Is moderation a desirable virtue?

Last day of the month, which means a late evening at work for me, running reports and rolling over variables once everyone else is done. Tonight I finished in time for The Masked Singer (Australian version), which is, unexpectedly, my mother's new favourite show. It is so unlike her, but then, it is weirdly hypnotic. Because it is filmed in Melbourne, currently under stage 4 restrictions, they are really leaning into the masks this year: not just the singers, but the backing dancers, the crew, the host (sometimes). The "audience" consists of stuffed toys and crew members dressed in animal costumes. One of the masked singers is a terrifying giant ventriloquist's dummy. It's like watching a fever dream. I keep thinking of when you see clips of old TV shows and wonder in amazement at what passed for entertainment back then, and how future generations are going to think the same about this. I don't think saying, "Well, there was a pandemic," is really going to explain it.

Anyway, they have had to halt production of it for a few weeks, as despite all the masks some of the dancers have tested positive to Covid-19. And because it is a self-aware show, I am 99% certain when they come back, someone is going to have to perform "Ironic".

I won't finish the book I'm currently reading tonight, so I can do this now:

August books read

* Underland - Robert Macfarlane (2019) ★ ★ ★ ★
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* The Man Who Didn't Fly - Margot Bennett (1955) ★ ★ ★
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* The Unquiet Dead - Ausma Zehanat Khan (2017) ★ ★ ★
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* The Poisoned Chocolates Case - Anthony Berkeley (1929) ★ ★ ★ ★
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* The Near Witch - VE Schwab (2011) ★ ★
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