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May Books 18) Tip of the Tongue, by Patrick Ness May. 24th, 2013 @ 10:09 pm
nwhyte

"Honestly," Nettie said, shaking her head again. "The lies people tell themselves and call it the truth."
These wee Puffin Doctor Who ebooks are having a good run right now. Here we have the celebrated Patrick Ness, delivering a very solid tale of two marginal teenagers in wartime Maine, finding themselves dealing with a peculiar fad for truth-telling gadgets which turn out to be alien tech, with a mysterious celery-wearing stranger and his scandalously dressed companion all mixed up with it as well. This is the first of the books in this series which is not told from the tight narrative viewpoint of Doctor or companion, and all the better for it.


May Books 17) Grandville: Bête Noire, by Bryan Talbot May. 24th, 2013 @ 09:53 pm
nwhyte

Short listed for this year's Hugos, this is another in Talbot's alternate history of Grandville, where most people are anthropomorphised animals and England is only now recovering from two hundred years of French rule after defeat at Waterloo. As well as taking us to the dark heart of political conspiracy, with overtones of Tintin (and also, frankly, Dangermouse), Talbot reflects art history too in his distorted gaze; the character here illustrated is one Jackson Pollo, and he refers in an afterword to the CIA's funding of Abstract Expressionism. It's a witty, absurd and also rather bleak story. I will find it tough to choose between this and Saucer Country for the Hugo.


May Books 16) A History of the World in 100 Objects, by Neil MacGregor May. 24th, 2013 @ 09:32 pm
nwhyte

Telling history through things is what museums are for.
This brilliant book accompanies the brilliant series of podcasts which I listened to a couple of years ago. It is the same hundred objects from the British museum's collection, but this time in dead tree format. The individual talks, which were 11-14 minutes on the radio, are down to 5-7 pages here, so I think quite substantially cut; but what we get in return is pictures of the actual objects, which radio cannot give. Actually in most cases I felt I actually had got a fairly good impression of the objects' appearance from listening to the audio version, but there were a couple where the picture does make a big difference - the sexually explicit Warren Cup, and the extraordinarily detailed mechanical galleon of Augsburg. Anyway, it is all very nicely done (though I did notice as I browsed the maps at the end that none of the objects is from, er, Ireland).


Comments from 1955 May. 24th, 2013 @ 03:00 pm
snopes_dot_com

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/trivia/1955comments.asp

List collects comments purportedly made in the year 1955.

Adventurer Conquerer King: Session Three May. 24th, 2013 @ 11:58 am
james_nicoll
Bar-hopping! Gossip! Stable-cleaning! Feel the white heat of RPGING!

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Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.
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My tweets May. 24th, 2013 @ 12:00 pm
zonereyrie
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BBQ Weekend! May. 24th, 2013 @ 11:09 am
misstiajournal, posting in vintage_ads
As I posted yesterday here it's BBQ weekend thru MONDAY!!! Also on the aforementioned link, is the link to vote for Contest #2 finalists (I'll post the winner Monday morning!!!) AND PLEASE help me gather up some movie trailer day theme ideas!! As it stands Monday is gonna be a movie trailer day and I picked PIRATE MOVIES!!! Do you really want ME to be picking theme ideas all by my lonesome? I'm weird and who knows what I'd think of!!! HAH!

BBQ3
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New Under the Influence post today... May. 24th, 2013 @ 10:41 am
seawasp
... on the 1980s anime Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, known briefly in the states as Ronin Warriors.

Will association with scandal-plagued Rob Ford cause problems for scandal-plagued ReformaTories? May. 24th, 2013 @ 10:19 am
james_nicoll
Ford pariah amongst right-wing, who justly fear he could draw attention from their equally fascinating scandals.

In happier days, the shark-eyed alleged baby eater poses with wife-beating, drunk-driving mayor of Toronto.


Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

cabal poised to seize power May. 24th, 2013 @ 10:02 am
james_nicoll

Members of Rob Ford’s executive committee say they are prepared to take over the day-to-day running of the city if the Toronto mayor is no longer able to perform his duties, amid a scandal involving allegations he was caught on video smoking crack cocaine.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.
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Being rude is fun and quite effective... May. 24th, 2013 @ 08:07 pm
alexzangerl

http://snafu.priv.at/still-not-king/2013-05-24.html

...when it comes to door-to-door salescritters, fundraisers, religious looneys and other scum who bother me at home.

I think I'm a fairly polite person, overall. However I do know that towards professional door knockers I'm very rude, and that's absolutely on purpose.

  • First, if you ignore the 'no salespeople' sticker on my door (at chest height, really hard to miss), then in my book this constitutes full acceptance of any amount of rudeness on my part.

    The two begging bastards that I sent packing this afternoon claimed the sticker doesn't apply to them "when fundraising", upon which I pointed out that in this case politeness doesn't apply to them, either.

  • Second, it's quite amazing how badly many of these fellows take being treated rudely.

    I really like that, because it makes my revenge so much sweeter. In return for them annoying me greatly, I annoy them back - and it would be a shame if they didn't care at least a bit :-)

  • Third, it's pretty quick. A few choice words followed by slamming the door in the critter's face very efficiently terminates all unnecessary arguments and delay tactics like discussing how I am or what their name is (they rarely ever get far enough to tell me what crap they want me to buy or what cause to donate for).


Messier 109 May. 24th, 2013 @ 08:38 am
apod

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap130523.html

Beautiful barred spiral Beautiful barred spiral



Links I found interesting for 24-05-2013 May. 24th, 2013 @ 10:00 am
nwhyte

Sinfest Nights 10 - Don't Know From Adam May. 24th, 2013 @ 01:43 am
just_you_wait, posting in sinfest_mod

Eve No Jikan May. 24th, 2013 @ 01:25 am
james_nicoll
Looks interesting.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

CBS Radio Workshop: The Record Collectors May. 23rd, 2013 @ 11:59 pm
james_nicoll
The Record Collectors

This is an interview with two avid record collectors, one a man who adopted the title of doctor on the basis of a passing comment and the other a fellow who constructs nightmarish monsters for Christmas parades. Both are fanatical about their hobby, firmly reject impure innovations past the wax cylinder as well as modern singers and generally fail to do anything that would convince people not already part of their folie à deux that records are worth anyone's time.

I know of no persons like the pair in this play.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

CBS Radio Workshop: Living Portrait - William Zekendorf, Tycoon May. 23rd, 2013 @ 11:57 pm
james_nicoll
Living Portrait - William Zekendorf, Tycoon

Bio of a man who helped shape modern New York. Since he was a known associate of Le Corbusier, this may have been a mixed blessing.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

May 24th is . . . May. 23rd, 2013 @ 11:23 pm
pikkewyntjie, posting in vintage_ads
National Escargot Day

Escargots 1883

oh, shiny! me want! *drool* May. 24th, 2013 @ 10:57 am
alexzangerl

http://snafu.priv.at/brainfarts/escher.html

alas, i am quite sure that i couldn't afford the work of these gifted spanish woodworkers...


Ads after dark May. 23rd, 2013 @ 10:04 pm
noluck_boston, posting in vintage_ads


Moo-moos and bikinis Collapse )


Bring the movie camera Collapse )



Cal is coming over. Collapse )

My tweets May. 24th, 2013 @ 12:00 pm
redcountess
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Fourever Fortune May. 23rd, 2013 @ 03:00 pm
snopes_dot_com

http://www.snopes.com/luck/wills/fourhour.asp

A wealthy woman left her entire estate to a man she had met only once.

ISC StormCast for Thursday, May 23rd 2013 http://isc.sans.edu/podcastdetail.html?id=3326, (Thu, May May. 23rd, 2013 @ 09:59 pm
inetstormcenter

http://isc.sans.edu/podcastdetail.html?id=3326

...(more)...

My tweets May. 24th, 2013 @ 06:13 am
redcountess
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My tweets May. 23rd, 2013 @ 04:03 pm
zonereyrie
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from the "everything happens at once" files May. 23rd, 2013 @ 11:02 am
ronebofh

  • Yesterday was my last day toiling for eBay Advertising (née shopping.com)
  • Today is our wedding anniversary; more importantly, however, it's captain_nesky's wedding day
  • I start my new job at MapR Technologies on Tuesday, riding side by side with palecur for the first time since the days of Best Internet Communications
Whee!

Current Music: Peter McConnell - Los Angelitos

MoVP II, (Thu, May 23rd) May. 23rd, 2013 @ 02:00 pm
inetstormcenter

http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=15878&rss

Volatility is a Python framework for performing memory forensics. If you haven't tried it ...(more)...


For no good reason May. 23rd, 2013 @ 12:02 pm
james_nicoll
Authors in 1967's Dangerous Visions by year of debut (length of career at the time DV came out indicated in brackets):

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Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

More Ice Cream! Ice Cream for Everyone! May. 23rd, 2013 @ 08:58 am
write_light, posting in vintage_ads
Sealtest, Borden (and Lady Borden), Foremost & Meadow Gold, 1950s & 1960s


Screen Shot 2013-05-22 at 6.14.49 PM



EIGHT MORE SCOOPS!Collapse )


Screen Shot 2013-05-22 at 6.08.13 PM

May. 23rd, 2013 @ 04:40 pm
bofhcam
Today still looking like a reasonable day as we enter the home stretch. Got up early, showered, shaved, got across town without getting rained on and patched three machines (dealing with fibre channel booting issues by being on site, thank goodness) and started the day all without any major incidents. Have made it through the day without anything breaking, had a sausage and bacon baguette in addition to lunch because I'm hungry all the time.

Last night's outing wasn't too bad, really. Given it was a new combination, in a boat that we're all really too light for I thought the balance was pretty good. Of course, the higher rate work we did was splashy as hell, but that was for entirely different reasons. I thought I was coming to terms with one or two things connected, sort of, with rowing. But apparently not. I think I need a good bit of time away from the distractions therein and I should be fine. This evening should help enormously. It's strange, I didn't used to be like this. Maybe I just need a bit more mental discipline.

I'm off to the boathouse as soon as I post this anyway so I can get my 30 min erg out of the way and get home to do stuff and things. I'm feeling pretty fit and full of energy, which bodes well.

Lou Rawls for the US Navy May. 23rd, 2013 @ 10:26 am
deathstar461, posting in vintage_ads
20-some minute infomercial/recruitment ad for the US Navy, narrated by soul singer Lou Rawls


May 23rd is Lucky Penny Day May. 23rd, 2013 @ 09:13 am
noluck_boston, posting in vintage_ads
Henny Penny Eggs, 1957

I have an opinion! May. 23rd, 2013 @ 08:55 am
james_nicoll
On the question of whether the Stieg Larsson Award For Hottest Teenage Hacker Punk Who Falls In Love With The Protagonist's Self-Insert" is a fan or a pro award, I say it's clearly a pro award.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

So, is it just that these are now being reported or are incidents like this more frequent? May. 22nd, 2013 @ 11:46 pm
james_nicoll
4!


A sergeant first class and officer in charge of the “health, welfare and discipline” of cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point has been accused of videotaping female cadets without their consent, including when the women were showering or otherwise unclothed.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

Reminders: Weekend Event Starting Tomorrow, Contest Finalists and Movie Theme Day Topic Ideas Please May. 23rd, 2013 @ 08:25 am
misstiajournal, posting in vintage_ads
Starting tomorrow (Friday) thru MONDAY!!! BBQ Ads: It's Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial kick off to BBQ season!!

Also, please keep voting for our 5 finalists for our Underwear Contest #2!! On this entry here.

Let's have a movie theme day Monday, haven't had one in while and let's gather up themes for movies so I don't have to think of them and I can just put them in a baggy in the hat and then pull one out in the future! I was thinking of a pirate movie theme for Monday, does that sound okay?

Links I found interesting for 23-05-2013 May. 23rd, 2013 @ 10:00 am
nwhyte

Georgian restaurant in London May. 23rd, 2013 @ 07:59 am
nwhyte

Having reached London too late to get to last night's BSFA meeting, I persuaded djm4 - who I had not seen in over two decades - to try Georgian food. There are in fact several Georgian restaurants in London, but the handiest by far, which also seemed to have a decent write-up in Time Out, was Iberia at 294 Caledonian Road, just north of King's Cross. It was really yummy; all the proper recipes, served with Georgian wine, though there were a couple of gaps on the menu (sadly they were out of tarragon-flavoured lemonade). Strongly recommended, especially the khinkali.


Red Sprite Lightning with Aurora May. 23rd, 2013 @ 06:39 am
apod

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap130522.html

What's that in the sky? What's that in the sky?



Hi Guys 2 - Hey Bub May. 23rd, 2013 @ 02:21 am
just_you_wait, posting in sinfest_mod

As pointed out in various places May. 23rd, 2013 @ 12:20 am
james_nicoll


Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

Many cats can tell the difference between cat treats and finger tips May. 23rd, 2013 @ 12:07 am
james_nicoll
Fig would not be one of them.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.
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So, is it just that these are now being reported or are incidents like this more frequent? May. 22nd, 2013 @ 11:46 pm
james_nicoll
4!


A sergeant first class and officer in charge of the “health, welfare and discipline” of cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point has been accused of videotaping female cadets without their consent, including when the women were showering or otherwise unclothed.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

May 23rd is . . . May. 22nd, 2013 @ 11:10 pm
pikkewyntjie, posting in vintage_ads
Lucky Penny Day

Shell 1956

Armstrong May. 22nd, 2013 @ 11:07 pm
noluck_boston, posting in vintage_ads
This was an Armstrong linoleum ad in American Home.

I love the windows and all that natural light.

1954 Atomic Living Room

Wireshark 1.10.0rc2 is now available http://www.wireshark.org/download.html, (Thu, May 23rd) May. 23rd, 2013 @ 12:34 am
inetstormcenter

http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=15875&rss

...(more)...

Chrome 24.0.1312.52 has been updated for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome Frame, (Wed, May 22nd) May. 22nd, 2013 @ 11:52 pm
inetstormcenter

http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=15872&rss

...(more)...

Apple QuickTime 7.7.4 for Windows updated, MANY security vulnerabilities: http://support.apple.com/ May. 22nd, 2013 @ 11:51 pm
inetstormcenter

http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=15869&rss

...(more)...

Hump-Day Hunks May. 22nd, 2013 @ 07:33 pm
noluck_boston, posting in vintage_ads

Wireshark 1.8.7 and 1.6.15 Released http://www.wireshark.org/news/20130517.html, (Wed, May 22nd) May. 22nd, 2013 @ 08:01 pm
inetstormcenter

http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=15866&rss

...(more)...

Taking notes... May. 22nd, 2013 @ 03:14 pm
spuzzlightyear, posting in vintage_ads
1950 ... real, live, girl!
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