@olivermantell@zirk.us
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olivermantell

@olivermantell@zirk.us

Interests include arts and culture, audience research, poetry and literature, data viz and data analysis, politics and ideas. Live in Sheffield, UK.

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davidallengreen, to random
@davidallengreen@mastodon.green avatar

Any “constitutional” or legal questions about the general election?

Ask below and I will reply if I can.

(I used to do this sort of thing on Twitter and I thought I would give it a go here.)

olivermantell,
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@davidallengreen Is there any constitutional ’nightwatchman’ during the election period? Who’s in charge: in theory / in law / in practice during that time?

olivermantell, to random
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#GE2024 #poem

olivermantell,
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#GE2024 #poem

olivermantell, to random
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As desperate attempts to make use of FOMO go, Argos’ email about ‘the LAST CHANCE to review your recent purchase’ [a curtain track] is one of the most amusingly pointless.

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum I think it’s just artificial urgency. I’m sure if I wanted to review it later I could (but perhaps not have it classified as ‘a review by a recent purchaser’).

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum Maybe they know, having carried out advanced astronomical calculations, that I'm going to be hit by a meteor, and don't want me to leave this world without securing my legacy in the field of 'curtain rail opinions'. It's hard to know for certain... ;0)

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum True: in which case, maybe they just couldn't face going into the great beyond without knowing how much I cared about them (and their curtain rail)...

olivermantell, to random
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I was listening to some contemporary jazz piano when in the garden earlier, with only one headphone in.

It took me a while to realise that the strange syncopated doubling of the piano part was in fact next door’s ten year old practising piano…

olivermantell, to random
@olivermantell@zirk.us avatar

Re last boost, one of my fanciful ideas for when [ha!] I am rich, is a lovely big study, the entrance to which is via a small maze of bookshelves, so I’ll have plenty of time to finish what I’m reading, even if someone comes into the room…

(This room will also contain the stairs up to a turret room, set up as a cosy pad to listen to music/read in softer chairs, watch films, with a view out over a landscape full of trees etc).

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum I swear, money’s wasted on the rich. Why buy a yacht when you could build this? 😉

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum This not even occurring to me is no doubt one of many reasons why I'll never be rich... 😆

emmaaum, to random
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Effen ell. This was by eyeball and straight edge. I’ve retained the strangest skill set.

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum 👏👏👏

olivermantell, to random
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I’ve just finished the first of a three conference week…:

  1. Digital Works re digital in the arts
  2. Clore’s Climate Assembly on arts and climate change
  3. European Cultural Data Alliance - on international cultural data sharing

…and my brain is already so full and fizzing, with so many new lines of thought to explore and areas of thinking cracked open, that I’m a little worried about how coherent I’ll be by the end of it…

olivermantell,
@olivermantell@zirk.us avatar

Feeling awkward about the arts and climate change session later, b/c looking at the agenda, it’s going to be 2.5hrs of inspiring environmental artists and activists building excitement and momentum about change, before turning to me, asking, “So what do audiences think?”:

“They kind of agree climate change matters, but their support is pretty lukewarm”.

Once again, I’m cast in the role of ‘the downer with the data’: telling people what they (surely!) know but don’t want to hear…

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum Thanks! I agree that 'my best understanding of the truth' is what I both ought to and can most usefully provide them. I've shared the data with the organisers, at least - and will try to deliver it as constructively as possible.

Where it gets interesting (and potentially contentious - though more based on inference than direct evidence) is that I'm not sure the arts persuading people is nesc the way forward - more about making it easier and preferable to do things.

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum ...By which I mean - I think they should prioritise bike racks, links to public transport, reusable cups, reduce waste paper from publicity etc over trying to change 'sceptics' minds (though strengthening people's identity with, or commitment to, the view they already hold does feel a useful purpose of creative work [as long as it prioritises being art they want to see]).

sheepnik, to random
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The chooks would like to wish you all a happy and sunshine filled Saturday. They are available all day if anyone needs some chickeny emotional support.

olivermantell,
@olivermantell@zirk.us avatar

@emmaaum Just saw your post from yesterday: that’s such a pity.

It sounds like you’d enjoy a new batch enough through the year to make it worth redoing, if it was possible…

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum Fair point: I find growing things too much of a mission, even with the space... (but always think I should!).

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum they did grow potatoes one year, so it’s possible…

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Why is it that the people who brag about being "self-made" aren't?

If you turned out successful odds are you had help, a lot of it, and a good amount of luck on top of that. Imagine being so self absorbed that you don't give credit where credit is due.

olivermantell,
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@RickiTarr I’m reminded of the old line about “a self-made man who worships his creator”…

olivermantell, to random
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The yellows and purply reds of the bruising on my sprained ankle are looking so much like a Turner sunset, my wife offered to draw a boat on it…

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum Just went over on it playing football in the park with the kids at the weekend.

Very painful at the time and lots of dramatic swelling, but it'll heal...

olivermantell,
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@emmaaum Thanks!

olivermantell, to Theatre
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Does anyone have recommendations of titles? I’ve enjoyed The Habit of Art and Leopoldstadt so far…

emmaaum, to random
@emmaaum@zirk.us avatar

it's taken me a bit to settle into this Rachmaninov opera but i'm liking it

oh, it's just ended :) one act. glad i didn't know the story before.

#OperaOn3

olivermantell,
@olivermantell@zirk.us avatar

@emmaaum Fair point!

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