indybaggins | Reading

1. It's hot. 95 F (35 C). It will be hot tomorrow and then we should get some thunderstorms and cool things off.

2. Work is okay. Minor is working now, too, refereeing little league soccer games on the weekends. Minisculus got accepted onto a new soccer team for next year. This is a different club from the one he's been on for many years. It was time for a change. His father and I have been arguing for weeks what kind of change that should be, and this is the compromise.

3. If you're in the US and have ever heard of the Postcrossing (postcard pen-pal system): Postcrossing is getting their own stamp! Exciting.

4. New background noise YT channel. This is one of the most popular.

Watch on YouTube

Today's regularly scheduled post would normally be book club, but book club did not happen this week due to too many people not being able to make it, including me because I am sick.

But before I got sick I added some birds to my year list! Let's look at them now.

blue and white swallow perches on a wooden nest box with the number 10 painted on it — *Tree Swallow perches on a nature center nest box*

A couple of weeks ago I went hiking at a pond about an hour away because I was in the area anyway and I'd never been there. On the pond itself were my year's first Spotted Sandpipers foraging in the mud, many Caspian Terns circling overhead and diving for fish, and a Northern Waterthrush singing persistently to make sure I knew it wasn't the identical-looking Louisiana Waterthrush.

In the hilly woods nearby I heard the loud, piercing beeps of a Great Crested Flycatcher, as well as both Tennessee Warbler and Nashville Warbler (and I don't know what's going on in Tennessee, I guess they have a lot of warblers?). American Redstart and Northern Parula are also back from migration, and Cape May Warbler was a nice sighting since they only pass through Vermont on their way elsewhere.

Just as I completed the loop trail and arrived back at the parking area, a bus full of kids on a field trip showed up, so I escaped just in time.

( Some more spring arrivals seen closer to home )

So that's 124 species in 2026 so far.

Interestingly, when I opened the Inspector Rebus (Scottish police procedural series by Ian Rankin) jigsaw I got for my birthday there is a QR code to a spotify playlist to listen to while you put together the puzzle.

And it makes (a bit of) sense because 60's and 70's rock music is a motif throughout the entire series. Rebus loves music, has a vinyl collection, songs and lyrics are woven in every plot, he teases Siobahn and others about their taste in music.

I think it's a great idea. Here are two from the playlist (also titles in the Inspector Rebus series).

Watch on YouTube

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In this point-and-click adventure from Czech studio Amanita Design, you play as a robot who's been banished from a robot city for mysterious reasons and thrown on the junk heap. Sneaking back in, you learn that the city has fallen under the control of a trio of criminal robot goons (not these guys, but something like that) who are making everyone's lives miserable. Fortunately you're a clever little robot, well-equipped to defeat the big bullies through the power of logic puzzles and lateral thinking.

robot stands on one side of a chasm with a retracted drawbridge and a guard tower

robot stands on one side of a chasm with a retracted drawbridge and a guard tower

The game is wordless (and I seem to be having an era of wordless media) with characters' dialogue conveyed through little animations in speech bubbles. The hand-drawn art and unusual setting give the game a unique aesthetic that I really liked. I thought "this would be a cool screenshot for my review" so often that I think I screenshotted almost every room.

( cut for length )

Machinarium is on Steam and on GOG for $19.99 USD, but with the GOG release you also get the soundtrack, concept art, and other goodies thrown in for free, while on Steam they cost extra. (Steam has a free demo, though.)

As expected, this was the tougher semi-final of the two. The hosts were a bit better (if we ignore the very cringe and tone-deaf ending to the “Why is ESC so gay?” skit because yikes) and the interval acts were okay.

The running order of the final has been revealed and it’s pretty much universally disliked. No sense for build-up and some very questionable decisions all around: favourite Denmark as the opener, several ballads right after another, the only two rock songs right after another, Finland in a prime spot while almost all the other potential winners are battling it out in the first half, song 20 - 25 all uptempo numbers etc.

And we’re not starting on Germany being tanked on 2. XD

Anyway, the performances from last night:

( The songs )

Fandom 50 #14

Just a little western soft rock for 1990, and the first song so far that—despite having been a hit in Canada—is apparently too obscure to have lyrics up on Genius.com.

Crime Against Love by Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts

Watch on YouTube

ETA: Okay, I actually went and made it an entry on Genius.com and updated the link.

And that's a wrap for this year's

3weeks4dreamwidth! I had a lot of fun, and I hope everyone else did as well. I've got quite a few comments to catch up on, but that's the end of (almost) every day posting for me. See you next year :)

Here's what I posted this week:

WIP Meme

NYC Day Trip (f-locked)

Music Meme

Tuesday Top 5: Thai BL Dramas

Wednesday What I'm...

updates to Icon Request Fest Fills

This wordless graphic novel follows a man who travels to a new land in search of a better life. He doesn't speak the language or recognize the strange foods and fantastical creatures he encounters, and has to rely on kind locals and other immigrants to help him find his way.

huddled masses arrive on a steam ship to a harbor with a giant pair of statues shaking hands

huddled masses arrive on a steam ship to a harbor with a giant pair of statues shaking hands

Setting the story in a fantasy world is obviously intended to help the reader understand how confusing and disorienting the immigrant experience can be. But although the language, culture, and animals are alien, the people are all ordinary humans, and the focus is on common humanity transcending our differences. The protagonist encounters people who tell harrowing stories of having survived war and escaped slavery, but the immigrant characters don't seem to experience much discrimination beyond locals sometimes getting frustrated with them for not understanding things, so I think there is an aspirational element. Coming to a new place is always going to be hard, but we don't have to choose to make it harder for people than it already is.

I have a hard time following wordless sequential art, so I'm sure there are aspects of the story I missed or misunderstood, but I think I got most of it. The detailed pencil art is beautiful to look at. You can see some more of the illustrations on Tan's website.

This is one of the books that sat on my shelf unread for years (and I just moved my bookcase so I am now highly conscious of that category). I have no idea why I have it! But now it has been read, so check that one off.

1. Monday was superproductive, Tuesday I was productive, Wednesday was okay, not as productive but still okay, and yesterday I tipped into the pit of despair. :/ Now I have to decide to wallow or crawl out. It could go either way, really.

2. I had a fine birthday and Mother's Day and end to my me-week. I got some summer pajamas and some new slippers with strawberries on them (which I picked out myself of course). I took a oversized coffee table art book to my client on Wednesday and we looked through it and he enjoyed it. Win.

3. I finished the Rebus anthology, and 4 of the 5 cards I'm doing for 3 Weeks 4 Dreamwidth.

4. BTS is part of the halftime show for the World Cup final! Just for funsies I googled ticket prices (it's at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey in mid-July) and tickets start at $9000. The best seats run from $50k to $80k. Makes my concert tickets look pretty good by comparison. The lads are on to California having had a blast lucha libre style in Mexico.

5. The best thing is I cranked out 2400 words on my soap opera yesterday. I've got less than a month to wrap it up.

---

I did these on my birthday. I know the first is incomplete, there should be something in the top left space, but I didn't have anything that really spoke to me so I suppose it's a metaphor (waiting to fill the gap).

I used up the last of my coffee stickers, too.

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Current Mood: depressed

[I am really only keen--but very keen--on the line in bold. I think it would make a good Hallowe'en prompt.]

Dear Barbershop, by Chris Slaughter

Is this a barbershop? If we can’t talk straight
in the barbershop, then where can we talk straight?
—Eddie Cedrick

I come from you: every argument, debate and dare—
every hand-me-down bet that taught me to run

from nothing while fading the world down small enough
to doubt. No one else understands the gravity

in the way a chair turns after a fight, and blood stains
hair and hard wood floors. Music somehow tells the story

better than us, mirrors turn away, but I saved
the dirt from my nails. I’m not hard currency

to you—anymore. I’m no longer steady handed and perfect for slang.
You say, with every chair in the shop full “What happened to you man?

You even look at customers like they’re not good enough anymore”
—but I’m made from discussion, contradiction, and cheap cognac. Cussing

in every sentence just to get points across the room. I’m a glass bottle
on the ledge of some mantle that built a ship inside of itself (and the ghosts
it holds).

I’m against the same grain as I’ve always been, believe in
the same sharp line and burn. I’m the same crazy bastard

that called the pizza man a racist, with mute Omar by my side
waving his arms—don’t forget what hurts

what makes our blood agree, how women come in alone
with their boys and listen to us go on about presidents, one-night stand sex,

and Kobe’s fade-away; they listen to us throw nigga and bitch around
like natural terms of endearment— I just want my name back.

Reading

I finished Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix. Very fun!
I read some more of Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. It's good, though I feel like it's going a bit slow. Thought that could be because I just don't love reading ebooks.
I finished Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones. Love this book! DWJ has fantastic worldbuilding.
Ficwise, I've been reading mostly JunDylan and PondPhuwin, mostly stuff from my tbr list. Feeling a bit meh about fic, I can't quite seem to find anything I'm super excited about.

Watching

The roommate and I finished Sunset x Vibes. It was good! MosBank were really cute, as were the secondary ship, who I'm sad don't have any other shows together.
The roommate and I started watching Love in the Air. This is our first BossNoeul and I'm enjoying them a lot so far! Looking forward to FortPeat, who I already love, but they haven't interacted yet.
The roommate, best friend, and I watched the latest episode of Only Friends: Dream On. Things are starting to come together for everyone! I hope RomeRaffy have a happy ending.
The roommate, best friend, and I watched the latest episode of Love Upon a Time. Sweet episode that turned very sad! Kaew and Jom were already sad, but now Phop and Klao too...
The roommate, best friend, and I watched the latest episode of Magic Move. Fake marriage ftw! Very interested to see what mess will come from this.
The roommate, best friend, and I watched the latest episode of Love of Silom. Sad we didn't get domestic family for long, but hopefully that will come back around. Plus first kiss!!!
The roommate, best friend, and I watched the first episode of Enemies with Benefits. Very cute! Jan and JingJing have great chemistry and I'm having fun watching them. Also, I want to go bowling now lol
The roommate, best friend, and I watched the first episode of Wu. Not a BL for once! I was excited to see SkyNani though, who we've only seen separately before, and it's very interesting so far. Looking forward to seeing more.

Listening

I've been watching a lot of concert recordings on youtube, particularly of LYKN. They're a lot of fun and it's getting me extra excited to see them in person :D
I listened to several episodes of Happier with Gretchen Rubin. Right now I'm on a "field trip" episode where Gretchen and one of her friends are going to the Met and talking about From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Very fun!
Also listened to a few episodes of TED Talk Daily. Always interesting.

Writing

Nothing.

Learning

Nothing.

Wednesday's word come from the Inspector Rebus short story anthology I just finished, not a word we use across the pond...

...anglepoise.

a type of desk lamp with a jointed arm and counterbalancing springs that hold it in any position to which it is adjusted. It's a trademark.

"There was no overhead lighting in Sir Walter Scott's study, but there were numerous floor lamps, desk lamps, and anglepoises."

Well, this was the easier semi final - the blood bath will happen tomorrow.

I was not convinced by the show that Austria put up. The beginning with the little movie and Vicky Leandros was fine, but the hosts were... not good at all, very stiff. I did not expect much from Victoria Swarowski since she's also a host for Let's Dance and well, I'm almost immune to her non-existent hosting qualities by now, but the male host was extremely cringe, my God...

The interval act with the acrobatics group was very good, but the song about Austria/Australia was... a mess, not funny at all. (The Kangaroo fursuit was very good, though.) That quiz show skit also went on faaaar too long.

I'm predicting bad things for the upcoming shows...

Anyway, on to the songs

( The songs )

Today's top 5 list is something I had to think really, really hard about. I've watched 58 Thai dramas at this point (and am currently watching another 8), almost all of which are BLs, so it wasn't an easy thing to narrow down! I'm honestly not sure it would be the same 5 shows if I made the list tomorrow, but they are all ones I love.

If you've seen any of them, I'd love to hear what you think! And if you haven't... maybe you should check one out :D I don't have the time/energy to write much about them at the moment, but I'd be happy to talk more about them in comments later.

( Read more... )

From

maevedarcy

Songs
Last song I listened to: Clang Clang by DEXX
Favorite song ever: The Horror of our Love by Ludo
Current song on repeat: Bad Boy No "DO" by CLO'VER
Song that reminds me of my childhood (positive, I actually enjoy getting reminded of this): Uh not sure I have any.
Song that reminds me of my first crush (romantic or platonic): Scars by Papa Roach (purely bc he liked Papa Roach)
Song that reminds me of a person important to me now: Fireflies by Owl City
I love this song I will add it to playlists for no reason: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls bc I'm a basic bitch lol
I love this song and I wish I could listen to it again for the first time: Body by Mother Mother
A playlist about me would start with this song: Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year by Fall Out Boy

( Read more... )

BTS has just finished the third of three shows in Mexico City and they've been great performances. Reports are that crowds of 70,000+ ARMYs are outside the stadium having a block party (on top of the 40k ticket holders). I finally did some collage with the materials from my Arirang albums. Here is the front and back of a card. And I am in the last month of my BTS soap opera and since I cannot fic with music with lyrics playing, I have found this lofi of Arirang to have in the backgroud.

I can't embed. So it's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTzLt-1WZvE&list=WL

One of my favorite ways to observe any holiday is with a jigsaw puzzle so yesterday, Mother's Day, I did this one. I bought it at the yard sale fundraiser for the music program boosters of Minor's high school (I got 2 for $1). I can't say I recommend it because the pieces don't lock very well at all (so one bump of a knee and your hard work is ruined). Nevertheless, it served its purpose. I did it in one sitting. 350 pieces. Artbox.