I Picked Up This World's Strategy Guide, Vol. 1 by atchi ai
A frolic with a somewhat different approach. A girl works in her mother's item shop, and one day while gathering herbs, she finds a book. A strange book.
Fandom: Dark Shadows (1966) Main Characters: Dr. Julia Hoffman, Gerard Stiles, Daphne Harridge, Barnabas Collins, Eliot Stokes. Other DS characters also feature in this story + original characters. Relationships: Gerard / Daphne and Julia / Barnabas Eras: 19th Century, 20th Century + Parallel Timeline Title: Midwinter Chapters: 2 & 3 / ? Rating: Mature - Chapter 3 has a romantic scene of consensual lovemaking. Also featured is a devoted same sex couple. Chapter 3 TW: Angst, suspense, references to past deaths, mysterious happenings and danger. Word Count thus far: 6,640 Note: This story features some spoilers for DS 1970 / 1971 and 1840 storylines. Summary for Chapter 2: On her first night at Collinwood, Julia is threatened by a mysterious evil. Summary for Chapter 3: Collinwood has always been a place of mystery and secrets. When Julia meets Gerard Stiles and the rest of the Collins family, she also learns more of its dangers.
Various stories, following the friends from their novel adventures
Even I have my limits on 'winging it'. Scanner had been inventive, but we still had deteriorating dilithium crystals and were in, to use a Terran saying, B.F.E. near Gorn space.
I didn't lose my temper, something Sarda reassured me across our bond was for the best. I left the bridge, went down to our poor engineer, found Dyson had beat me there.
"Tell me what to do; Sarda has the conn."
"Aye aye captain," Skellus said, giving me tools and directions.
It was going to mean minimal power, and Scanner had saved us, but we'd get back to base.
The household was doing a casual conversation about names for pets. Donnie said she and Megan had talked about one day -- when their cats are gone -- they might get a pair of ferrets, and name them "Rigatoni" and "Tuk Tuk". I knew the name sounded familiar but couldn't place it, and then she mentioned the Disney movie "The Last Dragon", and yeah. It's the name of one of the characters. But I googled it, and it's also the name for a small taxi (three wheels only), common in Asia, parts of Africa, and South America.
Then Donnie mentioned something about a movie called The Samurai (I think?). I said I hadn't seen it. She said "Oh, it has Tom Cruise in it, such a good movie, blah blah blah". I mentioned I don't watch Tom Cruise movies, and she asked why. I said because I dislike his whole Scientology thing, and I won't give my money to him. And she said "That's so stupid." And when I said maybe, but that's how I feel -- because it really is -- she said something else, and I said something else, and she got up from her chair, huffed out and into her room, and shut the door hard. Not quite a slam, but definitely close to it. All over me saying I don't like Tom Cruise, and why I don't support his movies!
At no point did I say she shouldn't watch Tom Cruise movies. At no point did I say anything about anything else related to that. (I do have one exception to that, and that's the War of the Worlds remake from 2005, but that's because I love anything to do with War of the Worlds more than I dislike Tom Cruise.)
Then she apparently was yelling to Megan about that, and about how Matthew is being selfish and not thinking about the whole household, because he's not sure what he wants to do about Madisyn. She actually said to him today, when he and I were talking about trying to put some money on her Commissary account in December, after we get our checks. And Donnie said, "I thought Matthew was getting a divorce from Madisyn." Well, it's a very complex situation. He probably is getting a divorce, because that way he can separate his household from hers, in order to get back the benefits he lost when they got married.
But it absolutely isn't any of her business what he does, unless it's going to involve Donnie in some way. And Madisyn is in rehab (supposedly started yesterday), and will likely also be looking at some prison time when she's done. She had 15 months of probation left when she missed her meeting, she likely will have to serve that final 15 months behind bars, or possibly the entirety of the original 3 year sentence. Plus the new charge of missing the meeting, and having drugs in her system, but that's pure speculation on our part right now, because she hasn't even had a court date set yet.
And Donnie and Megan? Will not be living here beyond May, because WE probably won't be living here beyond May. But nothing is set in stone yet, and none of it affects Donnie. Because she won't be here. But holy hannah, does she not have any reason to be commenting on what Matthew's doing, unless Matthew specifically asks for her opinion/advice. Which he's about as likely to do as he is to walk outside and let himself get hit by a school bus.
If there is a show you want to see on a network you don't have access to, now is the time to check their rates.
Hulu used to offer up a $2 a month for a year deal but this year they've tagged on Disney and raised the rates.
I found the best deals on Prime Video. I'm not a fan of going through their app but, I am a fan of their deals. I was going to get Apple+ for a couple of months but the app won't let me - I think Apple may have heard me talk shit about them and now they have blocked my account. NO problem. I just got their 6 months for $6 per month deal. I probably won't keep it 6 months but it's nice to have the option. I also picked up AMC+ because their are a couple of shows I want to see on it. $3 for 2 months. The best one, though, is HBO/Max at $3 a month for a year. Again, they all carry the baggage of the Prime app but I'll just suffer.
And in other spending of $$. I finally scored all the tickets we need for next June's weekend at the ballpark. I have us reserved seats for all three games. Whew. I got the best available seats which are mediocre by my high standards but at least we got 'em and I can quit worrying about it,
Volleyball was fine today. It's the time of year when people start peeling off for trips and gatherings but we had nearly a full house this morning and most everyone said they would be there for Thursday's game.
Bonny braved the grocery store yesterday (had said it wasn't bad). I asked her to pick me up some tortillas so she stopped in when she got back with tortillas AND Pepperage Farm GingerMan cookies!! My favorites. She remembered from last year when I was stuck in the hospital with Myrna and trying to score some from there. She said they were 3 pkg for $10 so she brought me 2 and kept 1. I haven't opened them yet but I think I may have to today.
Last night I finished Season 3 of Blue Lights - such an excellent show - (Britbox) and then (also Britbox) watched episode one of The Hardacres which is as opposite of Blue Lights as you can get. It may go downhill but episode one was fucking charming.
Tonight is dinner in the dining room with Bonny, Gail and Jim. They had planned to eat with a new friend but new friend bailed. I'm perfectly fine being Backup Friend. I like dining room dinner about once a week but mostly only get there a couple of times a month.
Before that, though, is House cleaning Day. Usually my place is pretty tidy and all I do is go down to the elbow and let her do her thing. But, today, there's a bit of mess around that I really need to tidy up before she gets here. But I've got til 1:30.
And, that's about it for my plans du jour. So far.
1. xkcd just made me cry (continuation of the cancer posts, which no one involved currently has.)
2. Mom gave me a ball of really pretty white yarn, which is wool with a bit of a halo, and maybe sport weight? Could be finger weight? Unsure? It's large enough to make a scarf, and I'm wondering if anyone can suggest a pattern that's: a) VERY EASY, b) maybe has a little bit of lace? I can do very basic lace, as long as it doesn't have too many steps.
Current Music:Luke Evans - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Today's post is a little different, and doesn't quite fit my standard definition of a wreck - but it's just too darn funny not to share.
Today's post is also probably NSFW, and unless you want some really uncomfortable discussions with your children, NSFK, either.
So, assuming you're at home and have no kids around, YOU MAY PROCEED.
*****
In the spirit of Pan-Tastic, we here at CW want you to get the most mileage out of your shaped cake pans. To that end, allow us to present....er, this:
IT'S A LIGHTHOUSE.
Juuuuust a lighthouse.
("Be a beacon?!")
(If you get that reference, I will personally award you one million geek points.)
And also this:
Old Macdonald had a farm.
Which was clearly compensating for something.
Of course, your pan may be a slightly different model, so there's also this option:
Those pesky UFOs - always taking off to the right.
Or this:
I'm coocoo for COCONUTS!
(Coconuts. Seriously. THESE JOKES WRITE THEMSELVES.)
By now I'm sure you're wondering where all these brilliant designs came from. Well, would you believe there was a whole website dedicated to finding alternative uses for that most distinctive of shaped cake pans? 'Cuz there was, and I think you'll agree that blogger/baker Holly was a veritable WIZARD at making me bust a gut laughing:
You'll never hear a reference to Mr. Wizard the same way again.
And here's one final option, spotted at an actual baby shower:
There's something ironic about using this particular pan for a baby shower cake. Or is it appropriate? Ironically appropriate? Whatever. IT'S FUNNY.
My thanks to Thomas S., whoever it was that originally sent me the link to Holly's site, and the rest of you for not yelling at me in the comments about how these aren't professional or at ALL appropriate. I KNOW.
But to be fair, neither am I. ;)
*****
P.S. It is possible our obsession with gnomes has gone too far?
I'm noticing some recurring themes in Harrow's novels:
1. a protagonist who is ignorant about some key aspect of their heritage
2. a villain who is using the protagonist to gain power
3. a book within the book that contains vital secrets and/or magic
The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Starling House, and this book all have these elements in common, but in very different circumstances: a Gilded Age portal fantasy, a contemporary gothic romance, and now a not-quite-Arthurian love story involving a legendary medieval knight and the scholar who travels through time to find her.
Content notes: so much violence and dying. Also traumatic parent death, explicit sex scenes, pregnancy termination, and no really I'm serious about the violence and dying.
mrissaposted about her contributions to The Vertigo Project, a generous handful of poems and stories (and journal prompts, and more).
I especially loved the last two stories:
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 Right to Say "No" by Audrey Watters. A rant about AI, eugenics, and Epstein (no details).
There is a real rot at the core of many of our institutions – and certainly at the core of those powerful players operating within and adjacent to them. "Artificial intelligence" emerges from this rot. It cannot be a bulwark against it.
Every time a translator takes a book and puts it in their own words, they are interpreting the material slightly differently. What we found was that ChatGPT Plus couldn’t do that. It could regurgitate or transcribe, but it couldn’t achieve the nuance to count as its own interpretation of a study.
I think that’s because ChatGPT Plus isn’t in society — it doesn’t interact with the world. It’s predictive, but it’s not distilling or conceptualizing what matters most to a human audience, or the value that we place in narratives that are ingrained in our society. [...]
Now, after this experiment, we’re very against using it. After a year of data, we know it can’t meet our standards. If we ever did plan to use it, we’d have to implement super rigorous fact-checking, because we don’t want to lose reporters’ trust.
Creating a pattern requires considering the entire work; each step has to fit with and work with all the others. Blindly selecting the next step without that consideration will, more often than not, fail. This is especially true since AI can’t “test” the pattern after writing it, which is a big part of what humans do. [...]
However, the best and simplest advice is to buy from patternmakers that you trust. If you know someone who is a human making high-quality patterns, turn to them first. Rewarding known human creators rather than chasing the cheapest pattern is the best way to avoid buying AI slop.
In folding laundry, I found I'd lost a wash cloth. In going down to the laundry room to check, I found the woman who only had bills, no quarters, hadn't seen it either. In talking her through my decision making process and to not waste an elevator trip, I take her up to my apartment with me to trade her a roll of quarters for the appropriate amount in small bills.
In checking what I'd already put away, I found the missing wash cloth.
One of those strings of events where I can't find it in myself to be upset about the inciting inconvenience.
Yar circled to the left, and Worf watched as he adjusted himself. When she lunged, he was as ready as he could be, and still she managed to foul his leg, and get him off balance. From there it was only two quick moves and he stumbled out of the circle they had made.
"You are a formidable warrior."
"So are you, but you're not accustomed to smaller, faster opponents who know how to use their body," Yar said. "So, joining my class?"
"Yes."
She smiled, then beckoned him in for another round. He took the invitation, eager to learn.
Other Canadian Politics Stuff I'm Mad About: Most of these are from leftist rags, because other news sources make me tired, y'all. Just posting links. ( Cut for CanPol Fuckery )
Dromline: When Your Favourite Author is Dead to You. About Neil Gaiman, who the author was a lot more attached to than I ever was. Interviews Nalo Hopkinson and Tara Prescott-Johnson!
The World Cup ends on Friday. The Boston Games are on Saturday - 1 afternoon and 1 evening - leave the stadium and come back - not doubleheader. And on Sunday. Afternoon.
There is a big Red Sox contingent in Seattle so the games are always full. Plus Saturday night. Plus it's a fireworks night. All of those add up to a ticket freenzy. I still can't buy tickets from the Mariners yet and am not sure why but am losing interest fast.
I did find 3 semi decent seats for Saturday night's game on Seat Geek. And I bought 'em. I'll get the Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon games later. Worst comes to worst... we at least have one game with no easy way to get there.
Next Parking. NIGHTMARE. There are a gillion options for reserve parking. The only ones even remotely close to the stadium are from dodgy resale places and at a price that is half of what I paid for the total of 3 tickets. The Mariners fucked up the ride share situation a few years ago. The ride share lot is a VERY VERY long walk from the closest stadium exit. I noodled around a bunch of options - none good - including the light rail and buses.
I finally decided to Scarlet O'Hara that bit. Since there's nothing worth reserving, I've got months to figure it out.
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