister announces major expansion of youth services and real-world opportunities to re-connect young people with the world around them</a>
<ul>
<li>"Announcing a new £88 million package of support to transform opportunities for young people across the country, the Prime Minister will make clear that this government is picking this challenge up and seeing it for what it is – a worrying trend – and delivering real-life solutions for the long-term, investing in opportunities for young people."</li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9v7z3j40eo">£30m pledged for youth club in each London borough</a>
<ul>
<li>"Sir Sadiq Khan said £30m of the £50m allocated in this year's budget for supporting young people would be used to fund a "Youth Lates" programme in the capital's 32 boroughs."</li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy#chapter-2-places-to-go-and-things-to-do-1">Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy</a>
<ul>
<li>"spending nearly £70 million over the next 3 years to help local areas better support young people and develop a network of up to 50 Young Futures Hubs by March 2029"</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>
<p>When I raised this with him, the Doomer could only say it wasn't enough. When asked how much <em>would</em> be enough, there was no reply. I think that's because people like this don't want to engage with the world. They're desperate to show that <em>nothing</em> is being done. And, when it is pointed out that something <em>is</em> being done, all they can fall back on is that is it never enough.</p>
<p>If you push back even slightly on their Doomer views, you'll get a litany of complaints about how everything is taking too long (well, duh, there's a couple of decades worth of austerity to unpick) and how they have no faith in any of this making a difference (because they won't give it a chance) and that nothing is being done (even though they refuse to look at the evidence).</p>
<p>Similarly, I'm sure you've all seen someone moaning the the planet is fucked because we're doing nothing about it. But that simply isn't true:</p>
<blockquote><p>The UK's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen sharply: in 2024 they were 54% lower than in 1990, according to provisional data.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx238yyr40qo">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx238yyr40qo</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Everywhere you look there are signs of progress and hope.</p>
<p>Doomerism, by its nature, is a reactionary concept. It's like those weirdos who reply to every funny story on the web with "<a href="https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/why-do-men-keep-nominating-women-for-the-didnt-happen-of-the-year-awards-for-very-mundane-things-8770843/">didn't happen</a>". An utter unwillingness to acknowledge that - yeah - some stuff happens. The world doesn't change as quickly as you'd like and politicians are never quite as brave in government as they are when campaigning - but stuff gets done!</p>
<p>When the Mayor of London introduced various measures to prevent polluting vehicles from poisoning London, the Doomers said it was pointless. Today we know <a href="https://sphr.nihr.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/low-emission-and-congestion-charge-zones-linked-with-public-health-benefits/">it led to a substantial reduction in hospital admissions</a>.</p>
<p>You see Doomers bleating about how the <a href="https://www.transparency.org/en/news/panama-papers-10-years">Panama Papers</a> exposé led to nothing. That's contrary to <a href="https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/ten-years-after-the-panama-papers-enablers-and-tax-cheats-are-still-being-brought-to-justice/">all the people prosecuted</a>. Did everyone get the justice they deserve? No. But to reduce it to a nothingburger is the essence of Doomerism. "I don't remember anything important happening, therefore the world is terrible."</p>
<p>Doomerism always feels to me like a psyop designed to keep people dispirited. When everything is reduced to a "yeah, but <em>they</em> won't do anything" then you end up disenfranchising people.</p>
<p>Are there terrible things which need changing? Absolutely!</p>
<p>Are politicians doing everything that you specifically want? Probably not!</p>
<p>Are incremental changes happening if you bother looking for the evidence? Yes.</p>
<p>Why aren't these people looking at what is actually happening, reading about what is being tried, understanding what trade-offs are being considered? Is engaging with reality really that difficult?</p>
<p>I guess a nuanced or positive take doesn't get you as much social media engagement as a childish howl of rage.</p>
<div id="footnotes" role="doc-endnotes">
<hr aria-label="Footnotes">
<ol start="0">
<li id="fn:ban">
<p>For the record, I think this is probably misguided. Although most American sites already ban under 13s from making an account, I am not sure that extending that to 16 is proportionate. But that's tangential to my argument here. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fnref:ban" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
<li id="fn:right">
<p>Again, whether you or I agree with all their policies isn't relevant here. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fnref:right" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
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<thr:total>10</thr:total>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[[RSS Club] I got an NLnet grant!]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/rss-club-i-got-an-nlnet-grant/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73757</id>
<updated>2026-08-08T08:13:13Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-08T11:34:15Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="[RSS Club]" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="ActivityBot" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="ActivityPub" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="RSS Club" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Pssst! This post is only available to RSS/Atom subscribers. Tell your friends to subscribe 😊. Just a quick one today, a more detailed blog coming soon - but I thought I'd give RSS Club Members (you!) a sneak peek. A few months ago I saw a post on Mastodon from NLnet - they were looking for Open Source projects to apply for grant funding. The deadline was less than 24 hours away, so I rushed in …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/rss-club-i-got-an-nlnet-grant/"><![CDATA[<p><mark>Pssst! This post is only available to RSS/Atom subscribers. Tell your friends to subscribe </mark> 😊.</p>
<p>Just a quick one today, a more detailed blog coming soon - but I thought I'd give RSS Club Members (you!) a sneak peek.</p>
<p>A few months ago I saw a post on Mastodon from <a href="https://social.nlnet.nl/@nlnet">NLnet</a> - they were looking for Open Source projects to apply for grant funding. The deadline was less than 24 hours away, so I rushed in an application.</p>
<p>There was a ping-pong of emails where I detailed more about what I planned to do, and where they kept me abreast of their timescales.</p>
<p>Finally, after about 6 months, I received the most delightful email confirming my place in the programme!</p>
<p>I'm officially part of the <a href="https://nlnet.nl/thema/NGI0CommonsFund.html">NGI0 Commons Fund</a>.</p>
<p>So, what's the project? Regular readers will remember that I created <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/03/some-updates-to-activitybot/">ActivityBot</a> as a lightweight, single-file, fully featured ActivityPub server. The grant will enable me to improve the code, test the usability, have a security audit, do some accessibility work, and make it more robust.</p>
<p>I'm also going to need a logo 🤖</p>
<p>You can <a href="https://nlnet.nl/project/ActivityBot/">read more about the project on the NLnet site</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>Because this is an RSS-only post, it doesn't support comments. You can <a href="https://edent.tel/">get in touch with me</a> if you'd like to say something nice.</p>
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<entry>
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<name>@edent</name>
<uri>https://edent.tel/</uri>
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<title type="html"><![CDATA[Metadata for AI Generated Outputs]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/" />
<id>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73356</id>
<updated>2026-08-02T13:00:13Z</updated>
<published>2026-08-07T11:34:30Z</published>
<category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="/etc/" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="AI" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="HTML" /><category scheme="https://shkspr.mobi/blog" term="semantic web" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[How do you tell users that the text they're about to read has been synthetically generated? It is polite to readers that you don't waste their time, it's also important that LLMs don't feed on their own regurgitated slurry lest they pollute their own development. I think there are a number of potential ways to do this and I'd be interested in your thoughts. Let's go with some bad ideas first. …]]></summary>
<content type="html" xml:base="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/"><![CDATA[<p>How do you tell users that the text they're about to read has been synthetically generated?</p>
<p>It is polite to readers that you don't waste their time, it's also important that LLMs don't feed on their own regurgitated slurry lest they <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy#Cause">pollute their own development</a>.</p>
<p>I think there are a number of potential ways to do this<sup id="fnref:ways"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fn:ways" class="footnote-ref" title="This is just a casual discussion. I am in no position to mandate this globally." role="doc-noteref">0</a></sup> and I'd be interested in your thoughts<sup id="fnref:thinks"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fn:thinks" class="footnote-ref" title="I'm not interested in whether you think AI will be humanity's downfall or saviour. I'm just interested in the markup side of things." role="doc-noteref">1</a></sup>.</p>
<p>Let's go with some bad ideas first.</p>
<h2 id="whats-your-love-language"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#whats-your-love-language">What's your love language?</a></h2>
<p>Perhaps the simplest is to simply ascribe a unique language to AI. <a href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5646">BCP 47</a> defines language tags to allow you to write:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p lang="en">He said, "<i lang=fr>Bonjour</i>".</p>
</code></pre>
<p>LLMs can use a variety of human languages, so we can't use <code>lang="ai"</code> but perhaps a subtag would work:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p lang="en-AI">There are 37 Rs in the word Strawberry.</p>
</code></pre>
<p>But standardisation takes time, so perhaps a <a href="https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/i18n/locale/extensions.html">private use tag</a> would work -</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p lang="en-GB-x-AI-deepblue">It is not just a language, it's a state of mind.</p>
</code></pre>
<p>It <em>sort of</em> makes sense, as long as you don't think about it too hard. Is there a better way?</p>
<h2 id="vaguely-semantic"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#vaguely-semantic">Vaguely Semantic</a></h2>
<p>We're quoting something, right? Perhaps <code><q></code> for short snippets and <code><blockquote></code> for longer passages.</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><q
cite="https://llm.example/?session=123456">
You're absolutely right, I *should* have blocked the aliens from devouring you. That's on me.
</q>
</code></pre>
<p>According to the spec, <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/text-level-semantics.html#the-q-element">the <code><q></code> element</a> and <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/grouping-content.html#the-blockquote-element">the <code><blockquote></code> element</a> are both for quoting text from an external source.</p>
<p>Are LLMs sources? Are they quotable creative works? Could <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/cite">the <code><cite></code> element</a> be used to show that the words come from a machine?</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><blockquote>
<p>To stop your pizza toppings falling off, try using glue.</p>
<cite><a href="http://ai.example/">ChatBot 9000</a></cite>
</blockquote>
</code></pre>
<p>That doesn't feel very satisfactory to me. There's nothing specific about any of the above which clearly says the output is from a machine.</p>
<h2 id="the-elemental-approach"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#the-elemental-approach">The Elemental Approach</a></h2>
<p>The HTML specification gives a couple of different ways to show the output of a program.</p>
<p>First up is <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/text-level-semantics.html#the-samp-element">the <code><samp></code> element</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>The samp element represents sample or quoted output from another program or computing system.</p></blockquote>
<p>The first example given is:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p>The computer said <samp>Too much cheese in tray two</samp> but I didn't know what that meant.</p>
</code></pre>
<p>There's also <a href="https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/form-elements.html#the-output-element">the <code><output></code> element</a> - but that's more geared towards showing the output of a current action done on the page.</p>
<p>Given that <code><samp></code> is explicitly for the output of another program, it seems the most obvious one to me.</p>
<p>But perhaps we can augment it with some metadata?</p>
<h2 id="more-than-data"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#more-than-data">More Than Data</a></h2>
<p>Schema.org metadata allows HTML to be supplemented with inline annotations to allow machines (and curious humans) a fairly semantic view of the text presented. As <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/06/addressing-the-overlooked-non-micropsychiatric-uses-for-thiotimoline/">I've argued before</a>, I think this is suitable for machine-outputted data. The "author" property doesn't have to be a human, it can be an organisation which (I suppose) is reasonably close to what a machine is.</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><p>I can tell the AI really loves me because it said:</p>
<samp itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Quotation">
<q itemprop="text">I am definitely sentient and can consent to be your girlfriend. Your jokes are so funny Dr Dawkins.</q>
<span itemscope
itemprop="author"
itemtype="https://schema.org/Organization"
itemid="https://ai-girlfiend.example/RealGirl06">Sweetheart AI</span>
</samp>
</code></pre>
<h2 id="not-all-that-glimmers-is-metal"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#not-all-that-glimmers-is-metal">Not all that glimmers is metal</a></h2>
<p>Of course, there are <em>levels</em> of AI content generation. Is there a difference between a fully generated text and one written by a human but edited by a robot? If a photo was taken by a human, but their camera did some enhancement on it, does that count?</p>
<p>That's what the <a href="https://www.w3.org/community/ai-content-disclosure/">AI Content Disclosure group of the W3C</a> are trying to find out. There hasn't been <em>much</em> public movement on the topic. The <a href="https://github.com/dweekly/ai-content-disclosure">explainer gives some examples</a> of how it could be used:</p>
<pre><code class="language-html"><article>
<section ai-disclosure="none">
<h2>Six-Month Investigation: City Budget Shortfall</h2>
<p>Our reporters spent six months reviewing financial records...</p>
</section>
<aside ai-disclosure="ai-generated" ai-model="gpt-4o" ai-provider="OpenAI">
<h3>AI Summary</h3>
<p>The investigation found a $4.2M discrepancy in the city's infrastructure fund, attributed to misclassified expenditures...</p>
</aside>
</article>
</code></pre>
<p>Personally, I'm always slightly wary of adding yet-another-bespoke-attribute. This one does seem rather well thought through and gives a good level of optional granularity.</p>
<h2 id="other-options"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#other-options">Other Options</a></h2>
<p>I asked a bunch of friendly humans, and they had a variety of suggestions:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://mastodon.social/@lnsy_dev/116965531109315134">Custom HTML elements like <code><ai-generated model="DeepHeat">text here</ai-generated></code></a></li>
<li><a href="https://burnthis.town/@Kiloku/116963574646961437">Data elements like <code><p data-author="AI"></code></a></li>
<li><a href="https://openbiblio.social/@lmpnsl/116963779647361860">A dedicated <meta> tag or a custom attribute </a></li>
<li><a href="https://openbiblio.social/@EzellaGarnie/116963297791502318">DublinCore Meta Tags</a></li>
<li><a href="https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/@mjack/116965720618564223">Use a specific font</a></li>
</ul>
<p>There's also the <a href="https://social.coop/@nicol/116963332672559488">issue of granularity</a> - should you mark up if only the <em>entire</em> page is AI generated, or should there be an indicator that an AI was used to "improve" the writing / phrasing?</p>
<h2 id="is-this-useful"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#is-this-useful">Is this useful?</a></h2>
<p>Maybe? Although LLM peddlers are aghast at efforts to discriminate against their Almost-Turing-Test-Passing clankers, they know that training future models on AI generated text leads to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07566-y">model collapse</a>.</p>
<p>It is true that <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/05/does-ai-mean-we-dont-need-the-semantic-web/">LLMs render some of the semantic web a little redundant</a>, but it is also true that <a href="https://mitsloanedtech.mit.edu/ai/teach/ai-detectors-dont-work/">LLMs aren't always good at spotting AI generated text</a>.</p>
<p>Humans seem to like stuff written by other humans. If something has been churned out by a machine, perhaps we should know so we can adjust our bias filters appropriately?</p>
<p><a href="https://github.com/dweekly/ai-content-disclosure#faq--common-objections">Perhaps it will be gamed or ignored</a>. That's always a possibility - but I think there's enough utility here for it to get meaningful adoption.</p>
<p>Given that both humans and robots have a need to know whether a text's author is synthetic, I think it would be sensible for people to agree on a common approach to clearly identify mechanically recovered writing.</p>
<div id="footnotes" role="doc-endnotes">
<hr aria-label="Footnotes">
<ol start="0">
<li id="fn:ways">
<p>This is just a casual discussion. I am in no position to mandate this globally. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fnref:ways" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
<li id="fn:thinks">
<p>I'm not interested in whether you think AI will be humanity's downfall or saviour. I'm just interested in the markup side of things. <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fnref:thinks" class="footnote-backref" role="doc-backlink">↩︎</a></p>
</li>
</ol>
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"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody ★★★★☆",
"description": "There are at least four different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!. This is different because it is the unauthorized musical parody. Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue. Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of …",
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"content": "<p>There are at least <em>four</em> different Heated Rivalry shows at the Fringe this year. Earlier this week we saw <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/\">Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!</a>. This is different because it is the <em>unauthorized</em> musical parody.</p>\n\n<p>Oh, and it is in the much larger Udderbelly venue.</p>\n\n<p>Some people spend the fringe watching every possible interpretation of Timon of Athens - we decided to go for doubles of gay hockey sticks.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fef3a413-0f72-4faf-a33e-691bbd4af37c.jpg\" alt=\"Two hockey player biting a puck.\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-73984\">\n\n<p>So, how does it compare to its twin?</p>\n\n<p>It is good, but <em>deeply</em> conservative. The whole thing is framed through the eyes of a middle-age suburban mom which, sure, is probably a large part of the target audience but felt a bit retrograde. While the other show had a plentiful amount of <em>acrobatic</em> simulated sex with near-nude performers, this only has a couple of shirtless scenes and the actors are reduced to having a couple of trysts with literal mannequins. Weirdly, the one sex scene they perform together takes place behind a sheet. The leads kiss only twice which, for a parody of a show famed for its explicitness makes it all feel a bit Hays Code.</p>\n\n<p>The songs, however, are sumptuous. A full score accompanies the incredibly talented cast. This is <em>very</em> off-Broadway - with soaring melodies, powerful solos, and solid reprises. At times it feels more like a parody of Broadway shows than of the TV show.</p>\n\n<p>That isn't to say this is bad. It is <em>very</em> good. The script is full of delightful references and silly jokes. The lyrics at times are downright <em>filthy</em>! It is an excellent show and well worth seeing - but my heart remains with the <em>other</em> parody.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73981&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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"content": "<p>Easily the worst show we've seen at the fringe. Garrett Millerick has trained an AI on his stand up. Can it replace him?</p>\n\n<p>Yes, but only in the sense that the AI is obnoxiously dull and Millerick is simply obnoxious.</p>\n\n<p>He insulted a kid who he'd called on to stage to help him. Not even in a jokey way, just being rude. His splenetic rants against religion and politics were beyond tired. The dating segment was like something from an incel forum. Bitter and uncomfortable.</p>\n\n<p>There's a minor point that's made about whether AI comedy is cheating (yes) and if comedians need to be worried (no). But even when he goes back to performing his organic routine, it is dire. There are a few chuckles to be had, but most of the audience were just looking stricken with second hand embarrassment.</p>\n\n<p>The delivery is a one note rant, the jokes are the shouting of an angry disillusioned man, and the AI is a clanker of the worst order.</p>\n\n<p>Dire.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73971&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73949",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: When Vincent Met John ★★★★★",
"description": "I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four. When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour. What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation?…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-when-vincent-met-john/",
"published": "2026-08-12T15:30:12.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-12T14:51:06.000Z",
"content": "<p>I'm a sucker for anything Beatles related - and the fringe has no shortage of musicals, reinterpretations, and shameless cash-ins of the Fab Four.</p>\n\n<p>When Vincent Met John is an oddity in that it is a normal play, rather than a musical. It is also an oddity in being 90 minutes long rather than the standard fringe slot of no more than an hour.</p>\n\n<p>What if van Gogh and Lennon could have a conversation? They were both tortured artists whose influence spanned the world and only grew after their untimely deaths.</p>\n\n<p>It is incredible!</p>\n\n<p>Much like Yasmina Reza's \"Art\" this is a meticulous argument about the nature of creativity. And, much like, <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/02/theatre-review-the-last-laugh/\">The Last Laugh</a> this feature fastidiously observed recreation of beloved figures.</p>\n\n<p>Can Lennon conceive of someone who doesn't recognise Him? Can van Gogh conceive of Yoko Ono's conceptual art? Is Lennon's braggadocio an impediment to his happiness? Is van Gogh's obsessive nature blocking him from progressing?</p>\n\n<p>The script sizzles. Lennon almost seems to speak in rhyming couplets - as befits a lyricist and poet. It is peppered with throwaway references to his cannon (including many deep cuts for the obsessives). One of those plays where I immediately want to grab the script and study it to death.</p>\n\n<p>Both actors utterly inhabit their characters and give play off each other perfectly. The direction is precise and inventive. Even the set construction is perfectly attuned to the needs of the show.</p>\n\n<p>An astounding piece of theatre and strongly recommended.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73949&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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"name": "@edent",
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"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "Theatre Review",
"term": "Theatre Review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
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},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73930",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Justina Seselskaite: Settled ★★★★☆",
"description": "Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like. It was sublime! There's a …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-justina-seselskaite-settled/",
"published": "2026-08-11T22:23:14.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T20:24:54.000Z",
"content": "<p>Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, you take a punt on a random show because it's close by and you can't be bothered walking any further. Justina Seselskaite's set was round the corner and started in 7 ½ minutes - so we scurried into one of the less glamorous rooms of The Hilton, sat at the front (as is our wont), and wondered what on earth Lithuanian stand-up was like.</p>\n\n<p>It was sublime!</p>\n\n<p>There's a rich history of foreign comedians coming to these shores and <del>stealing our jobs</del> making us laugh by pointing out the UK's foibles as only an outsider can. Seselskaite has a witty outlook on the perils of being mistaken for Polish while working in Waitrose, how high-class a Wetherspoons is, and what's up with Manchester’s weird obsession with bees.</p>\n\n<p>The show isn't the most innovative thing on the Fringe; it's mostly straight stand-up. But the game of \"guess which English song was plagiarised by Lithuanian singers\" was surprisingly entertaining. OK, I won a badge by guessing correctly, so I'm biased.</p>\n\n<p>Settled is a solid piece of work which has obviously been road-tested and honed into a tight set. Excellent observational stand-up from a unique perspective (come on, how many other Lithuanian comedians have you been to see?).</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/justina-seselskaite-settled\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/settled-poster.webp\" alt=\"Poster for a comedy show.\" width=\"1347\" height=\"1679\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-73933\"></a></p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73930&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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{
"name": "@edent",
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"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "comedy",
"term": "comedy",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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{
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"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73911",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Handel Nine German Arias ★★★⯪☆",
"description": "Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a \"zany\" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love. So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-handel-nine-german-arias/",
"published": "2026-08-11T20:21:05.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T19:49:10.000Z",
"content": "<p>Part of going to The Fringe is to expose yourself to new ideas, different art forms, and a range of artworks. Not everything needs to be a \"zany\" comedy about AI or a loving pastiche of that 1990s disaster movie you love.</p>\n\n<p>So I found myself sat in a Unitarian Church listening to a harpsichord and choral organ intertwined with a violin and cello while a soprano soared through Handel's greatest hits.</p>\n\n<p>I'm too much of a philistine to assess its merits - but there's always pleasure watching technically accomplished professionals at the top of their game. I assumed they played the right notes (and in the right order) as the music was delightful.</p>\n\n<p>It was restful and restorative after a long day pounding Edinburgh's pavements.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73911&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
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"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73906",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Hamlet The Musical ★★☆☆☆",
"description": "🎼\"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On\"🎵 There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs. It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby. The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force perfo…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-hamlet-the-musical/",
"published": "2026-08-11T18:19:16.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T15:57:53.000Z",
"content": "<p>🎼\"Hamlet's Mum Has Got It Going On\"🎵</p>\n\n<p>There you go, now you've seen the show. That's about the height it reaches. Distil the tortured Prince of Denmark down to an hour and sprinkle in parody pop songs.</p>\n\n<p>It so nearly works. There are a few good chuckles and a smattering of clever lyrics but, even for an hour, it feels a bit flabby.</p>\n\n<p>The cast are game, with KT Ihnatyszyn giving a tour-de-force performance as Hamlet. But for every decent pun there's a piece of uninspired mugging to the audience.</p>\n\n<p>The main weakness is that it looks <em>cheap</em>. There can be a certain charm to \"we'll put on the show right here - I just think Fringe audiences deserve better than tatty cardboard props and flimsy plastic swords.</p>\n\n<p>Tightened up, it could be something really special - it just fell flat for me.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73906&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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{
"name": "@edent",
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"url": "https://edent.tel/"
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],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
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{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "shakespeare",
"term": "shakespeare",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "Theatre Review",
"term": "Theatre Review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73891",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Afronauts ★★★★☆",
"description": "Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of \"For All Mankind\" where the Zambia Space Academy (a 100% real thing) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race. Told in an acrobatic style, naturally. It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-afronauts/",
"published": "2026-08-11T16:17:12.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T15:44:03.000Z",
"content": "<p>Afrofuturism is a hot topic in the world of sci-fi. This is the circus version of \"For All Mankind\" where the Zambia Space Academy (<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Makuka_Nkoloso\">a 100% real thing</a>) attempt to land on the moon and win the space race.</p>\n\n<p>Told in an acrobatic style, naturally.</p>\n\n<p>It is delightful to see classic acrobatics find a whole new audience - the children in the audience (and the adults) screamed with delight at the human pyramids, handstands, cartwheels, and aerial work.</p>\n\n<p>An absolutely joyful cast of kinesthetic clowns bring to life the bizarre and (again) <a href=\"https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/story-behind-zambian-space-program\">absolutely true story</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Lots of fun, a heartfelt message, and a zippy soundtrack. No way to describe it other than fun for all ages.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73891&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
"media": [],
"authors": [
{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
"url": "https://edent.tel/"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73887",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Noted ★★★⯪☆",
"description": "It is a brave children's show which starts with the song \"I'm a smooth muthafukker\"… This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday. The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper lit…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-noted/",
"published": "2026-08-11T12:45:28.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-11T12:04:04.000Z",
"content": "<p>It is a brave children's show which starts with the song \"I'm a smooth muthafukker\"…</p>\n\n<p>This is sort of a live-action XKCD cartoon. A frenetic troupe of performers are decked with hand-drawn portraits and then… well, it is somewhere between a Sesame Street animation and the stick-figure kung-fu Flash animations of yesterday.</p>\n\n<p>The whole design is technically impressive. An endless stream of paper litters the floor as the cast rip them from their bodies to reveal more underneath.</p>\n\n<p>I found it enjoyable enough for an early morning show - but the children around me went bananas for it!</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73887&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
"media": [],
"authors": [
{
"name": "@edent",
"email": null,
"url": "https://edent.tel/"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"label": "/etc/",
"term": "/etc/",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "EdFringe",
"term": "EdFringe",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72972",
"title": "Gadget Review: Soundpeats UU2 POP Clip2 Earphones ★★★★⯪",
"description": "Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the UU2 Clip2 compare. Design The \"cuff\" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world.…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/",
"published": "2026-08-11T11:34:37.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-12T06:17:53.000Z",
"content": "<p>Last year, I reviewed a new type of Clip-On earphone - <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/11/gadget-review-soundpeats-clip1-cuff-headphones/\">the Soundpeats Clip1 Cuff</a>. I was a bit sceptical, but was won around by their comfort. The good folks at Soundpeats have sent me their new version to review. I had a few niggles with the Clip1 - so let's see how the <a href=\"https://soundpeats.com/en-gb/products/soundpeats-pop-clip-physical-bttons-clip-on-earbuds\">UU2 Clip2</a> compare.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/soundpeats-clip2-promo.webp\" alt=\"A small cuff style headphone set, charging box, and short cable.\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72976\">\n\n<h2 id=\"design\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#design\">Design</a></h2>\n\n<p>The \"cuff\" design is fairly new to the UK - but is already popular in other parts of the world. Rather than sticking the buds in your earholes, they clip around the flappy bits of your ears. The aren't like a bulldog clip - more like a gentle caress. The speaker sits just outside your ear canal, so you can still hear ambient sounds from around you. Look, you do <em>not</em> want a close-up of my waxy lugs, so here's a model:</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/model-wearing-ear-cuffs.webp\" alt=\"model wearing ear cuffs.\" width=\"913\" height=\"684\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72977\">\n\n<p>You don't have to wear them in that position. Mine tend to hang around my earlobes - your ears might be a different shape.</p>\n\n<p>They are <em>ridiculously</em> comfortable. I've had them on for a several hour train journey and forgot they were there. They don't leave a mark, they don't ache, they don't pinch, and most importantly they don't fall off. Even if I shook my head vigorously or did any exercise, they stayed put.</p>\n\n<p>I am happy to declare them the most comfortable headphones I own - even more so than my <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2020/11/review-aftershokz-titanium-bone-conducting-headphones/\">Bone Conducting headset</a>.</p>\n\n<p>But, of course, there are some downsides. The previous version had touch-only controls which were a bit shit. It was far too easy to accidentally brush your finger against your ears and skip a track. The Clip2 improves this somewhat by adding a small physical button to each headphone. You can set them to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume (if you can remember the precise sequence of taps you need).</p>\n\n<p>Bluetooth range was good - I was able to wander all over my house without losing connection. Sound quality - even on the default setting - was excellent. You can push up the bass or fiddle with the equaliser if that'll make you happy. Battery life is going to depend on how hard you drive them and if you choose a more energy efficient codec or not. They lasted several hours in my test and recharged quickly in their included case. Naturally, the case has a USB-C connection so it'll use the same cable as all your other gadgets.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"android\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#android\">Android</a></h2>\n\n<p>They just work. They paired instantly, accepted AAC as a high quality audio codec, the sound quality was excellent as was the microphone quality. Once I used the app to switch to <a href=\"https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it\">LDAC</a>, the Clip2 restarted and Android started playing in the higher fidelity mode.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/LDAC.webp\" alt=\"LDAC in Android.\" width=\"504\" height=\"704\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72983\">\n\n<h3 id=\"app\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#app\">App</a></h3>\n\n<p><em>*sigh*</em> Why is that hardware manufacturers make the crappiest software? You don't <em>need</em> the app - everything will work without it. But if you want to customise the buttons, change the EQ, or enable <a href=\"https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ldac-what-is-it-how-can-you-get-it\">LDAC</a> you'll need it.</p>\n\n<p>Annoyingly, you can't do <em>anything</em> unless you're logged in and have an Internet connection. Want to change the EQ while you're on a train with no signal? Tough.</p>\n\n<p>The app also handles firmware updates - there was one waiting for me - but doesn't offer any information beyond the usual platitudes of bug fixes and stability improvements.</p>\n\n<p>Note, you need the <a href=\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xingkeqi.peats\">PeatsAudio app</a> not the \"Soundpeats\" app.</p>\n\n<p>Honestly, find an EQ you like, update the firmware, toggle the settings, then uninstall it.</p>\n\n<p>There are <em>some</em> nice touches - like the personalised EQ test - but it is slim pickings. Here are some screenshots.</p>\n\n<p><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/eq.webp\" alt=\"Various default EQ options.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72984\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/More-functions.webp\" alt=\"Lots of functions in a settings screen.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72985\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/effects.webp\" alt=\"Various sound effects.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72982\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/adaptive.webp\" alt=\"Personalised EQ test.\" width=\"400\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72981\" style=\"display:inline\"><img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/buttons.webp\" alt=\"Various options triggered by tapping on buttons.\" width=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72980\" style=\"display:inline\"></p>\n\n<h2 id=\"linux\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#linux\">Linux</a></h2>\n\n<p>Yup! Connected perfectly the first time and gave access to all the supported codecs.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/linux-soundpeats.webp\" alt=\"Linux config screen showing AAC and SBC codecs.\" width=\"787\" height=\"377\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-72979\">\n\n<h2 id=\"a-few-niggles\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#a-few-niggles\">A Few Niggles</a></h2>\n\n<p>Despite looking superficially similar to the Clip1 - these new ones don't fit into the charging case of the originals. That's unfortunate. I guess they don't want users mixing up pairs and getting confused?</p>\n\n<p>Rather annoyingly, they don't pause the sound when you take them off. The old Clip1 would detect if it was in-ear and pause if you popped one out to chat to someone.</p>\n\n<p>They supply a short USB-A to C lead. That's just e-Waste and shouldn't be included.</p>\n\n<p>Because of the design they won't block out all external noise and there's no noise cancelling function. But that's offset by the fact that they do let you retain some awareness of your surroundings.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"price-and-final-thoughts\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/gadget-review-soundpeats-pop-clip2-earphones/#price-and-final-thoughts\">Price and Final Thoughts</a></h2>\n\n<p>The Clip2 cuff headphones are usually around £60, but <a href=\"https://link.amazon/B00MTYd9T\">are on offer now for about £48</a>. I think that's excellent value for money.</p>\n\n<p>Readers of this blog can use code <code>SPUU2810</code> for 30% off until August 31, 2026.</p>\n\n<p>I am an absolute convert to cuff-style. They don't tightly grip your head like bone-conducting ones, they're less noisy than rear-firing open-ear cans, and they're a good deal more comfortable than sticking something deep in your ear-wax chambers.</p>\n\n<p>The app is a bit shit - but you'll probably only use it once. The buttons are slightly fiddly, but I can't see a way to make them any more tactile without sacrificing their small size.</p>\n\n<p>Sounds quality - on Linux and Android - was excellent. They're perfect if you spend a long time with headphones on.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72972&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
"image": null,
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"name": "@edent",
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{
"label": "/etc/",
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"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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{
"label": "bluetooth",
"term": "bluetooth",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "gadget",
"term": "gadget",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
},
{
"label": "headphones",
"term": "headphones",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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{
"label": "review",
"term": "review",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
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{
"label": "usb-c",
"term": "usb-c",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog"
}
]
},
{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73830",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: 15 Minutes of Shame ★★★★⯪",
"description": "Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right? Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is right there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery! Then reality hits. The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-15-minutes-of-shame/",
"published": "2026-08-10T20:43:10.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-10T20:29:30.000Z",
"content": "<p>Sex work is work, so we're told. There's no difference between picking up a night job stacking shelves and a night job jacking-off on screen. Right?</p>\n\n<p>Perhaps a couple need a little bit of extra cash and the siren song of OnlyFans is <em>right</em> there. Let's fire up the webcam and release ourselves from financial drudgery!</p>\n\n<p>Then reality hits.</p>\n\n<p>The script by Sean Stillmaker sounds like it was ripped straight out of LinkedIn. Under a lesser cast, lines about synergising brand strategy to optimise the subscriber funnel would sound contrived; here they sound like hyper-savvy young adults rationalising their poor decisions. If influencers are the dominant cultural force in the world, then it seems right that their language now infiltrates dialogue in the same way \"Valley Girl\" speech conquered early 2000s TV and movies.</p>\n\n<p>The cast - Ellen Pallant and Anton Bibby - flit about the stage with poise and grace. Their kinetic energy buzzes out into the audience who remained transfixed throughout the performance. They each have an intensity and passion which fills the space - fully bringing to life characters dominated by hubris and helplessness. Full praise must go to Adébayo Bolaji, the director, for finding a way to stage the show without it becoming tawdry and exploitative.</p>\n\n<p>The political polemic around the exploitation of the working class (and of the working girl) isn't exactly subtle. But it fits right in with the themes of being in slavish thrall to both bosses, the algorithm, and - ultimately - the fans who love/hate you.</p>\n\n<p>The ending feels a bit abrupt, but had the audience gleefully discussing it as we were expelled into the cold light of day.</p>\n\n<iframe title=\"15 Minutes of Shame trailer\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1Yq7uuyF5E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"></iframe>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73830&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73852",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Kat Ronson: Millennial Girl ★★★★☆",
"description": "OMG! If you remember A/S/Ling your way through MSN to fill in your MySpace top 8, then you'll love this show. You're also over 30 and, therefore, old. Ew. The stage is littered with a Nokia 3310, Bliss Magazine, and Charlie Red. Katie (15/F/UK) talks us through the complexities of her nascent love life, what shag band colours mean, and which quotes sum up millennial angst. All the while…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-kat-ronson-millennial-girl/",
"published": "2026-08-10T17:45:36.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-13T05:48:32.000Z",
"content": "<p>OMG! If you remember A/S/Ling your way through MSN to fill in your MySpace top 8, then you'll love this show. You're also over 30 and, therefore, <em>old</em>. Ew.</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/876f40e3-4575-4e7a-a55c-684af7c29fef.jpg\" alt=\"A girl rendered in MS Paint.\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-73853\">\n\n<p>The stage is littered with a Nokia 3310, Bliss Magazine, and Charlie Red. Katie (15/F/UK) talks us through the complexities of her nascent love life, what shag band colours mean, and which quotes sum up millennial angst. All the while serenading us with her musical takes on the <strong>tragic</strong> Aniston/Pitt split.</p>\n\n<p>Consistently funny and just the right amount of embarrassing.</p>\n\n<p>As befits a work in progress, it is a <em>little</em> one note. That said, Katie is an expertly observed caricature of the size-zero obsessed, Vauxhall Corsa chasing girl that those of us of a certain vintage remember with fondness / body quaking cringe.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73852&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73827",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Michael Brunström: William Tell vs the Algorithm ★★★☆☆",
"description": "The terror of AI has come to comedy. There are a dozen shows this year about the threat that technology poses to the way we live, laugh, and love. In this case, AI stands for Austrian Imperialism and the fight is for Switzerland's independence. Well, sort of. It gets a bit lost in an endless stream of rambly diversions. There's a fine line between surrealist comedy and utter nonsense. If you…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-michael-brunstrom-william-tell-vs-the-algorithm/",
"published": "2026-08-10T15:57:27.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-10T15:41:17.000Z",
"content": "<p>The terror of AI has come to comedy. There are a dozen shows this year about the threat that technology poses to the way we live, laugh, and love.</p>\n\n<p>In this case, AI stands for Austrian Imperialism and the fight is for Switzerland's independence.</p>\n\n<p>Well, sort of. It gets a bit lost in an endless stream of rambly diversions. There's a fine line between surrealist comedy and utter nonsense. If you like seeing a man getting the audience to sing to a magical (albeit potentially traitorous) hat, attempting to pull up his trousers without his hands, and doing cuckoo impressions - this'll satisfy those cravings.</p>\n\n<p>It does produce a steady stream of chuckles but suffers by being presented in an airless yurt.</p>\n\n<p>The highlight for me was the confession that the comedian has \"a rare form of synaesthesia which allows me to literally see colours!\"</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73827&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73824",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Rachel Creeger: Ultimate Jewish Mother 2026 ★★★★★",
"description": "My mum's friend Rachel has a one-woman show on at the Fringe. As, apparently, the only orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit she has constructed a fully interactive Jewish Mother experience. Like several shows on the fringe, it relies on the audience writing questions on cards and the comedian riffing on them. Unlike other shows, Rachel has a huge stream of anecdotes and songs to weave into her…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-rachel-creeger-ultimate-jewish-mother-2026/",
"published": "2026-08-10T13:56:32.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-10T13:33:03.000Z",
"content": "<p>My mum's friend Rachel has a one-woman show on at the Fringe. As, apparently, the only orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit she has constructed a fully interactive Jewish Mother experience.</p>\n\n<p>Like several shows on the fringe, it relies on the audience writing questions on cards and the comedian riffing on them. Unlike other shows, Rachel has a huge stream of anecdotes and songs to weave into her answers. She has the easy and relaxed delivery of a seasoned professional who knows her material inside and out.</p>\n\n<p>She is a delightfully deranged matriarch with strong options from the exact number of carcasses to throw into a chicken soup to how to get rid of your daughter's goyim boyfriend.</p>\n\n<p>Tickets are pay-what-you-can and you'd be a schmuck if you missed it.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73824&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73799",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: Smut Slam ★★★☆☆",
"description": "Fancy a quickie in Scotland's most haunted pub? Smut Slam is a (mildly) interactive performance where a handful of speakers get to tell their dirtiest stories. The audience fills in cards with their questions or confessions which may be read out. The format mostly works. There are different stories every night, so maybe we got a slightly uninspiring batch. Tales of sex parties, STIs, and broken …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-smut-slam/",
"published": "2026-08-10T00:23:08.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-09T22:18:55.000Z",
"content": "<p>Fancy a quickie in <a href=\"https://www.thebansheelabyrinth.com/\">Scotland's most haunted pub</a>? Smut Slam is a (mildly) interactive performance where a handful of speakers get to tell their dirtiest stories. The audience fills in cards with their questions or confessions which may be read out.</p>\n\n<p>The format mostly works. There are different stories every night, so maybe we got a slightly uninspiring batch. Tales of sex parties, STIs, and broken sex-toys are fun enough but weren't exactly mind-blowing. The audience participation kind of slowed the pace down as each hastily scribbled card had to be quietly read to make sure it didn't violate the code of conduct.</p>\n\n<p>I'm all for making spaces safe and inclusive - I just think the cards could have been vetted privately while a story was being told. That would have kept the pace up and given the stories a bit more space to breathe.</p>\n\n<p>There are <a href=\"https://smutslam.com/\">Smut Slams happening all over the world</a> and I reckon it's worth checking to see if there's one near you to see if it floats your boat. They've obviously built an audience which is hungry for more - but I found it a bit tepid.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73799&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73778",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe - Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody! ★★★★★",
"description": "By my count there are at least three \"Heated Rivalry\" musical parodies on at the Fringe this year. The zeitgeist skates to where the puck was six months ago, I guess! There's also a live version of a HR podcast if you just can't get enough of their wacky ice-capades. Just how much sexy-hockey can one city take? Produced by Quick and Funny Musicals, an American company specialising in cash-ins …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-heated-rivalry-the-musical-parody/",
"published": "2026-08-09T22:45:45.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-09T22:20:40.000Z",
"content": "<p>By my count there are at least <em>three</em> \"Heated Rivalry\" musical parodies on at the Fringe this year. The zeitgeist skates to where the puck was six months ago, I guess!</p>\n\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/heated.webp\" alt=\"Three different musicals based on Heated Rivalry.\" width=\"504\" height=\"446\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-73780\">\n\n<p>There's also <a href=\"https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tonsil-hockey-live-in-edinburgh\">a live version of a HR podcast</a> if you just can't get enough of their wacky ice-capades. Just how much sexy-hockey can one city take?</p>\n\n<p>Produced by <a href=\"https://www.quickandfunnymusicals.com\">Quick and Funny Musicals</a>, an American company specialising in <del>cash-ins</del> loving homages, this is surprisingly good! With songs like \"Fuck Him Up The Butt (Metaphorically)\" it isn't exactly subtle. The sex is acrobatic and - pixelated cocks aside - relatively raunchy.</p>\n\n<p>If you've binge-watched Hollander and Rozanov's tender and humble love-affair, you'll you find delight in every scene. Lots of memorable moments are mined for their comedy value, and there are a decent amount of songs shared between the dozen-or-so cast members.</p>\n\n<p>A couple of minor flubs couldn't mar the brilliance of the show. The cast really do give it their all (and give it to each other in a variety of positions). I'm pleased the intimacy co-ordinator was given appropriate appreciation.</p>\n\n<p>Fair warning - there is a \"splash zone\" at the front of the seating for those of you who want to avoid/relish being lightly drenched in a certain hockey player's bodily fluids.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73778&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73773",
"title": "Edinburgh Fringe: 4 Aussies For Aussies - The Raging Bull ★★⯪☆☆",
"description": "Our first show at the Fringe! Caught by a rainstorm (in Scotland?!?!?) the app said this was the nearest comedy show to our sodden carcasses and it was free pay what you want! This is bang-average stand-up. That isn't to disparage it at all. Four Australian blokes each doing 15 minutes of material - nothing particularly avant-garde or challenging. Just some decently funny (albeit well worn)…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/edinburgh-fringe-4-aussies-for-aussies-the-raging-bull/",
"published": "2026-08-09T16:00:04.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-10T08:02:55.000Z",
"content": "<p>Our first show at the Fringe! Caught by a rainstorm (in Scotland?!?!?) the app said this was the nearest comedy show to our sodden carcasses and it was <del>free</del> pay what you want!</p>\n\n<p>This is bang-average stand-up.</p>\n\n<p>That isn't to disparage it at all. Four Australian blokes each doing 15 minutes of material - nothing particularly avant-garde or challenging. Just some decently funny (albeit well worn) observations about kids names, customer surveys at Tescos, and whether leaving skid marks is cultural heritage.</p>\n\n<p>That said, I did have a soft spot for the comedian who walked on stage and dryly said, \"Oh. Wow. A sitting ovation…\"</p>\n\n<p>For a free show on a cloudy Sunday it was perfectly fine. If you like straightforward stand-up, you can't go wrong with this.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73773&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=72525",
"title": "Against Doomerism",
"description": "There's a certain strain of commentator who is just sure that nothing can ever get better. In amongst all the hullaballoo about the UK potentially banning under 16s from social media, I saw a prominent historian say: i assume banning kids from social media will be accompanied by a huge investment in teen-friendly communtiy [sic] spaces (like youth clubs) and social activities? No? Huh. But,…",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/",
"published": "2026-08-09T11:34:12.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-08T16:25:03.000Z",
"content": "<p>There's a certain strain of commentator who is just <em>sure</em> that nothing can ever get better.</p>\n\n<p>In amongst all the hullaballoo about the UK potentially banning under 16s from social media<sup id=\"fnref:ban\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fn:ban\" class=\"footnote-ref\" title=\"For the record, I think this is probably misguided. Although most American sites already ban under 13s from making an account, I am not sure that extending that to 16 is proportionate. But that's…\" role=\"doc-noteref\">0</a></sup>, I saw a prominent historian say:</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>i assume banning kids from social media will be accompanied by a huge investment in teen-friendly communtiy [sic] spaces (like youth clubs) and social activities?</p>\n\n<p>No?</p>\n\n<p>Huh.</p></blockquote>\n\n<p>But, here's the thing. He's wrong. You can argue about whether the UK's Labour Government is doing the right thing<sup id=\"fnref:right\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fn:right\" class=\"footnote-ref\" title=\"Again, whether you or I agree with all their policies isn't relevant here.\" role=\"doc-noteref\">1</a></sup>, but they are pouring <em>huge</em> amounts of money and effort into youth provision.</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-roll-out-dutch-style-employment-support-across-britain\"> Young Brits are set to benefit from Dutch style employment support as the Government steps up localised support to tackle rising NEET numbers.</a>\n\n<ul>\n<li>\"Almost 180 new Youth Hubs will begin opening from next week which will provide wraparound services – coordinating education, welfare, and employment support.\"</li>\n</ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-unveils-new-opportunities-for-young-people-to-re-connect-with-their-communities\"> Prime Minister announces major expansion of youth services and real-world opportunities to re-connect young people with the world around them</a>\n\n<ul>\n<li>\"Announcing a new £88 million package of support to transform opportunities for young people across the country, the Prime Minister will make clear that this government is picking this challenge up and seeing it for what it is – a worrying trend – and delivering real-life solutions for the long-term, investing in opportunities for young people.\"</li>\n</ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9v7z3j40eo\">£30m pledged for youth club in each London borough</a>\n\n<ul>\n<li>\"Sir Sadiq Khan said £30m of the £50m allocated in this year's budget for supporting young people would be used to fund a \"Youth Lates\" programme in the capital's 32 boroughs.\"</li>\n</ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy/youth-matters-your-national-youth-strategy#chapter-2-places-to-go-and-things-to-do-1\">Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy</a>\n\n<ul>\n<li>\"spending nearly £70 million over the next 3 years to help local areas better support young people and develop a network of up to 50 Young Futures Hubs by March 2029\"</li>\n</ul></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>When I raised this with him, the Doomer could only say it wasn't enough. When asked how much <em>would</em> be enough, there was no reply. I think that's because people like this don't want to engage with the world. They're desperate to show that <em>nothing</em> is being done. And, when it is pointed out that something <em>is</em> being done, all they can fall back on is that is it never enough.</p>\n\n<p>If you push back even slightly on their Doomer views, you'll get a litany of complaints about how everything is taking too long (well, duh, there's a couple of decades worth of austerity to unpick) and how they have no faith in any of this making a difference (because they won't give it a chance) and that nothing is being done (even though they refuse to look at the evidence).</p>\n\n<p>Similarly, I'm sure you've all seen someone moaning the the planet is fucked because we're doing nothing about it. But that simply isn't true:</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>The UK's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen sharply: in 2024 they were 54% lower than in 1990, according to provisional data.</p>\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx238yyr40qo\">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx238yyr40qo</a></p></blockquote>\n\n<p>Everywhere you look there are signs of progress and hope.</p>\n\n<p>Doomerism, by its nature, is a reactionary concept. It's like those weirdos who reply to every funny story on the web with \"<a href=\"https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/why-do-men-keep-nominating-women-for-the-didnt-happen-of-the-year-awards-for-very-mundane-things-8770843/\">didn't happen</a>\". An utter unwillingness to acknowledge that - yeah - some stuff happens. The world doesn't change as quickly as you'd like and politicians are never quite as brave in government as they are when campaigning - but stuff gets done!</p>\n\n<p>When the Mayor of London introduced various measures to prevent polluting vehicles from poisoning London, the Doomers said it was pointless. Today we know <a href=\"https://sphr.nihr.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/low-emission-and-congestion-charge-zones-linked-with-public-health-benefits/\">it led to a substantial reduction in hospital admissions</a>.</p>\n\n<p>You see Doomers bleating about how the <a href=\"https://www.transparency.org/en/news/panama-papers-10-years\">Panama Papers</a> exposé led to nothing. That's contrary to <a href=\"https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/ten-years-after-the-panama-papers-enablers-and-tax-cheats-are-still-being-brought-to-justice/\">all the people prosecuted</a>. Did everyone get the justice they deserve? No. But to reduce it to a nothingburger is the essence of Doomerism. \"I don't remember anything important happening, therefore the world is terrible.\"</p>\n\n<p>Doomerism always feels to me like a psyop designed to keep people dispirited. When everything is reduced to a \"yeah, but <em>they</em> won't do anything\" then you end up disenfranchising people.</p>\n\n<p>Are there terrible things which need changing? Absolutely!</p>\n\n<p>Are politicians doing everything that you specifically want? Probably not!</p>\n\n<p>Are incremental changes happening if you bother looking for the evidence? Yes.</p>\n\n<p>Why aren't these people looking at what is actually happening, reading about what is being tried, understanding what trade-offs are being considered? Is engaging with reality really that difficult?</p>\n\n<p>I guess a nuanced or positive take doesn't get you as much social media engagement as a childish howl of rage.</p>\n\n<div id=\"footnotes\" role=\"doc-endnotes\">\n<hr aria-label=\"Footnotes\">\n<ol start=\"0\">\n\n<li id=\"fn:ban\">\n<p>For the record, I think this is probably misguided. Although most American sites already ban under 13s from making an account, I am not sure that extending that to 16 is proportionate. But that's tangential to my argument here. <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fnref:ban\" class=\"footnote-backref\" role=\"doc-backlink\">↩︎</a></p>\n</li>\n\n<li id=\"fn:right\">\n<p>Again, whether you or I agree with all their policies isn't relevant here. <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/against-doomerism/#fnref:right\" class=\"footnote-backref\" role=\"doc-backlink\">↩︎</a></p>\n</li>\n\n</ol>\n</div>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=72525&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73757",
"title": "[RSS Club] I got an NLnet grant!",
"description": "Pssst! This post is only available to RSS/Atom subscribers. Tell your friends to subscribe 😊. Just a quick one today, a more detailed blog coming soon - but I thought I'd give RSS Club Members (you!) a sneak peek. A few months ago I saw a post on Mastodon from NLnet - they were looking for Open Source projects to apply for grant funding. The deadline was less than 24 hours away, so I rushed in …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/rss-club-i-got-an-nlnet-grant/",
"published": "2026-08-08T11:34:15.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-08T08:13:13.000Z",
"content": "<p><mark>Pssst! This post is only available to RSS/Atom subscribers. Tell your friends to subscribe </mark> 😊.</p>\n\n<p>Just a quick one today, a more detailed blog coming soon - but I thought I'd give RSS Club Members (you!) a sneak peek.</p>\n\n<p>A few months ago I saw a post on Mastodon from <a href=\"https://social.nlnet.nl/@nlnet\">NLnet</a> - they were looking for Open Source projects to apply for grant funding. The deadline was less than 24 hours away, so I rushed in an application.</p>\n\n<p>There was a ping-pong of emails where I detailed more about what I planned to do, and where they kept me abreast of their timescales.</p>\n\n<p>Finally, after about 6 months, I received the most delightful email confirming my place in the programme!</p>\n\n<p>I'm officially part of the <a href=\"https://nlnet.nl/thema/NGI0CommonsFund.html\">NGI0 Commons Fund</a>.</p>\n\n<p>So, what's the project? Regular readers will remember that I created <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/03/some-updates-to-activitybot/\">ActivityBot</a> as a lightweight, single-file, fully featured ActivityPub server. The grant will enable me to improve the code, test the usability, have a security audit, do some accessibility work, and make it more robust.</p>\n\n<p>I'm also going to need a logo 🤖</p>\n\n<p>You can <a href=\"https://nlnet.nl/project/ActivityBot/\">read more about the project on the NLnet site</a>.</p>\n\n<hr>\n\n<p>Because this is an RSS-only post, it doesn't support comments. You can <a href=\"https://edent.tel/\">get in touch with me</a> if you'd like to say something nice.</p>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73757&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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{
"id": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=73356",
"title": "Metadata for AI Generated Outputs",
"description": "How do you tell users that the text they're about to read has been synthetically generated? It is polite to readers that you don't waste their time, it's also important that LLMs don't feed on their own regurgitated slurry lest they pollute their own development. I think there are a number of potential ways to do this and I'd be interested in your thoughts. Let's go with some bad ideas first. …",
"url": "https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/",
"published": "2026-08-07T11:34:30.000Z",
"updated": "2026-08-02T13:00:13.000Z",
"content": "<p>How do you tell users that the text they're about to read has been synthetically generated?</p>\n\n<p>It is polite to readers that you don't waste their time, it's also important that LLMs don't feed on their own regurgitated slurry lest they <a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy#Cause\">pollute their own development</a>.</p>\n\n<p>I think there are a number of potential ways to do this<sup id=\"fnref:ways\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fn:ways\" class=\"footnote-ref\" title=\"This is just a casual discussion. I am in no position to mandate this globally.\" role=\"doc-noteref\">0</a></sup> and I'd be interested in your thoughts<sup id=\"fnref:thinks\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fn:thinks\" class=\"footnote-ref\" title=\"I'm not interested in whether you think AI will be humanity's downfall or saviour. I'm just interested in the markup side of things.\" role=\"doc-noteref\">1</a></sup>.</p>\n\n<p>Let's go with some bad ideas first.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"whats-your-love-language\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#whats-your-love-language\">What's your love language?</a></h2>\n\n<p>Perhaps the simplest is to simply ascribe a unique language to AI. <a href=\"https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc5646\">BCP 47</a> defines language tags to allow you to write:</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><p lang=\"en\">He said, \"<i lang=fr>Bonjour</i>\".</p>\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>LLMs can use a variety of human languages, so we can't use <code>lang=\"ai\"</code> but perhaps a subtag would work:</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><p lang=\"en-AI\">There are 37 Rs in the word Strawberry.</p>\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>But standardisation takes time, so perhaps a <a href=\"https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/i18n/locale/extensions.html\">private use tag</a> would work -</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><p lang=\"en-GB-x-AI-deepblue\">It is not just a language, it's a state of mind.</p>\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>It <em>sort of</em> makes sense, as long as you don't think about it too hard. Is there a better way?</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"vaguely-semantic\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#vaguely-semantic\">Vaguely Semantic</a></h2>\n\n<p>We're quoting something, right? Perhaps <code><q></code> for short snippets and <code><blockquote></code> for longer passages.</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><q\n cite=\"https://llm.example/?session=123456\">\n You're absolutely right, I *should* have blocked the aliens from devouring you. That's on me.\n</q>\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>According to the spec, <a href=\"https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/text-level-semantics.html#the-q-element\">the <code><q></code> element</a> and <a href=\"https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/grouping-content.html#the-blockquote-element\">the <code><blockquote></code> element</a> are both for quoting text from an external source.</p>\n\n<p>Are LLMs sources? Are they quotable creative works? Could <a href=\"https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Elements/cite\">the <code><cite></code> element</a> be used to show that the words come from a machine?</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><blockquote>\n <p>To stop your pizza toppings falling off, try using glue.</p>\n <cite><a href=\"http://ai.example/\">ChatBot 9000</a></cite>\n</blockquote>\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>That doesn't feel very satisfactory to me. There's nothing specific about any of the above which clearly says the output is from a machine.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-elemental-approach\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#the-elemental-approach\">The Elemental Approach</a></h2>\n\n<p>The HTML specification gives a couple of different ways to show the output of a program.</p>\n\n<p>First up is <a href=\"https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/text-level-semantics.html#the-samp-element\">the <code><samp></code> element</a>:</p>\n\n<blockquote><p>The samp element represents sample or quoted output from another program or computing system.</p></blockquote>\n\n<p>The first example given is:</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><p>The computer said <samp>Too much cheese in tray two</samp> but I didn't know what that meant.</p>\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>There's also <a href=\"https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/form-elements.html#the-output-element\">the <code><output></code> element</a> - but that's more geared towards showing the output of a current action done on the page.</p>\n\n<p>Given that <code><samp></code> is explicitly for the output of another program, it seems the most obvious one to me.</p>\n\n<p>But perhaps we can augment it with some metadata?</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"more-than-data\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#more-than-data\">More Than Data</a></h2>\n\n<p>Schema.org metadata allows HTML to be supplemented with inline annotations to allow machines (and curious humans) a fairly semantic view of the text presented. As <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/06/addressing-the-overlooked-non-micropsychiatric-uses-for-thiotimoline/\">I've argued before</a>, I think this is suitable for machine-outputted data. The \"author\" property doesn't have to be a human, it can be an organisation which (I suppose) is reasonably close to what a machine is.</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><p>I can tell the AI really loves me because it said:</p>\n<samp itemscope itemtype=\"https://schema.org/Quotation\">\n <q itemprop=\"text\">I am definitely sentient and can consent to be your girlfriend. Your jokes are so funny Dr Dawkins.</q>\n <span itemscope\n itemprop=\"author\" \n itemtype=\"https://schema.org/Organization\"\n itemid=\"https://ai-girlfiend.example/RealGirl06\">Sweetheart AI</span>\n</samp>\n</code></pre>\n\n<h2 id=\"not-all-that-glimmers-is-metal\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#not-all-that-glimmers-is-metal\">Not all that glimmers is metal</a></h2>\n\n<p>Of course, there are <em>levels</em> of AI content generation. Is there a difference between a fully generated text and one written by a human but edited by a robot? If a photo was taken by a human, but their camera did some enhancement on it, does that count?</p>\n\n<p>That's what the <a href=\"https://www.w3.org/community/ai-content-disclosure/\">AI Content Disclosure group of the W3C</a> are trying to find out. There hasn't been <em>much</em> public movement on the topic. The <a href=\"https://github.com/dweekly/ai-content-disclosure\">explainer gives some examples</a> of how it could be used:</p>\n\n<pre><code class=\"language-html\"><article>\n <section ai-disclosure=\"none\">\n <h2>Six-Month Investigation: City Budget Shortfall</h2>\n <p>Our reporters spent six months reviewing financial records...</p>\n </section>\n\n <aside ai-disclosure=\"ai-generated\" ai-model=\"gpt-4o\" ai-provider=\"OpenAI\">\n <h3>AI Summary</h3>\n <p>The investigation found a $4.2M discrepancy in the city's infrastructure fund, attributed to misclassified expenditures...</p>\n </aside>\n</article>\n</code></pre>\n\n<p>Personally, I'm always slightly wary of adding yet-another-bespoke-attribute. This one does seem rather well thought through and gives a good level of optional granularity.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"other-options\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#other-options\">Other Options</a></h2>\n\n<p>I asked a bunch of friendly humans, and they had a variety of suggestions:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https://mastodon.social/@lnsy_dev/116965531109315134\">Custom HTML elements like <code><ai-generated model=\"DeepHeat\">text here</ai-generated></code></a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://burnthis.town/@Kiloku/116963574646961437\">Data elements like <code><p data-author=\"AI\"></code></a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://openbiblio.social/@lmpnsl/116963779647361860\">A dedicated <meta> tag or a custom attribute </a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://openbiblio.social/@EzellaGarnie/116963297791502318\">DublinCore Meta Tags</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/@mjack/116965720618564223\">Use a specific font</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>There's also the <a href=\"https://social.coop/@nicol/116963332672559488\">issue of granularity</a> - should you mark up if only the <em>entire</em> page is AI generated, or should there be an indicator that an AI was used to \"improve\" the writing / phrasing?</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"is-this-useful\"><a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#is-this-useful\">Is this useful?</a></h2>\n\n<p>Maybe? Although LLM peddlers are aghast at efforts to discriminate against their Almost-Turing-Test-Passing clankers, they know that training future models on AI generated text leads to <a href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07566-y\">model collapse</a>.</p>\n\n<p>It is true that <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/05/does-ai-mean-we-dont-need-the-semantic-web/\">LLMs render some of the semantic web a little redundant</a>, but it is also true that <a href=\"https://mitsloanedtech.mit.edu/ai/teach/ai-detectors-dont-work/\">LLMs aren't always good at spotting AI generated text</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Humans seem to like stuff written by other humans. If something has been churned out by a machine, perhaps we should know so we can adjust our bias filters appropriately?</p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https://github.com/dweekly/ai-content-disclosure#faq--common-objections\">Perhaps it will be gamed or ignored</a>. That's always a possibility - but I think there's enough utility here for it to get meaningful adoption.</p>\n\n<p>Given that both humans and robots have a need to know whether a text's author is synthetic, I think it would be sensible for people to agree on a common approach to clearly identify mechanically recovered writing.</p>\n\n<div id=\"footnotes\" role=\"doc-endnotes\">\n<hr aria-label=\"Footnotes\">\n<ol start=\"0\">\n\n<li id=\"fn:ways\">\n<p>This is just a casual discussion. I am in no position to mandate this globally. <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fnref:ways\" class=\"footnote-backref\" role=\"doc-backlink\">↩︎</a></p>\n</li>\n\n<li id=\"fn:thinks\">\n<p>I'm not interested in whether you think AI will be humanity's downfall or saviour. I'm just interested in the markup side of things. <a href=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/08/metadata-for-ai-generated-outputs/#fnref:thinks\" class=\"footnote-backref\" role=\"doc-backlink\">↩︎</a></p>\n</li>\n\n</ol>\n</div>\n<img src=\"https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/themes/edent-wordpress-theme/info/okgo.php?ID=73356&HTTP_REFERER=Atom\" alt width=\"1\" height=\"1\" loading=\"eager\">",
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