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Reading: At Childhood's End, the Ace novel by Sophie Aldred, Mike Tucker and Steve Cole. So far, I'm pretty impressed. I didn't go in with high expectations having not been that impressed by Tucker's previous Seventh Doctor and Ace novels from the old pre-new series BBC book range.

Listening: Still listening to the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Hub's Living with AI podcast, but I do get pretty annoyed by it. There are better podcasts out there in the AI space, especially those parts of the space engaged with societal issues, so I'm dubious about the expenditure of research money on this.

Watching: We're coming to the end of Mysterious Cities of Gold. We've been surprised by the sudden appearance of the Olmecs with much speculation about whether they are supposed to be aliens. I think they aren't, himself thinks they are.

Crossposts: https://louisedennis.livejournal.com/699132.html

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From:

pole_dancer

As for me:

Reading: Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow

Listening: David Goggins (I listen to everything by him that I can get my ears on.)

Watching: Just finished watching The Morning Show on Netflix. It was awesome!

From:

purplecat

I've not heard of The Morning Show before. It doesn't look like its the kind of thing we normally watch, I'm wondering if it would be worth a punt anyway...

From:

pole_dancer

Yes! The focus is on sexual abuse happening in the Morning Show environment. It is due to an anchor played by Steve Carell. (Reminds me of the disgraced Matt Lauer.) The show is a series. I believe there were about 10 episodes. It also stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, who are excellent in this.

From:

thisbluespirit

We've been surprised by the sudden appearance of the Olmecs with much speculation about whether they are supposed to be aliens. I think they aren't, himself thinks they are.

They were definitely aliens, weren't there? It's been a long while, but I remember the random aliens at the end!

From:

purplecat

Well, that's the debate really. They look like fairly classic comic book aliens but, so far at least, nothing in the dialogue has suggested they come from outer space. They have super-advanced technology but then the whole show is littered with super-advanced technology some of which is obviously supposed to be Incan or Mayan so *shrug*. I think they are supposed to be an ancient race of humans.

From:

senmut

Oh I meant to get that book!

From:

purplecat

I'll keep you posted. The Thirteenth Doctor et al have just put in an appearance and I'd say the writing is struggling a bit to handle interaction between five people while keeping the focus on Ace.

From:

liadt

The Olmecs not my faves! I think they were aliens who gave humans technology?

From:

purplecat

It's really not clear and, yes, I don't think the Olmecs are the strongest part of the story.

Personally, I think they are supposed to be an (almost) extinct race of humans but I'm possibly in the minority in that view.

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purplecat

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