Toby Atkin-Wright

1. We spent a pleasant low-key weekend in Todmorden with my mother and stepfather for Charles's birthday / their wedding anniversary. The only niggle was the mild cough I had before going turned into a horrible cough and I got very little sleep on the Saturday night, so my patience etc on the journey home was ... limited. We got home with no-one murdered though.

2. I love my Yuletide assignment and have a plot bunny gently growing. It's going to be pretty niche and I don't care, so long as it works for the recipient.

3. Thanks to the aforementioned cough, I missed morris practice last week - so frustrating given my fears about falling out of it - but I managed it again this week, and it is still very happy making. (I am so, so unfit compared to all these older women, but they are all so pleasant and welcoming.)

4. Charles was away this week with the school residential outdoor activity week with PGL. It was a bit of a challenge for him being away from home and his usual routine, but he seems to have mostly enjoyed it, and enthused at me about climbing and rifleshooting and archery and a few other things too ... It is good to have him back; and now it is half-term.

5. I had my flu jab this week, and the children had their flu sprays last week (I am a bit envious of them, but the nurse at my GP surgery is really very good about doing jabs quickly and with minimal pain). Flusurvey has started up again and are keen for more participants if any of my UK subscribers aren't already doing it and would like to.

6. It seems like half my reading list already posted about the #PullTheFootball campaign to require a congressional declaration of war before the US President can launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike.  But in case you didn't see it, that link has actions, phone numbers and a script for US citizens (the rest of us can just help by sharing it with US citizens ...)

7. Clipping wrote the soundtrack for a new TV show, The Mayor, and tracks from it are being released weekly onto Spotify and iTunes.  I couldn't find an official Spotify playlist so I made my own and am adding the new tracks each week as they get released - TWO this week for a Halloween-themed episode.  The show's premise is that an up-and-coming rapper stands for mayoral election as a publicity stunt for his music career and accidentally wins. I love this idea, but can't find a way to legally watch the show from here; anyway I am really enjoying the musical output.

First off, with a throwaway background movie marquee that advertises "Bend it Like Bentham", The Good Place is officially the best sitcom that the universe has ever known. And I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

Second, I have been drooling over a 40s-style tilt fedora at East Village Hats, and wishing I'd bought one last year for my big holiday gift instead of a peacock-blue wide-brimmed fedora which I love, but which is more generic. (But the color! That's what nabbed me when I walked in to buy.) When I was chatting with the owner, Peggy Carter came up, and I mentioned that I had one of the official red Peggy Stetsons. We bemoaned how little it looks like Peggy's actual hat and she offered to re-block mine so it would look more like the hat that the costume designer mocked up out of the blank Stetson sent her. Anyway, she's reblocking it and now I'm wishing I hadn't said yes to a dinner party next Saturday, before getting an invite to a costume party the same night. (The latter is in NJ, so not realistic to try to do both.) Perhaps I'll just wear Peggy hat to school on the 31st anyway -- I wear so much vintage and vintage repro that half the time I already look like I'm doing Peggy cosplay. (From the broader sense of her wardrobe, not the blue suit beloved of cosplayers.)

And I still want the Grand Film Noir tilt fedora, but probably not in red. But it is one of those serious save-up items. Then I want a proper, well-fitting cloche, and a black cocktail hat with a veil. Then I need a life fabulous enough to wear a black cocktail hat with a veil.

Deadwood rewatch continues. Jack Langrishe just showed up, and Hearst is an Evil MoFo. And Steve the Drunk makes me think of Steve the Pirate in Dodgeball. But only his name. I thought Joanie/Jane were already obviously a couple by this point, rather than semi-roommates; I am definitely misremembering things. They did become a real couple, right? Or did I just wish that into existence? I still go "awwww" over Ellsworth, but he is mansplaining to Alma too much. And wow, Seth/Martha have progressed to handholding. They'resohot. And I am still in love with Sol. I remembered how angry Trixie was, but she's just so awesome anyway. And Al continues to inspire such loyalty. Including in me.

No real name. This was an instafilk based on a FB post

TTTO "People" by Barbra Streisand
People
People who hate people
Are the horrib'lest people in the world,
They're children
Whiny, bratty children
And they're letting their trollish side
Make fun of and deride
Acting more like cavemen
Than children.
Haters are most annoying people,
They're the angriest people in the world
They're on Twitter
On Facebook and on Twitter
They're missing part of their soul
So they attack and they troll
They'll use ALL CAPS and swear
So there is a person
Who hates people
People who hate people
Are the angriest people
In the world

The original song, for comparison, is on Youtube

Hi,

I have been using OpenID in order to comment on LJ communities as I don't want to have an LJ account for obvious reasons.

I used to be able to log in just fine and post comments and create posts etc. But I recently got a new computer and went to log in and comment and it told me I needed to validate my email address. So I clicked through to a link and then clicked the link that was in the email that LiveJournal sent to my email address.

When I click this link in the validation email, it takes me to a page titled:

"Please, verify that you are human"
When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.

Then there's a continue button to click on. I click the page and it looks like it's doing something, but it takes me back to the same page again and I remain unverified and now unable to comment or post on any communities.

Any ideas as to how I can get LJ to actually verify the email address for my OpenID account? Thanks!

Posted by John Kovalic

http://www.dorktower.com/2017/10/19/muskrat-mailbag-when-you-will-return-to-italy/

http://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=13187

Hi John,

My name is Alessandra (called Sandy) from Italy.

At  first, sorry for my English!

I’d like to tell you that you are my favorite illustrator !

I met you in Lucca comics & games in far 2005 during an interview of  Ragno Magazine, do you remember?

In that time, you draw me a play card of munchkin “a lot of very nice balloons”, but my boyfriend lost my card and I cry.

I love Munchkin illustration!

In Lucca comics & games 2014 I went to Lucca only for you, but during your signed session,  Lucca’s security couldn’t enter in Games palace .

So, I’d like to know if you will came in Italy again , and finally say hallo to you!

Thanks a lot for your kindness and enjoy yourself!

Sandy

Hi, Sandy!

First off, thank you so much for the VERY kind words! Your English is MUCH better than my Italian, so you have nothing to apologize for!

I’d love to come back to Italy, and soon. When I was in school, in England, we’d spend our summers outside of Milan. I miss it terribly.

The problem with Lucca is, it usually falls on Halloween, and I really try to spend holidays with my wife and daughter. But I do have a many friends there, and I miss them all. It’s also one of my all-time favorite conventions. So…possibly..?

I’m sorry I missed you at Lucca 2014 – it was a crazy huge convention. I’m going over my 2018 schedule now: if I’m not back at Lucca next year, perhaps there will be another Italian show.

In any case, Italy’s definitely top of my list to get back to, and soon! And I’ll certainly re-draw you that card. Tell your boyfriend he loses a level!

With many thanks,

John

 

 

http://www.dorktower.com/2017/10/19/muskrat-mailbag-when-you-will-return-to-italy/

http://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=13187

I have been at a bit of a loss because my photos are hosted over at LiveJournal, but I don't want to upload photos there anymore. Haven't quite learned the ropes here, but here goes. Anyway, made these a bit ago, but just posting them now.

Grandparent - Council Suit
I am the One who rejoices in the company of the child of my own child. I am a mentor and a teacher, a parental figure and a friend all in one. Spending time with my grandchild reintroduces me to joys which may have slipped from my own life. Our bond tightens the generations together.



Fear - Committee/Council Suit
I am the One who freezes in primal terror, trapped between the horror ahead and the threat behind.



This one is a lot about the truly difficult times I was having when I was unemployed and Rob was failing. I really don't want to go back to this mental state.

The Magical Child - Council Suit
I am the One whose holy, mystical innocence will save the world.



The Mythopoeic Reader - Committee/Fairytale Suit
I am the One who delights in reading stories of adventure in fantastic imaginary worlds.

Most of the time, I'm sufficiently busy that updating the log of books read falls off my radar. But! I want to!

I am going to forget items, I'm sure.

Books 2017: 157-181


157. Jim C. Hines, Terminal Alliance. DAW, 2017.

Read for review for Locus. Fun.


158. Elizabeth Bear, The Stone in the Skull. Tor, 2017.

Read for column. Extraordinary fantasy.


159-160. Elizabeth Bonesteel, Remnants of Trust and Breach of Containment. HarperCollins, 2016 and 2017.

Read for column. Space opera. Okay, I guess.


161. Sarah Gailey, Taste of Marrow. Tor.com Publishing, 2017.

Read for review for Locus and for column. Novella. Hippos.


162. John Crowley, Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruins of Ymr. Saga, 2017.

Read for review. Baffling.


163. Ausma Zehanat Khan, The Bloodprint. HarperCollins, 2017.

Read for review. Epic fantasy. Meh.


164. Julie Tizard, The Road to Wings. Bold Strokes Books, 2017.

F/F fighter pilot romance. Meh.


165. Melissa Brayden, Eyes Like Those. Bold Strokes Books, 2017.

F/F workplace romance. Meh.


166. Jaycie Morrison, Heart's Orders. Bold Strokes Books, 2017.

F/F historical American WWII women's army corps romance. Meh.


167. Sophia Kell Hagin, Omnipotence Enough. Bold Strokes Books, 2017.

F/F near-future SF romance.


168. Fonda Lee, Jade City. Orbit, 2017.

Read for review. Really good fantasy.


169. K.B. Wagers, Beyond the Empire. Orbit, 2017.

Read for review. Space opera trilogy conclusion.


170. R.E. Stearns, Barbary Station. Saga, 2017.

Read for review. Really good science fiction with pirates and murderous AI.


171. Melissa Caruso, The Tethered Mage. Orbit, 2017.

Read for review. Really good fantasy.


172. K.J. Charles, Think of England. Ebook, 2014.

M/M romance. Sad boys in love. Historical.


173. K.J. Charles, The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal. Ebook, 2015.

Linked stories about sad boys in love. Historical fantasy.


174. K.J. Charles, An Unsuitable Heir. Ebook, 2017.

Historical romance between a man and a genderqueer person. Good.


175. K. Arsenault Rivera, The Tiger's Daughter. Tor, 2017.

Read for review. Excellent epic fantasy debut. Includes epic romance between women.


176. Rose Lerner, Courtney Milan, and Alyssa Cole, Hamilton's Battalion. Ebook, 2017.

Three romance novellas set around the American revolutionary war. The first two, a heterosexual romance and a M/M romance, are excellent; the third romance is F/F and is entirely meh.


177. Leena Likitalo, Sisters of the Crescent Empress. Tor.com Publishing, 2017.

Sequel to The Five Daughters of the Moon. Read for review. Meh.


178. Tade Thompson, The Murders of Molly Southborne. Tor.com Publishing, 2017.

Read for review. Strange and peculiar and compelling novella.


179. Nnedi Okorafor, Binti: The Night Masquerade. Tor.com Publishing, 2017.

Read for review. Concluding Binti novella. Pretty good.


nonfiction.

180. Shihab al-Din al-Nuwayri, The Ultimate Ambition in the Arts of Erudition: A Compendium of Knowledge from the Classical Islamic World. Penguin Classics. London & New York, 2016. Translated and abridged by Elias Muhanna.

This is Serious Abridgement, one slender Penguin volume for a 33-volume medieval Arabic encyclopaedia. This abridgement and translation gives a flavour of what the original might possibly contain, and makes me deeply regret the lack of proper complete translations of more medieval Arabic literature.

It is really enjoyable, though.


181. Michael Maas (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2005.

Cambridge Companions aren't really designed to be read cover-to-cover, but I did. Eventually. It is a quite comprehensive companion, to be fair. An introduction to many things. Worth perusing.

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2017/10/empire-games-gets-a-price-cut-.html

Attention, British readers: Empire Games just came out in small format paperback today, with a price cut from the big trade paperback. The ebook edition also got a whole bit cheaper: Kindle edition here.

(The US paperback/cheap ebook will be along a bit later, because Tor UK and Tor USA are actually different publishers with different schedules.)

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2017/10/empire-games-gets-a-price-cut-.html

Ahhh.. parenting... the fine art of sneaking old coloring books and the random piece of paper with markers on it to the recycling without the children noticing...

I've nearly finished recharging the rechargeable batteries, snuck out a handful of papers and a coloring book to the recycling, and sent 3 birthday cards that have been lingering on my desk for the last week. At least sending the cards makes me feel like I'm decluttering.

How are your efforts going?

Didn't log last Wednesday. Oops.

Weigh-in: 107kg approx

Benchpress: 1x5 at 60kg, 1x8 at 65kg, 1x5 at 70kg, 3x8 at 65kg, 1x6 at 60kg
Squats: 5x5 at 100kg
Leg lifts: 3x10
Sit-ups: 2x12
Bicep curl: 3x10 at 8kg/arm
Lat raise: 3x10 at 8kg/arm
Military press: 3x10 at 5kg/arm
Assisted pull-up: 2
Attempted pull-up (unassisted): 2x3

We had a PET scan report today, and it wasn't good. Rob's remission lasted five months, about as long as the one he had two years ago did.

Read more at CaringBridge here.

So when I'm not working or sleeping or, okay, watching some stuff, I've been working on the original fiction. And it's going pretty well, but thank god, I taught Anne Lamott's "Shitty First Drafts" today and need to remind myself that it's okay to suck sometimes.

Also, the series ending of Halt and Catch Fire was seriously the best thing ever.

Also, if you don't watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (worst title in existence but great show), google "Let's Generalize About Men" -- seriously.

Slowing down re. Deadwood because I'm almost done with s. 2 and I want it to never end and yet I see it snowballing towards disaster.

My current decluttering project is charging all the dead rechargable batteries.

Little bits add up!

What tiny projects can you do to help the process?