Hey you, the Rock Steady Crew,
How are things?
This week has provided me with yet another chapter of my book - and it won’t be a pretty one! So that’s something to look forward to… for someone! 😂
Anyway, back in Paris and back to my favourite place - standing next to a whiteboard with a marker pen in my hand! Oh and some slides! There are always slides! This time, I’m going to be lecturing in English and French - which is always added fun.
Oh and rain! The rain…!
But I digress!
In this well-baked edition, we have:
passports
cake
something orange
…and much, much more!
I’m ready! Are you ready? I sure hope so!
So pull up an autumn crumpet, slip on those comfy slippers and let the wave of random stuff flow over you!
Have a great one, folks!
Take care,
James x
Subversion - Blank Pieces of Paper
In last week’s edition (Creeps), we discussed the subversive use of the watermelon to circumvent bans on the Palestinian flag.
Well, reader @greenredsonja.bsky.social over on Bluesky reminded me of the guy who was arrested for holding up a piece of blank paper - and then I fell down a fascinating rabbit hole!
Recently, in the UK, blank paper protests were part of the anti-monarchy protests following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Among the even more surreal moments was a barrister who was threatened with arrest for holding a blank piece of paper, just in case he wrote ‘Not My King’ on it.
Here he is with his offensive sign:
Then someone else was threatened with arrest for protesting the monarchy in Cornwall with another offensive piece of blank paper.
In Russia, where, fun fact, freedom is speech is guaranteed in Article 29 of the Constitution (lolz), people regularly engage in blank paper protests. This woman took it a step further and wondered what would happen if she wrote two words (literally, if she wrote Два слова which is ‘two words’ in Russian) on a piece of paper. Can you guess what happened next, kids?
It’s worth remembering that the freedoms we take for granted, including the freedom of speech, are easily lost and are worth defending.
Also, Putin is a psychopath and child murderer.
Cut Out & Keep
Ever wondered where the American news source that you’re reading sits on the political spectrum? Here’s your answer courtesy of AllSides…
Know your enema! Or enemy. Depending on how much of a pain in the ass they are.
Hey you, the Rock Steady Crew
A quick music break for those of us of a certain age…
Thanks to the Rock Steady Crew for providing the opening to today’s email!
The Future of Passports
While people, understandably, moan about the quality of the new black UK passport (which is as thin as the likelihood of success of Brexit), the future of passports is being tested in two countries in Europe.
Norway and Croatia are the two countries who are currently testing digital passports.
Croatia has one of the most advanced and well-coordinated digital government systems around which includes full integration of a huge range of government services integrated with physical and digital documents.
The other day, while updating my security certificates, I had a look at the mobile app to check on any new functionality. Within two minutes, I had a fully digital ID card and digital passport.
To say that it was easy is an understatement - it involved scanning a document with an NFC reader and then, once it had been checked against the central servers (along with my security certificate), there it was. A digital passport - valid until 2032!
The app can generate a QR code that is valid for two minutes at a time (to stop it being misused) that can be presented for officials to check against their systems or to open an eGate.
I’m sure everyone else will catch up soon…!
50 Shades of Donald Trump
As you may have heard, St Donald of Trump has had some legal issues over the past weeks… months… years… decades… look, whatever! Well, back when he was in court earlier this year, enough was not, in my opinion, made of the jury selection. Trying to find 12 people (plus 6 substitutes) who could be impartial in his criminal trial relating to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and someone else whose name escapes me was, well, let’s just say a challenge.
One of the rejected jurors, when interviewed, made a fascinating observation:
“You know, he looked less orange. Definitely. Like, more yellowish”
This got me thinking because, as we all know, Donald is definitely orange. So I went in search of the answer to the only question that really matters - which Pantone colour is Donald Trump.
Fortunately, this has already been discussed at length online and, having read a selection of articles, I have decided that Elle Decor (with the help of Fast Company) have the correct answer - Pantone 16-1449 TPX.
So now you know.
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These emails are powered by coffee! If you feel so inclined, thank you! They are hugely appreciated! My buymeacoffee link is at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jamesmb and I’ll post a photo of each one you get me as a thank you!
No. Just no.
End of an Era
Back in edition 28 of this newsletter (which fans will remember was called Spoon), I started a little game with myself to keep the title of the newsletter to one word. It turns out that that is bloody difficult!
So, from the next edition - a milestone edition (which is annoying because edition 46 was called Milestones!) - I’m going to cut myself some slack and go back to giving myself the freedom to call it whatever I want.
By the way, if you didn’t notice, keep it to yourself, eh?!
Merry Christmas!
I know, I know! Some of you don’t like it when I start Christmas too early!
However, my counter-argument is that you can’t start Christmas too early!
Those of you who follow me on Bluesky (where I am @james.barisic.fr) will know that the first Stollen of the season was consumed some time ago. Now we have started on the Baumkuchen - which is a fantastic German cake.
Baumkuchen is a lovely sponge cake with rings inside it…
But wait! Rather than me try to explain what it is, here’s a fab video showing how it is made…
A huge thank you to @pgnx.bsky.social for sharing that with me!
BREAKING NEWS
Breaking encryption news!
Congratulations to the researchers who used a quantum computer to crack a raft of encryption methods.
Scared? You should be!!
MORE BREAKING NEWS
Breaking… erm… encryption news!
Don’t worry - it turns out they haven’t broken a raft of encryption methods.
No need to panic at the moment.
We’ll bring you more on this story as it happens… or if it happens…
Origin Stories
This obituary for Margaret Ruth Groening contains a lot of answers to questions you didn’t even consider…
RIP Marge.
Under 3 Weeks To Go
Dear American readers…
ENDPIECE
Want to Read More?
If you want something new to read, I would very much recommend Goodbye Donald? An American Odyssey. It’s a fantastically well written look at American politics and life on the ground. Genuinely one of the best things I have read in ages.
I have to disagree. A remake of a show originally in a popular bar, now set in a London local pub has a lot of possibilities, said as one who worked in a few very unique establishments