John Borland
@klaxonator.bsky.social
Writer, translator, Berlin, books. Very loud music, very quiet music. The way the ocean glows at midnight. Butterflies. Birds. TTPRGs. Trans rights, migrant rights, human rights. He/him.
Has humanity learned nothing from the unending affliction that is the buttered popcorn Jelly Belly?
(Also there are bigger problems)
(Also there are bigger problems)
October 16, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Has humanity learned nothing from the unending affliction that is the buttered popcorn Jelly Belly?
(Also there are bigger problems)
(Also there are bigger problems)
Mature passionflower seeks sea anemone for illicit love, blaze-of-glory crime spree. Own auto helpful.
September 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Mature passionflower seeks sea anemone for illicit love, blaze-of-glory crime spree. Own auto helpful.
Finished Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things". Is one of those intoxicating delights. A different beast than the film -- more (deeply humanely) political, and playful in different ways. Essentially the same fantastic Frankenstein story, but then allows Bella to refute it absolutely in the end. Brilliant.
August 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Finished Alasdair Gray's "Poor Things". Is one of those intoxicating delights. A different beast than the film -- more (deeply humanely) political, and playful in different ways. Essentially the same fantastic Frankenstein story, but then allows Bella to refute it absolutely in the end. Brilliant.
Despite everything, at least this is happening today. First time ever seeing these legends.
July 30, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Despite everything, at least this is happening today. First time ever seeing these legends.
Canadian border guards are really freaking tough.
May 9, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Canadian border guards are really freaking tough.
Never change, Berlin.
April 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Never change, Berlin.
Berlin, Wedding. The Roman numeral for 11 is screaming red in the sky, caressed by a sliver of moon. A good omen? Danger? Perhaps at last a break in the unremitting chaos?
March 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Berlin, Wedding. The Roman numeral for 11 is screaming red in the sky, caressed by a sliver of moon. A good omen? Danger? Perhaps at last a break in the unremitting chaos?
But oh it seemed sweet.
To say Beauty is truth and stop.
Rather than to eat it.
Rather than to want to eat it. This was my pure early thought.
I overlooked one thing.
That the beautiful when I encountered it would turn out to be prior -- inside my own heart,
already eaten.
--Anne Carson
#booksky
To say Beauty is truth and stop.
Rather than to eat it.
Rather than to want to eat it. This was my pure early thought.
I overlooked one thing.
That the beautiful when I encountered it would turn out to be prior -- inside my own heart,
already eaten.
--Anne Carson
#booksky
February 22, 2025 at 11:43 AM
But oh it seemed sweet.
To say Beauty is truth and stop.
Rather than to eat it.
Rather than to want to eat it. This was my pure early thought.
I overlooked one thing.
That the beautiful when I encountered it would turn out to be prior -- inside my own heart,
already eaten.
--Anne Carson
#booksky
To say Beauty is truth and stop.
Rather than to eat it.
Rather than to want to eat it. This was my pure early thought.
I overlooked one thing.
That the beautiful when I encountered it would turn out to be prior -- inside my own heart,
already eaten.
--Anne Carson
#booksky
Ditz tonight in Berlin, a total eye-opener for me. Noise/(post)punk, way heavier than I imagined. Beer was spilled. Rafters climbed. Really great live band. #metalsky adjacent, at least. Definitely one to catch if they're nearby.
February 11, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Ditz tonight in Berlin, a total eye-opener for me. Noise/(post)punk, way heavier than I imagined. Beer was spilled. Rafters climbed. Really great live band. #metalsky adjacent, at least. Definitely one to catch if they're nearby.
An estimated 100,000 people on the streets in Berlin today standing against the rise of the right, for democracy and diversity. It's something.
January 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
An estimated 100,000 people on the streets in Berlin today standing against the rise of the right, for democracy and diversity. It's something.
Finally taking down the Xmas tree, and just noticed that our prize decoration, a swizzle stick salvaged from a Berlin cocktail bar 15 years ago, is admirably anatomically correct. Putting the man in Weihnachtsmann!
January 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Finally taking down the Xmas tree, and just noticed that our prize decoration, a swizzle stick salvaged from a Berlin cocktail bar 15 years ago, is admirably anatomically correct. Putting the man in Weihnachtsmann!
This year, after many years of disappointments: Real imported candy canes! (They are cherry-flavored or some such disaster in Germany. Appalling. No excuse, including being invented here).
December 17, 2024 at 10:30 PM
This year, after many years of disappointments: Real imported candy canes! (They are cherry-flavored or some such disaster in Germany. Appalling. No excuse, including being invented here).
It's that strawberry problem. Weird way to fail the Turing Test, though.
December 1, 2024 at 9:35 PM
It's that strawberry problem. Weird way to fail the Turing Test, though.
Have always wanted to see George Crumb's Black Angels played live. Berlin's Sonar Quartett took the wine glasses and gongs and screaming-insect strings and ran away with it.
November 27, 2024 at 10:10 PM
Have always wanted to see George Crumb's Black Angels played live. Berlin's Sonar Quartett took the wine glasses and gongs and screaming-insect strings and ran away with it.
Last fall colors in Berlin. Overheard on the path below: "Yeah, there are a lot of rats here. But they're alright."
November 12, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Last fall colors in Berlin. Overheard on the path below: "Yeah, there are a lot of rats here. But they're alright."
Here's some Julie Christmas in Berlin, just before playing at Hellfest this year
November 10, 2024 at 9:45 PM
Here's some Julie Christmas in Berlin, just before playing at Hellfest this year
Have never found a tech book-recommendation service worth using. But here's a low-tech one that is consistently great: books left out to give away on sidewalk windowsills or in Zu Verschenken boxes in Berlin.
November 9, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Have never found a tech book-recommendation service worth using. But here's a low-tech one that is consistently great: books left out to give away on sidewalk windowsills or in Zu Verschenken boxes in Berlin.
Red Wedding (our neighborhood in Berlin)
October 24, 2024 at 1:19 PM
Red Wedding (our neighborhood in Berlin)
A good moment from today's climate strike in Berlin.
September 20, 2024 at 10:35 PM
A good moment from today's climate strike in Berlin.
When a friend brings the good moon cakes back from China
September 8, 2024 at 8:02 PM
When a friend brings the good moon cakes back from China
Certain aspects of AI self-reflection remain elusive
September 1, 2024 at 5:31 PM
Certain aspects of AI self-reflection remain elusive
Wild hop season has arrived in Berlin
August 31, 2024 at 5:18 PM
Wild hop season has arrived in Berlin