January 31, 2024

#99 Feels more like talking to a nice person

Issue #99 Feels more like talking to a nice person

31st January 2024

---

Where did January go?

It's incredible to me that we're already a twelfth of the way through the year. It's almost like time is relative or something.

When you sit with a nice girl for two hours you think it’s only a minute, but when you sit on a hot stove for a minute you think it’s two hours. That’s relativity.

- Albert Einstein

It's my hope that reading this newsletter feels more like talking to a nice person than sitting on a hot stove.

---

Rule of three

[Gaming] Steam Deck OLED
The Steam Deck is a portable PC with a lovely screen and enough processing power to play most modern games (although there's some trade off in terms of resolution, frame rate and additional effects). What makes it truly great is its tight integration with Steam - a vast library of games that are available cross-platform (and which most gamers have been using for years). I'm finally playing all the small publisher and independent games I've missed over the last decade and revisiting old PC games from my youth too. I adore it - it's the perfect tool for exactly this kind of quirky, small-scale gaming.

Some picks from my Steam library:

Braid
Dave the Diver
The Stanley Paradox
Disco Elysium

[Fidgeting] Clicky Things
I've fallen down the rabbit hole of EDC (Every Day Carry) fidget toys. The term EDC makes me laugh, it seems to be marketed at men who want everything to be made out of titanium - from torches to knives to caribiners (tactical pen, anyone?). But I do actually dig these little sliders that make lovely clicky sounds as you spin them round your fingers. They're also great for people with ADHD, social anxiety or who bite their nails just to have something to do. I recommend ClickyThings on Etsy as their versions are 3D printed, good quality and cheap. Here's a video of me using their most clicky thing.

[Theatre] Picnic
Charlie Vero-Martin is an outstanding improviser, comedian and storyteller. I saw this show as a work-in-progress and it was already truly excellent. She's at the Soho Theatre for one night only and I'd love to pack the place out for her. If you're free on Valentine's Day, or want to take someone on a memorable date, you can get tickets here.

---

Spotlight

I have some classes coming up soon, and I know my Hoopla courses (rather flatteringly) tend to sell out quite quickly, so if you're keen, here are a few opportunities for early birds 🐦.

Mockumentary NOW! weekend intensive in Ipswich
Story course at Hoopla in June
Improvise in the style of 6 different playwrights also in June

---

Longform thoughts

Number fans will have noticed that we're one issue away from the BIG 100. I wanted to do something special next week and for that I need your help, dear readers. I want to present a long list of improv wisdom (the original idea was 100 instances but this is almost certainly mad and totally unachievable in one week).

So, could you please send me your own piece of hard won improv wisdom? It could be:

• A bit of advice you received

• Something you wish you knew when you started

• A way improv has changed your life

• The essence of improv for you

50 words or less please and include your name, city and a school or team you're associated with (if you want).

Thanks, friends.

---

Radio contact

Radio wearing my coat on a recent brunch trip.

---