As a person with needle phobia, there should really be phobia-trained clinics, where you know the setup will make things easier - don't have needles lying in view, big enough rooms/privacy, longer appointments, staff training. I think it would help a lot of people, tbh

Lots of people over on the old place saying pubs, hotels, small shops - but hospitality in particular hit hard. Some have their rates doubling, or more, apparently due to removal of a tax relief, and overall lowering of the rate, but it not making up for losing the relief

I think they'll have to go back on business rates, bc otherwise it looks set to finally kill off the highstreet, and people will be really mad about that!

Civil service, in the French ministry of culture! Incredible scenes

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

After he was investigated, and while awaiting trial, he started work as a high school gym coach, under a false ID.
What the F? What the F?!

Aw, it's lovely - the bright flowers, the coke!

Ok, but when you go, consider Pillion - one of my year's favourites, and a perfect pre-christmas (or even a twixmas if it's running) movie!
Cinema on a rain day is perfect!

Haha! Ah, it didn't settle at all, but I haven't had to go anywhere on transport so I don't know how it's faring 🤣

It even snowed some slushy snow in east London!

I love that the cat got one button to communicate with, and they purposed it to stand in for the most eloquent and useful of all phrases "f*** this"! Howling

I enjoyed the court filings someone posted over at the Other Place, where he tiredly points out that she's tanked *two* jointly-authored books by becoming compromised with candidates in consecutive elections. There's a definite type!

It looks gorgeous. The story is so sweeping and nostalgic, it's so good to see it given visual format. I did miss the enigmatic, surreal scene that closes the novella - and which was not attempted in the film, but overall, a worthy rendition!

I kimda wish maybe it could have been a series, give it 6 episodes or so. The novella is short, but so rich. That material needs all the time to breathe. Don't get me wrong, pacing might be glacial in that format, but it would be beautiful!

Also, in these times, it's a joy and privilege to see something made by humans, with care. Something crafted and undeniably beautiful. It just doesn't quite hit like Pan's Labyrinth did for me.

I think we are led too much to be on 'the monster's side' of the story too early on, and this robs some of the tension of the story and flattens the moral state. That said, it has wonderful moments - Goth, in particular, is given some brilliant scenes.

For example, Pan's Labyrinth (one of my favourites) plays with the grey area between myth/fantasy and reality, as does Shape of Water, to a degree. For me, the 'grey area' in Frankenstein woild be the dilemma of the creator, but also the question of how we view the 'monster'...