Book recommendations from Philcon

Nov. 24th, 2025 05:23 pm
nancylebov: (green leaves)
[personal profile] nancylebov
Notes from the Best SF Books of 2025 panel at Philcon.

A Tangle of Time (sequel to the Hexologists)

Wearing the Lion (Wiswell, story about Hercules)

Aftertaste (LaVelle) ghosts and cooking

The Splinter Effect (I think it's the one where time travel makes it possible to go into the past, but not carry things forward-- if you want to protect an artifact, you have to hide it somewhere in its time and find it again in your time)

The Will of the Many (elite academy gets a student who won't get sucked into the hierarchy)

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association-- complications when a werewolf daughter goes to a dangerous magic school

The Stardust Grail (finding a major alien artifact)

Inventing the Renaissance (non-fiction by Ada Palmer-- the premise is that the Renaissance wasn't really a thing. From things she said, the glorious eras when the rich commission wonderful things aren't great times to live-- if the rich are competing that hard, power is shaky and the fighting affects the non-rich)

What We Can Know (tracking down a poem after worldwide catastrophe)

Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil (woman with limited life gets into magic)

The Mars House (people on Mars are dealing with hazardously strong people from earth, how can they live together? I'll note that I could write the premise of this from memory, unlike many of the others where I used amazon)

Those Beyond the Walls (dystopia, murder mystery)

3D printing software? [tech]

Nov. 24th, 2025 03:51 pm
siderea: (Default)
[personal profile] siderea
I want a widget that doesn't exist so I might be stuck designing it for 3D printing. I have never done this before. For design software, I gather both Onshape and TinkerCAD are available for free. Anybody with experience have opinions which I should start with? I have never used any CAD program before, but am not new to drafting. OTOH my drafting experience was all about 40 years ago. Open to other suggestions available for the Mac for free.

Also, I don't have my own 3D printer, so I'll be availing myself of various public-access options. But this means the iterative design feedback loop will be irritatingly protracted. Also I might have to pay money for each go round, so I'd like to minimize that. Also I am still disabled and not able to spend a lot of time in a makerspace. But I am a complete n00b to 3D printing and have zero idea what I'm doing. Does anybody have any recommendations for good educational references online about how to design for 3D printing so your widget is more likely to come out right the first or at least third time? By which I mean both print right and also function like you wanted – I know basically nothing about working with the material(s) and how they behave and what the various options are, while the widget I want to make will be functional not ornamental and have like tolerances and affordances and stuff. So finding a way to get those clues without hands-on experience, or at least minimizing the hands-on experience would be superb.
sunnymodffa: Campaign slogan and tentacle monster (Cthulu 2016: The Greater Evil)
[personal profile] sunnymodffa posting in [community profile] fail_fandomanon
 
What non-tentacle platform do you propose for a splashing sustainability and cosmic abundance for all, human?

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Hello Hello!

Nov. 24th, 2025 02:34 pm
arimamary: cheeky-looking otonashi haruna (happy-haruna)
[personal profile] arimamary posting in [community profile] addme
Name: Mary (they/them pronouns)

Age: Late 20s

I mostly post about: Meta, media roundups (books, series, and videogames), recs, and the occasional odd post. My journal is strictly about my fannish hobbies so it's unlikely you'll every see personal irl stuff. It's also fairly new so please bear with me as I'm still learning how this site works.

My hobbies are: Writing fics, developing OCs, psychoanalyzing fictional characters. Reading manga, playing videogames, watching series. Web development, web design, and web accessibility. I maintain my own websites.

My fandoms are: Ace Attorney, Sasaki and Miyano, Hirano and Kagiura, all MXTX works (Scummy main), Inazuma Eleven, and Katekyo Hitman Reborn. While I have only written fics for Sasaki and Miyano, Hirano and Kagiura, and Inazuma Eleven and actively talk about those series in my journal, all of the series in the list are those I would love to find people in common with.

I'm looking to meet people who: Are queer and/or neurodivergent who are screaming their journals about their fannish interests, write meta, and obsess about their blorbos (OCs or not). I'm a thousand percent more likely to become interested in something new if I see how much it means to you!

My posting schedule tends to be: Sporadic atm as I finish setting up my account.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are: People who vent, complain, and write using inflammatory language without contributing to advancing on the issue they are complaining about in their journals. I'm not particularly interested in people's personal lives nor am I interested in befriending people who publicly speak about their hateful phobias and -isms, particularly on queer identities and ableism.

Before adding me, you should know: My journal is under a blanket "view with discretion" warning. While I have some NSFW and 18+ posts (appropriately tag), these are not the norm. Please exercise caution when viewing.

Spending the night out again

Nov. 24th, 2025 12:24 am
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
Got up at 10:00 and had breakfast and coffee, and showered and dressed, then headed over to meet [personal profile] mashfanficchick at Dunkin' Donuts.

I took the bus there, and had a pepprmint mocha latte. The clerk and a customer had a screaming fight while I waited for [personal profile] mashfanficchick, which was mildly entertaining in a way.

Anyway, after ze got there, e went out for lunch at the sushi place, and while we were there we reserved a room for the Arisia SF convention in January. It's a great con, I went back some time in the teens, I forget the exact year. The Kid goes most years.

Then we took the bus to Bath and Bodyworks. From there we went to Trader Joe's. We shopped there for awhile, then went by bus to Stop and Shop. I got nutmeg and eggnog.

Then we went to another Trader Joe's because the first one didn't have gluten free pumpkin pie. The second one did, so we got that.

Then we went to a Jemboro, 5 Below, and another 99 cent store looking for a cheap mixing bowl. We took the subway back.

Then we came back here and hung out for awhile. I Teamed the FWiB on my phone.

Then we had dinner, a rotisserie chicken and sides.

Then we watched K-Pop Demon Hunters. It was a lot of fun, I had heard about if but didn't know anything about it.

Finally we had the pumpkin pie for dessert. Yummy!

So by then it was late enough that I decided to stay over.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Sushi for lunch.

3. Lots of exercise walking around.

4. The Kid is happy we're going to Arisia.

5. Good movie.

6. Can stay over.

Edited to add: Forgot to say I called Middle Brother, he is fine.

The Vertigo Project: new work!

Nov. 23rd, 2025 09:08 pm
mrissa: (Default)
[personal profile] mrissa
 

I've mentioned here before that one of my big projects this year is my involvement with The Vertigo Project, which now has a webpage so the rest of you can see what we've been doing. Earlier today I facilitated the first creative therapy-style writing workshop through that group, and it was really lovely--and is just the tip of the iceberg on what this group is doing.

Specifically, you can now read all the new work they've commissioned from me! Friends, it's a lot. It's journaling prompts for people who would like to use writing to process some of their own vertigo experiences. But also it's the following stories and poems:

Advice for Wormhole Travelers (story), safe conduct through strange new worlds

Club Planet Vertigo (poem), this is not the dance I wanted to do

Greetings from Innerspace (poem), my orbits are eccentric

The Nature of Nemesis (poem), me and Clark Kent know what's what

On the Way Down (poem), falling hard

Preparation (poem), sometimes we're just literal, okay

She Wavers But She Does Not Weaken (story), when the waves hit you even on dry land, it's good to have someone who's willing to swim against the current for you

The Torn Map (story), rewriting the pieces of the former world into something new

The main page also has links to some of the other aspects of the project, which includes a nonfiction book, dance, puppetry, a podcast with a physical therapist, and more. Please feel welcome to explore it all.

Hello! I'm Diana. :)

Nov. 23rd, 2025 03:49 pm
wavyhaired: (Default)
[personal profile] wavyhaired posting in [community profile] addme
Name: Diana

Age: 40

I mostly post about: trying to build a gentler life, small daily victories and struggles, mental health, and job-hunting reflections

My hobbies are: walking in quiet neighborhoods, beginner yoga, journaling, solo dining adventures, reading nonfiction, and classical guitar.

I'm looking to meet people who: are kind, nonjudgmental, gentle, and thoughtful. People who understand being in transition and trying to build a life that feels more like their own.

My posting schedule tends to be: more or less daily.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are: cruelty, judgment, political hostility, and unsolicited advice.

Before adding me, you should know: I live with bipolar disorder and write openly about managing it while working full-time. I would love to meet other neurodivergent folks. 

The dusty light, the final hour

Nov. 23rd, 2025 03:22 pm
sovay: (Haruspex: Autumn War)
[personal profile] sovay
My ability to get any sleep has deranged like a spiderweb on LSD, but just a moment ago in the street it was thinly but distinctly snowing. I turned on WHRB and got Michael Tippett's A Child of Our Time (1944). I still can't believe Opera Boston folded right before they would have staged the Mozart-out-of-Eliot Hermetic crack of The Midsummer Marriage (1955). I can't believe in impending Thanksgiving.

(no subject)

Nov. 23rd, 2025 10:25 am
thedumbopt_imist: (Default)
[personal profile] thedumbopt_imist posting in [community profile] addme
Name: Misty

 



Age: 16



I mostly post about: my dreams and random things that happened in my day, I may post pics from my Flickr at some point



My hobbies are: making music n playing guitar



My fandoms are: none 😭 I like music theory n rock tho



I'm looking to meet people who: like music n wanna be mutuals



My posting schedule tends to be: sporadic



When I add people, my dealbreakers are: if they're 13 or younger (15+ preferred)



Before adding me, you should know: I'm a closeted t girl (irl)

A place to keep books

Nov. 23rd, 2025 03:59 pm
shewhomust: (mamoulian)
[personal profile] shewhomust
Ushaw is a former Catholic seminary and subsequently part of Durham University which is currently remodelling itself as a historic house. The seminary's Great Library is still there, and although it is not as fully open to visitors as the rest of the building, every now and then you can book a ticket which gives you half an hour's access. That's what we did on Friday.

The Great Library


[personal profile] durham_rambler told me that although parts of the building are by Pugin, his design for the library were rejected as not big enough. I am charmed by this reversal of my usual assumptions (Thing big, Augustus! Really?) but can't find any evidence for it. [personal profile] durham_rambler thinks he may have read it on one of the information boards lining the approach to the library; the nearest I can find on the internet is a FaceBook post saying "The library building was constructed between 1849 and 1851 to plans by architects Joseph and Charles Hansom. It was designed to mirror A.W.N Pugin’s St Cuthbert’s Chapel on the other side of Main House."

More pictures... )

Serendipitously, [personal profile] boybear sent me this link to the 'Idiom' book tower in the Prague Municipal Library: "You've probably already seen it," he said, but I hadn't, although now I come to look, it is all over the interenet, mostly on really irritating sites which are long on advertising but short on information. It sets out to be massively instagrammable, and it succeeds, but has a certain appeal despite that (not really a practical way of storing your books, though). Appropriately, the Library's own website has a good picture.

It reminded me of Simulacrum, a sculpture on Hadrian's Wall which we visited ten years ago...

Events of note

Nov. 23rd, 2025 10:35 am
rmc28: Rachel in hockey gear on the frozen fen at Upware, near Cambridge (Default)
[personal profile] rmc28

bullet points for October & November
yeah it's 99% ice hockey )

And that brings me to this week! In which I got a cold on Wednesday and therefore skipped training Wed and Fri and worked from home Thu and Fri. I did shake off the cold enough to play my first game for Huskies last night (in Gosport, against Southampton Spitfires), and later today I'll be playing for Kodiaks 2 against Lee Valley Vampires. I am especially looking forward to this one, I love playing against teams full of friends.

Next weekend Kodiaks 2 have a double-header weekend of home games in Peterborough: Saturday night against Lee Valley Vampires and Sunday night against MK Falcons 2. And that wraps up 2025 for Kodiaks 2: after 6 games in 5 weekends in November, we have zero games in December.

siderea: (Default)
[personal profile] siderea
Saw this, blew my mind, thought I'd share. Behold, Lençóis Maranhenses:



2025 Oct 28: PBS Terra [pbsterra on YT]: It Looks Like a Desert. But It Has Thousands of Lakes

When I heard in the video how big it was, I turned on satellite view in Google Maps and popped "Lençóis Maranhenses" into the search bar:

Image below cut. Content advisory: trypophobes avoid )

Pluribus 1.04

Nov. 23rd, 2025 09:31 am
selenak: (Gwen by Redscharlach)
[personal profile] selenak
In which Carol gets pro active, and because this is a Gilligan show, this promptly comes with a moral dilemma.

Spoilers reveal the truth about a couple of things )

Usual Saturday

Nov. 22nd, 2025 10:18 pm
silver_chipmunk: (Default)
[personal profile] silver_chipmunk
I got up at 9:00 and had breakfast and coffee, showered and dressed, and went to my Al-anon meeting. I was a few minutes late but only a few.

The meeting was very good, and I went to the diner afterward, driven by S. Took the bus home, and went to the Starsky and Hutch episode watch and chat. They were very late in starting the wpisode, so I got to see it all! The episode was Losing Streak, and I enjoyed it a lot.

The chat went on for quite a long time, after 7:00. Unfortunately I was having technical difficulties the whole time, though I did manage to see the episode without serious glitches. But after that, Zoom keep kicking me out. Or rather, this damn computer did.

[personal profile] mashfanficchick called and we talked plans for tomorrow.

After we ended I Teamed the FWiB. We didn't talk as long as usual because we started late. But we had a good time.

L from Friday texted me and that was nice.

After I got off with the FWiB I puttered around. It is very hot in here, I have my box fan going to make it livable in the living room, and I opened the bedroom window a smidge and put up my little fan on the sill.

At 10:00 I fed the pets. Christie ate a little. Oreo isn't eating well either, I assume because of the heat in here.

The Kid texted me, her boyfriend's parents would like to meet in January. Finally!

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. My meetings and the people there.

3. My box fan and the little fan.

4. Got to see the episode today.

5. Friends.

6. Finally getting to meet the boyfriend's parents.

Saturday Links Round-Up

Nov. 22nd, 2025 04:09 pm
moon_custafer: neon cat mask (Default)
[personal profile] moon_custafer
Not much to report here personally. I think someone else in our neighbourhood must’ve watched Frankenstein (2025)

NPR’s latest Tiny Desk Concert: Robert Plant and Saving Grace. If you enjoy folk-type music, this might be for you.

Speaking of music legends who’ve still got it: Gonzo, singing “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday.”

Twelfth Night on Great Performances, streaming till NYE 2025. Peter Dinklage really understands the “cross-gartered in yellow stockings” assignment.

The Friday Five for November 14, 2025

Nov. 14th, 2025 01:22 pm
weedpizza: (goofy goober)
[personal profile] weedpizza
Questions from [community profile] thefridayfive.

1. What's one of the nicest things a friend has ever done for you?
My sister took me to see our favorite band (Pulp)!

2. What's one of the nicest things a stranger has ever done for you?
Bought me cigarettes when I was short on money.

3. What is a trait in another person that you instantly admire, and that draws you to them?
Authenticity.

4. What is a trait in another person that instantly repels you, and prevents you from forming a close relationship with them?
Vanity.

5. Time to vent: tell us about something rotten someone has done to you.
I'm not in the mood to vent, but there's been plenty!
sunnymodffa: (Smoking alpaca)
[personal profile] sunnymodffa posting in [community profile] fail_fandomanon
 
Cocaine in Maine makes the writing go insane.

Cocaine in Maine comes mainly out the Drain.

[Stephen King is still alive at the time of this titling]


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sovay: (Rotwang)
[personal profile] sovay
My mother referred earlier this evening to the state of my health as farshlimmert, which definitely sounds classier than my saying it's gone down the tubes. On the other hand, I do not apparently have TB, so we can hold off on the consumptive poet jokes a little while longer yet.

As a reworking of Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971) is trashtacular even beyond the whipsawing of its trans reading when it mixes the novella's Gothic horrors with historical ones—scrunching about six decades in the penny-dreadful process of folding in not only the Whitechapel murders but Burke and Hare, even without throwing in an allusion to Sweeney Todd or a street singer straight out of Val Lewton—but it dovetailed unexpectedly well with an article sent me by [personal profile] selkie about the obtrusiveness of AI-generation in art because it contains an in-camera effect so good that I stopped the film to gush about it to [personal profile] spatch. It's the emergence of the so-called Mrs. Hyde. One-shot, Jekyll wrenched with the effects of his absinthe-green potion buries his face in his hands, slowly straightens to perceive, in the cheval glass where a moment ago he was convulsing, a woman as severely dark-haired, night-pale and shocked as himself, who she is. It's not a trick of double exposures or duplicate sets or dissolves. While the camera tightly pivots behind the hunched protagonist, it looks as though a slight adjustment to the angle of the mirror allows an otherwise offscreen Martine Beswick to reflect beyond the identically dressed shoulder of Ralph Bates, their breath heaving in time, their hands slowly unmasking their shared face. It's very simple and uncannily effective. In some ways I find it more impressive than the red-filter transformation of Fredric March in the 1931 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because it's all sightlines. He's never out of shot and she's suddenly in it. Especially to an eye distracted from consideration of the sets or the cinematography by the switch of actors in the glass, it looks impossible. And someone had to think of it, or at least translate it from a stage illusion. It has never broken a film for me to see how a practical effect is done, which feels different from the suspicion of how much of an image is AI-slopped.

The almost talking blues whose first two lines I missed tonight on WERS turned out to be Lucinda Williams' "The World's Gone Wrong" (2025).

P.S. And a random thirty seconds of Clive Francis mixed in with the bleak London ultraviolence of Villain (1971), why not?

in the middle of our street

Nov. 21st, 2025 11:32 pm
the_siobhan: (Dufferin station)
[personal profile] the_siobhan
Did not hear from engineer today. Fingers crossed for next week.

Visiting dad got put off until tomorrow so that meant I got to spend some more time sorting out the basement bathroom. I got the caulking done and... boy, I am not good at that. I was thinking if I got the hang of it I would also add some to the kitchen tiles where the contractor missed it but... no. I have gained many new skills during this phase of dealing with the house, but this is definitely not one of them. It looks like I put it on drunk.

Big stack o' paper has been sorted out and divided into things I am keeping for tax purposes, things I am keeping for insurance purposes, things I am keeping for grant purposes, and things I just threw onto the stack because I didn't know what else to do with it. I'll do the actual scanning and uploading on erm, maybe Sunday.

I also spent some time going through my credit card statements last night looking for proof I had paid a couple of bills and in the process I discovered that I have some charges I don't recognize. They're for small amounts which is why I didn't spot them earlier, but there are a bunch of them. Two different small companies in the US and when I looked at their websites they use the exact same templates. Everything is identical except for the text and the photos. I sent one of them a 'hey, who are you' email and got an immediate auto-response saying if I was disputing a charge I should list all my email addresses and my credit card number so they can look it up.

(Also? One of the websites sold makeup. I think the last time I wore makeup was 2010.)

So. That card got cancelled. I put in a fraud claim and hopefully I get the money back.

***

Physio is going really really well. I've stopped using the cane for short walks and so far my foot is holding up great. I cannot tell you how fantastic it is to be able to move normally again, even if just for short distances.

Every time I go to the physiotherapist we go over the exercises I'm doing and she adds a slight modification that makes it slightly more difficult and apparently my body really likes being challenged because it's making a huge difference. And then she spends 20 minutes doing what she calls "deep tissue work" which is code for finding every single sensitive spot in my foot and lower calf and using it as a platform to balance her entire body weight on her elbow.

Fuckit, if it's working, I'll take it.

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