Paper Towns - John Green

Nov. 21st, 2025 09:59 pm
troisoiseaux: (reading 3)
[personal profile] troisoiseaux
Read Paper Towns by John Green, because my year of revisiting 2000s YA lit wouldn't be complete without a single John Green novel and this is the one that was immediately available on Libby. Towards the end of their senior year, perceived manic pixie dream girl Margo and literal boy next door Quentin share one night of shenanigans - pulling an all-nighter to enact teen-movie revenge on Margo's cheating boyfriend and a handful of frenemies - only for Margo to disappear the next day, leaving behind a trail of clues for Quentin to decode and follow. It is a non-zero amount of cringe - mostly in a way that loops around to oddly endearing; sometimes in a way that is definitely still cringe - but overall, I enjoyed this more than I had expected to. There's a weight to it that I hadn't remembered, in that ... )

I don't think this book was how I discovered the Mountain Goats as a teenager, but its epigraph quotes from "Game Shows Touch Our Lives" ("People say friends don't destroy one another / What do they know about friends?") and, later, there's a passing reference to Q and his friends singing along to the Mountain Goats that I found disproportionately touching, both because of now knowing about Green's love of the band from The Anthropocene Reviewed (five stars; higher than, say, the wonder and majesty of Halley's Comet, which only rates four and a half) and my own nostalgia.

Die, Die My Darling

Nov. 22nd, 2025 12:59 am
[syndicated profile] pennyarcade_feed

There are a few things I am an absolute sucker for, just suckin' like crazy, and one of them is dice.  Or, several of them I guess.  It depends on how granular we're being. I thought that I was in remission, but here at PAX I've been thrust into the fire like a hot poker - a hot poker that for some inexplicable  reason wants to buy dice.

new glasses

Nov. 21st, 2025 07:21 pm
redbird: closeup of me drinking tea, in a friend's kitchen (Default)
[personal profile] redbird
I picked up my new glasses today, and I like them. I am seeing better than with the old glasses, either because it's a slightly different prescription, because the old pair had gotten scratched, or some combination.

A few hours later, the lenses have gotten smudged, so I am going to clean them after posting this.

I stopped on the way home at New City Microcreamery, which now has a branch in Arlington Center, half a block from the optician's. After tasting a few flavors, I bought a pint of dairy cinnamon ice cream for myself, and a pint of vegan peanut butter for [personal profile] adrian_turtle, at her request.

Done

Nov. 21st, 2025 11:07 pm
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[personal profile] ceb posting in [community profile] qec
* dentist
* rescued parcel
* North Cambridge consultation response
* assorted dates into diary

Starter? Set! – DORK TOWER 21.11.25

Nov. 21st, 2025 06:00 am
[syndicated profile] dorktower_feed

Posted by John Kovalic

This or any DORK TOWER strip is now available as a signed, high-quality print, from just $25!  CLICK HERE to find out more!

HEY! Want to help keep DORK TOWER going? Then consider joining the DORK TOWER Patreon and ENLIST IN THE ARMY OF DORKNESS TODAY! (We have COOKIES!) (And SWAG!) (And GRATITUDE!)

That was very pleasant

Nov. 21st, 2025 07:54 pm
oursin: Drawing of hedgehog in a cave, writing in a book with a quill pen (Writing hedgehog)
[personal profile] oursin

Meet-up with visiting person from US institution of renown which I have visited in the past, and BBL (who I realise I have known for getting on for 40 years as we first met when I gave the first paper on my PhD research), whom I have not seen in person for yonks though we have talked on the phone.

While the reason for this was rather sad as it involves scholar we both knew and liked a lot who died unexpectedly last year, and left various projects unfinished but in a fairly advanced state, it was also a very lively and stimulating and enjoyable meeting with lots of mutual appreciation.

Also it looks like there may be a very interesting project coming out of this to finish off one of the projects which is bang in my wheelhouse/ballpark/whatever.

However, though not surprised or shocked, saddened to hear that things are, indeed, and fairly predictably, not well with the institution in question.

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[personal profile] full_metal_ox posting in [community profile] metaquotes
[personal profile] dissectionist: Back in MY DAY, we had to read Penthouse Forum letters into a tape recorder and put the resulting tape into a first-gen Teddy Ruxpin. Nowadays kids don’t even have to work to turn their teddy bear into a creep.

Context reports FoloToy’s Shock and Surprise! at what happens when you feed a kid’s toy OpenAI.

Neither Present Nor Accounted For

Nov. 21st, 2025 09:16 am
lydamorehouse: (ichigo irritated)
[personal profile] lydamorehouse
 Sorry, everybody.

It's actually been a really big week for me, being my birthday week, but I seem to have completely forgotten to update you all on any of it. I have about fifteen minutes before I need to head out, so let's see what I can tell you about in that amount of time.

I turned 58 on Tuesday. 

I have never been one of those people who hates birthdays or the idea of growing older. I love every single birthday (with the sole exception of the one that I spent driving back from Indiana.) But, generally, I am all about starting to celebrate my birthday as soon as possible and, this year, I started on November 3 (my birthday is the 18th). One of the things that I very expressly asked my wife for was time to game. Normally we fuss a bit because, if I had my way, I'd be running D&D every single weekend that my players was available.  So, for November, I've played D&D every single weekend so far--which has been tremendous fun. It's come to a close, however, as the Thanksgiving prep is in full swing. 

Shawn always takes my birthday off work. She also almost always takes her own birthday off, too, as did I when I was working. In fact one of the funniest conversations I ever had with a boss was when I was working as a itenerent library page for Ramsey County Library. My boss at the time, Lee Ann, was a fellow Scorpio. She also used to call all the pages to see where and when they'd be available. The 18th was floated for me and I just said, "Sorry, that's my birthday." She seemed stunned. She said, "Well, tomorrow is my birthday and I'm working," and I said, "That sounds sad. You should take your birthday off." Apparently, this is not something that regularly occurs to adults. Lee Ann seemed very stunned and afronted. But, I've long embraced the fact that I'm not a normal adult.

Side story, but part of birthday week for me has been getting to go get fancy coffee in the mornings. I discovered that one of the barista at Claddaugh really, really loves rocks. So, I've started carrying rocks in my pockets again just to show her the ones I've collected. Yesterday, I pulled out the Thomsonsite that I have from our trips to Bearskin and showed it off. Other people were interested so a bunch of adults started oohing and ahhing over cool rocks. And it reminded me of that meme that goes around with the guy who is sad because the worst part of being an adult is that no one ever (shows you a cool rock, is one version, or) asks you your favorite dinosaur. So, we very quickly all started sharing our favorite dinosaurs, as well. Take that, adulthood!  You can't diminish my love for cool rocks and dinosaurs!  NEVER GO QUIETLY INTO THE LONG DARK! LOVE ROCKS! LOVE DINOSAURS!

The other thing I love to do is go out to eat. I am especially fond of breakfast or brunch out. I love me a good greasy spoon, too. I have had my family take me out to the Egg & I, but this year we went to Day by Day. which is slightly less grease and more hippy/recovery community. I pushed out the boat (and as Shawn has been adding lately, and got into it! Because you don't want to "push out the boat" and then "miss the boat") and had their buscuits and gravy. Not a safe meal for a 58 year old, but look at me, living on the edge!  Do I know how to party, or what?

We also went out for dinner, which, in our family, is borders on insanity. Like, we were seriously living it up. Dinner was Taste of India out in Maplewood, a place that I've been going to for my birthday for decades. 

The only pall on the day was the fact that I forgot my cell phone at home and so I missed the MONARCA text about the Federal action in Midway. It's probably just as well. Pepper spray got deployed and no one wants to be pepper sprayed for their birthday. (I mean, maybe [personal profile] sabotabby does?) I did feel bad for missing it as my friends [personal profile] naomikritzer and [personal profile] resolute were there doing the good work.

So that's me? How's you?

Random Roman Remains

Nov. 21st, 2025 06:57 pm
purplecat: Black and White photo of production of Julius Caesar (General:Roman Remains)
[personal profile] purplecat

The remains of Hadrian's Wall on the right snake over a rise down and then up over the next rise.  The remains of a square building abut the wall close to.
A milecastle on Hadian's Wall
pegkerr: (candle)
[personal profile] pegkerr
You know, I do my best to just live my life and be a brave little toaster, but this week, it's just felt like...a lot.

I need to get a new car. Mine is twenty-five years old and leaking coolant. And I don't know where or how to start. Will I be able to afford anything decent?

Pain continues. The physical therapist has ordered me to use a cane. I have to use it in my (non-dominant) left hand, the one with arthritis, and just manipulating it with that hand is difficult enough that I have to start using my arthritis brace on that hand again.

I've also been told to wear an IS brace, a velcro strap that goes around my hips. Weirdly enough, it gives me nausea. Constantly.

Medical appointments. So. Many. Medical. Appointments.

All of this makes it difficult to exercise. And I NEED to exercise. I got the results of my bone scan this week, and my osteopenia is continuing to get worse. I need to get into the gym and lift weights and I'm not doing so, and so I'm beating myself up about it.

The news. Need I say more?

Christmas is looming, and the thought of preparing for the holidays is daunting.

I'm about to retire, and I am struggling with uncertainty about what it is going to look like. (Will I have enough money is giving me constant low-grade anxiety)

Rob's 70th birthday was this past week.

Both of the girls have been sick and stressed. Delia's internship is about to end, and she doesn't know where she will find another job.

On Wednesday, I had to sit through a meeting that droned on for an hour and a half. I kept standing up and sitting down again. I was so obviously uncomfortable that my coworkers sent me home, and I spent the rest of the day with the covers literally pulled over my head.

I'm sorry. I'm complaining, and I truly don't like that. I don't feel depressed, exactly? But I don't feel at my best, shall we say.

Image description: Background: a light-filled doorway in a room with gray peeling paint. Superimposed over it: a semi-transparent image of a woman's face with eyes closed, strands of hair blowing over her eyes. Lower center: a statue with green patina of a woman, holding her hand to her forehead. Upper left corner: a dried leaf clings to a twig.

Melancholy

46 Melancholy

Click on the links to see the 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.

Freya Marske, KDDs, & More

Nov. 21st, 2025 04:30 pm
[syndicated profile] smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

We Solve Murders

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman is $1.99! This came out last September, but I wouldn’t be surprised if library holds were still pretty long. Maybe snap this up if you impatience is winning out.

A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve…

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job…

Then a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Swordcrossed

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske is $2.99! Many of us were very excited for this release. Sarah also had Marske on the podcast to talk about it.

High heat. Low stakes. Sharp steel.

The cozy, low stakes of Legends & Lattes meets the scorching bodyguard fantasy of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash in this enemies-to-lovers romance where, yes, the swords do cross.

A LitHub most anticipated book of 2024

Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family’s wealth, something that Matti has been trying—and failing—to do for the past ten years.

What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.

Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his hometown. He didn’t plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible—and inconveniently handsome—wool merchant like Matti.

However, neither Matti’s business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what they seem. As the days count down to Matti’s wedding, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti’s house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca’s secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the how many lies are you prepared to strip away, when the truth could mean losing everything you want?

“There’s nothing in fantasy or queer romance that Marske can’t do.”—Sarah Rees Brennan

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire

A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire by Sarah Hawley is $1.99! This is book three in the Glimmer Falls series. For me, this series was too twee for my liking. What are your thoughts?

Ben Rosewood never meant to be bound to a vampire succubus, especially one as sexy-yet-terrifying as Eleanora Bettencourt-Devereux, but he has to admit there are some fang-tastic perks….

Werewolf Ben Rosewood is happy with his life. One hundred percent. Everything is fine. His business, Ben’s Plant Emporium, is thriving, and he’s even expanding the shop. His anxiety disorder is…well, it’s been better, but that comes with the territory of running a business and having beastly urges every full moon, right? As for romance—who has the time? Though his family is desperate to see him settled, Ben is fine approaching forty as a single werewolf. But after drunkenly bidding on and winning a supposedly-possessed crystal on eBay one night, he finds himself face-to-face with a beautiful but angry vampire.

Eleanora Bettencourt-Devereux is a rare breed—a vampire succubus born from two elite European bloodlines during medieval times. But thanks to an evil witch, she’s been stuck in a crystal since she was thirty, forced to obey orders from the possessor of the rock. Eleanora’s been dreaming of breaking the spell and severing the witch’s head for centuries. But did this witch really sell her to someone new, and for only ninety-nine cents?

Eleanora would claw this werewolf’s heart out and eat it, if only the binding spell would allow her to. But Eleanora and Ben soon realize they can help each other with both vengeful and less hostile needs. And why not have a little fun along the way?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

The City of Stardust

The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers is $2.99! This is a Kindle Daily Deal and I gave this one a C. As Jenny in the comments of my review described it, this is a book that is mainly aesthetic and vibes. Summers’s sophomore novel just came out and I’m excited for it.

Slip into a lush world of magic, stardust, and monsters in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy from debut author Georgia Summers.

For centuries, the Everlys have seen their best and brightest disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.

Violet Everly was a child when her mother left on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. When Marianne never returns, Penelope issues an ultimatum: Violet has ten years to find her mother, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer. Unless she can break the curse first.

Her hunt leads her into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. And into the path of Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.

With her time running out, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

 

 

 

Moshulu

Nov. 21st, 2025 04:25 pm
vivdunstan: Part of own photo taken in local university botanic gardens. Tree trunks rise atmospherically, throwing shadows from the sun on the ground. (Default)
[personal profile] vivdunstan
Been having some extra foot problems, so decided I needed to get some better softer slippers. Treated myself to a couple of pairs of Moshulu ballerina slippers, different colours. They arrived in the post a little while ago, and wearing them is like wearing cushions all around, front and behind. I think this will really help. Delighted. Moshulu is a Devon-based company, and has more physical shops in the West Country than anywhere else. The nearest to Martin's Somerset home village is in Sherborne, Dorset. Here in Scotland there's just one Moshulu outlet, inside Stirling Dobbies. But mail order works well. And the sizing is good, though note their shoes are sized a little bit wider than normal, which works well for me.

Mudlarking 65 - a battery and coral

Nov. 21st, 2025 03:21 pm
squirmelia: (Default)
[personal profile] squirmelia
After the past few times of being shouted at on the foreshore, I decided to go somewhere quieter - Wapping. Low tide wasn't until 17:15 so I had a whole day to fill first. I walked from Blackfriars to St Katharine Dock and as I walked past the HMS Belfast decided to jump aboard! I quite enjoyed it, having never visited it before. I also popped in to Southwark Cathedral and saw the latest mudlarking case.

When I got to Wapping, I apologised to photographers as I got in the way of their shots as they were blocking the stairs onto the foreshore. Later on there were a few other people mudlarking, but no-one shouted at me this time!

I walked from the New Crane Stairs to Wapping pier and then overshot the stairs, and panicked that I had read the tide times wrong and that the water had engulfed them. (I hadn't, just walked past them.) The stairs with no lower steps started gushing water so I had to jump the stream there.

Finds weren’t plentiful and I didn't stay until low tide as I was cold and the light was fading.

I did find a nice sherd with a child holding a sprig of something though. I also like the sherd with a tree on it.

Also, what I initially thought was part of a glass bottle turned out to be a glass Exide battery case! It would have contained acid for a battery and is likely to be from the 1930s to 1950s. It may have looked like this originally: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156007794819

A piece of coral was an interesting find. Coral isn’t native to the Thames, so it’s likely it was used as ballast on a ship, transported from warmer waters, such as the Carribean.

The “warranted ironstone” sherd is again likely to be from John Edwards. https://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/374.htm

A piece of mochaware.

Mudlarking finds - 65

(You need a permit to search or mudlark on the Thames foreshore.)
squirmelia: (Default)
[personal profile] squirmelia
I continued my walk along the river from Vauxhall. First I visited Effra Island and Effra Quay and saw the toilet sculptures. There was a slipway, which I walked down and there was a good view of the lions. I will have to go back sometime when the tide is further out.

Along this way, the benches have swan heads instead of sphinxes on them.

I detoured to the Newport Gallery to see the Triple Trouble: Fairey, Hirst and Invader exhibition.

I then continued along the river and detoured when I got near Leake Street and walked through the graffiti tunnel and then to Tokyo Bagel for curry pan and a matcha strawberry vanilla crown.

I put on my wellies and headed down to the foreshore outside Gabriel’s Wharf and then waited until the tide was out enough to walk along to outside the National Theatre. No jumping gates this time!

The first thing I found was a squirrel ornament, which I first thought was a gargoyle or a devil.

I also found a large button and a friendship bracelet.

I picked up a phone case that said “C’est la vie since 2022” and “Have a nice day” on it, but left it. I also saw a second phone case, but that one was just black.

I also left a welly.

The foreshore was busy with mudlarks and children and tourists.

A person standing on the bank shouted at me, “mudlark!”

I spoke to another mudlark and asked what they'd found and they showed me a really long pipe stem and I showed them my squirrel.

Things I’ve identified:

1. A sherd from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths! It shows their coat of arms on it, and says “Justitia Virtutum Regina” on it, which means “Justice is the queen of virtues.” The sherd has a leopard face visible in the corner of the shield.

I found what the coat of arms would have originally looked like:
https://www.alamy.com/the-worshipful-company-of-goldsmiths-coat-of-arms-on-a-plate-an-old-illustration-of-their-coat-of-arms-image554210895.html

The Goldsmiths’ Hall, on Foster Lane, near St Paul’s, only dates back to 1835, but the site has been home to the Goldsmiths’ Company since 1339.

2. A John Edwards sherd. https://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/374.htm

John Edwards were a Stoke-on-Trent potter, from 1847 - 1900.

3. Dunn, Bennett & Co unchippable sherd. https://thepotteries.org/allpotters/363.htm

A Stoke-on-Trent potter, in Burslem, from 1876 - 1983.They made all kinds of exciting pottery, from plates for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand to Mumbles Railway & Pier Company plates to canteen ware for the government.

4. “husian EC1” glass shard

In EC1, there’s a street called “Carthusian Street”. It’s near to the Charterhouse and the Barbican. There’s a pub there called the Sutton Arms, which has been there since at least 1825, so this piece of glass may have been part of a bottle that came from there?

5. Carbon rod for an arc lamp. It says “marke” on it.

6. More pieces of the Aster flower design from Express Dairies.

7. Nephew sherd

I think this one is probably “James Green & Nephew” and that it would have said “London & Stoke” and “Willow pattern” on it.

Mudlarking finds - 64

(You need a permit to search or mudlark on the Thames foreshore.)

2025/186: Hitwoman — Elsie Marks

Nov. 21st, 2025 11:56 am
tamaranth: me, in the sun (Default)
[personal profile] tamaranth
2025/186: Hitwoman — Elsie Marks

...that’s the problem with rich people in the UK – not only are half of them clinically evil, they’re clinically evil bastards who all went to school together and still haven’t grown up. [loc. 2457]

Maisie Baxter works for Novum, a boutique ethical assassination agency. Her boss is the charismatic Gabby Hawthorne (played, in my head, by Helen Mirren); she shares a flat with Beth, who knows nothing about Maisie's job; she's been single for a while, because she can't have a relationship without revealing her secret double life.

But when a man named Will shows up at two of her jobs, and the target is killed before she can take care of business, she becomes suspicious Read more... )