I turn 40 in October (seven days after Billdude’s birthday) so I’m barely under the typical Babbler, by Brian’s estimation. I know he was always on the older side, but 50s. Wow. And George pushing 50.

Does anyone know what the Tower of Babel website is actually about? It was a giant clearinghouse of roots across several family protolanguages trying to prove a rather tenuous hypothesis that the languages of Eurasia derive from a common source. I guess it didn’t survive Sergei, because it’s been 25+ years and the Nostraic hypothesis remains a fringe theory confined to the faculty lounge. It’s just hilarious that so much of web reviewing is tied to an out-of-the-mainstream pet project, like if it had originated on an anti-fluoridation site.

Sorry I’ve been away; I’ve been dealing with a bout of depression and I’ve decided to set aside the weed until at least my next birthday.

What is the header image supposed to be? It looks like Jason Pierce in church, looking nodded-out with his jeans and dingy white T-shirt, which is not something I expected to see. I think I’m the only one here even resembling a big Spiritualized fan. You can tell it’s AI because the sun is coming through the roof but not the side window.

When I logged in just now I was taken to the Patreon page and thought, “Christ, Babble is paywalled now” but then hit back and it was all ok. I think Benjamin is sending a hint. I’ll actually take it, I think, if it’s only five bucks.