In a couple of weeks, the Church of Scotland General Assembly will take place. The Assembly this year is sitting over a weekend to encourage more working‑age elders to attend. However, for the past 20 years, Youth Representatives have been part of the Assembly. One of the most common criticisms raised about Youth Representatives at the General Assembly is that they are allowed to speak, contribute, and even move motions, yet they are not allowed to vote. From the perspective of young people, this can feel contradictory. If they are invited to help shape the conversation, why are they excluded from the final decision? ...

If you’re interested in what I do and how I do it… A lot of my apps have changed, and so has my phone usage. I’m letting people know which apps are on my home screen. My phone is the iPhone 17 Pro. I choose only to let notifications through from the phone or text messages. Apart from these two apps, there are no notifications. Organising my apps is a problem. As such, I don’t think about the ones who are not on my homescreen. All the apps on my homescreen I use daily. Most of the apps on the homescreen are rock-solid inclusions, but a few are on shaky ground. All the other apps on my phone are listed on page 2 of the default app library, with a large search function at the top of the page. I use a couple of iOS-wide changes, including both 1Password and iOS passwords. And between them, I get great service on my phone. I use Grammarly’s web keyboard overlay, which constantly looks for grammar, syntax, and spelling errors. (because I have a lot of them). Yeah, but that’s it. ...

Small cultural recommendation. Godzilla, minus one, minus colour. Very good film it is black and white and subtitles. you should watch it.

moving the blog! Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve completed a small technical project. And it was remarkable so that I will remark on it here. The project was to move my blog from WordPress, a dynamic CMS, to a static site. This change will make the blog lighter. I also hope the process of actually putting blog posts up feels lighter. The project will see me move blog hosting from my own hosting (the hosting I use for a website) to free providers, using the protection and infrastructure Cloudflare provides for websites. This lets you build a website on their servers for free and pull information directly from GitHub. ...

This is a new day. Part of a new life. #newday #newlife

I had occasion to make a short speech at presbytery today. I forgot to start my computer talking thing, so I was slightly on the backfoot. This is what I planned to say, I hope I said some of it well. I think it went over ok bearing in mind i only had 5mins. new motion Urge the Planning and Implementation committee to engage with the Kirk Session of Lanark Greyfriars. at the earliest possibility in the new year. Thank you. Moderator, This new motion in my name is six months overdue, well, nearly seven, The Kirk Session received a final judgment by the General Assembly Mission Plan Review Panel on a Request for Review on the 23rd of May 2025. 197 days ago. The Review Panel considered eight grounds raised by the Kirk Session. The review panel did not accept five grounds; however, three grounds were accepted. This is factual. There is no debate about this Judgment. For information, The appeal could only be made on three grounds. The Kirk Sessions appeal was accepted on all three grounds, including, one, a material error in Church law, two, a material error of process on the part of Presbytery, and three, the plan fails to take into account a relevant material fact. However, there are two other comments which the review committee made in their judgement on the current Mission Plan as regarding Greyfriars parish church. The mission narrative and building categorisation is inconsistant. The Second comment the Review Panel made was, and I quote. “The Panel does not accept the Presbytery’s argument that the resulting inconsistencies should be addressed in future revisions of the Plan. It is the task of the Panel to assess the current Plan and the process by which it was approved.” My interpretation of this point is that the review panel do not accept the presbytery’s argument to leave things as they are, and sort them in the future. That argument was rejected 197 days ago. The congregation of Greyfriars contacted the Presbytery by email 197 days ago asking of comfort in this matter and offering to meet the committee who presbytery has remitted this matter to. This has not happened and contact has not been made. As this is matter with a written final judgement I argue it is not unreasonable to expect a formal written reply to a request to meet within 197 days. It’s worth drawing attention to Presbytery this final judgment, as this final judgment was about Presbytery, and was made regarding Presbytery. As trustees we have think what level of risk we will accept for the presbytery. In this motion, the risk I identify is between the final decision of the General Assembly review panel and the presbytery’s actions in fulfilling this. When I move this motion moderator, technically the motion becomes a possession of Presbytery. If successful, and that is not guaranteed, the Presbytery will and has the right to instruct its committee to do as it wishes, in this case, urging the Planning and Implementation committee to have a meeting with the Kirk Session. The review panel accepted three grounds of appeal. The review panel said the building catergorisation has been done wrong. The review panel said there are inconsistencies in what is foreseen mission of the church. The review panel said presbytery cannot ignore these issues, It is unacceptable to be comforted in the knowledge that this inconsitancies will be solved by a future action. I find it notable that the comfort given by the vice convener in his speech a minute ago was about actions in the future. Yet, demonstrably, the church are in the same position we were 197 days ago, same errors in law, same errors in process and no contact. Moderator, it’s up to Presbytery. What happens next. I urge presbytery to support this new motion, I move the motion in my name, and hopefully someone will second it. ...

The new Laconic Hegemony mixtape is now out. Laconic Hegemony is a small mixtape with my favourite songs of the past year. So far, I have put out 29 volumes of the Laconic Hegemony mixtape #jings. You can listen to all, some or none of it. It is your choice. All these songs have been songs that have accompanied me over 2024 and mean something to me in some way (and I should point out that 2024, in many ways, was my year). These songs may not mean anything to you; perhaps that will change. Think of it as two sides of musical goodness accompanying you as you are here, wherever here is for you. If you are so inclined, let me know what you like from Laconic Hegemony 2024. If you like something, buy it from the artist as direct as possible. That way, the artists get more money for your listening. (I have). Technically I buy the songs from the artist as directly as possible. I mix the songs on a DJ mixer. I mix in 20-minute sections normally to see what goes together in my head. I then use Garageband to combine the mixes, giving me a mixtape mp3. I uploaded it to Mixcloud, which provides free mixtape streaming; Mixcloud also pays royalties to the appropriate rights body for streaming. [mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/sch3lp/laconic-hegemony-2024-sidea-vol-28/ width=100% height=60 hide_cover=1 mini=1] [mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/sch3lp/laconic-hegemony-2024-sideb-vol-29/ width=100% height=60 hide_cover=1 mini=1] ...

An aggregate review site tells me that the top three albums of the year are Brat by Charli XCX Songs for a Lost World by The Cure Absolute Elsewhere by Blood Incantation While congratulations are due to all of these artists on their critical reception, my top 3 are based on my ears and my thoughts. 1- SHINBANGUMI by Ginger Root 2 - Seed of by Seed by Hayley Hendrickx 3 - Below a Massive Dark Land by Naima Bock Every year, I add one album to a list which echoes the Cannes Film Awards catergory of Prix un certain regard. Those albums I like but regard uncertainly. I choose one a year of the albums, which means something to me, but perhaps I do not have the magic for someone else. This years addition is Midwinter Swimmers by The Innocence Mission. Thanks, that is all. ...

As you no doubt know, I select my album of the year every year. This is of no interest to most people but keeps me amused. To match $potify wrapped or whatever, I create a long list and attempt to whittle the list down to 3 top albums to be unveiled within the first week in January. This year is no different. I have enjoyed listening to lots of albums during 2024. In this list, you will also find something to enjoy if you venture that way. You will have heard of some people on this list, and perhaps others you will never have heard of. This year, 40+ albums were on the Long List. {country of birth – artist name – album name}. In alphabetical order. USA - Bad Bad Hats - Bad Bad Hats file under - Joyous pop musicUSA - Caroline Says - The Lucky One file under -Folk/DreampopFRA - Christophe Rousett - Louise Bertin Fausto file under - ClassicalUSA - Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee file under - Indie PopUSA - The Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Shall Be Again file under - indie popJPN - Eddie Marcon - Yahho no Potori file under - folkUSA - Father John Misty - Mahashmashana file under - PopNZL - Fazerdaze - Soft Power file under - shoegaze/DreampopUSA/BEL - Fievel Is Glauque - Rong Weicknes file under - Prog-JazzUSA - Ginger Root - SHINBANGUMI file under - Aggressive Elevator SoulUSA - Haley Heynderickx - Seed of a Seed file under - Singer/SongwriterUSA - Helado Negro - PHASOR file under - Joyous Pop musicUK - Ibibio Sound Machine - Pull the Rope file under - DanceUSA - The Innocence Mission - Midwinter Swimmers file under - Folk PopTUR - Isik Kural - Moon in Gemini file under - FolkUK - Jill Lorean - Peace Cult file under - indie rockUSA - Jimmy Montague - Tomorrows Coffee file under - Joyous Pop musicUSA - John Roseboro - Fools file under - post Bossa NovaAUS - Juanita Stein - The Weightless Hour file under - Singer/SongwriterFRA - Justice - Hyperdrama file under - DanceCAN - Kaia Kater - Strange Medicine file under - Singer/SongwriterISL - Laufey - Bewitched file under - Lounge JazzUK - Laura Marling - Patterns In Repeat file under - Singer/SongwriterUSA - Mary Timony - Untame the Tiger file under - Jingle Jangle/ Indie PopUK - Micheal Kiwanuka - Small Changes file under - Indie/SoulUSA - Mo Dotti - Opaque file under - Shoegaze/DreampopBRA - Naima Block - Below a Massive Dark Land file under - Singer/SongwriterUSA - Office Culture - Enough file under - Art popIRL - Orla Gartland - Everybody Needs a Hero file under - Indie PopUK - Our Girl - The Good Kind file under - Indie RockIND - Peter Cat Recording Co. - BETA file under - Indie RockUSA - Sarah Jarosz - Polaroid Lovers file under - Pop / FolkUK - Sassyhiya - Take You Somewhere file under -USA - Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers file under - Country PopUK - Sinkane - We Belong file under - Joyous Pop musicUK - The Smile - Cutouts file under - Indie RockUK - The Smile - Wall of Eyes file under - Indie RockUSA - Sofie Royer - Young-Girl Forever file under -The Softies - The Bed I Made file under - Indie PopUSA - T Bone Burnett - The Other Side file under - Folk PopUSA - Thee Sacred Souls - Got a Story to Tell file under - Soul/GospelUSA - Tim Heidecker - Slipping Away file under - Joyous Pop musicUSA - The Umbrellas - Fairweather Friend file under - Jingle Jangle / Indie PopUSA - Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us file under - Joyous Pop musicUSA - Yasmin Williams - Acadia file under - accoustic / instrumental If you wish you can play a $potify list with all the 2024 great albums on it. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3zEpfCajqshYwsn3Zrq1rd?si=cd644ee6ff72462d ...

I write this in the Interregnum between Mr And Dr. This in-between time allows me to express gratitude for my academic journey. My academic journey would not have been possible without my wife Helen and family. My family (and friends) supported and encouraged me to keep doing this. Thank you. I also wish to thank and remember people, including but not limited to those I mention below. However, to everyone involved in my journey, no matter how small. Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you. ...