Greetings, Wanderer.

Welcome back to Ley Lines, a regular series of miscellaneous things that I come across that interest, inspire, or intrigue me. Writing these posts is part of an active of being a more conscious consumer of what I read or observe, and is also just ongoing practice of writing and sharing. It’s a bit of a follow up to the “100 Interesting Things” series I wrote last year, and is inspired by Russel Davies’ book Notice, Collect, Share.

#1 This article about Alexi Lalas is the most devastating takedown of a public figure that I have ever read.

In a conversation where his co-panelist is casually reminiscing about his days playing alongside Messi or exchanging shirts with Ronaldo Nazário at the World Cup, what exactly is Lalas going to talk about – coming on as a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart in a friendly against Scotland in 1998? Helping the Kansas City Wizards finish last in the 1999 MLS Western Conference? Did Lalas enjoy an elite playing career? No. But does he do the background reading that could compensate for his relative lack of standing in a conversation with titans like Henry and Zlatan? Also no. But is he charming or funny or charismatic or otherwise magnetic on screen? Eh, no.

The entire thing is an incredible act of writing. Read it in full here. Then read it again (it’s that good).

#2 Lord Of The Rings from the view of a military historian. The internet is at it’s absolute best what it becomes a canvas for nerds to dive deep into the topics that interest them knowing that they’ll find people equally interested.

A prime example of this is the “A Collection Of Unmitigated Pedantry” (A coup, get it?), which is a blog written by a military historian that goes into excruciatingly good detail about what fictional fantasy battles got right and what they got wrong. For an example of just how in-depth this can be, the blog’s series on the Siege of Gondor from Lord of the Rings is 5 parts of about 5,000 words each. For context, a novella is usually considered about 35,000 words and a Master’s thesis around 30-50k words.

From one of the sections:

Almost immediately as the Rohirrim appear, we see problems for the orcs. The orc general, Gothmog, has to push through the ranks and reorder his infantry, while the orcs just stare, dumbfounded at the new threat. This is a task that should have been taken up by a hundred-hundred NCOs all up and down the line, which speaks to problems of command structure. Moreover, the fact that something as simple as “pikes in front, archers in back” has to be given as an order suggests insufficient training for the orcs. Well-drilled infantry ought to assume appropriate formations by force of habit.

I can’t remember how exactly I found this, which is part of the mystery and magic of it. I do know it was part of a research search for something else, which likely led me down a few rabbit holes, rather than it being an algorithmically delivered click.

Read the full series here.

#3 Korowai Tree Houses Are Not Real Homes

You might have seen images of these fascinating homes on Human Planet, hundreds of feet off that ground and that look like they were forged from the jungle itself.

They serve as a reminder of how differently humanity lives around the world. That despite the sameness of our form, we have found unique new ways of adapting to the different environments where we make our home. We can overcome and thrive because we are human is the narrative.

Well that might be true, these treehouses are not part of that story.

But they’re also not real homes. According to a BBC Article:

The error was discovered as producers made BBC Two's upcoming series, My Year With The Tribe.
The corporation said a member of the tribe told presenter Will Millard the very high treehouses were built for "the benefit of overseas programme makers".

Oh well then. Enjoy this 3D-printed version of them anyways.

#4 Jesus Loves UK Garage I love electronic music. I don’t love all of it’s forms, but I appreciate them. And If I don’t appreciate the genre specifically, I at least respect where it came from and am a bit fascinated by the history of it all.

An example of that is Garage Music. I’ve been listening to a bit of The Streets lately, was reminded that he referenced Garage music. That led me to Todd Edwards, AKA Todd The God, and widely considered one of the most influential people of the genre. So influential that he’s one of the Teachers referenced by Daft Punk on their track of that name.

Which led me to a video of his first UK performance, in 2003. Ten years after his career had started.

There’s something incredible about this video. First of all, the genuine excitement from the crowd for someone they had only heard about. The internet was a thing, but video was slow and basically non-existent. It was the mid-era of filesharing, but I’m not entirely sure this type of thing would have been

And lastly, I’m so glad the cameraman captured the crowd. What a time capsule of fashion. As they say, not an iphone in sight. Just people living in the moment.

Todd Edwards - Historic First UK Show

#5 A Letter To The Editor For Children A few weeks ago I was at a brewer and found this delightful children’s magazine on the table. it might be because I’ve got a little guy of my own these days, but I had to pick it up and flip through it.

Let’s start with the cover, though.

First of all, I love that this is “The Night Issue” in the same way grown up magazines have focuses for all their issues.

But I also just love the little chick reading a book about a sleeping sloth.

But maybe even better than that is that the magazine also has a letter from the editor.

I don’t really have that much more to say about this except we need more little charming and delightful things like this for both adults and children in our life.