#Perfect Parry Podcast

[lingthusiasm]

Lingthusiasm Episode 89: Connecting with oral culture

For tens of thousands of years, humans have transmitted long and intricate stories to each other, which we learned directly from witnessing other people telling them. Many of these collaboratively composed stories were among the earliest things written down when a culture encountered writing, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Mwindo Epic, and Beowulf.

In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about how writing things down changes how we feel about them. We talk about a Ted Chiang short story comparing the spread of literacy to the spread of video recording, how oral cultures around the world have preserved astronomical information about the Seven Sisters constellation for over 10,000 years, and how the field of nuclear semiotics looks to the past to try and communicate with the far future. We also talk about how "oral" vs " written" culture should perhaps be referred to as "embodied" vs "recorded" culture because signed languages are very much part of this conversation, where areas of residual orality have remained in our own lives, from proverbs to gossip to guided tours, and why memes are an extreme example of literate culture rather than extreme oral culture.

Click here for a link to this episode in your podcast player of choice or read the transcript here.

Announcements:

We've created a new and Highly Scientific™ 'Which Lingthusiasm episode are you?' quiz! Answer some very fun and fanciful questions and find out which Lingthusiasm episode most closely corresponds with your personality. If you're not sure where to start with our back catalogue, or you want to get a friend started on Lingthusiasm, this is the perfect place to start. Take the quiz here!

Here are the links mentioned in the episode:

The 'Which Lingthusiasm episode are you?' quiz

'The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling' by Ted Chiang

'The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling by Ted Chiang — Subterranean Press' blog post by Devon Zeugel

'Orality and Literacy' by Walter J. Ong

Wikipedia entry for Grimms' Fairytales

Wikipedia entry for Milman Parry

Wikipedia entry for Homeric Question

Wikipedia entry for Mwindo Epic

Encyclopedia.com entry for Mwindo

Crash Course episode 'The Mwindo Epic'

'The world’s oldest story? Astronomers say global myths about ‘seven sisters’ stars may reach back 100,000 years' by Ray Norris on The Conversation

'The Pleiades – or 7 Sisters – known around the world' by Bruce McClure on EarthSky

Wikipedia entry for Nuclear Semiotics

99% Invisible episode 'Ten Thousand Years'

Wikipedia entry for Aesops Fables

'How Inuit Parents Teach Their Kinds to Control Their Anger' by Michaeleen Doucleff and Jane Greenhalgh for NPR

Deafness and Orality: An Electronic Conversation

Wikipedia entry for The Tale of Genji

Bea Wolf, a middle-grade graphic novel retelling of Beowulf, by Zach Weinersmith

Lingthusiasm episodes mentioned:

'Writing is a technology'

'Arrival of the linguists'

How translators approach a text'

You can listen to this episode via Lingthusiasm.com, Soundcloud, RSS, Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also download an mp3 via the Soundcloud page for offline listening.

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You can help keep Lingthusiasm ad-free, get access to bonus content, and more perks by supporting us on Patreon.

Lingthusiasm is on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, and Tumblr. Email us at contact [at] lingthusiasm [dot] com

Gretchen is on Bluesky as @GretchenMcC and blogs at All Things Linguistic.

Lauren is on Bluesky as @superlinguo and blogs at Superlinguo.

Lingthusiasm is created by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne. Our senior producer is Claire Gawne, our production editor is Sarah Dopierala, our production assistant is Martha Tsutsui Billins, and our editorial assistant is Jon Kruk. Our music is ‘Ancient City’ by The Triangles.

[kdreader02]

I’m thinking of trying to create a book podcast in order to get me out of a years long reading slump.

[jayahult]

Update: New Episodes Of Podcasts You Like

Well There's Your Problem Ep 286.: Hobby Tunneling

Lions Led By Donkeys: The Battle of House 22: How Ten Soviet Soldiers Killed Several Thousand Nazis With Nothing But Rifles, Bayonets, The Harsh Russian Winter And Suicidal Determination, Pt.1

Kill James Bond! Bonus Episode Sample: The Saddest Little European Spy Who Ever Lived

Something Rotten: The Scumfuck Chronicles (2004), Pt 1, ft. Noah Caldwell Gervais

Behind The Bastards: Somehow, The CIA Paid A Pedophile To Run A Pyramid Scheme In Columbia, Pt. 2

Castle Super Beast: Perfect Parrying The Vomit Back Into The Stomach

QAnon Anonymous: At The Idaho Open-Carry QAnon Gun Rally Where They Also Sell Healing Crystals

TrashFuture: Neom's Hardest Geezers

[jbs-art]

My tablet is broken for the time being, but thanks to PixaTool, my sketchbook and my handy-dandy sketchpad, I was still able to get this done! This was a commission piece for Youtubers @fuckoregano and Foxcade. You can see the Perfect Parry Podcast here: https://youtu.be/NLmnkodsRSI

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

On the final podcast episode for Taskmaster season 11, Ed Gamble talked to Alex Horne about how people are excited that Victoria Coren Mitchell will be on season 12 (damn right, we are), though many people hoped she and David would be on a season together. Alex replied that they wouldn’t do that, as having two people who knew each other well before the show would mess up the dynamics. I completely agree with that; obviously you’ll get contestants who knew each other beforehand, but choosing contestants who’d already learned how to work closely with each other would destroy some of the magic of watching them figure out how to do that in team tasks.

Ed and Alex agreed that it would be unfair to have a David/Victoria pair against three contestants who were not closely connected to each other, and I think that’s very true. Then they said the only way to have David and Victoria on together in a way that made sense would be to do a version of Taskmaster in which all contestants entered as a pair. Ed and Alex both immediately agreed that that would be a bad idea, and while I realize they both know a lot more than I do about what will work well in a comedy show, I must respectfully disagree. I think a special version of Taskmaster like that would be awesome. And Ed should know that, because he was friends with Rose Matafeo before the show, and his rivalry with her in season 9 was one of my favourite storylines in all of Taskmaster.

I certainly don’t like the idea of a version of Taskmaster that’s all romantic couples. But I could really enjoy a season – or more realistically a one-off special like what we got on New Year in 2021 – with five pairs of people who play as a team and are already used to doing things together (because they’ve worked with each other before and/or just because they’re friends).

Here are some of my helpful suggestions about who could be cast. It includes a mix of people who both have and haven’t been on Taskmaster before. It also starts with two people I’d rather see David and Victoria paired with than each other; I very much like them both, and they seem like an absolutely wonderful couple (seriously, I think most romantic pairings are overrated, but these two seem painfully perfect together), but I think it would be more fun to watch them work with other people and against each other.

- Victoria Coren Mitchell and Claudia Winkleman - David Mitchell and... I should say Lee Mack here, but I think if I could choose anyone I’d want to see him do Taskmaster with Robert Webb - Ed Gamble and James Acaster - Jon Richardson and Russell Howard - Sandi Toksvig and Susan Calman - Dara O’Briain and Ed Byrne - Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd - Lee Mack and Sean Lock - Noel Fielding and Julian Barrett - This one’s a little left field, but Katherine Ryan and Jimmy Carr - Richard Osman and Alexander Armstrong - Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins - Nish Kumar and Rachel Parris - Joe Wilkinson and Susie Dent - Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker (he could win with or without disability accommodation) - Rosie Jones and Joe Lycett (see above) - Armando Iannucci and Rebecca Front - Richard Ayoade and John Oliver (it’s fine, he can fly in from the States, I’m sure he’s not doing anything more important) - Simon Amstell and Russell Brand

[nerdy-bits]

Ghost of Tsushima and PlayStation Prestige Storytelling

There is an unspoken, yet constantly spoken, expectation that exists in the game industry that demands that games change over time. That they evolve. Yet, it is an expectation that is demanded hypocritically, or perhaps misguidedly. 

When I started writing about games I remember holding a firm stance that Call of Duty was actually garbage, because it was all just recycled gameplay with minimal facelift year-to-year. There is this unspoken standard in games, it seems, that demands a distinguishable improvement over time. Yet, it never seems to quantify its own qualifications. What does that improvement entail? Surely graphical and mechanical improvements, yes? Do those expectations also include things like gameplay evolution? Does Last of Us II need to feel different than its predecessor or is it possible to just build on the framework that its priors have already laid?

None of these questions seem to have answers. At least I have never seen anyone take the time to sit down and build a more specific set of guidelines with which one can view a game’s…”uniqueness”? See, I even struggle to find the right word for the concept as a whole. 

So let me start over, if not for you than for myself. 

When I sat behind my desk to start playing Ghost of Tsushima, I was immediately confronted by a feeling of familiarity. I knew how to play this game already. Combat was simple, light and heavy attack, parry, counter-attack. It all felt very Assassin’s Creed 2, or perhaps even Arkham Asylum. Truthfully, I haven’t played the game in close to three months, but the mechanics are so easy to pick up that I have no doubt it would be a breeze to return. 

Ghost of Tsushima, for the last AAA exclusive release on the PS4, is largely a summary of the genre for the last generation and a half. It’s both extremely appropriate and - in a sort of way - unavoidably disappointing. See, Sony has realized its version of what we call Prestige Television. Allow me the short diversion to explain myself. 

In 200, 2008, and 2010 AMC discovered that it could deliver a version of television that bordered on the production value of film, but also allowed its storytellers the ability to tell a story over ten or twelve hours. Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead all established that television need not only be a procedural drama focused on serialized formulaity. They established that building a prolonged narrative arc could pay off, and draw record viewership in the process. Were they the first to do this? No, of course not. The Sopranos, The Wire, and before them the likes of Hill Street Blues, or Wiseguy. But see, the difference between the latter examples there and the former, is the accessibility. Hill Street Blues airing on NBC and Wiseguy on CBS. The Sopranos and The Wire continued the tradition of stellar television but on a far more exclusive stage. HBO wasn’t and still isn’t in most households. Then, at some point in the late 2000s, cable television stepped to the plate, and prestige television reemerged, and this time it propagated outward in every direction. Now nearly every network wants its own prestige show. 

But what does any of this have to do with the Ghost of Tsushima and PlayStation? I think that Sucker Punch is another studio swallowed up by this generation of Playstation Prestige Storytelling. If swallowed up sounds a bit negative, that is on purpose. Last of Us started something, and after seven years of AAA exclusives focused on telling mature stories, Tsushima feels like the perfect bookend to this generation. A generation of exclusives full of prestige storytelling but not particularly full of unique or revolutionary gameplay experiences.

Look at both Last of Us titles, God of War, Uncharted, and Horizon Zero Dawn. It’s hard to find better single player experiences over the last 8 years. Each game is well written, expertly acted, and smartly directed. I deeply enjoyed each one. But over time it was hard to not realize one similarity: PlayStation exclusives don’t really push any boundaries outside of delivering highly manicured story and stunning visuals. 

The toughest part about writing this is making clear that my opinion, despite sounding critical, isn’t. I own my PS4 for these titles. I lap them up hungrily. I feel I’ve just recognized what they are for me. Beyond a way to stay relevant, they act as a window into some of the best writing in the industry. 

Ghost of Tsushima is a beautiful game complimented by an equally beautiful story. That story resides in the most refined version of recycled gameplay mechanics I have ever seen. And what’s more? It absolutely works. Tsushima is the summation of open world games for the last decade. It does very little new, but everything it does, it does markedly better than its predecessors. Arguably its most unique feature is its navigational breeze. Removing the non-diegetic quest marker and dotted-line trail for a more diegetic system that draws the breeze to guide you. The flourish of foliage is stunning almost always, and by hour three I had forgotten that it was a mechanic completely, and felt it more as a system of the world’s design. 

But the combat is Arkham, the exploration is Assassin’s Creed, and the stealth is Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell. But the cutscenes. The attention to detail in exposition and composition is deliberate and masterful. In the opening moments Jin finds his family katana in a dark room. After a flashback, showing you his first moments learning under Lord Shimura, he unsheaths the blade over his head. The high moon shining through the torn walls casting a brilliant silver glare on across the folded steel. He positions the blade in a Jodan Kasumi stance, flaring the light of the moon across his face. This extremely good shit is painted across every scene in this game. 

As much as I found myself quietly laughing at the novelty of a game made of a generation of parts, it wasn’t long before I absolutely didn’t care anymore. 

That’s the trick. The conceit. Prestige television ostensibly didn’t change what film had been doing for decades. Rather it took that formula and drew it out, carried it over to a different medium, and used viewers’ desire for a good story to leverage their attention. God of War takes the Dark Souls formula for combat and boils it down, hones, and tunes it to its purposes. Uncharted is Tomb Raider with a heaping spoonful of Indiana Jones. Last of Us is almost literally apocalyptic Uncharted. Bloodborne is, well, Lovecraftian Dark Souls. You see the point. PlayStation’s story based exclusives, have built upon what has come before to hone something truly special for each of its games. Just not unique.

Podcasting and writing about games independently means you play a lot of games to stay relevant. A lot of games. I end up putting at least a dozen hours into most releases. When I like a game it generally means mainlining it to make way for the next game. I put 110 hours into Valhalla in the month and a half since it has been out. Playing that much means that when games are similar it can start to drag on you. It almost impacted my enjoyment of Ghost of Tsushima. 

I started extremely critical of Tsushima’s willingness to borrow. I thought it cheap and lacking imagination. The story even immediately impacted me as a bit of a general take on very mainstream ideas of Japanese culture. I saw the combat and, though thoroughly enjoying it, kept reminding myself that it is just recycled mechanics. The first five hours of the game I tried so hard to convince myself that Ghost of Tsushima was too much of a copycat to be enjoyed. I’m honestly not even sure what it was that changed my mind. All I know is, around hour six, I realized what was really going on under the hood of Tsushima, and I fell in love with the notion of paying homage to what has come before. And that brings me closer to my point.

Ghost of Tsushima is Assassin’s Creed 2 made better. Logical visual update afforded by the passage of time aside, it’s combat is smoother, systems more diagetic, design more nuanced. It’s the culmination of a generation of games striving to be more. But it’s not the end of that pursuit. While Tsushima is incredible it’s not perfect. There are small flaws. Some persistent, some one off. 

But it’s another step forward. In the journey of PlayStation Prestige Storytelling it is a logical step. An investigation of further leaning on established systems as an avenue for improvement. Expect future titles to do the same. We are definitely getting a second Tsushima game. Count on that. We also know we’re getting another God of War. 

PlayStation exclusives refined themselves this generation. They are heightened storytelling experiences with a tremendous amount of good writing, jaw dropping visuals, and reimagined mechanics. Have they been a consistent wellspring of innovation? No. But then neither has prestige television. It’s a familiar system, twisted and turned, made to look fresh. And it’s perfect, and learning. 

@LubWub ~Caleb

[your-frenchblondgirl]

Marvel's Loki: More Evidence Points To Kang the Conqueror's Debut In Tom Hiddleston Series

The buzz is still building after so much new information was revealed to the public at Disney Investor's Day regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Actors rumored to be in the franchise for the past few months were officially attached to roles, and Marvel CCO Kevin Feige unloaded four never-before-seen trailers for the first four Disney+ shows releasing in 2021.

The show with the least amount of footage seen before this point was Tom Hiddleston's Loki. This new series has had more than a handful of rumors connecting the plot to at least a couple of Phase 4's theatrical movies, and it will put the God of Mischief on an insane solo adventure throughout different areas of both space and time.

Loki has even been said to bring teases for some major plot points going forward in the MCU, which seems to be confirmed by a new social media blast giving more depth to a theory from earlier this year.

NEWS

A recent episode of the Post-Credits Podcast, via Twitter, revealed that Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror is rumored to make his full debut in the Disney+ series Loki. This comes after a rumor from scooper DanielRPK in February that said Loki would simply set up teases and an introduction for Kang.

The full tweet can be seen below:

WHAT THIS MEANS

The Loki series has everything needed for a perfect Kang introduction should this come to fruition. Kang is one of the most prominent time-traveling entities in Marvel Comics. The first trailer for the Disney+ series shows the God of Mischief in a number of unique situations through the course of human history, and with Owen Wilson's Mobius M. Mobius and the Time Variance Authority involved, Kang would appear to be an ideal target with his potential mayhem.

It would also be right in line with how Marvel Studios is working to interconnect the movies with the Disney+ shows so deeply, even with the franchise's next major villain after Josh Brolin's Thanos. Captain Marvel 2 will co-star both Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel and Teyonnah Parris' Monica Rambeau after their respective appearances in Ms. Marvel and WandaVision. This will also work the other way around too with series like She-Hulk, which will include appearances by Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner and Tim Roth's Abomination.

Kang's first reported appearance will be in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as officially confirmed by Feige, but he should already have plenty of momentum after his introduction in Loki. There are no details as to how he will specifically make his way into Tom Hiddleston's series, but it should go down as one of the most memorable moments in Phase 4 when it does.

Loki is set to premiere on Disney+ in May 2021.

x

[craftedincarhartt]

Shop Small with these Women Owned Businesses

It's that time of year again, when we're all looking to support the small businesses our communities hold dear. Purchasing goods and services from the pillars of your favorite neighborhood is the best way to show your support.

Below you'll find a list of 15 Women Owned Small Businesses. If you shop online this holiday season, don't forget these incredibly hard working folks.

1.) Messner Bee Farm

Rachael Messner of Messner Bee Farm in Kansas City spun her hobby into a flourishing business. Her operations began as a 900 square foot urban farm. Over years of never giving up despite what different seasons showered upon her, Rachael and her family now live on a full-fledged bee farm. You can even stop by for a tour if you'd like to know more about where your honey comes from.  

“Honeybees pollinate over one-third of all the fruits and vegetables we eat. Of course they also make honey! The best way people can help bees is by minimizing their use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, and supporting other organizations that do the same. Buy local honey, support your local beekeeper.” –Rachael Messner

Shop some of Rachael's products here. Read more about Rachael's story here.

2.) Woodward Throwbacks

Bo Shepherd and her partner Kyle started Woodward Throwbacks in 2013 as a means to repurpose much of the discarded lumber and abandoned antiques that plagued Detroit's streets. Their shop has moved from location to location, each time scaling up and offering even more goods and services.  

I started re-purposing found wood back in college but it became a serious hobby once I met Kyle. We used to bike around the city exploring different neighborhoods and during our excursions we noticed an abundance of wood from illegal dumping sites. We combined our love for the city and the idea that taking materials found in the street would also help clean our neighborhoods." -Bo Shepherd

Through their website you can shop salvaged doors, custom made and reclaimed furniture, and handmade goods. Read more about Bo's story here.

3.) Seattle Urban Farm Co.

Hilary Dahl is co-owner of Seattle Urban Farm Co. and host of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast. The podcasts are quick lessons in farming, each one is easy to access—you can listen to them online and read the highlights.

Seattle Urban Farm Co. offers many services, and they differ from customer to customer. Their knowledgeable team can plan, build, and maintain the urban farm you always wanted but never thought you could personally manage—perfect for those of us who may not have a green thumb, but love the idea of homegrown tomatoes.

If you are an aspiring farmer or gardener, browse the different webinars Seattle Urban Farm Co has to offer on their website, ranging from soil health to harvesting techniques. These online lessons are a great gift (for yourself or loved ones).

Read more about Hilary's story here.

4.) Homestead Wisconsin

Brit McCoy is a woman of many talents. She’s a full time farmer, runs her own flower business, and works at her family's business, The Wood Cycle. Making strides in her career alongside her family is the most challenging and most fulfilling part of the job

Brit majored in Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University. Upon returning to Wisconsin, she and her husband Matt founded their own farm, first selling their ethically raised meat, eventually expanding their reach.

“My business started just like my father’s, to make our hobby our career. I started raising livestock as soon as I could afford to feed them." -Brit McCoy

You can order a box of their fine grass-fed beef and lamb here. Read more about Brit's story here.

5.) Blue Marble Ice Cream

Ten years ago, Jennie Dundas and Alexis Gallivan, opened Blue Marble Ice Cream in Brooklyn. Their products are entirely organic, made from only high quality ingredients, and absolutely no hormones, antibiotics, harmful pesticides or artificial additives. Manufacturing in New York with ethical and sustainable practices is crucial to this woman-run company.

“Nobody can really be sad eating ice cream, can they?” -Susan Jo, Ice Cream Chef

Ship Blue Marble Ice Cream straight to your front door here.

6.) Sustainable Crafted Wooden Goods by Alexandra Climent

Meet woodworker Alexandra Climent. She operates out of her own shop in Brooklyn. Her passion for the extraordinary wood she found in the jungle lead her to teach herself the trade.

All of the products Alexandra makes are set apart from other wooden goods. She sustainably sources her materials from the jungle, befriending locals and working with each regions’ governments along the way. The wood she harvests and brings back to her shop is ancient, packed tightly over years and years.

“The wood I use is some of the most dense in the world. When you put it in the water it sinks and termites can’t even penetrate it. It’s like working with steel, and it breaks pretty much any blade.” -Alexandra Climent

Shop Alexandra's one-of-a-kind creations here. Read more about Alexandra here.

7.) Sculptures by Amber Jean

From giant sculptures made from entire trees to carvings that fit in your hand, the interplay between humans and nature is the driving force behind Amber’s work. She put herself through college, finding work in the great outdoors that fueled her passion for earth and art.

Amber helped build the Continental Divide Trail, was part of the first all female crew at the Forest Service in Bozeman, fought forest fires in West Yellowstone, and was the first female wilderness ranger based out of the West Yellowstone District.

Amber was the first woman to carve in the country of Bhutan for the Prime Minister. She's created many large scale works that have earned her great recognition in the art community. And she even gave a Ted Talk about her work.

"I never wasted energy grumbling at, whining about or looking for prejudices. I just got to work, stayed curious, made lots of mistakes, and kept after it.” –Amber Jean

Shop Amber's sculptures here.

8.) Circa Ceramics

Nancy Witt and her husband Andy have been making their wares in the Chicago neighborhood of Ravenswood since 2001. Their signature style is iconic in the windy city, with their Chicago flag items constantly flying off the shelves.

Browse their online shop here. See behind the scenes into their studio here.

9.) Greta de Parry Design

Greta is a classically trained woodworker and sculptor in the Chicago area. She's been designing and making furniture since 2007. Her collection consists of clean lines and minimalist touches.  

Shop Greta's furniture here. Read more about her story here.

10.) The Little Flower Soap Co.

Michigan florist, Holly Rutt, started making soaps as a hobby. Combining her love for nature and interest in healing plant extractions and essential oils, she and her husband created a line of body care products. After realizing how much steam her side gig was gaining, Holly decided to devote the majority of her time to The Little Flower Soap Co.



“The maker movement is in full swing there has never been a better time to start your own small business. If you think your life would be better as your own boss in a creative field than get started and stick with it.” —Holly Rutt

Shop Holly's body care products here. Read more about Holly's story here.

11.) The Elk Coffee Shop

This charming coffee shop in the West Village of New York is owned by Claire Chan. Five years ago, she took over the space, renovated, and reopened with her grand vision in mind.

“I feel so proud of the all women-run businesses I see popping up, especially right now. At a time where women’s rights and female empowerment is more relevant than ever, it is important to express your ideas and exercise your values so that others will be encouraged to do the same. There’s strength in numbers, and it feels amazing to surround yourself with like-minded and strong women!” -Claire Chan

If you're in NYC, you can order The Elk's offerings straight to your door here. Read more about The Elk here.

12.) Amaltheia Dairy Farm

Amaltheia Dairy Farm in Montana is a family run operation.

“We have had our farm for over 20 years. We love the Bozeman area and our goats get to enjoy beautiful scenery and seasons we have here. It’s beautiful every day. The best thing about what we do is to provide nutritious, delicious organic goat cheeses, pork, and vegetables to people. Those people appreciate being able to get great food and are thankful. It is a symbiotic relationship.

We have been making cheese for 17 years, certified organic for 12 years. We are sustainable farmers and try to utilize all of our resources and byproducts responsibly. We use the whey from the cheese to feed organic hogs and compost and use all of our manure for fields and gardens." -Co Owner, Sue Brown

Ship some some of the famous Amaltheia Dairy Farm goat cheese straight to your front door here. Read more about the family here.

13.) Pewabic Pottery

Pewabic Pottery in Detroit was founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry Stratton. Her ceramics were nationally renowned, landing her a spot in the Michigan’s Women Hall of Fame. Mary went on to win several awards and established the ceramics department at the University of Michigan. The touch she had on Michigan and the arts and crafts community will always be remembered. The shop is still operating to this day and is now a National Historic Landmark.

Shop some of their trademark Pewabic blue pieces here.

14.) Live Edge Detroit

In 2016, Jenny, her brother Joe, and her dad Mike founded Live Edge. They now salvage the trees that Mike’s company removes. Once the wood has been cut and taken back to their warehouse, the crew mills them into new usable material.

“Our vision for Live Edge Detroit was to develop a branch of Mike’s Tree Surgeons, Inc. that focused on salvaging our local resources and making them available for the community to enjoy for many more years to come. Our long term goals are to uphold that initial vision and to see it bloom into a more sustainable and profitable branch of the family business. We aren’t planning to take over the world, but we want to make a difference within the community, and we feel that starts right here in our own backyard.” -Jenny Barger

Shop Live Edge's offerings here. Read more about the family business here.

15.) Five Marys Farms

A few years ago, Mary and her husband Brian were high-powered Silicon Valley lawyers/entrepreneurs who traded it all away to live the Carhartt way of life. Armed with a strong work ethic and the fearlessness to ask lots of questions, the couple and their four daughters who all share the first name of Mary – but who go by their middle name to keep things “simple” – have proudly become a fully-functioning ranch that sells its meats all over the country.

“I am so proud of the life we get to give our girls living and working together on the ranch,” Mary beams when talking about being the mother of four young farm girls. “I don’t think I gave my girls enough credit before we moved here,” she continues, “I made their lunches and filled their water bottles and did all of their laundry, not really expecting them to do too much. By necessity, when we moved to the ranch the girls had to step up to the plate and start helping more, and they are so much more capable because of it.”

Shop Five Mary's here. Read more about this amazing family here.

[thelostcatpodcast]

THE LOST CAT PODCAST TRANSCRIPTS: SEASON 4: THE HOLLOW CITY: EPISODE 06

SEASON 4: THE HOLLOW CITY: EPISODE 06

Episode released 16th November 2018

http://thelostcat.libsyn.com/season-4-the-hollow-city-episode-6

The last thing she remembered was climbing down a bottomless pit in order to  find a Vampire, and then had been chased by a horde of Vampires. Lisica was not a person naturally given to regret. She said regret was like a rear-view mirror for the soul

She awoke, with no idea where she was.

She awoke, and looked up, and said “oh dear”.

THE LOST CAT PODCAST SEASON 4, BY A P CLARKE: THE HOLLOW CITY: EPISODE 6

Standing over her were a dozen dark ladies, but different somehow from the one she had met on the street.

They were completely without colour, to the point of being monotonal. Their make up cut harsh lines and brutal shapes across their faces, emphasising their bone structure until their cheeks were as sharp as their teeth.

She was in a large chamber of stone and wood, lit by candle light, scented by incense, and with carpets so old the colours had bled.

Lisica gently tested her movement for injury, and her back for her sword. She had neither.

The dark lady at the centre of the crowd leant in.

“Ah sisters, it awakes,” said the lady, and the way the others listened suggested she was in a position of some authority. “And what do we think of our little minnow?”

The style was theatrical. Her behaviours highly mannered. She was performing in some way, for her sister Vampires.

Another sister leant in to Lisica, right in to her face. The Vampire made a show of inspecting every part of her. She sniffed and rose.

“Well, Sister Zubi, it is certainly a lot of make-up, suggestive of a great passion in the application, if not the effect.”

This got a huge laugh from the gathered. Lisica was clearly being used as a play-thing.

She looked around to try and get her bearings.

The head Vampire meanwhile, this sister Zubi, continued. “And what, do you think, my sisters, brings her here?”

“To steal?” said one. “I found her in the gathering rooms.”

“To destroy? She had a weapon,” said another.

“A ha yes. Bless,” said Sister Zubi. She turned to Lisica. “Perhaps you thought you actually might cause us some harm?”

And she rose briefly to accept the laughter, before leaning in again. 

“I am afraid, my dear one, we have plucked your tooth. Now: why are you here?”

“Oh,” said Lisica, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. “I’m sure you wouldn’t understand the reason.” and then she leant up to meet the Hollows Vampire’s face. “You see I just felt it. In my guts.”

“Hah!” She rose up, this Sister Zubi, again in a melodramatic move meant to concentrate all attention on her. “What matter of it why the cow enters the slaughterhouse. So sisters: do we consume her? Deliver her unto the Plunge?”

And the bone-white sisters became very excited at this.

“Oh, throw her in to the plunge!” they said.

“Grind her up alive!” they called.

“Oh yes! Yes!”

“Where is the tall one?” Lisica interjected, interrupted the flow. “The one with red and blue in her eyes.”

And the leader, Sister Zubi, whirled round with a flash of rage on her face, then she caught herself, and controlled herself in front of her sisters, and then she roared with laughter.

“Oh I see! This is it. My sisters, I do believe this little girl is in love! Scampering down drain pipes after her petty fancy. You are nothing but meat to be harvested! Do think you can gain a dark lady’s favour? All you will gain is death.”

“I would die for love, but I have killed for a good deal less.”

The vampire hissed.

Lisica rose to meet her.

And then a great cry rose up in the chamber, “ENOUGH!”

And a new swarm of dark ladies swept in to the chamber then. These women all had the feel of velvet, the look of rubies on silk. The two groups faced off against each other in the chamber.

Lisica realised the power relationship functioning here. 

One group made their make-up from the bloods of Wholes. The others used only the bones. They were The Blood Sisters and The Bone Sisters and there was no love lost there. Trapped together in their perversity, they hissed at each other in the chamber. This explained a great deal about the posturing going on. There was a knife-edge positioning-game playing out here in front of her.

And at the head of the Blood Sister, Ah now SHE was the one: the dark lady that Lisica had met the night previous, and she looked even more regal than before. God, she was luminous.

“What are you doing with this one?”

“Greetings Sister Cyraliene.” 

“Zubi-Sister.”

“This one is an intruder! A defiler.”

“This one? I have seen her. She was helping the Hollows just last night.”

“Then she is a sentimental weakling!”

“I saw her fight well.”

“Oh? So you what were you doing there, Sister Cyra?”

“I take my kills on the battlefield, Zubi-Sister.”

“Like some fetid scavenger!”

They bared their claws at each other. They leapt towards each other. Where their claws clashed against each other was a screech as of metal. They landed, perfectly poised facing each other again.

“Stay your slavering for flesh for one moment,” said Cyraliene. “She is here at all! And this should be enough to keep her alive, at least for the moment. No-one else has ever entered here without permission. I demand to find out why.”

And Sister Zubi straightened up, stifling laughter, feeling the upper hand was hers.

“Fine!” she declared. “Tell us dear little girl,” and she leered at Lisica. “Why are you here?”

And the Bone Sisters all laughed.

Now: it was clear the Vampires’ code was one of extreme self-interest, helping no others but oneself, for none were worth the effort on one’s own desires. And, as with any grouping based on claims of freedom, there was intense positioning to demonstrate the purity of their self-regard to the others.

But Lisica knew. She was sure that this Cyraliene had helped her last night. She had come to their aid. She was sure of this and she was willing to bet a great deal on that suriey.

But Lisica was sure not to say this. She recognised the fragility of a hierarchy when she saw one. She saw this Cyraliene, standing majestic and uncaring, barely even acknowledging her on the floor, but making sure she could see every reaction of every corner of the room. The Vampire was weighing up the situation. And she looked great doing it, too. The situation was tense, and Cyraliene could lose much positioning if it was played wrong.  Lisica had to do something. 

And, dammit, she was sure. 

So Lisica stood, shucked her collar, strutted as hard as she could, and declared to the room at large:

“This one took my kill! and I want it back.”

“No-one is allowed here,” Cyraliene coiled back.

And then Lisica got right up in to Cyraliene’s face, shouting for the whole room.

“I go where I will!”

They locked eyes, and Lisica stared in to the Vampire’s diamond sharp gaze, looking for a clue. Anything. Was there a tightening of the eyes there? A signal? It was almost impossible to see through that perfect and implacable mask of glamour.

Cyraliene hissed, “give this... ruminant her sword.”

And on her face, nothing but rage.

A man walked at that command, wearing a tuxedo and carrying Lisica’s equipment. Lisica was practiced now, and could tell that he was a Whole. A normal human. He gave the equipment to her, turned and left, never taking his eyes from the floor.

Lisica watched him leave, and then raised her sword. She cut her thumb on the blade, and then marked two lines in blood to her eyes, and staring right at Cyraliene she said “I mark myself hunter, and I will have my prey tonight.”

Cyraliene bowed and said, “the butcher honours the butchered” and then bared her claws.

And in that chamber, deep underground, surrounded by ladies both Blood and Bone, they weaved, they parried. Lisica gently prodded at the Vampire’s space, and Cyraliene parried the thrusts with moves so quick Lisica did not even see them, only the sparks that flew up where her claws met the blade.

Lisica stared Cyraliene down, trying to discern anything from her, and getting nothing.

Well, thought Lisica, either way, better make this look good.

So Lisica attacked, and they fought up and down the chamber, surrounding themselves in sparks.

“Is this all you have?” sneered Cyraliene as she spun her claws.

“You have no idea what secrets I hold!” cried Lisica, as she pirouetted away, adding “inside!”, as she went.

“I have watched you since you blew up the warehouse last night. Oh, yes I have seen what you are made of!” the vampire hissed, and then cartwheeled over and ran her claws right up to Lisica’s hilt. “And I have not been impressed!”

The sparks lit up the eyes of the watching vampires in orgies of silvers and reds. And the eyes were wide with rapture at what was a very good show indeed.

The two pushed each other away, and they faced off once more.

Well, here we go, thought Lisica, and she lunged heavily, and the vampire leapt up on top of the blade, balancing perfectly, then up again to stand on the ceiling, looking down.

“Damn.” Said Lisica.

And then Cyraliene launched down towards Lisica and pinned her against the back wall, the sword clattering away.

Lisica struggled but her body was engulfed by the Dark Lady. The Vampire drew in so close the only thing Lisica could see were her eyes.

And Lisica stared in to those perfect eyes. 

And then, so close no-one else could see but her, the mask cracked, just a fraction and the vampire seemed to smile.

And in that space, they shared a look. And everything was perfectly still.

And then Lisica relaxed herself completely, and the Cyraliene’s smile turned in to a snarl, and the Vampire plunged its teeth in to her neck. 

Lisica gasped at the intensity of the pain, and then collapsed, unconscious, on to the floor.

And Sister Cyraliene rose to her full height and addressed the chamber, “she is mine, she is sweet and I will make feed of her slowly. Come sisters, I will not entertain our colleagues any more.”

Sister Zubi scoffed and melodramatically left the chamber, followed by her Bone Sisters. Cyraliene, back-turned, gave a look at her Blood Sisters that could have read as relief.

Lisica woke up in the brick sewers, some distance from the plunge, but close enough for the smell. A note, impaled upon her blade read: ‘Do Not Return’.

It was written in her own blood.

She rubbed at her neck, and covered the wound with a handkerchief.

“Damn,” she said

 And she hurried back to the central concourse where Bowen was waiting for her, casually on a bench.

“You alright there, Lisica?”

“Oh I’m sweet.”

“So: you ready for a mission?” asked Bowen.

And Lisica smiled widely.

“Sure.”

THIS HAS  BEEN THE SIXTH EPISODE OF THE HOLLOW CITY, THE FOURTH SEASON OF THE LOST CAT PODCAST, WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY A P CLARKE. COPYRIGHT 2018.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

Links

thelostcat.libsyn.com

twitter.com/LostCatPod

thelostcatpodcast.tumblr.com

facebook.com/lostcatpodcast

soundcloud.com/a-p-clarke/sets/the-lost-cat-podcast

apclarke.bandcamp.com/releases

[thewanderingswordsman2030]

We have finally reached the end. Will Jin defeat The Eagle? Will he overcome the demons of his past? Will I ever git gud at perfect parrying? Find out on the Season Finale of Ghost Of Tsushima: Iki Island, premiering live on YouTube at 12 PM EST!!! #twitch #youtube #gaming #streaming #kareemtalksgamestart #kthacreator #sony #consolegaming #pcgaming #pcmasterrace #videogames #gamer #xbox #playstation #emulators #contentcreator #contentcreation #content #editing #pictures #thumbnails #blackcontentcreators #digitalcontent #podcasting #livestreaming #ghostoftsushima #ikiisland https://www.instagram.com/p/CY9IjNWOFy0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[gamebrocorey-blog]

Dead Cells First Impressions: OHHHH YAAAAAH!

   I listen to a lot of video game podcasts during my job and workout, and many if not all have been giving upmost PRAISE to a new indie game called Dead Cells. I heard about Dead Cells ages ago when it initially released on Steam in early access. I knew it was going to be great but wanted to wait for the full experience, plus I saw it was coming to the Switch. I actually pre-purchased this game a few weeks before it’s launch and didn’t get around to playing it until a few days ago. All I can say is IF I WASN’T WRITING THIS BLOG RIGHT NOW I’D BE PLAYING DEAD CELLS!!! OH MY GOD IS THIS GAME GREAT!!! Dead Cells in simple terms is a rogue-lite metroidvania 2D action game... I guess those aren’t that simple of words. It’s basically a 2D action game that changes every time you play it. You’re always finding new weapons, enemies and secrets, as well as getting cells to unlock some permanent upgrades. Oh yah, didn’t I mention every time you die, you restart from the beginning? Thus is the nature of rogue-lites, but that’s why I love them! Dead Cells mixes challenge of a Souls game with exploration of a metroidvania, and I’m absolutely in love! 

   As challenging of a game Dead Cells is, they still help new players out right from the get-go. The first run you have in Dead Cells is almost like a tutorial, showing you the basics of how to play and how the items work. Once you play some more runs though, it’s all on you. Figure it out genius!!! I’ve played for about 3 hours and I’m still learning and perfecting the runs. I remember starting very slow, than going very fast and dying constantly, now I move pretty fast through the levels while barely getting touched. The combat is a good mix of easy and hard. Attacks all depend on the type of weapon you’re currently using. The game starts you out with a pretty quick short sword, but you can find even faster daggers or strong slow heavy weapons. Most attacks performed by enemies are very drawn out so that you have a window to dodge or parry. Whenever you start are run, you are given the choice of taking a bow or a shield. The bow acts as a projectile weapon, while the shield can be used to block and parry, as well as absorb some minor damage.This choice at the beginning really showcases the fundamentals of Dead Cells, play the game how you like! The more and more you play, the more items you unlock and the more combos you find! Discovery and exploration is a BIG role in good metroidvanias, and Dead Cells even does this right!

   Dead Cells has two different types of exploration progression that works great and is fantastic. One is time sealed doors. As your progress into the hard levels of the game, you will find doors that look like hourglasses that are either blue or red. If they’re red, they will be locked and a message will appear saying how much time you were short of unlocking the door and you will have to try again next time. But if they’re blue, you sure did go fast and can pass through the door to obtain your prize of power-ups and gold! I also believe some of these timed doors can lead to new areas as well as unlock more lore in the game, but I can’t confirm this yet. The other type of progression is through platforming options closed off by runes. Runes are unlocked by beating specific mini-bosses, and are permanent unlocks that allow the player to access new areas through various means. The first rune you unlock allows you to to create a ladder out of a pile of cells, unlocking access to new areas! As you play the Dead Cells, you will find many different road blocks in platforming that you will realize will need a specific rune. This and the fact that each run is different adds vast replay-ability to the game overall! I was a huge fan of The Binding of Isaac and can tell Dead Cells is going to consume MANY of my hours! I hope to report back in a week or two for a full review of Dead Cells! Now if you excuse me, TIME FOR MORE DEAD CELLS! 

[livesets-dj-mixes-edm-podcasts]

Download Gai Barone - Patterns 437 for free now!

Artist: Gai Barone Show: Gai Barone – Patterns 437 Quality: 320 Kbps 48000 Khz Genre: House Source: RSS

Discover more Gai Barone live sets & radioshows HERE | Listen or download more Patterns episodes HERE

Gai Barone – Patterns 437 Tracklist

An esteemed career stretching over a decade has seen Gai Barone become one of electronic music’s most sought after artists. The renowned musician and Italian native has long been one of the industry’s most fascinating producers. An unrivalled quest for the creation of something uniquely memorable and deeply moving has fuelled his sonic journey.

As a true craftsman, it is this drive for excellence that makes each one of Gai’s studio creations met with much anticipation. Never one to be pigeonholed into a specific stylistic blueprint, the Italian artist effortlessly melds genres for a sound that is all his own. It’s this unique cross pollination and attention to detail which generates emotion on a spiritual level.

This uncanny knack has not gone unnoticed, as his fresh, organic and masterfully musical creations have found favour with the industries trendiest artists. It is this elite status which has seen Gai travel the world and showcase his unique vision, delighting crowds in Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, UK, USA and more. Although Gai’s creations are already deeply entrenched in the hearts of music fans across the globe, it’s his eternal lust for perfection moving forward into the future that holds endless possibilities as to how far his unique talents will reach.

Gorkiz K Loveski – Echos Of Eons (Greenage Remix) ID Abstrakt Digital – Winter Solstice (Gai Barone Remix) Marc DePulse & Steve Parry – Lokalmatador Luca Guerrieri – Melodie Moullinex – Luz ft GPU Panic Michael Hooker – Get Into The Vibe (Original Mix) Michael Burns, Blue Haze vs Tash – Into Nothing (RIP Bill Hamel Rework) Augustine Wrong – Trust x Love (Gai Barone Remix) Quench & The Journey – Dreams Saytek – Goya

The podcast Gai Barone – Patterns is embedded on this page from an open RSS feed. All files, descriptions, artwork and other metadata from the RSS-feed is the property of the podcast owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by EDMliveset.com.

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit & VK

[edmlivesets4u-blog]

Listen or download Gai Barone - Patterns 437 for free now!

Artist: Gai Barone Show: Gai Barone – Patterns 437 Quality: 320 Kbps 48000 Khz Genre: House Source: RSS

Discover more Gai Barone live sets & radioshows HERE | Listen or download more Patterns episodes HERE

Gai Barone – Patterns 437 Tracklist

An esteemed career stretching over a decade has seen Gai Barone become one of electronic music’s most sought after artists. The renowned musician and Italian native has long been one of the industry’s most fascinating producers. An unrivalled quest for the creation of something uniquely memorable and deeply moving has fuelled his sonic journey.

As a true craftsman, it is this drive for excellence that makes each one of Gai’s studio creations met with much anticipation. Never one to be pigeonholed into a specific stylistic blueprint, the Italian artist effortlessly melds genres for a sound that is all his own. It’s this unique cross pollination and attention to detail which generates emotion on a spiritual level.

This uncanny knack has not gone unnoticed, as his fresh, organic and masterfully musical creations have found favour with the industries trendiest artists. It is this elite status which has seen Gai travel the world and showcase his unique vision, delighting crowds in Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, UK, USA and more. Although Gai’s creations are already deeply entrenched in the hearts of music fans across the globe, it’s his eternal lust for perfection moving forward into the future that holds endless possibilities as to how far his unique talents will reach.

Gorkiz K Loveski – Echos Of Eons (Greenage Remix) ID Abstrakt Digital – Winter Solstice (Gai Barone Remix) Marc DePulse & Steve Parry – Lokalmatador Luca Guerrieri – Melodie Moullinex – Luz ft GPU Panic Michael Hooker – Get Into The Vibe (Original Mix) Michael Burns, Blue Haze vs Tash – Into Nothing (RIP Bill Hamel Rework) Augustine Wrong – Trust x Love (Gai Barone Remix) Quench & The Journey – Dreams Saytek – Goya

The podcast Gai Barone – Patterns is embedded on this page from an open RSS feed. All files, descriptions, artwork and other metadata from the RSS-feed is the property of the podcast owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by EDMliveset.com.

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit & VK

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[jbs-art]

Recently finished commission for the Perfect Parry Podcast

[marypicken]

It’s almost noon in Stirling and the Golden Lion is buzzing with crime writers waiting for the unveiling of this year’s programme.

This intrepid blogger is waiting to hear all the details while simultaneously and surreptitiously refreshing the Bloody Scotland website to try and book tickets before the smallest and arguably therefore, the most popular event, Crime at the Coo, sells out.

I’m here at the launch to get the news hot off the press, so excited am I to attend this festival which features the very best of Scottish and international crime writing as well as giving a great profile for new writers in the genre.

So, what can lovers of crime fiction look forward to from 21 – 23 September?

At the launch with Alexander McCall Smith, Bloody Scotland revealed that the festival will close on 23 September with Irvine Welsh.

Alexander McCall Smith

Irvine Welsh

 This year’s gala opening will take place on Friday 21 September where the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year will be presented. Denise Mina and Val McDermid will then lead a torchlight procession – which the public are very much encouraged to participate in – to their event followed by a performance from the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers.

Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers

 Other leading authors on the programme include international superstar Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Chris Brookmyre, Mark Billingham,  PeterJames, Stuart Macbride, Quintin Jardine, Denzil Meyrick, Martyn Waites and Bloody Scotland board members old (Lin Anderson, Craig Robertson, Gordon Brown) and new (Abir Mukherjee)

 There are also experts in their field including BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, forensic scientists Dr Richard Shepherd and Professor Sue Black, Kate Bendelow, author of The Real CSI and consultant anaesthetist, Dr Marisa Haetzman who forms the other half of Ambrose Parry along with husband Chris Brookmyre.

Ambrose Parry

 Two book to TV events follow last year’s sell out event with Ann Cleeves and Douglas Henshall. MC Beaton will be appearing with cast and crew of her Agatha Raisin series and Helen Fitzgerald with an actor from the new TV adaptation of The Cry.

 On the international front Bloody Scotland has a very special relationship with the Word Festival in Christchurch and will be welcoming Fiona Sussman and Paul Cleave, two winners of the Ngaio Marsh Prize, thanks to funding from Creative New Zealand. Also among those from 14 countries attending are Ragnar Jonasson, Simone Bucholz and Lilja Sigurdardottir and the (fan girl moment) amazing Sandrone Daziero.

Simone Bucholz

Lilja Sigurðardóttir

Sandrone Daziero

Bloody Scotland likes to nurture new talent ranging from  ‘support acts’ in the Spotlight sessions who read from their newly published books before the headliners in the Albert Halls to the aspiring authors who get the chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of publishers and agents. Alison Belsham who won Pitch Perfect two years ago will be back this year with her debut The Tattoo Thief which has just been published by Trapeze. 

The Golden Lion will remain the social hub of the Festival with a Waterstones bookshop, well stocked bar, the ballroom for events and green room / press office. The Albert Halls will remain the largest venue with capacity for 700 and Allan Park South Church will also be used with bookshops at each.

Perennial favourites the quiz, the play and the Scotland v England crime writers football match (this year captained by Chris Brookmyre and Mark Billingham) will all be back along with last year’s surprise (to some)  hit, a live podcast of Two Crime Writers and a Microphone hosted by Steve Cavanagh & Luca Veste which generated as many laughs as the Crime at the Coo cabaret. Bloody Scotland will also be presenting their  first ever musical, an original piece from the pen of Sophie Hannah.

Bob McDevitt, Bloody Scotland Director

It’s a brilliant event – Scotland’s best and you will not want to miss it! So get clicking now, before the tickets disappear like snow off a dyke, as we say in Scotland.

The Bloody Scotland website is here.

Follow Bloody Scotland on Twitter @BloodyScotland and on Facebook.

Bloody Scotland is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Funding, Stirling Council,the Open University and Stirling University. Stirling Gin have remained a sponsor for a second year running and are kindly providing Bloody Scotland cocktails at both programme launches. Waterstone’s will once again be our festival bookseller and other sponsors include The Faculty of Advocates, The Sunday Times Crime Club, Headline Publishing and The Crime Vault We have also secured a number of new sponsors including H W Fisher who are specifically sponsoring the London launch and the green room during the Festival.

BLOODY SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL REVEALS 2018 PROGRAMME INCLUDING TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION & A STELLAR CAST OF NAMES STIRLING 21-23 SEPTEMBER 2018 @ brownlee_donald @bloodyscotland #crimefestival It’s almost noon in Stirling and the Golden Lion is buzzing with crime writers waiting for the unveiling of this year’s programme.