cacophony of everything

its confusing to me how Alice Cooper is genuinely religous, apparently going to sunday sermons regularly and believing in demonic possessions and whatnot - in a very traditional catholic(?) way. and has been like that most of his life, according to his biography which im currently listening. they did as a band seem like genuine trailblazers in many ways, but i am hearing a lot of self-congratulatory talk and self-justifying statements related to any poor behavior or anything they were accused of. but i guess to do all that he has done, it does often require someone who is quite focused on self and driven, even if at the cost of something or someone else. interesting book overall, im almost finished with it. thats one long career.

we went to see Wicker in Clapham Picturehouse today with Raissa and Aleks. its funny how all the women ive mentioned it to seem to know the film, and the men are like ”Wicker what?”. its got Alexander Skarsgard and a bed breaking in heavy use, i guess thats all the info needed. it was a light fun film, if the actual ending did leave me complaining about a detail. after the film we had brunch, then i did some shopping and were having dinner at our neighbours later tonight. 

random; Lambeth town hall, where i got my citizenship.

the side street next to ours, theres now a proper terrace and on this occasion halloween decor too.

random lunch by our esteemed inhouse chef, dr.

my self made gif of how work days sometimes end up, lol.

most stores here have self service checkout now. then u stand there because for one reason or another it requires staff attendance. maybe you bought a wine, or in non-groceries the item is too light for the scale to register it, or some other annoying issue. were just lambs, queing, waiting for a staff member to come and press buttons, in a cacophony of speaking tills ”please set your item on the packing area” ”beep” ”would you like to pay by cash or card” ”beep””please dont forget to pack your items””beep””beep””would you like a receipt””beep””do you have the loyalty card””beep””beep””beep””beep”… and all these all around you… its maddening to me. i wish they were at least silent and if youre blind, youre probably going to need assistance anyway… so why have these tills shouting at me? M&S is the best, quiter and less verbose, not treating me like an idiot. i guess they were able to afford a nicer UX. with those prices, i guess they should. when you walk in, theres an employee handing you a shopping basket. i always feel a bit embarrassed to walk in somewhere like that, but of course its nice too. but this self service trend thats growing thinks were soon going to have restaurants with much staff too. i mean having a QR code at the table to order AND pay is already getting common (and lets not get into how im supposed to pay 12.5% service charge for basiclaly serving myself?), picking the plate up from the kitchen window is only the natural next step. and when walking in, you pick up the utencils from a side table by the door…. that will surely extend to gyms having AI PTs, and AI assistants at the GP surgery or hospital check-in desks. i mean some hotels are like this as it is. i get all of these come with some benefits as well… but the gen X in me feels like were losing even more than were gaining.  

an interesting New Yorker article on an alternative medicine ‘guru’ in switzerland. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/11/02/did-an-alternative-medicine-guru-accidentally-kill-patients

Ceri was at a craft fair in Brixton last sunday so i made an exception to my me-sunday and went to hang around and see her there. even got myself one of her mugs. 

the US election was very elating but i think it’s simultaneously been blown out of proportion. im not THAT optimistic of what it can or will actually achieve.