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The Word of Ward

Reviews, Blog, and the occasional Rant

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Flash News

The Dark History of Okunoshima, Japan’s Famous Rabbit Island

From the Oasthouse Alan Partridge

Alan Partridge From The Oasthouse goes full career circle

Mae Nak

Thailand’s most famous ghost still has a shrine in Bangkok

Funniest surnames

The Strange History of Funny Surnames Around the World

Melting Roads, Strikes And Escaped Tigers: Disneyland’s Opening Was Disastrous

Birthdays around the world can weird, fun, and unexpected

New Year productivity and a shift in focus

Happy Christmas! Free book: ‘Haunted Thailand: Ghosts and spirits in the Land of Smiles’

The Secret Of Secrets By Dan Brown – Fun, Preposterous, And Exciting But More Of The Same

Inside The Fascinating World Of AI Poker Tournaments – Apparently AI Can Now Bluff

The Studio: Brilliant Cast, Big Laughs And Hollywood Meltdowns

Science Advises Playing Chess. Here’s A Great Way To Begin

Short stories are back – here’s why that’s great for writers

Substack Vs Medium – It Doesn’t Need To Be Either Or…

The Potsdam Giants: How A Prussian King’s Obsession Led To Kidnapping, Torture, And Eugenics

Perth, Rottnest Island, And Ridiculously Cute Quokkas. All You Need To Know

The Gorilla Who Was Brought up as a Boy in an English Village

The Loose End by Dwonch and Hymel is a fun, Tarantino-esque comic caper

Tree Spirits And Good Fortune: The Beautiful Ghosts Who Protect Thailand’s Forests

What Did People Wipe With In The Past And Why Is The World Moving Beyond Toilet Paper?

Friday, February 27, 2026

Category: Blog

My blog and occasional comment on current affairs.

The White Lotus Season 3 is in stunning Thailand, where I live. Is it realistic?
Blog Travel TV

The White Lotus Season 3 is in stunning Thailand, where I live. Is it realistic?

ward 09/04/2025

Plus, is the show any good? I just finished watching The White Lotus Season 3 and loved it. As I mentioned before, tons of friends hassled me into watching the … Read More

HBOThailandThe White Lotus
Don’t Watch The Fantastic ‘The White Lotus’ On A Plane!
Blog TV

Don’t Watch The Fantastic ‘The White Lotus’ On A Plane!

ward 06/04/2025

As the latest series of The White Lotus is set in Thailand, where I currently live, friends have pestered me incessantly to watch the show. Even an old fellow I … Read More

ArmondThe White LotusWhite LotusWhite Lotus Season 1
Scheduled Tasks On ChatGPT Is Actually Pretty Cool
Blog Technology Writing

Scheduled Tasks On ChatGPT Is Actually Pretty Cool

ward 26/03/2025

Scheduled Tasks is a new function on ChatGPT, which I have been playing around with recently. It is still in Beta, but it works really well. It looks at first … Read More

AIAI functionsChatGPTChatGPT Scheduled Tasks
Fantastic tunes to listen to help write more and focus
Blog Writing

Fantastic tunes to listen to help write more and focus

ward 17/03/2025

I listen to tunes when I write. This is often to drown out the noise of fellow humans, but I also really like it and it can induce flow state. … Read More

Brain.fmmusicmusic for focusmusic for writingwriting
I’m now addicted to Dredge and Balatro
Blog Games

I’m now addicted to Dredge and Balatro

ward 03/03/2025

I have Dredge and Balatro on my iPad and frankly, they might be causing a productivity problem. I brought this on myself but am actually pretty happy about it. I … Read More

BalatroDredgeGame of the yeariOSiPad
After Career Advice From ChatGPT I’m Trying Something Drastic
Blog

After Career Advice From ChatGPT I’m Trying Something Drastic

ward 30/01/2025

I don’t use ChatGPT for writing, as the output is a bit bland. You can probably tell by my garbled syntax. Writing is also my livelihood, and I am mildly … Read More

MediumSubstackwriting
The Occult – Rankin, Lovecraft, And Marenghi Are Warping My Mind
Blog Books

The Occult – Rankin, Lovecraft, And Marenghi Are Warping My Mind

ward 22/01/2025

I’ve always been weirdly interested in the occult. I blame rock music. (Just kidding – rock rules and hail the darkness!) I recently realised that the last three books I … Read More

booksGarth MarhengiHP LovecraftmagicRobert RankinThe occult
The most depressing day annually, and weird Christmas traditions
Blog

The most depressing day annually, and weird Christmas traditions

ward 07/01/2025

Happy Christmas and New Year! If you don’t celebrate either of them, then I hope you have had a good January so far. The New Year always marks a time … Read More

ChristmasInterestingIntriguing Timesnew yeartraditions
Next year, I am improving my chess skills. Here’s how
Blog

Next year, I am improving my chess skills. Here’s how

ward 30/12/2024

I recently decided to get better at chess. I was on the school team back in the day, but I was the lowest-ranked board, and our side was generally rubbish. … Read More

chesschess.comlearn chess
To Monetize Or Not? Reaching An Astonishing 100 Subscribers On Substack
Blog Writing

To Monetize Or Not? Reaching An Astonishing 100 Subscribers On Substack

ward 17/12/2024

I hit 100 subscribers on my Intriguing Times Substack yesterday and am pretty damned excited about it. ‘Astonishing’ is admittedly a bit hyperbolic, but it is apparently good for SEO. … Read More

subscribersSubstackwriting
From Zork to AI Dungeon: How AI is Revolutionizing Interactive Text Adventures
Blog Books Technology Writing

From Zork to AI Dungeon: How AI is Revolutionizing Interactive Text Adventures

ward 10/12/2024

AI is so damned useful that I am overwhelmed and am still thinking of ways to use it. You can probably tell that I don’t use for writing by looking … Read More

AdventureAIgamesgamingText-basedwriting
Blog Writing

How to be more productive when writing – great music and apps!

ward 27/11/2024

I listen to music and use a few apps that really help when writing, and consequently, I thought this might be something helpful for others. I write for a living. … Read More

music for focusproductivityproductivity appswriting
Blog Writing

Getting Substack subscribers and changing writing focus

ward 20/11/2024

It has been around a month and a half since I launched my shiny new Substack. Previously, I’d had a science fiction and fantasy newsletter for a month and it … Read More

Blogbookslifewriting
Plotting vs. Pantsing: What’s Better for Writers and Readers?
Blog Writing

Plotting vs. Pantsing: What’s Better for Writers and Readers?

ward 07/11/2024

In the world of fiction writing, few debates are as enduring as “plotting vs. pantsing.” Writers and readers alike have strong views on the merits of each approach. Some prefer … Read More

lifepantsingplottingReadingwriting
The Intriguing Times Substack is now live!
Blog Writing

The Intriguing Times Substack is now live!

ward 21/10/2024

Intriguing Times – my new Substack newsletter – has been live for almost three weeks. It already has 35 subscribers and over 90 followers, which is pretty damned good if … Read More

Intriguing TimesNewsletterSubstackwriting
MacBook Air 13 inch vs iPad Pro 13 inch after a couple of months. Which am I using most?
Blog Technology Writing

MacBook Air 13 inch vs iPad Pro 13 inch after a couple of months. Which am I using most?

ward 01/08/2024

I’ve had my MacBook Air 13 inch M1 for about three and a half years now. Whereas, I bought the new iPad Pro 13 inch M4 two months ago. I … Read More

iPad 2024iPad ProiPad Pro 13 inchIpad Pro M4Macbook Air
New Substack, The Cosmic Scroll, is essential reading
Blog Writing

New Substack, The Cosmic Scroll, is essential reading

ward 08/07/2024

I started a new Substack called The Cosmic Scroll. If you’re a writer, you will probably know the importance of having an email list. If you are a writer without … Read More

NewsletterSFFSubstackThe Cosmic Scroll
iPad Pro 13-inch M4 the all-in-one device I’ve been looking for
Blog Technology Writing

iPad Pro 13-inch M4 the all-in-one device I’ve been looking for

ward 17/05/2024

I love my iPad Pro. Actually, that should be plural as I have the original 13-inch version from 2015, and an 11-inch from 2021. Remarkably, both still work, if a … Read More

appleiPadiPad 2024iPad ProM4writing
You should do this with subscriptions and despair
Blog Writing

You should do this with subscriptions and despair

ward 03/05/2024

I am increasingly starting to think a lot of subscriptions are scams against the unwary. And that definitely includes me. I recently saw a post somewhere that suggested you list … Read More

Appssubscriptionswriting
The Gaming Industry is going in the wrong direction, but it isn’t too late
Blog Games

The Gaming Industry is going in the wrong direction, but it isn’t too late

ward 06/04/2024

I’ve been playing whatever the gaming industry has put out since Asteroid and Galaga and the Atari console came out. I bloody love games. In some respects, games are better … Read More

gamesgaminggaming industryMicrotransactions

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In recent news

  • The Dark History of Okunoshima, Japan’s Famous Rabbit Island
  • Alan Partridge From The Oasthouse goes full career circle
  • Thailand’s most famous ghost still has a shrine in Bangkok
  • The Strange History of Funny Surnames Around the World
  • Melting Roads, Strikes And Escaped Tigers: Disneyland’s Opening Was Disastrous
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