Bundle of Horror: Raven
Jun. 18th, 2025 02:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)

Raven: A Gothic Horror RPG – the core rulebook, scenarios, & GM Screen in both English and Spanish versions!
Bundle of Horror: Raven
Wednesday had an online meeting about reviving a project they began decades ago
Jun. 18th, 2025 04:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
What I read
Finished Wide is the Gate, and while things are getting grimmer and grimmer as regards The World Situation, I am still very much there for Our Protag Lanny being a mild-mannered art dealer with a secret identity as anti-fascist activist, who gets on with everybody and is quite the antithesis of the Two-Fisted Hollywood Hero. (I was thinking who would I cast in the role and while there's a touch of the Jimmy Stewarts, the social aplomb and little moustache - William Powell?)
Lates Literary Review.
Mary Gordon, The Chase of the Wild Goose: The Story of Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby, Known as the Ladies of Llangollen (1936), which is sort-of a classic version of their story recently republished. But o dear, it does one of my pet hates, which is blurring 'imaginative recreation' with 'biographical research' and skipping between the two modes, and then in the final chapter she encounters the ghosts of of the Ladies, I can't even, really. Plus, Gordon, who was b. 1861, obtained medical education, fought for suffrage, etc, nevertheless disses on Victorian women as 'various kinds of imbecile', unlike those robust and politically-engaged ladies of the Georgian era. WOT. TUT. Also honking class issues about how the Ladies were Ladies and always behaved accordingly.
Began Robert Rodi, What They Did to Princess Paragon (1994), which was just not doing it for me, I can be doing with viewpoint characters being Not Nice, but I was beginning to find both of them (the comic-book writer and the fanboy) tedious.
Also not doing it for me, Barbara Vine, The Child's Child (2012): sorry, the inset novel did not read to me like a real novel of the period at which it was supposed to have been writ as opposed to A Historical Novel of Those Oppressive Times of the early C20th. Also, in frame narrative, I know PhD student who is writing thesis on unwed mothers in literature is doing EngLit but I do think someone might have mentioned (given period at which she is supposed to be doing this) the historiography on The Foundling Hospital.
I then turned to Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962), which it is a very long time since I read.
Then I was reduced to Agatha Christie, By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968), and Murder in the Mews (1937).
On the go
I happened to spot my copy of Margery Sharp, Cluny Brown (1944), which I know I was looking for a while ago, and am reading that though it looks as though I re-read it more recently than I thought.
Have also begun on Books For Review.
Up Next
Really dunno.
Counting the Days: Five SFF Approaches to Calendars
Jun. 18th, 2025 10:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)

So many different ways of measuring history and the passage of time...
Counting the Days: Five SFF Approaches to Calendars
Magus of the Library, volume 8 by Mitsu Izumi
Jun. 18th, 2025 09:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)

For what purpose has someone summoned a ten-story-tall mountain spirit to Aftzaak, City of Books?
Magus of the Library, volume 8 by Mitsu Izumi
Wednesday Reading Meme
Jun. 18th, 2025 08:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Lo these many years ago, after my grandma died, I helped sort out her bookshelves, which held books all the way back from her book-loving aunts and uncles in the early 1900s. As I was at the time in a graduate program, staring down a Ph.D. thesis set roughly in that era, I took a few books that seemed representative, including George Barr McCutcheon’s The Alternative, as McCutcheon was a famous Hoosier humorist of the time period.
So was Booth Tarkington, whose work is still very funny, so I approached McCutcheon’s book with high hopes. However, this is perhaps not the place to start with McCutcheon, as it’s a bit of weightless romantic Christmas fluff that barely cracks one hundred pages despite largish type and beautiful green leafy borders around each page.
Beautifully printed, though. I might keep it just as a lovely example of the printer’s trade.
I’m not usually a bit audiobook person, but when
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Schur is good at amusing descriptions of different moral approaches to problems, but less strong when he wanders off the beaten path to discuss, say, what moral philosophy has to say about engaging with the art of terrible people (or chicken sandwiches made by chicken sandwich companies with politics you abhor, etc.). He ultimately comes down on the side of “I guess you gotta decide for yourself,” which isn’t really guidance, especially after he’s just run through why he thinks virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and Kant’s Categorical Imperative suggest that you should give up that literal or metaphorical chicken sandwich. Have some guts, man! Either stand by your moral reasoning, or offer a counterargument why actually it’s FINE if we all chow down on some Chik-Fil-A.
What I’m Reading Now
Padraic Colum’s The Big Tree of Bunlahy: Stories of My Own Countryside. Colum won a couple of other Newbery Honors, both of which I felt were dry and dull, but apparently all Colum needed was the inspiration of writing about his very own corner of Ireland to blossom into a fascinating storyteller. I’m doling the book out one tale a night and it’s still going to end far too soon.
What I Plan to Read Next
Evelina has arrived!
Aurora Australis readalong 9 / 10, Life under Difficulties
Jun. 18th, 2025 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Text of Life under Difficulties by James Murray:
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Aurora_Australis/Life_under_Difficulties
The "plate" illustrations mentioned can be found in Murray's scientific paper on this research:
https://www.quekett.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/murray-antarctic-rotifera.pdf
Note that this is a scientific essay about extremophile organisms, using Rotifers as the main example, and some of the science is out of date.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotifer
Also mentioned, "Water Bears":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade
General: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremophile
Reminder for next week, the dream fantasy Bathybia by Douglas Mawson:
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Aurora_Australis/Bathybia
Readalong intro and reaction post links:
https://spiralsheep.dreamwidth.org/662515.html
Short Star Wars podfics of my work by sisi_rambles et alia
Jun. 17th, 2025 09:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Star Wars - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Obi-Wan Kenobi/Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala/Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala/Anakin Skywalker | Darth Vader
Characters: Anakin Skywalker | Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala
Additional Tags: Limericks, Poetry, Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes, Multivoice and Collaborative Podfic
Summary:
Podfic (00:02:28)
Author's Summary from Petra:
A limerick cycle for Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé.
*
[Podfic] Rewind, rewind, rewind (14 words) by GodOfLaundryBaskets, sisi_rambles, LittleRedRobinHood, Aether
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: 212th Attack Battalion Members (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) & Obi-Wan Kenobi
Characters: 212th Attack Battalion Members (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Obi-Wan Kenobi
Additional Tags: Drabble, Democracy, Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes, Multivoice and Collaborative Podfic
Summary:
Podfic (00:01:44)
Author's Summary from Petra:
Waxer asks a cogent question on a long, cold night.
*
[Podfic] Natural philosophy (17 words) by sisi_rambles, AppleSapling
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Star Wars - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker
Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker
Additional Tags: Aubrey-Maturin Fusion, SOLAR SHIPS, Triple Drabble, Not quite high Patrick O'Brian pastiche, But leaning that way, Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes, Multivoice and Collaborative Podfic
Summary:
Podfic (00:02:57)
Author's Summary from Petra:
Obi-Wan came into Anakin's cabin just in time to see the monkey-lizard he'd carefully collected slump to one side and fall off of the table.
*
[Podfic] Rewind, rewind, rewind (14 words) by GodOfLaundryBaskets, sisi_rambles, LittleRedRobinHood, Aether
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: 212th Attack Battalion Members (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) & Obi-Wan Kenobi
Characters: 212th Attack Battalion Members (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Obi-Wan Kenobi
Additional Tags: Drabble, Democracy, Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes, Multivoice and Collaborative Podfic
Summary:
Podfic (00:01:44)
Author's Summary from Petra:
Waxer asks a cogent question on a long, cold night.
*
[Podfic] The Sun would not have risen (17 words) by sisi_rambles, AppleSapling
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Obi-Wan Kenobi & Luke Skywalker
Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker
Additional Tags: morris dancing, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes, Multivoice and Collaborative Podfic
Summary:
Podfic (00:01:07)
Author's Summary from Petra:
Luke follows in his father's footstep-hops.
*
[Podfic] Mindtrick (13 words) by sisi_rambles
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Obi-Wan Kenobi/Elan Sleazebaggano
Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Elan Sleazebaggano
Additional Tags: Podfic, Podfic Length: 0-10 Minutes
Summary:
Obi-Wan runs into a hookup.
Every Kind of Craft now open!
Jun. 17th, 2025 07:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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Do you make crafts? Do you like to look at crafts? Would you like to get (or give) advice about crafts? All crafts are welcome. Share photos, stories about projects in progress, and connect with other crafty folks.
You are welcome to make your own posts, and this community will also do a monthly call for people to share what they are working on, or what they've seen which may be inspiring them. Images of projects old or new, completed or in progress are welcome, as are questions, tutorials and advice.
If you have any questions, ask them here!
June Theme - Nooks & Crannies
Jun. 17th, 2025 11:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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(no subject)
Jun. 17th, 2025 04:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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At one point, before anyone could intervene, the baby startled my dog, and my dog reacted by biting him. It wasn't just a nip, either. It was a hard bite, and it left a mark. Thankfully, the injury wasn't severe, but it was enough to cause a lot of distress, especially for my cousin and her husband. My cousin was understandably upset, and while she tried to be civil about it, I could tell she was angry and hurt.
I feel so much guilt about the bite, but I'm also worried about what this means for our relationship moving forward and for my dog. I don't know how to make things right. Should I have done more to prevent the situation? How do I approach my cousin now and express how sorry I am without making things worse? -- Dog Bite
( Read more... )
One column, two letters
Jun. 17th, 2025 02:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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Dear Annie: My husband and I have two kids under 5, and we both work full-time. As you can imagine, our lives are pretty hectic. My mother-in-law lives about 30 minutes away and expects us to visit her almost every weekend. If we don't, she lays on the guilt pretty thick -- talking about how she "never sees the kids" or implying we don't value family.
The truth is, we're just exhausted. Weekends are the only time we get to catch up on rest, housework or just quality time together as a family without having to entertain. We've tried inviting her to our house instead, but she always declines and insists we come to her.
I know she means well, and we want her to have a relationship with the kids, but I'm starting to dread the constant pressure. How can we set firmer boundaries without starting a bigger family conflict? -- Tired But Trying
( Read more... )
2. Dear Annie: Out of the blue, my daughter told me she bought a house in Connecticut and will be moving there from New Jersey. She insists the two-hour drive isn't far, but I feel hurt and blindsided that she didn't let me know about this until she'd already bought the house and was getting ready to sell her New Jersey home.
Her mother-in-law helped her financially with the move, which is great, but now she'll live just 30 minutes from her in-laws while I'm two hours away. I feel betrayed having been kept in the dark. I'm also 65, live on my own and have a very, very sick dog. I don't know how long the dog will live, but for now, traveling two hours one way just isn't an option.
I'm very hurt by what she did and I'm trying to get past it. She used to live just 30 minutes from me, and now she'll be just as close to her mother-in-law, who helped her buy the house. I've actually had to go on antidepressants because of this. Thankfully, my son and his fiancee live a mile away, so that's a blessing. But I feel like the mother-in-law pulled a fast one as she has her daughter, her daughter's family and now her son and his family so close to her.
Please give me some advice to help me get through this. -- Left Out in New Jersey
( Read more... )
I think we know how short-fused surgeon Barry would have reacted to this....
Jun. 17th, 2025 03:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Honestly, people. How is this even A Thing?
NHS staff unsettled by patients filming care and posting videos on social media.
When partner first mentioned this to me I was 'Do they even let them into operating theatre and what about scrubbing up etc?', because I assumed it wasn't actually the patient doing this, and in fact reading further it does seem to be accompanying persons.
Radiographers, who take X-rays and scans, fear the trend could compromise the privacy of other patients being treated nearby and lead to staff having their work discussed online.
The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has gone public with its unease after a spate of incidents in which patients, or someone with them in the hospital, began filming their care.
On one occasion a radiology department assistant from the south coast was inserting a cannula into a patient who had cancer when their 19-year-old daughter began filming.
“She wanted to record the cannulation because she thought it would be entertaining on social media.* But she didn’t ask permission,” the staff member said.
“I spent the weekend afterwards worrying: did I do my job properly? I know I did, but no one’s perfect all the time and this was recorded. I don’t think I slept for the whole weekend.”
They were also concerned that a patient in the next bay was giving consent for a colonoscopy – an invasive diagnostic test – at the same time as the daughter was filming her mother close by. “That could all have been recorded on the film, including names and dates of birth,” they said.
Ashley d’Aquino, a therapeutic radiographer in London, said a colleague had agreed to take photographs for a patient, “but when the patient handed over her phone the member of staff saw that the patient had also been covertly recording her, to publish on her cancer blog.
*Emphasis mine.
First we go back to miasmatic theory, then we go back to operations as spectator sport?
How very different, I would argue, are Barbara Hepworth's 'Hospital Drawings':
Capener began purchasing some of Hepworth’s art, which in turn helped with the costs of her daughter’s surgery. He later asked the artist if she might be interested in observing some of the procedures taking place in the operating theatre. Hepworth, initially horrified by this thought, decided to go. The materials that she needed to make her sculptures were scarce during postwar Britain, meaning she also had more time on her hands to explore other projects.
Hepworth soon became fascinated with the surgical process. She was particularly moved by the methodical rhythm of the surgeon’s hands and the concentration in their eyes. The eyes and hands are rendered with a delicacy and softness, with attentively modulated grey-white tones. They emerge from the cruder, more abstract marks in blue, green and other similar hues. Her drawing techniques somehow brings the scene to life; the many flowing lines are suggestive of the creases forming in the doctors’ blue gowns, created by their constant movement around the horizontal, inert patient. After many visits, Hepworth had created a body of work which revealed her wonderful abilities as a draughtsperson, as well as a sculptor.
Disgraced Return of The Kap’s Needle by Renan Bernardo
Jun. 17th, 2025 08:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)

When the target world proves too inhospitable for colonization, colonists make a desperate bid to return to Earth on a failing starship.
Disgraced Return of The Kap’s Needle by Renan Bernardo
In which all the main combatants were colonial powers, actually
Jun. 17th, 2025 11:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Largest battle, by number of combatants and/or dead + wounded, in the American Revolutionary War?
Long Island / Brooklyn
0 (0.0%)
Gibralter
1 (20.0%)
Gibralter, but I had to look it up
0 (0.0%)
Is this a t(r)ick question?
4 (80.0%)
I have a flag!
3 (60.0%)