Reading

Well, I'm (probably?) hired pending the results of this background check

and completion of orientation. They really are taking anybody with a pulse, as judged by the extremely detailed list of instructions for appropriate behavior during orientation. I'd be more insulted, but that's good for me, I really need a job. If they had higher standards they would hire somebody with formal work experience, or at least an associate's degree.

(Don't think I've stopped applying other places, mind you, but I'm really not in a position to be picky, either.)

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( Read more... )

Huh

This is probably in no way significant, but it just occurred to me to check to see where WorldCon was the years I was nominated:

2010: Melbourne, Australia
2011: Reno, USA
2019: Dublin, Ireland
2020: Wellington, New Zealand
2024: Glasgow, Scotland

(I was nowhere near the ballot in 2009, Montreal)

At a guess, those are years where vote totals were a bit lower?

( Read more... )

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: The Turtles

Entry tags:

flowers,
gardening

Garden progress!

The garden is doing well this year (mostly). We picked a couple of green peppers last week, and yesterday we got a cucumber!

Main garden
( Pics! )

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

Well... if you're interested in reading a book about how living in an over-privileged Connecticut town is terrible and nobody should ever do it (especially if that's going to intersect badly with their terrible childhood) then this is a book you'll like. I preferred Dreadful - the realism : magic ratio in this book leaned a little too realistic, also, I just do not believe that the only school choices are a. fancy schools for wealthy overachievers that have massively high standards and high stakes testing b. xenophobic schools with very low standards and c. homeschooling. Even if there are no public school options there still have to be artsy fartsy schools for wealthy people who know that their kids cannot do the pressure cooker thing starting in kindy.

Books Received, July 5 — July 11

Four books new to me.Two are SF, one is fantasy, one is a mix of both. I don't see anything unambiguously labelled as series works.

Books Received, July 5 — July 11

Poll #33350 Books Received, July 5 — July 11

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 21

View Respondents

Which of these look interesting?

View Answers

Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill (December 2025)
5 (23.8%)

Spread Me by Sarah Gailey (September 2025)
8 (38.1%)

The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride (February 2026)
8 (38.1%)

The Universe Box by Michael Swanwick (February 2026)
8 (38.1%)

Some other option (see comments)
1 (4.8%)

Cats!
18 (85.7%)

Bunny Still Likes This Chair

Posted by Daily Bunny

https://dailybunny.org/posts/2025/7/12/bunny-still-likes-this-chair

Thanks, Victoria and bunny Kosmo! Victoria writes, “So this is an older photo of Kosmo taken a few weeks after I got him. The Humane Society promotes spays and neuters, which is why Kosmo has that shaved square. The fur has since grown back. Also he's under the same chair from the last picture.”

https://dailybunny.org/posts/2025/7/12/bunny-still-likes-this-chair

RPG checklist

Specifically Fabula Ultima

( Read more... )

Would I Describe This Package of Meat Substitute As _Completely_ Soy?

Posted by Joseph Nebus

https://nebushumor.wordpress.com/2025/07/12/would-i-describe-this-package-of-meat-substitute-as-_completely_-soy/

http://nebushumor.wordpress.com/?p=20492

No, I would have to describe it as just …

https://nebushumor.wordpress.com/2025/07/12/would-i-describe-this-package-of-meat-substitute-as-_completely_-soy/

http://nebushumor.wordpress.com/?p=20492

The Far Side: daily dose for 2025/07/12

https://www.thefarside.com/2025/07/12

The Far Side daily dose for 2025/07/12

https://www.thefarside.com/2025/07/12

Trying to read Dogs of War

Adrian Tchaikovsky is amazingly hit-or-miss for me, but this looks like it's coming up "hit". The sapient arthropods are a swarm of bees. If there are any spiders, I haven't met them yet!

Entry tags:

The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe

New Dawn requires only that people conform without exception or face memory erasure and worse. Yet, a minority insists on being individuals.

The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe

Plotting Already, Bunny? You Just Got Here!

Posted by Daily Bunny

https://dailybunny.org/posts/2025/7/11/plotting-already-bunny-you-just-got-here

Thanks, Lisa and bunny Maisie!

https://dailybunny.org/posts/2025/7/11/plotting-already-bunny-you-just-got-here

RIP, Coal

Last feline from Parliament Hill cat colony dies

MiSTed: The 72 Hours Saga, Part 48

Posted by Joseph Nebus

https://nebushumor.wordpress.com/2025/07/11/misted-the-72-hours-saga-part-48/

http://nebushumor.wordpress.com/?p=20484

Having used the time machine to get to where he can destroy the time machine before it destroys the universe plucky young badger Maxl has teamed up with Jade, Tracker, and Karl Crotswurth, freed by the aid of someone named Arrial that he hasn’t met yet, to go to Sven-Sven’s house before the usual sorts … Continue reading

https://nebushumor.wordpress.com/2025/07/11/misted-the-72-hours-saga-part-48/

http://nebushumor.wordpress.com/?p=20484

The Far Side: daily dose for 2025/07/11

https://www.thefarside.com/2025/07/11

The Far Side daily dose for 2025/07/11

https://www.thefarside.com/2025/07/11

I Would Really Hate It If Someone Took a Pic of My Bum While I Was Eating But It's Cute When It's Bu

Posted by Daily Bunny

https://dailybunny.org/posts/2025/7/10/i-would-really-hate-it-if-someone-took-a-pic-of-my-bum-while-i-was-eating-but-its-cute-when-its-bunnies

Thanks, Chris and bunnies Ale and Oats! Chris writes, “Here is Oats and Ale beautiful buns bum enjoying some western timothy and orchard grass.”

https://dailybunny.org/posts/2025/7/10/i-would-really-hate-it-if-someone-took-a-pic-of-my-bum-while-i-was-eating-but-its-cute-when-its-bunnies

Entry tags:

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Desperate to pay her brother Jasper's way out of Muhlenberg County, Opal accepts a job at an infamously cursed mansion.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

exploring the arcade in すし屋のケンちゃん (Sushi Restaurant Ken-chan) episode 51

Posted by Caitlyn / CPI

https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/07/exploring-arcade-in-sushi-restaurant.html

This screenshot and gamelist was posted by TOO_yoshikawa. (archive) It is just one image, but it is such a great little arcade that I wanted it saved here as well.

すし屋のケンちゃん　第51話「灯台のある岬」(1972年2月24日放送)
Sushi Restaurant Ken-chan Episode 51 "Cape with a Lighthouse" (broadcast on February 24, 1972)

Front machines first:

There are two Air Scramble machines, one being played by the child and one on the far right. The machine in between them is King Ball. I'm not sure exactly when that was released, but it was 1969 or earlier.

1971 Air Scramble - エアースクランブル by さとみ (Satomi — Sammy)

~1969 King Ball - キングボール by 日本自動販売機 (Nihon Jidô Hanbaiki — Game Mate) & カトウ (Kato)

Zoom in to the the back row...

1972 Aero Acrobat - アクロバッ by さとみ (Satomi — Sammy)

1971 Rapid Fire - ラピットファイアー by 太東貿易 (Taito Trading)

1970 Racer - レーサー by 中村製作所 (Nakamura Seisakusho)

1971 Tank - タンク by さとみ (Satomi — Sammy)

1969 Suspense by Williams

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This blog stands in protest against the USA's horrific policies to try and eliminate trans people from society. Trans people have always existed, in every society, but the administration has embraced a moral panic, declared a war against reality, and says that trans people can no longer be allowed to exist.

This blog stands in solidarity with all of the youth who are being terrorized by a fascist president who has declared them to be threats that must be eliminated.

https://pinballnovice.blogspot.com/2025/07/exploring-arcade-in-sushi-restaurant.html

Statistics June: Robert Benchley Is Somehow Less Popular Than Me

Posted by Joseph Nebus

https://nebushumor.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/statistics-june-robert-benchley-is-somehow-less-popular-than-me/

http://nebushumor.wordpress.com/?p=20479

June turned out to be a low-effort month from me, because it started and ended with big things eating up my attention and time and while that’s all been quite good fun, I was happy to let the public domain fill my pages. I was also curious whether turning the blog over to a renowned … Continue reading

https://nebushumor.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/statistics-june-robert-benchley-is-somehow-less-popular-than-me/

http://nebushumor.wordpress.com/?p=20479

The Far Side: daily dose for 2025/07/10

https://www.thefarside.com/2025/07/10

The Far Side daily dose for 2025/07/10

https://www.thefarside.com/2025/07/10