penpusher | Reading

in which two teens independently fall into a toxic mud puddle and develop mind-reading abilities. Spoilers, they're not the only ones!

They're at a family reunion, and one person mentions that there have been a few breakins, how odd, because all the broken-in houses had security systems. And as they mention that, everybody in range automatically thinks their PINs. This, of course, is how the (telepathic!) thief had broken into the houses in the first place.

Ever since then, every time I've had to enter a PIN or a password anywhere, I've carefully also thought some other random letters or numbers. It's a silly habit, which I only developed long after I outgrew poking around closets for Narnia and had nearly outgrown poking around closets for secret passageways, and it wouldn't really deter a mind-reading thief for very long, but I still do it. If there ever is a telepathic malefactor in close proximity to me, at least they'll have to to try a few different codes to use my bank card!

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( Read more... )

jazzy_dave

Josephine Tey "The Man in the Queue" (Pushkin Vertigo)

On the plus side, the writing is descriptive and sometimes lovely, both of which are surprising in a detective story. For instance, Inspector Grant sees laundry hanging to dry in a poor neighborhood: “Here and there a line of gay, motley child’s clothes danced and ballooned with the breeze in a necklace of coloured laughter.”

The book gets off to a slightly sluggish start, ameliorated by atmospheric descriptions of the rituals and entertainments associated with the process of patiently queuing in the rain in hope of gaining a theatre seat.

On the minus side, it’s rather dated in its social attitudes. Just by seeing the murder weapon, Inspector Grant draws this conclusion: “This was a crime that had been planned with an ingenuity and executed with a subtlety that was foreign to an Englishman’s habit of thought. The very femininity of it proclaimed the Levant, or at the very least one used to Levantine habits of life.”

On the plus side again, it’s a clever and engaging story, if one makes allowances for the ways it’s dated, and it is a colourful depiction of a time and place. Looking up some of the obsolete colloquialisms was part of the fun.

jazzy_dave

My favourite new artist in minimalism.

Organist Kali Malone: 'It was a point of departure for me to work with language' • FRANCE 24

Watch on YouTube

I have ordered two more albums by her after selling quite a lot of stuff from eBay, Vinted and Discogs recently.

jazzy_dave

This is another recent album added to my collection. If you love pipe organs you will enjoy this minimalist outing.

Kali Malone - The Sacrificial Code (Full Album)

Watch on YouTube

1. Canons For Kirnberger III
1 Spectacle Of Ritual
2 Sacrificial Code
3 Rose Wreath Crown (For CW)

II. Norrlands Orgel
4 Sacer Profanare
5 Litanic Cloth Wrung
6 Fifth Worship II

III. Live In Hagakyrka
7 Hagakyrka Bells
8 Prelude (Live In Hagakyrka)
9 Sacrificial Code (Live In Hagakyrka)
10 Glory Canon III (Live In Hagakyrka)

The Sacrificial Code’ takes a more surgical approach to the methods first explored on ‘Organ Dirges 2016 - 2017’.
Over the course of three parts performed on three different organs, Malone’s minimalist process captures a jarring precision of closeness, both on the level of the materiality of the sounds and on the level of composition.The recordings here involved careful close miking of the pipe organ in such a way as to eliminate environmental identifiers as far as possible - essentially removing the large hall reverb so inextricably linked to the instrument. The pieces were then further compositionally stripped of gestural adornments and spontaneous expressive impulse - an approach that flows against the grain of the prevailing musical hegemony, where sound is so often manipulated, and composition often steeped in self indulgence. It echoes Steve Reich’s sentiment “..by voluntarily giving up the freedom to do whatever momentarily comes to mind, we are, as a result, free of all that momentarily comes to mind.

ENJOY

jazzy_dave

Joe Comarroe "Six American Poets: An Anthology" (Vintage)

Editor Conarroe distills the works of six unique American Poets in this 281 page volume. For each he provides a concise but enlightening introduction, but it is the poets themselves whose words speak loudest. Whether it is the rapture of Whitman, the surface simplicity of Emily Dickinson, the puzzles of Wallace Stevens, the plain truth of the observations of William Carlos Williams, the sober musings of Robert Frost, or the unforgettable impact of the lyrical prose of Langston Hughes (who seems incapable of even a single boring line), this book is a treasure you should give to somebody who has bnever read a poem or literature. Or you can kep it for yourself and, as far as I am concerned, it is a highly recommended introduction to these famous poets. .

jazzy_dave

Jeff Pike "The Death Of Rock And Roll: Untimely Demises, Morbid Preoccupations, and Premature Forecasts of Doom in Pop Music" (Faber & Faber)

Some of the less anthropic members of the world may want to see the rich and famous brought low. But for me, this is a fascinating look at The Hollywood Babylon of rock 'n' roll The book is split into sections depending on the type of death, from suicide, to drug overdose or by accident. This is a book that should not be read if you feel low, morose or suicidal. Cliically funereal and morbid in equal measure.

conuly

Well, I meant to post it then, and I guess I'll belatedly post it now - a New Year's Friend Meme!

Click the banner to join us and make some new friends!

conuly

I got a set of cute little penguin pens. They're very cute. So cute.

I didn't realize that each pen has a little motto on it, or I might've not bought them. You see, one continuing annoyance since childhood is that writing on pens is always upside down if you're left-handed. Oh, you can get pens where the writing is oriented correctly, that is, for lefties, but for some reason all that writing inevitably is left-handed themed! I don't want my right side up pen motto to say something like "Only lefties are in their right mind!", I want it to say something like "Hope you are happy every day", which is the upside down motto on this purple penguin.

It's the same with left-handed rulers, incidentally. I just want the numbers to go in a sensible direction, I don't need my ruler to affirm how wonderful it is that I'm drawing lines with my left hand.

On a related note, I'm seriously considering buying another pair of lefty kitchen shears for work. I don't really have to spend much time in the kitchen, but if I am in the kitchen and using kitchen shears (almost inevitably to cut up the next day's lunch sandwiches but sometimes to cut up breakfast pancakes and sausages) I'd rather use mine than theirs, because cutting with the wrong scissors is painful and messy. But if I bring my sole pair - which is amazing, I love it, best Christmas present ever! - back and forth with me then sometimes I use it at home, forget to put it back in my bag, and then am irritated for three days until I finally remember again. I could ask them to supply shears for me and keep them in the kitchen drawer, it's a legitimate (and small!) expense, but honestly, I know from experience that righties are terrible and when they accidentally use left-handed scissors they get very confused and irritated. Amusing for me, but undoubtedly an exercise in frustration for a workplace. It's really better all around to bring my own.

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( Read more... )

conuly

How thin and sharp is the moon tonight!
How thin and sharp and ghostly white
Is the slim curved crook of the moon tonight!

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In fact, the moon is kinda orange just now, but I'm sure it'll grow pale once it clears the bridge.

halfshellvenus

My pseudo-LEGO steamship project is done. This one was sturdier than the steampunk magic shop I built last year (different manufacturer, too). I only had to superglue one piece that kept disconnecting, although the silver... ballast tanks (? Whatever those are on the boats?) don't fully connect (they need some re-engineering), and those and the yellow tanks fall off easily. Still, super fun to build:

The Amazon link for that set is here.

I'll be going out for a bike ride soon. The rain has stopped for now, and we're not being plagued by the cold fog, so there should be some good weather ahead at least for a week. I rode outside TWICE in the last 6 1/2 weeks. That's how bad it's been— only a snow climate would have been worse! Not a typical winter for us at all.

I'll be riding during the 49ers playoff game. On purpose. I've hardly watched any games this season— too many injuries, so it's a nail-biter every time whether they'll squeak out a win. Still angry about the Super Bowl they lost, with too many key injuries over the course of the game. I think that was the Niners' year to win, and the referees lost it for them with questionable calls.

In garage biking, I'm almost to the end of Orphan Black, which is sad. I've really enjoyed it. I'm also close to the end of The Walking Dead, after which I'll have to try one of the spin-offs for biking purposes. I need really engaging TV for garage-biking, and a high level of peril accomplishes that nicely. I've also been watching Is It Cake? out there. I enjoy that series, though I'm getting near the end of its last season as well. I can't fathom why the S3 contestants are so prone to baking vanilla cakes, though. Do you want your cake to impress the judges with its flavor, if the win comes down to that? Then WTF would you pick vanilla? It's as "meh" as you can get. OTOH, I personally would not risk matcha or Earl Grey as a main flavor, either. Those are acquired tastes. And S2 Miko's propensity for using mango always seemed risky. People tend to either love it or hate it, and I'm on the "hate" side.

Monday will be my first day back at work, after 3 weeks off. It's been great— I'm not ready to go back. I got virtually no home projects done during that time off (doesn't that always seem to be the way), apart from Christmas stuff. But the relaxation was nice! \o/

jazzy_dave

Ursula K LeGuin "Words Are My Matter: Writings on Life and Books" (Canongate)

A great collection of essays and book reviews, many of which I've never read, in which Ursula K Le Guin manages to talk about imagination in ways that are smart, unsentimental and never cornball.

These are prescient, as everything seems to be now, as the designer for this book must have realized when they excerpted "Hard times are coming... We'll need writers who can remember freedom," but none of these essays predict the future, they just demonstrate an extreme intuition for human beingsand the things they do, including the fact that every book benefits from animals in it. "Then the dog showed upand I knew everything was all right."

conuly

when you finally confess your love to the guy you've been pining after for half your life, and it turns out that you have a perfectly aligned and complementary set of kinks? Nobody has to compromise and agree to sometimes do the thing they're not that into or, conversely, never do the thing they're totally into. Nobody's turned off by the mere thought of any of it, every conversation is an ongoing saga of "yes, and".

I guess that's one more advantage of being fictional!

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( Read more... )

conuly

You'll laugh, it was that weird.

I dreamed that I was going to sleep. I had found a bed - not my actual bed, just a bed! - and snuggled down to sleep. And then I woke up a little (really woke up, not dream woke up) in my own bed, snuggled up nice and cozy, and drifted between the two beds, real and dream, for a little bit before falling back asleep for real.

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( Read more... )

conuly

A list of weekend protests

jazzy_dave

As we get older do you think we get weirder or at least more unconventional?

Is it in our DNA?

Or is it that uncertainty about the future and the undiscovered country that informs our conclusion that we don't give an eff anymore?

conuly

Watch on YouTube

clauderainsrm posting in

therealljidol

I've been doing a "preview of things to come" post for the last couple of seasons/mini-seasons/events so I figured now was a good time to do that!

Obviously, before you check this post out - make sure you are commenting on the Winner thread therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1216843.html and the Runners Up therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1217245.html

Give them the love they deserve!!

***
I've been seeing a lot more "Your Friend has updated their Livejournal" notification emails, to the point that I was starting to think everyone was headed back there. A friend of mine who used to be on LJ forwarded this to me (Unless you speak Russian you'll need to use a translator. Your browser probably has one. https://ru-news.livejournal.com/80899.html ) Just FYI for those still using the site that changes are coming.

The fact that the official news updates, and the currency you pay for Paid Accounts, is all in Russian is definitely a pretty big downside to going back. Although I'll admit, with the 20th anniversary coming up, that really would have been nice to go home again.

***

Speaking of.... the next season is going to be our 20th anniversary!! I'm going to have some posts between now and then, I've been thinking of some ideas. Planning on announcing them on the Patreon first. So if you've been thinking of signing up, now would be a good time. :) www.patreon.com/c/u70027

Our winner also reminded me to put out the Tip Jar information. If you've enjoyed yourself, and want to throw in a little something to help keep this going, here's the link: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1206401.html

In the comments,

inkstainedfingertips posted an older link, which included the old Amazon Storefront we used to have. Which made me wish that was still a thing. We never made much from it, but man that was truly satisfying to continuously update that list of books written by Idol contestants!! If anyone knows of a site that works similar to that, were you get paid for people using your links, let me know! I'd love to set up another store. If not, maybe I'll just put together a list. Heck, maybe I'll do that on Patreon. That might be a good place to host something like that! (Totally thinking out loud here. I *just* came up with that idea as I'm writing it! :D)

Idol's anniversary is in May.

My current goal is to be in a new place by March. Well, it's not a "goal" but it's a plan forward. So I'm hoping by May I'll be settled in with an idea of what my life is going to be like. I don't want to hurry this anniversary celebration or start it before I know I'm ready to actually be present more than I have been. Because you deserve that. Idol deserves that.

At very least the 20th will be taking place between now and the 21st anniversary. ;) The closer to May though, the better.

I'll check in now and then, so make sure to have your notifications on (and check the site because as a couple people found out during the last poll, the notifications don't always work!!! You need to manually check now and then, especially if you're expecting an update)

***

Thank you to everyone who indulged this crazy idea of The Wheel of Chaos, and played along with it. I hope you enjoyed yourself. And thank you to everyone who still keep LJ Idol close to their hearts. It means the world to me.

conuly

Such an open and bald admission that this is about the oil.

jazzy_dave

Wonderful lie-in this morning. Too cosy to get up early. In fact, I listened to the radio and got out of bed around ten. Never feel guilty, I say.

I did pop into town this morning, as there was chores to do, and some other items I needed. It was cold, but sunny and dry, and around 2 degrees centigrade.

I posted off one item and then headed towards my local pub. I met Ewart for a few drinks and gave him his late Xmas pressie. The present was the Guardian Yearbook in hardback. It was from 2025 anyway, and I remembered buying it from the Fleurs Bookshop.

When I arrived back home, I hit the decks and spun some vinyl. An excellent LP from Rare Vinyl had arrived. It was the classic 1974 album by The Crusaders called "Southern Comfort". Just £17 for a copy in near mint condition.

Southern Comfort, Primary, 1 of 6

I just love really good jazz, jazz funk and fusion.

clauderainsrm posting in

therealljidol

I'm so incredibly proud of all 3 of these finalists!

There's a lot I want to say about

l0lita but I'll settle for just saying "read her work" because that says plenty! Coming in as an unknown factor, late in the game, could have ended poorly. But she navigated it, and managed to keep herself safe despite being an obvious target!

drippedonpaper is one of those writers who has been around quite some time, but as can be the case with these special events and mini season, the right elements lined up and she finally started getting the attention she's deserved! Once that happens, if precedent is any indication, that attention tends to stick around. Which is something that brings a huge smile to my face!

Congratulations to both of you and absolutely well deserved.

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penpusher

January 2023

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Page Summary

conuly - When I was a kid I read a Sleator book
jazzy_dave - Book 5 - Josephine Tey "The Man in the Queue"
jazzy_dave - Kali Malone
jazzy_dave - The Sacrificial Code
jazzy_dave - Book 4 - Joe Comarroe "Six American Poets: An Anthology"
jazzy_dave - Book 3 - Jeff Pike "The Death Of Rock And Roll"
conuly - I guess I had this tab open two weeks and forgot about it
conuly - Sigh.
conuly - Winter Moon by Langston Hughes
halfshellvenus - Finished steamship!
jazzy_dave - Book 2 - Ursula K Le Guin "Words Are My Matter: Writings on Life and Books"
conuly - Gosh, isn't it great
conuly - I had the weirdest dream the other day
conuly - PSA
jazzy_dave - A Passing Thought
conuly - (no subject)
clauderainsrm in therealljidol - The Future
conuly - I also didn’t expect
jazzy_dave - Monday Musings
clauderainsrm in therealljidol - Runners Up - Wheel of Chaos

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Style: Dreamer for Dusty Foot by timeasmymeasure

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Page generated Jan. 15th, 2026 10:32 pm

First Think, THEN Ink.

Thinking Is Underrated

Reading

When I was a kid I read a Sleator book

Book 5 - Josephine Tey "The Man in the Queue"

Kali Malone

The Sacrificial Code

Book 4 - Joe Comarroe "Six American Poets: An Anthology"

Book 3 - Jeff Pike "The Death Of Rock And Roll"

I guess I had this tab open two weeks and forgot about it

Sigh.

Winter Moon by Langston Hughes

Finished steamship!

Book 2 - Ursula K Le Guin "Words Are My Matter: Writings on Life and Books"

Gosh, isn't it great

I had the weirdest dream the other day

PSA

A Passing Thought

(no subject)

The Future

I also didn’t expect

Monday Musings

Runners Up - Wheel of Chaos

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January 2023

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