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fernandogros.com
Writer - memoir, essay, and non-fiction Lived in 🇨🇱🇦🇺🇬🇧🇮🇳🇭🇰🇸🇬🇯🇵 Worked in academia and music https://fernandogros.com/blog/ Made in Chile, grown in Australia, polished in Japan
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We regimented children's lives leaving no room for solitude, play, and imagination. We took art and literature out of schools in favour of "career-building" subjects. We turned adulthood into an extension of structured university life. And now, now, we suddenly wonder where the fascism came from?

submitted 1 hour ago • 0 comments

I wasn't in the mood for today's Japanese lesson. All the things related to packing and moving had me tired and unmotivated this morning. But, I'm glad I did the lesson anyway. It went well. And I felt a little rush of excitement learning an interesting new grammar point.

submitted 2 hours ago • 0 comments

I had a couple of good seasons as a junior. One time Frank Arok, then coach of the Australian national team, turned up at one of my games. After the match I was introduced to him. He stepped up to me, pinched me in the stomach, and said "too fat." Anyway, this article resonated. And therapy works.

submitted 21 hours ago • 0 comments

La Colmena was a lovely discovery on my final visit to South Melbourne Market. Apparently it's the first Spanish Pastelería in Australia. Beautiful, artisanal pastries, steeped in traditional flavours. Evocative and lovely.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

MICKEY 17 felt like the kind of film one could easily fall deeper in love with on repeat viewings. Blending SNOWPIERCER and STARSHIP TROOPERS this is a study in the normalisation of cruelty. MICKEY 17 is a bleak, funny, and timely rebuke of crypto-religious fascism and space colonisation fantasies.

submitted 1 day ago • 2 comments

My next blogpost mentions Seth Godin. But, I'm not a fan of his work. Mostly that's because I know a lot of people who work in advertising and marketing and I listen to what they say. But, I'm not sure my dislike of Godin is relevant to what I'm writing. So I will probably leave it out of the essay.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

THE AMATEUR was a blast.* Something refreshingly new in the spy genre. JASON BOURNE meets THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY. Nice tempo. Fun mix of locations. Some good laughs. And not weighed down by long action sequences. Entertaining. *Pun intended

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

My guitars are in their cases again ready to be packed.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Followed up on a dining recommendation. But the restaurant won't take bookings for one. I don't know. A restaurant that won't seat a single diner doesn't feel like a place for grown ups.

submitted 4 days ago • 2 comments

The economic effect isn't just about the stock market falling. Every business has been significantly less productive in recent weeks as they try to figure out what the tariff wars will mean for them. Millions of hours of wasted time.

submitted 4 days ago • 2 comments

What is a "context writer?" There's a Context Writers Festival on this weekend in Adelaide. The topics look interesting. Cultural Criticism. Nature Writing. Historical Fiction. Zine-Making. But, I'm at a loss to understand what a context writer is as a subject/discipline. Am I overthinking this?

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

"I did my usual things. Tried to find a favourite cafe, a hairdresser, a cool guitar shop; joined some galleries and museums; explored a few food markets; went to some events; and walked, a lot."

submitted 5 days ago • 5 comments

Today's odd task was making a spreadsheet with all the music, recording, and camera gear I have with me, for insurance purposes, in anticipation of my upcoming move. Normally I've only had to to collective number for things like guitar effects and camera lenses. But this time it has to be itemised.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

"I did my usual things. Tried to find a favourite cafe, a hairdresser, a cool guitar shop; joined some galleries and museums; explored a few food markets; went to some events; and walked, a lot."

submitted 5 days ago • 5 comments

Rewatching Andor S1 in anticipation of S2 dropping soon. The series is so good. Brilliant writing, casting, production design, and music. It really is the best of Star Wars.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Writing another "farewell to a city" blogpost.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Today is World Empanada Day. Empanadas are a central part of Latin American food culture. Every country has different fillings and cooking techniques. The name comes from the Spanish word for wrapping in dough or bread. And their history dates back to the time of the Caliphate of Córdoba.

submitted 6 days ago • 2 comments

I was very engaged with today's Japanese lesson. I felt myself working hard to make connections and apply things I've learnt recently. But, I also got tired part way through. Wondering if that's a result of being away from Japan now and not speaking or hearing Japanese during the week.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

I'd like to see Bluesky search add the ability to filter results to show only those from accounts you follow. One thing I would often do with Twitter was search a trending topic or news tory to see what, if anything, my followers were saying about it.

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment