Good Times, Good Times
Oct. 5th, 2025 10:02 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
questionable_content_feed
awww wait no! no!!!!
questionable_content_feed
Destinies, February-March 1980 (Destinies, # 6) edited by Jim Baen
Oct. 5th, 2025 08:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
Pacifist Dorsai, space forts, duelling reviews, a rant about that mean Mr. Einstein and more in this issue of Destinies.
Destinies, February-March 1980 (Destinies, # 6) edited by Jim Baen
Yom Kippur
Oct. 5th, 2025 11:50 amlivContent note: mentions antisemitic murders and police violence. I personally am completely safe, I'm only talking about dealing with news.
It's around midday Yom Kippur. I'm leading the morning service with a tiny community in the southwest corner of England. There's a slight hiatus as this congregation only have two Torah scrolls, so we have to roll through from the first reading in Exodus to the second reading in Leviticus, saving the second scroll for the afternoon reading from Deuteronomy. (In this community, like most of the Progressive world, our second reading is Leviticus 19, not the verses that are sometimes used as clobber texts to support homophobia.) While there's milling about, the volunteers running the tech for Zoom approach me at the bimah and let me know that there has been an attack in a synagogue in Manchester.
( reactions ) Also, I am deeply grateful for the kind people who checked in with me personally when they heard the news, and for all the leaders, Muslim, Christian and civic, who sent messages of support to the Jewish community and continue to be in solidarity with us.
It's around midday Yom Kippur. I'm leading the morning service with a tiny community in the southwest corner of England. There's a slight hiatus as this congregation only have two Torah scrolls, so we have to roll through from the first reading in Exodus to the second reading in Leviticus, saving the second scroll for the afternoon reading from Deuteronomy. (In this community, like most of the Progressive world, our second reading is Leviticus 19, not the verses that are sometimes used as clobber texts to support homophobia.) While there's milling about, the volunteers running the tech for Zoom approach me at the bimah and let me know that there has been an attack in a synagogue in Manchester.
( reactions ) Also, I am deeply grateful for the kind people who checked in with me personally when they heard the news, and for all the leaders, Muslim, Christian and civic, who sent messages of support to the Jewish community and continue to be in solidarity with us.
Some saved up videos
Oct. 3rd, 2025 11:14 amconuly( Fake Emergencies )
*********
( Common moon mistakes )
****************
( The Insane Biology of: The Pangolin )
**********
( The Most Dangerous Escalator in Rome )
**********
( Backyard Squirrelympics )
********
( Apparently, the dog dancing championships are a thing? )
************
( The Assassin's Teapot Is Weird )
**************
( All The Non-Passenger Trains in the NYC Subway )
( Common moon mistakes )
( The Insane Biology of: The Pangolin )
( The Most Dangerous Escalator in Rome )
( Backyard Squirrelympics )
( Apparently, the dog dancing championships are a thing? )
( The Assassin's Teapot Is Weird )
( All The Non-Passenger Trains in the NYC Subway )
There's a Dunkin Donuts by my house
Oct. 2nd, 2025 09:32 amconulyAnd every once in a while I end up there during the morning rush, which I try to avoid, and find somebody else bitching about how they "always" mess up their order and "always" take forever.
This is true, by the way - or, maybe not literally always true, but frequently true - but all the same, every time I hear the incessant whining I want to turn around and say "You knew what it was like when you placed your order!"
It's not like they're the only place to get coffee and a breakfast sandwich that's not your own home. There are three corner stores, every once of which will be happy, or at least willing, to make your standing order every day or week or however often you like. There's McDonald's right there, there's Wendy's right there, there's a Dunkin Donuts on the boat and another one just down Bay a bit, if you drive. Or, as I said, you can go home and make your own coffee for faster and cheaper, but you didn't do that, so you can't really complain that you're getting exactly what you obviously expected!
(It is my lack of whining, I think, that always gets me out of there a smidge faster. Should they be more efficient? Should they make fewer mistakes? Should I be able to order a muffin without fear that it'll be a bit raw in the middle? Yes to all three, and I've stopped ordering muffins! But they're close and I don't have to cook it myself, and I imagine that's why everybody else is there, so whatever.)
*********************
( Read more... )
This is true, by the way - or, maybe not literally always true, but frequently true - but all the same, every time I hear the incessant whining I want to turn around and say "You knew what it was like when you placed your order!"
It's not like they're the only place to get coffee and a breakfast sandwich that's not your own home. There are three corner stores, every once of which will be happy, or at least willing, to make your standing order every day or week or however often you like. There's McDonald's right there, there's Wendy's right there, there's a Dunkin Donuts on the boat and another one just down Bay a bit, if you drive. Or, as I said, you can go home and make your own coffee for faster and cheaper, but you didn't do that, so you can't really complain that you're getting exactly what you obviously expected!
(It is my lack of whining, I think, that always gets me out of there a smidge faster. Should they be more efficient? Should they make fewer mistakes? Should I be able to order a muffin without fear that it'll be a bit raw in the middle? Yes to all three, and I've stopped ordering muffins! But they're close and I don't have to cook it myself, and I imagine that's why everybody else is there, so whatever.)
( Read more... )
Books Received, September 27 — October 3
Oct. 4th, 2025 09:04 amjames_davis_nicoll
Twelve books new to me. Four fantasies, one horror, one non-fiction, and six (!) science fiction works, of which at least four are series instalments.
Books Received, September 27 — October 3
Poll #33688 Books Received, September 27 — October 3
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 57
Which of these look interesting?
View Answers
Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent (December 2025)
3 (5.3%)
Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis (January 2026)
8 (14.0%)
The Language of Liars by S. L. Huang (April 2026)
22 (38.6%)
We Burned So Bright by T. J. Klune (April 2026)
20 (35.1%)
We Could Be Anyone by Anna-Marie McLemore (May 2026)
7 (12.3%)
These Godly Lies by Rachelle Raeta (July 2026)
3 (5.3%)
The New Prometheans: Faith, Science, and the Supernatural
15 (26.3%)
Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven (July 2026)
4 (7.0%)
The Infinite State by Richard Swan (August 2026)
6 (10.5%)
Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky (June 2026)
24 (42.1%)
Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne (July 2026)
19 (33.3%)
Platform Decay by Martha Wells (May 2026)
42 (73.7%)
Some other option (see comments)
0 (0.0%)
Cats!
39 (68.4%)
(no subject)
Oct. 4th, 2025 07:23 amravena_kadeThe week is confusing with Texas being here. Not that we are doing anything except eating together. That and if they are not here I get calls at 9:30 at night (I still get up at 3:30 AM).
Stroke cousin has been home and seems very happy. Her retired friends are more than happy to be with her and take her places. Her sisters seem mad that she is happy. They take it as a slight and that she was not grateful for their help. Ummm she is happy because no one is yelling at her every 5 minutes. On the other side she doesn't understand why they won't keep the dining room set up as a bedroom for her. SMH. But the thing is that they all are finding their normal and that is good.
Fridays I need to NOT SIT IN THE CHAIR. I should go out. I should do SOMETHING. I understand up sitting in the chair in a vegetative state. The TV isn't even on. I need some sort of transitional activity that will blow off the tired from work and get me motivated to do something. I should have walked the home beach.
Stroke cousin has been home and seems very happy. Her retired friends are more than happy to be with her and take her places. Her sisters seem mad that she is happy. They take it as a slight and that she was not grateful for their help. Ummm she is happy because no one is yelling at her every 5 minutes. On the other side she doesn't understand why they won't keep the dining room set up as a bedroom for her. SMH. But the thing is that they all are finding their normal and that is good.
Fridays I need to NOT SIT IN THE CHAIR. I should go out. I should do SOMETHING. I understand up sitting in the chair in a vegetative state. The TV isn't even on. I need some sort of transitional activity that will blow off the tired from work and get me motivated to do something. I should have walked the home beach.
An Unlikely Coven (Green Witch Cycle, volume 1) By AM Kvita
Oct. 3rd, 2025 09:10 amjames_davis_nicoll
Forgotten again by her family, Joan Greenwood discovers that this time her witch-kin had a legitimate excuse: a potentially existential threat to Greenwood power and privilege.
An Unlikely Coven (Green Witch Cycle, volume 1) by AM Kvita
Checking In - 2 Oct. 2025
Oct. 2nd, 2025 09:15 pmdewlineThe knee x-rays are done. I expect to know what's up/down with those by mid-November.
I spent the afternoon filing job applications and watching a joint session of city hall's Finance and Planning+Housing committees. Which kept my brain ticking over well enough, I suppose.
Not much else to mention.
I spent the afternoon filing job applications and watching a joint session of city hall's Finance and Planning+Housing committees. Which kept my brain ticking over well enough, I suppose.
Not much else to mention.
Geez, I can't even... I don't even....
Oct. 1st, 2025 04:13 pmconulyHonestly, my worst thoughts about what was going to happen in that meeting of the generals were both so much more terrible and so much less terrible than what actually went on.
***************************
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
October London meetup
Oct. 2nd, 2025 04:10 pmcaptainawkward_feedAnnouncement: the audience for these has changed, so I’m going to do them once every three or four months instead of monthly. So please come to this October one if you’re interested, there won’t be another until probably January.
11th October, 1pm, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX.
We will be on Level 4 blue side (the upper levels are no longer closed to non-ticket-holders), but I don’t know exactly where on the floor. It will depend on where we can find a table.
I have shoulder length brown hair, and will have my plush Chthulu which looks like this:
Please obey any rules posted in the venue.
The venue has lifts to all floors and accessible toilets. The accessibility map is here:
https://bynder.southbankcentre.co.uk/m/43a9fcbe0e718ba3/original/21539-32_Access-Map_DIGI.pdf
The food market outside (side away from the river) is pretty good for all sorts of requirements, and you can also bring food from home, or there are lots of cafes on the riverfront.
Other things to bear in mind:
1. Please make sure you respect people’s personal space and their choices about distancing.
2. We have all had a terrible time for the last four years. Sharing your struggles is okay and is part of what the group is for, but we need to be careful not to overwhelm each other or have the conversation be entirely negative. Where I usually draw the line here is that personal struggles are fine to talk about but political rants are discouraged, but I may have to move this line on the day when I see how things go. Don’t worry, I will tell you!
3. Probably lots of us have forgotten how to be around people (most likely me as well), so here is permission to walk away if you need space. Also a reminder that we will all react differently, so be careful to give others space if they need.
Please RSVP if you’re coming so I know whether or not we have enough people. If there’s no uptake I will cancel a couple of days before.
kate DOT towner AT gmail DOT com
