Trump’s Midterm Threats Recall a Bleak Chapter in American History
Feb. 23rd, 2026 05:01 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
fp_best_defense_feedIlliberalism has been part of the national culture since the founding.
fp_best_defense_feed
Nightwing's " Cirque du Sin " arc wrapped up this month.
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thanekos posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scans_dailyIt started in October 2024 - it's been seventeen issues and one annual.
It's the Cirque, which Dick'd encountered as Robin, having designs on him and Blüdhaven.
In issue #132, he'd confronted the Cirque's representative Olivia Pearce - and seen her face.
( Her master, the Zanni, came out of it. )
It's the Cirque, which Dick'd encountered as Robin, having designs on him and Blüdhaven.
In issue #132, he'd confronted the Cirque's representative Olivia Pearce - and seen her face.
( Her master, the Zanni, came out of it. )
Bits and pieces, catching up
Feb. 23rd, 2026 04:53 pmmificI've been busy lately with several things on the go - doing HR art for the ICE OUT donations challenge, recording a long SGA podfic for the Podfic Big Bang (And Hope by Sihaya Black), and trying to fit in recording a couple of shorter ones for Romancing McShep and Romancing SGA, as well. Oof. Plus a lot of HR fic reading. I've accepted that it's impossible to keep up in any meaningful sense, and just surf along reading stuff I see reccd or authors I know I like a lot, and the few WIPs I'm following. Eventually I guess I'll catch up with numerous gems in the fandom that I missed in this avalanche of new fics, many of them extremely good.
In terms of reading very good authors, I had an exceptionally obsessive episode today where I started a story by one of my fave HR writers and couldn't read it. Because (unlike in ALL their other fics) they'd chosen to do all the Ilya POV narration in Ilya-speak, with most of the articles dropped. Russian doesn't have separate articles, I gather, because the distinction between "a ball" & "the ball" is done with word order - which is why in English, Russians often drop their articles. An example:
1. Девушка читает книгу. (The girl is reading a book)
2. Книгу читает девушка. (The girl is reading the book)
In both sentences, the meaning is nearly the same. However, in Sentence 2, the placement of “книгу” (book) at the beginning, before “девушка” (girl), highlights the importance of the book and implies a specific book.
The parts of the fic where it was Ilya's dialogue were fine because that portrays his actual speech, but the narrative (for me) is his thoughts (internal narration) in tight 3rd POV and there's NO WAY he'd be dropping "articles" in his thinking in Russian. It made him seem stupid, which he very much isn't, and I couldn't bear to read it. So I just now copied it into Word and betaed it, adding back in all the articles from his narrative POV parts. If you recognise the fic, hit me up in a DM and I'll share the edited version. It's a bloody good fic otherwise, 9000 words.
Life's been quiet apart from reccing, writing, arting and podficcing, and I'm looking forward to a dinner out with friends this Wednesday. Also enjoying sweet corn, and the start of the stone fruit season, with gorgeous nectarines. My garden is blowsy and straggly now, in late summer, and I need to take some time (ha!) to trim it back a bit. It's still warm here, about 22-24 degC highs, usually, and drier of late so I'm still watering the entire garden by hand every 3 days.
One bloody annoying thing that happened was that my credit card was hacked back at the end of January (picked up via notifications coming up on my phone from my banking app asking me to approve a bunch of things I hadn't bought). Luckily all smallish purchases (kids? An unambitious thief, anyway) and I think the bank will refund them. But that meant cancelling that card and them mailing me another (a process I last went through several months ago). And then the mailed card never arrived (presumed stolen from my letterbox) and I got another couple of false transactions on the new card that I hadn't even seen yet! So yet another card cancellation and this time I got it mailed to my bank. I was very glad that after the last debacle several months ago I'd arranged a second credit card via my other bank (I have accounts at 2 banks for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture).
Anyway, in terms of recs:
- I'm reading all Evilharlowe's HR works on AO3 - they really are a fantastic writer.
- Happened on a great short edit that sets Shane and Ilya's tuna melt hiatus to a Chappel Roan song (The Subway - amazing song) - heartrending edit, very well done, but man, I wish it were a full-sized fanvid.
- Bringing to your attention this workout video by Hudson Williams. Leg day and his skincare routine are really paying off! (CN for casual mentions of eating extreme diets or 'not eating' to make his body fit acting roles. Which is worrying but probably routine for actors.)
- there's a LOT of HR podfic by now and every day there are 1 or 2 new ones. It's a great way to revisit fics I read and loved while I do art. For example,cathexys podficced Magneticwave's Clear to a Hedgehog. This link gets you HR podfic on AO3.
Enough for now. Waving at you all - hope things are going as well as they can.! 💗
In terms of reading very good authors, I had an exceptionally obsessive episode today where I started a story by one of my fave HR writers and couldn't read it. Because (unlike in ALL their other fics) they'd chosen to do all the Ilya POV narration in Ilya-speak, with most of the articles dropped. Russian doesn't have separate articles, I gather, because the distinction between "a ball" & "the ball" is done with word order - which is why in English, Russians often drop their articles. An example:
1. Девушка читает книгу. (The girl is reading a book)
2. Книгу читает девушка. (The girl is reading the book)
In both sentences, the meaning is nearly the same. However, in Sentence 2, the placement of “книгу” (book) at the beginning, before “девушка” (girl), highlights the importance of the book and implies a specific book.
The parts of the fic where it was Ilya's dialogue were fine because that portrays his actual speech, but the narrative (for me) is his thoughts (internal narration) in tight 3rd POV and there's NO WAY he'd be dropping "articles" in his thinking in Russian. It made him seem stupid, which he very much isn't, and I couldn't bear to read it. So I just now copied it into Word and betaed it, adding back in all the articles from his narrative POV parts. If you recognise the fic, hit me up in a DM and I'll share the edited version. It's a bloody good fic otherwise, 9000 words.
Life's been quiet apart from reccing, writing, arting and podficcing, and I'm looking forward to a dinner out with friends this Wednesday. Also enjoying sweet corn, and the start of the stone fruit season, with gorgeous nectarines. My garden is blowsy and straggly now, in late summer, and I need to take some time (ha!) to trim it back a bit. It's still warm here, about 22-24 degC highs, usually, and drier of late so I'm still watering the entire garden by hand every 3 days.
One bloody annoying thing that happened was that my credit card was hacked back at the end of January (picked up via notifications coming up on my phone from my banking app asking me to approve a bunch of things I hadn't bought). Luckily all smallish purchases (kids? An unambitious thief, anyway) and I think the bank will refund them. But that meant cancelling that card and them mailing me another (a process I last went through several months ago). And then the mailed card never arrived (presumed stolen from my letterbox) and I got another couple of false transactions on the new card that I hadn't even seen yet! So yet another card cancellation and this time I got it mailed to my bank. I was very glad that after the last debacle several months ago I'd arranged a second credit card via my other bank (I have accounts at 2 banks for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture).
Anyway, in terms of recs:
- I'm reading all Evilharlowe's HR works on AO3 - they really are a fantastic writer.
- Happened on a great short edit that sets Shane and Ilya's tuna melt hiatus to a Chappel Roan song (The Subway - amazing song) - heartrending edit, very well done, but man, I wish it were a full-sized fanvid.
- Bringing to your attention this workout video by Hudson Williams. Leg day and his skincare routine are really paying off! (CN for casual mentions of eating extreme diets or 'not eating' to make his body fit acting roles. Which is worrying but probably routine for actors.)
- there's a LOT of HR podfic by now and every day there are 1 or 2 new ones. It's a great way to revisit fics I read and loved while I do art. For example,
cathexys podficced Magneticwave's Clear to a Hedgehog. This link gets you HR podfic on AO3.Enough for now. Waving at you all - hope things are going as well as they can.! 💗
Won’t Someone Think of the Corporations?: JUSTICE LEAGUE QUARTERLY #1 (JLI 61)
Feb. 22nd, 2026 07:59 pmtcampbell1000 posting in scans_daily
The launch of Justice League Quarterly might’ve seemed excessive, but in retrospect, it let Giffen, DeMatteis, and Jones explore a few story concepts in depth that otherwise might’ve been sent to the margins. First up was Booster Gold’s new super-team, the Fighting Shills. No, wait, I mean the Intellectual Property. No, wait, I mean the Bought-And-Paid-For Hacks. No, wait, I mean…the Conglomerate? Are we SURE that’s their name?
( In 1990, the name ‘‘Citizens United’’ would’ve said ‘super-team’ more than ‘‘overextension of corporate power.’’ )
Recommendation: Pity and Terror - Slings & Arrows, Geoffrey/Darren and a production of Medea
Feb. 22nd, 2026 11:05 pmpetraPity and Terror (463 words) by RiaSaun
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Slings and Arrows, Medea - Fandom
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Geoffrey Tennant, Darren Nichols
Additional Tags: Humor, Drama
Summary:
This was inspired by one of the first fanworks I ever put on the AO3, back in my Slings & Arrows heyday. It has an excellent use of Darren Nichols' off-kilter genius.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Slings and Arrows, Medea - Fandom
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Geoffrey Tennant, Darren Nichols
Additional Tags: Humor, Drama
Summary:
Darren sells Geoffrey on a production. This is inspired by Petra's "Grace and a Cod-piece."
*This was inspired by one of the first fanworks I ever put on the AO3, back in my Slings & Arrows heyday. It has an excellent use of Darren Nichols' off-kilter genius.
Just one thing: 23 February 2026
Feb. 22nd, 2026 09:44 pmjazzyjj posting in awesomeersIt's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
🔗 Links of interest
Feb. 22nd, 2026 09:35 pmbluapapilio
Animanga etc tuber: Tyranno - Analysis and reviews of new anime. Along with them, Mother's Basement have sensibilities towards certain topics in animanga that I appreciate. Both are willing to check out BL/GL shows on top of all the other stuff out there and give them a fair chance.
“such a shame, i suppose my hand in marriage will have to go to someone else…” and then i get to hear her whimper like a dog. ive done this like 6 times alrea- did she just win.- This is so fun and now I really want an extended manga or comic like this
"Sentient robot series I’ve watched and will watch" - "Sentient robot series is a guilty pleasure of mine and I’ve watched a few here and there, so I figured I would give my two cents on the matter."
Stranger Things Failed A Long Time Ago
Guardian TV cliches
castle-nim - "Most manwha use 3D assets from an asset library. One such asset is Castle Nim - a 3D castle that shows up in many different series." Isn't there also a horse asset that people use that's really unrealistic looking as well?
It's Not A Cult - Joey Batey
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:16 pmtroisoiseauxRead It's Not A Cult by Joey Batey, a debut folk horror novel about a band whose songs based on an invented mythology (the Solkats, small gods of wine stains and stubbed toes and untold jokes and bus stop fights and texts at three in the morning, etc.) inspire a literal cult following; I picked this up mostly because I know of the author for other work (he has a band, The Amazing Devil, and played Jaskier on The Witcher) and I'm not sure if it is, exactly, good— I suspect it might work better as an audiobook, because it has a rather distracting tendency towards draaaaawing out wooooords and phonetic spelling of accents ("updéeat")— but I did read the entire thing in one day. It's definitely a [Rod Sterling voice] wouldn't that be messed up? kind of horror novel— very ambiguous ending, and a lot of ambiguity throughout; ( not a spoiler, exactly. )
According to an interview I read when this came on my radar a few months ago, either the novel itself or at least the idea for it (unclear?) pre-dates Batey's career(s) as an actor and musician, but it's a bit of context that I found impossible to shake in light of, a., the themes of artistry (specifically, as a musician) and fandom, and b., the way the narrative is entirely framed by camera lenses: if an action takes place on the page, it's because there's a camera pointing at it, from the narrator's coping mechanism of viewing the world through a camcorder lens rather than looking at things straight on, to vloggers live-streaming their every thought, filmed police interviews, etc., including some rather improbably convoluted executions of the premise.
According to an interview I read when this came on my radar a few months ago, either the novel itself or at least the idea for it (unclear?) pre-dates Batey's career(s) as an actor and musician, but it's a bit of context that I found impossible to shake in light of, a., the themes of artistry (specifically, as a musician) and fandom, and b., the way the narrative is entirely framed by camera lenses: if an action takes place on the page, it's because there's a camera pointing at it, from the narrator's coping mechanism of viewing the world through a camcorder lens rather than looking at things straight on, to vloggers live-streaming their every thought, filmed police interviews, etc., including some rather improbably convoluted executions of the premise.
The Jewish War: Second half of Book 1
Feb. 22nd, 2026 07:06 pmcahnLast week: Some really interesting discussions on (among other things) Caesar Augustus, the temple in Egypt, and the destruction of the temple (in Jerusalem) as divine punishment and also free will.
This week: More Herod! Definitely went quite a bit faster than last week! Featuring lots and lots of family drama... the kind that includes a ton of bloodshed. I'll talk more about it in comments.
Next week:selenak can you give us a halfway point for Book 2? It looks a bit shorter but I'm also going to be crunched for time next week (and definitely won't be able to post until Sunday) so half a book is what it's going to have to be!
This week: More Herod! Definitely went quite a bit faster than last week! Featuring lots and lots of family drama... the kind that includes a ton of bloodshed. I'll talk more about it in comments.
Next week:
selenak can you give us a halfway point for Book 2? It looks a bit shorter but I'm also going to be crunched for time next week (and definitely won't be able to post until Sunday) so half a book is what it's going to have to be!🔊 Daily music
Feb. 22nd, 2026 09:05 pmbluapapilioIt's feeling like déjà vu
When I'm standing next to you
And all these years of running
They led me straight to you🎤
Cannons - Crush
When I'm standing next to you
And all these years of running
They led me straight to you🎤
Cannons - Crush
Falling.
Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:42 pmhannahThe travel ban's up. Schools are going back to remote learning. Nobody's going anywhere if they can help it. I'd figured this was coming, and it's nice that it's settling in. The snow's coming down steadily and I can faintly hear human voices - going from where the light's coming from, the people in the next building over are either hosting some friends or having a very loud party by themselves. Either way, it's warm human voices on a cold night.
Not a dark night, though. The clouds aren't letting that happen. It's one of the nicer parts of nighttime snow.
Not a dark night, though. The clouds aren't letting that happen. It's one of the nicer parts of nighttime snow.
Daily Check-In
Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:04 pmmecurtin posting in fandom_checkinThis is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Sunday, February 22, to midnight on Monday, February 23 (8pm Eastern Time).
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Poll #34278 Daily check-in poll
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 19
How are you doing?
I am OK
13 (68.4%)
I am not OK, but don't need help right now
6 (31.6%)
I could use some help
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans live with you?
I am living single
4 (21.1%)
One other person
10 (52.6%)
More than one other person
5 (26.3%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
第五年第四十三天
Feb. 23rd, 2026 08:53 amnnozomi posting in guardian_learning部首
手 parts 22-27
按, to press; 挑, to choose; 挖, to dig; 挠, to scratch; 挡, to block; 挣, to struggle; 挤, to crowd in; 挥, to wave; 挨, in order; 挪, to move something; 挫, to fail; 振, to shake; 挺, quite; 捂, to cover; 捉, to grab; 捋, to stroke; 捏, to pinch; 捐, to donate
( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=64
语法
3.5 (part 1) 才, "only when..."
3.5 (part 2) 才 meaning "only, just"
3.6 才 vs 就
https://www.digmandarin.com/hsk-3-grammar
词汇
打, to hit; 打败, to defeat; 打雷, to thunder; 打扫, to clean; 打折, discount; 打针, to inject
大巴, bus; 大多, mostly; 大方, generous; 大哥, big brother; 大规模, large-scale; 大会, general meeting; 大姐, big sister; 大楼, big building; 大陆, continent/mainland; 大妈, aunt/father's older brother's wife; 大型, large; 大爷, uncle/father's older brother; 大众, the public; 巨大, huge; 扩大, expand
代替, to replace; 近代, modern; 替代, substitute
待遇, treatment; 期待, to expect/look forward to
袋, bag; 口袋, pocket; 脑袋, head; 塑料袋, plastic bag
戴, to wear (glasses, a mask, etc.)
( pinyin )
https://mandarinbean.com/new-hsk-4-word-list/
玩玩
Don’t miss the auspicious sayings posted by sakana17 a few days ago! Also, 说爱你 (Jolin Tsai and GEM, a classic), 也值得 (Li Miaomiao), and 死性不改 (Kang Ziqi).
从昨天这里好暖和，梅花也绽放了。我昨天转化了大厨师，又做泰式咖喱又煮鸡汤，味道还行。大家过得怎么样?
手 parts 22-27
按, to press; 挑, to choose; 挖, to dig; 挠, to scratch; 挡, to block; 挣, to struggle; 挤, to crowd in; 挥, to wave; 挨, in order; 挪, to move something; 挫, to fail; 振, to shake; 挺, quite; 捂, to cover; 捉, to grab; 捋, to stroke; 捏, to pinch; 捐, to donate
( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=64
语法
3.5 (part 1) 才, "only when..."
3.5 (part 2) 才 meaning "only, just"
3.6 才 vs 就
https://www.digmandarin.com/hsk-3-grammar
词汇
打, to hit; 打败, to defeat; 打雷, to thunder; 打扫, to clean; 打折, discount; 打针, to inject
大巴, bus; 大多, mostly; 大方, generous; 大哥, big brother; 大规模, large-scale; 大会, general meeting; 大姐, big sister; 大楼, big building; 大陆, continent/mainland; 大妈, aunt/father's older brother's wife; 大型, large; 大爷, uncle/father's older brother; 大众, the public; 巨大, huge; 扩大, expand
代替, to replace; 近代, modern; 替代, substitute
待遇, treatment; 期待, to expect/look forward to
袋, bag; 口袋, pocket; 脑袋, head; 塑料袋, plastic bag
戴, to wear (glasses, a mask, etc.)
( pinyin )
https://mandarinbean.com/new-hsk-4-word-list/
玩玩
Don’t miss the auspicious sayings posted by sakana17 a few days ago! Also, 说爱你 (Jolin Tsai and GEM, a classic), 也值得 (Li Miaomiao), and 死性不改 (Kang Ziqi).
从昨天这里好暖和，梅花也绽放了。我昨天转化了大厨师，又做泰式咖喱又煮鸡汤，味道还行。大家过得怎么样?
I guessed people would call out, and I was right
Feb. 22nd, 2026 06:27 pmconulyI didn’t guess that I’d be stuck with the roads closed until at least noon tomorrow.
Well, I’m getting paid every hour I’m here, at least.
Well, I’m getting paid every hour I’m here, at least.
Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 12, part 1
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:47 amchina_shop posting in sid_guardian
Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!
Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.
Episode 12, up to 22:18
Summary
Fourth Uncle drugs Zhu Hong; Guo Changcheng zaps himself unconscious. Wang Zheng is teaching Sang Zan to write (but hasn't shown him how to hold a pen). Zhao Yunlan confronts Shen Wei in his university office, ostensibly about the case but in fact seeking confirmation of Shen Wei's other identity. Tan Xiao breaks into the SID to steal the Hallows but is thwarted by Sang Zan's trap, followed by Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's arrival. Zhao Yunlan catches the Awl, has visions and falls unconscious (feat. some lovely manhandling by Shen Wei); Da Qing wakes him by being catlike. Lin Jing wants to run some tests on a human; Zhao Yunlan fakes a headache, so Shen Wei volunteers. Shen Wei lies on the evidence bed in his undershirt. Fourth Uncle talks to tied-up!Zhu Hong, only it's actually Guo Changcheng in a skirt and wig. Zhu Hong drugs her uncle. (So much drugging!) Zhu Jiu is angry at Tan Xiao's failure to retrieve the Hallows; he's holding Zheng Yi hostage, promising to cure her. Zhao Yunlan doodles Shen Wei and the Envoy in his notebook. Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi ambush and hypnotise Zhu Hong as she returns from the Snake Village. She fights Chu Shuzhi, and Lin Jing has to sedate her. Zhao Yunlan tells Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi that they can't trust Zhu Jiu.
Quote
Shen Wei: Are you even listening to me?
Zhao Yunlan: I only want to hear you tell the truth.
Detail
Presumably Zhao Yunlan is already wearing protective earplugs when he apprehends Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi on his own.
Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 12? How is Zhao Yunlan hoping that the conversation in Shen Wei's office will go? Does Sang Zan have any other booby traps set up around the SID (and how many times has Guo Changcheng set them off)? Did Shen Wei put himself in a trance/stasis during Lin Jing's experiment? Any theories about what happened to Tan Xiao's sister? What's with all the drugging??
Poll #34277 Episide 12, part 1
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5
How many times has Guo Changcheng zapped himself unconscious before?
View Answers
once
0 (0.0%)
a couple of times
1 (20.0%)
truly an alarming number of times
2 (40.0%)
Lin Jing is ~this close~ to confiscating the baton
0 (0.0%)
Chu Shuzhi bought a portable defibrillator to take to training practice
3 (60.0%)
other
0 (0.0%)
Does Shen Wei expect Zhao Yunlan to take him literally when he says, "To be honest, I'm just a normal person who happens to be unlucky"?
View Answers
yes, he's determined to stuff the cat back into the bag
1 (20.0%)
he doesn't *expect*, exactly; but he hopes!
3 (60.0%)
no, he's implicitly asking Zhao Yunlan to play along
3 (60.0%)
other
1 (20.0%)
Why does Shen Wei volunteer to be a test subject?
View Answers
he thinks he can fake a human field of consciousness
2 (40.0%)
he's no longer really hiding his identity; he just doesn't want to admit the truth in so many words
3 (60.0%)
other
0 (0.0%)
Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?
(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)
And here is our schedule -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!
january booklog
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:39 pmwychwood( 1. Hogfather - Terry Pratchett ) Pratchett at his best balances the comedy with really meaningful moments, and this is definitely one of those.
( 2. The Book Eaters - Sunyi Dean ) Definitely not my jam.
( 3. Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us - Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman ) Very light, sometimes questionable, but packed full of fun anecdotes (and a surprisingly good examination-in-passing of how scientific research works).
( 4. Ocean - Colin Butfield and David Attenborough ) Not life-changing, but well worth a read.
( 5. Common Goal, 6. Role Model, and 7. The Long Game - Rachel Reid ) I wasn't keen on CG, but I liked the other two a lot - and I'm looking forward to the seventh book coming out later this year! More Ilya and Shane: give it to me.
( 8. The Fifth Form at St Dominic's - Talbot Baines Reed ) Worth a read! But it's not going to shoot up my list of favourite school stories.
( 9. Time to Shine - Rachel Reid ) Not brilliant, but sweet.
( 10. Identity - Nora Roberts ) Mostly you know what you're getting with Roberts! This was very heavy on the wealth porn, but despite all my mockery I did enjoy reading it.
( 11. Persuasion - Jane Austen ) A delightful story as always.
( 12. Strange Pictures - Uketsu ) Short, weird, and interestingly different.
( 13. The Snow Tiger - Desmond Bagley ) This has aged much better than I expected; I was genuinely gripped.
( 14. Swallowdale - Arthur Ransome ) These are just such good books.
( 15. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo ) Interesting to read the original after all the cultural osmosis, but actually I disagree with her quite a lot! I'm not sorry I read it, though.
( 16. Sassinak - Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon ) I did still quite enjoy this, but it was a distinct let-down from my much-better remembered version!
( 2. The Book Eaters - Sunyi Dean ) Definitely not my jam.
( 3. Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us - Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman ) Very light, sometimes questionable, but packed full of fun anecdotes (and a surprisingly good examination-in-passing of how scientific research works).
( 4. Ocean - Colin Butfield and David Attenborough ) Not life-changing, but well worth a read.
( 5. Common Goal, 6. Role Model, and 7. The Long Game - Rachel Reid ) I wasn't keen on CG, but I liked the other two a lot - and I'm looking forward to the seventh book coming out later this year! More Ilya and Shane: give it to me.
( 8. The Fifth Form at St Dominic's - Talbot Baines Reed ) Worth a read! But it's not going to shoot up my list of favourite school stories.
( 9. Time to Shine - Rachel Reid ) Not brilliant, but sweet.
( 10. Identity - Nora Roberts ) Mostly you know what you're getting with Roberts! This was very heavy on the wealth porn, but despite all my mockery I did enjoy reading it.
( 11. Persuasion - Jane Austen ) A delightful story as always.
( 12. Strange Pictures - Uketsu ) Short, weird, and interestingly different.
( 13. The Snow Tiger - Desmond Bagley ) This has aged much better than I expected; I was genuinely gripped.
( 14. Swallowdale - Arthur Ransome ) These are just such good books.
( 15. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo ) Interesting to read the original after all the cultural osmosis, but actually I disagree with her quite a lot! I'm not sorry I read it, though.
( 16. Sassinak - Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon ) I did still quite enjoy this, but it was a distinct let-down from my much-better remembered version!
vital functions
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:15 pmkaberettReading. Finished The Rose Field (Pullman)!!! I am Making Arrangements for it to Leave My House. ( Read more... )
ANYWAY. I finished it. It Is Done.Then read the first few pages of Dead Hand Rule (Gladstone; latest in the Craft Wars) before deciding that actually I need to reread at least the end of Wicked Problems in order to remember what's going on...
Writing. Progress continues both glacial and extant.
Listening. My relisten-while-actually-awake of the first chunk of The Hidden Almanac continues, slowly.
Playing. We have finished an Exploders run on Hard in Inkulinati. I am contemplating, given how smoothly that went, whether I want to have a try at Very Hard...
Cooking. It's not quite "this week's breakfast dal, and a loaf of bread", but it does sort of feel like it was. Partly because for reasons we did not get our usual box of veg on Monday last week, which meant that we were scrabbling around using up Shelf Things and the occasional Supermarket Discount Item...
NO WAIT, I also DID make buckwheat pancakes, and inspired by lnr combined Tinned Pear and Stem Ginger with Vanilla Essence and also Ground Cardamom to go in same. V good. Will repeat.
Eating. My mother acquired for us, as A Special Treat, a variety of Baked Goods from The Fancy Bakery In Eddington: my favourite is still the fig-and-?ricotta, but the blueberry-and-?ricotta is also very good, as is the fougasse. A was extremely pleased with the pain aux raisins. AND my mother made some excellent baba ganoush, eaten with said fougasse.
This week also feat. rainbow bagels (which we got to watch some of the manufacturing process for!) as well as misc other foodstuffs from Shalom Hot Beigels.
A has some coffee and butterscotch cake (leftovers from a test bake!) from Flour Arrangements; alas by the time I got my act together to actually collect Excess Test Cake the apple pie and lemon had both all gone...
Exploring. I got to spend a little time in the City of London Cemetery, which is currently ablaze with (among other things) purple crocuses; we also (on our second attempt) managed to go on A Snowdrop Walk Around Anglesey (with thanks to aldabra for reminding me that it is That Time Of Year still!). Snowdrops excellent. May or may not get around to sharing some photos. (Our first attempt at A Snowdrop Walk Around Anglesey Abbey wound up mutating into a poke around the back of Churchill and Astronomy to peer at bulbs and other plants misc, which was also very enjoyable even if I did once again fail to take A to see the Barbara Hepworth.)
Growing. ... I bought a bag of snowdrops In The Green at Anglesey, to go into the ground around the cherry tree at the allotment? The lemongrass seedlings haven't all died?
