Author: colmphilpott

The Sedge Warbler, The Frank Zappa Of The Bird World

During the Summer of this year (2025), I spent many happy days in the Glen River Park listening to the birds singing. Whether it was the jovial baritone of the wood pigeon, the achingly beautiful tones of a blackbird, or the relentless, breathless clicking of the stonechat, all of these sounds brought me great joy, … Continue reading The Sedge Warbler, The Frank Zappa Of The Bird World →

Should We Disbelieve What Our Eyes And Ears Are Telling Us?

Good Afternoon, I'm Completely Empty BBC Presenter, coming to you live from the town of Forecastle-Upon-Gooseberry-Hill. To my left you will see what appears to be a hospital burning to the ground, its inhabitants trapped, with little if any hope of survival unless somebody does something. And, like any sane, sensible, and moral person, I … Continue reading Should We Disbelieve What Our Eyes And Ears Are Telling Us? →

Have You Ever Looked At Africa’s Borders? Why Are They Like That?

So I was just looking at a map of Africa, and the borders are an atrocious state of affairs, an atrocious state of affairs I fear. The borders of Egypt and Mauritania, as an example, are so rectangular I have to assume that they must violate the will of God in some way. While on … Continue reading Have You Ever Looked At Africa’s Borders? Why Are They Like That? →

Trans People Exist, Why Are You So Weird About It?

I remember my first introduction to the fact that transgender people exist. It was when Israeli* contestant, Dana International, won the Eurovision. I was 12 at the time, and I have to admit, I didn't understand at all. My painfully misinformed understanding, was that a "man" had gotten surgery to turn themselves into a woman. … Continue reading Trans People Exist, Why Are You So Weird About It? →

Servitude Or Death, The Fate Of Earth’s Animals.

I talked in my previous blogpost: https://autismneurodiversity.com/2025/10/17/harpers-island-a-place-where-birds-are-allowed-to-thrive/ about how the slender billed curlew is extinct. There are no more of them left. Any sighting you get of one, will be a photograph. Any sound you hear from them, will be a recording. Now, let's contrast that with another bird. The domestic chicken. How many of … Continue reading Servitude Or Death, The Fate Of Earth’s Animals. →

So Then, What the Devil is 14-TET Music?

So, it’s been a good few years since I wrote this: https://autismneurodiversity.com/2023/05/21/so-what-the-devil-is-24-tet-music/ About my journey into 24-TET music. When I wrote that, I was only familiar with our standard, “Western” 12-TET system, and the 24-TET system (also know as the 12 EDO system and the 24 EDO system, EDO stands for equal divisions of the … Continue reading So Then, What the Devil is 14-TET Music? →

Harper’s Island, a Place Where Birds Are Allowed To Thrive

I read something the other day that left my deeply upset. The slender billed curlew is extinct. https://www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/slender-billed-curlew-officially-declared-extinct-wake-call-migratory-bird-conservation An amazing animal, a sentient, intelligent creature, will never fly through our skies again, simply because it had the misfortune to encounter humanity. And yes, while plenty of animals went extinct before humans were on Earth, habitat … Continue reading Harper’s Island, a Place Where Birds Are Allowed To Thrive →

The Somud Flotilla Has Been Intecepted, What Has It Achieved, And What Now?

As of the time of writing, all boats from the Somud Flotilla have been intercepted by Israel, their crews kidnapped and now in Israeli custody. I, like many people, fear for their safety. While Israel has returned members of previous flotillas that they intercepted to their home countries, the Somud flotilla was such a massive … Continue reading The Somud Flotilla Has Been Intecepted, What Has It Achieved, And What Now? →