Dan Q

Blog

git diff –name-only –diff-filter=M

Note to future self: when you want git to tell you all the files you’ve modified, but not those you’ve deleted (e.g. to pipe through xargs and feed to your linter for bulk-linting), the command you’re looking for is –

git diff –name-only –diff-filter=M

Note posted at UTC on .

No comments

Dan Q found GCAPFH3 Cherry Blossom

This checkin to GCAPFH3 Cherry Blossom reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Third time’s the charm. I don’t live too far away and I’m often found cycling to, from, or through Eynsham. As a result, I’ve on two previous occasions come to this GZ with a view to finding this cache… and both times have been glorious summer weekend days when the adjacent café has been brim full of guests, and I’ve declared it “too muggley” and backed off.

Today, though, is a gloomy and overcast day, with rain on the way and a threat of thunderstorms. So as I cycled by, on my way home from the dentist, I stopped by. I quickly found and retrieved the cache, signed the log, and returned it to its spot.

Now I’d better see if I can pedal all the way home before the clouds burst! TFTC.

Dan Q did not find GC74Z2R Metal bridge cache

This checkin to GC74Z2R Metal bridge cache reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Stopped by while cycling back from Witney. Made a moderately thorough search above and below the titular bridge, without success. Might benefit from a checkin/note from the CO.

Dan, standing by his bike on an iron footbridge over marshy ground, makes an exaggerated shrugging gesture.

Maybe I’m just not seeing it, or else maybe it’s vanished in the six months since its last successful find. Great place for a cache, though!

×

Note #26746

In case you weren’t already a little nervous or uneasy going in to the dental clinic, the doorstop at my dentist’s front door will fix that for you.

Sculpture of a rock with a zipper mouth behind which can be seen an uncannily-realistic set of teeth.

×

Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella

Cover for Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella. It's bright green with a mixture of pink and black uppercase letters, with a colour sketch of the head of a slavering wolf in the centre.What can I possibly say about Bored Gay Werewolf, which caught my attention with the garish colours of its front cover when I saw it in Waterstones and whose blurb suggested that it might, perhaps, be a queer fantasy romp with a Buffy-esque sense of humour.

Werewolf? Sure, it’s got a few of those. There’s even a bit of fun, offbeat humour each time the protagonist reflects on their curious monthly cycle and tries to work out whether they attacked or even killed anybody this time around. But mostly it’s not a story about werewolf: it’s a story about a slacker who gets suckered into a pyramid scheme, with just a hint of lycanthropy around the fringes.

Gay? I mean: the protagonist’s gay, and many of their friends are queer… and while the representation is good, sexuality doesn’t feel like it’s a particularly significant issue to the storyline. I enjoyed the parallels that were drawn between Brian’s coming-out as gay versus his (for most of the story) closeted werewolf nature – which even though I saw them coming from the first chapter onwards were still well-presented – but apart from that it almost felt like gayness wasn’t a central theme to the story. A smidge of homophobia, some queer culture references, and a throwaway Grindr hookup with a closeted MSM dude do not contribute enough homosexuality to justify “gay” being the largest, pinkest word on a novel’s cover, if you ask me.

Bored? I was, at some points in the book, but I’m not convinced that’s what was intended. The pacing’s a little inconsistent: a long and drawn-out description of an exercise routines overshadows an exploration of the impact of werewolf super-senses, for example. And a long-foreshadowed fight scene finale feels like it’s over in an instant (with a Van Helsing ex Machina twist that felt simultaneously like the brakes being slammed on and a set-up for an inevitable sequel).

I sound pretty negative about it, I’m sure. But it’s not actually bad. It’s just not actually good, either. It’s a passable, middle-of-the-road time-filler with an interesting hook, a few funny set pieces (I laughed out loud a couple of times, for sure), and a set of misfit characters who spend most of the book feeling a little… incomplete? Though it’s possible that latter point’s at-least partially deliberate, as this is without a doubt a “Gen-Z Grows Up” story. Maybe if I were younger and didn’t yet have my shit together the story would appeal better.

×

Article posted at UTC on .

No comments

Dan Q did not find GC9M1WJ Village Hall series 1179 – Mortimer Hall Marston

This checkin to GC9M1WJ Village Hall series 1179 - Mortimer Hall Marston reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

Had to give up on this one for now. Found the plaque without difficulty and soon had a believable set of coordinates (though I briefly struggled with what was meant by the D & E description). Soon I was at the GZ and, after a brief hunt through the multitude of possible hosts, tried the hint. No use, though: I’m no wiser what I should be looking for. Sadly this is only a flying visit to Marston and I’ve got to go wrangle the kids now, but maybe I’ll revisit next time I’m in the area.

Dan Q found GC9GJZH Dotty writes letters

This checkin to GC9GJZH Dotty writes letters reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

I’m in Marston on an errand and figured I’d pick up a couple of local caches that weren’t around when I was last in the vicinity: which I guess was way back when I lived near here! The puzzle didn’t leave me stumped for long, but I always used to score highly at Dotty’s kind of game! TFTC.

Dan Q found GC9GEC1 Church Micro 14176…Old Marston

This checkin to GC9GEC1 Church Micro 14176...Old Marston reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

A quick and easy offset church micro if ever I saw one. I’ll tell you what, I totally approve of this form of formula – this letter is this number plus or minus something, ten just string them all together – rather than the more-common algebraic backflips one sometimes has to do. SL, TFTC!

Outside a Norman-style church, Dan throws a thumbs-up sign.

×

Dan Q found GCANV4T #14 Longworth Loop

This checkin to GCANV4T #14 Longworth Loop reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

While I searched through potential hosts in this off-the-path GZ, the geopup just stood in one particular place, looking at me as if I were a fool. I should’ve listened, because clearly her own geosense is developing: she was right next to the cache’s hiding spot!

A French Bulldog stands alongside a short gnarly tree in a lightly-wooded copse.

TFTC, and thanks once more for such a brilliant loop of caches: all nicely hidden, well cared for, and appropriately sized. Really enjoyed our walk this morning

×

Dan Q found GCANV4N #12 Longworth Loop

This checkin to GCANV4N #12 Longworth Loop reflects a geocaching.com log entry. See more of Dan's cache logs.

After fashioning the requisite tool it still took me a solid 5+ attempts to retrieve the cache – it felt a bit like playing those wiggle-wire fairground games that I suck at so much! Once retrieved, the dog was very disappointed that start I was holding wasn’t a plaything for her. TFTC, FP awarded for the right container, right hiding place, right difficulty.