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Below are the most recent 25 friends' journal entries.
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| Friday, August 29th, 2008 |
spring_violet
|
8:39p |
Today I:
~ am trying not to obsess over the whys and wherefores of who does and does not talk to me
~ am knitting the commissioned piece and am worried it's too big
~ had a homeless man talk with me in the park today. That's a whole post unto itself.
~ am hoping to be distracted by Death Race later tonight
~ am giggling over text messages from a friend
~ have started reading a game a friend is writing. I have some ideas of how to make it better. :)
~ am very happy it's the start of a three day weekend |
technomom
|
4:05p |
American Accent Quizzie Originally published at Enemy of Entropy. Please leave any comments there. </form>
Northern. Whether you have the world famous Inland North accent of the Great Lakes area, or the radio-friendly sound of upstate NY and western New England, your accent is what used to set the standard for American English pronunciation (not much anymore now that the Inland North sounds like it does).
If you are not from the North, you are probably one of the following:
(a) A Southerner who hates Southern accents and tries really hard to "talk right"; or
(b) A New Yorker or New Jerseyan who doesn’t have the full accent
</p>
Take this quiz now - it’s easy!
</p>
</p>
Then again, it could be that I’m a southerner who grew up in the metro Atlanta area, where we hear all kinds of accents. Or that I watched too much television as a child, and broadcasters use the same standard. In any case, the author of the quiz seems to be a bit out of touch as far as the explanations of different results go (and a bit defensive, as well). |
| Thursday, August 28th, 2008 |
technomom
|
5:29p |
Review: Selene by Lilith Saintcrow Originally published at Enemy of Entropy. Please leave any comments there.
 Selene by Lilith Saintcrow
My review
rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was just as annoyed with this little 5-chapter novella as I was by the bit that was in an anthology–Hotter Than Hell, maybe? We get a good idea of who Selene is, a glimpse of Nikolai, and lot of Selene being an utterly ungrateful bitch to him, hot sex, and NO resolution in the plot. None. At. All. Blah.
View all my reviews.
|
niaskywalk
|
3:26p |
Preordered :-) I just preordered the Sub and Dub version of Death Note (live-action) I can't wait!! It is due out on Sept 16.... I think I have to go take it off my Netflix now :-) Since I am buying it anyway for a pretty decent discount. Also coming along with the movie will be a copy of Fruits Basket Fan Book Vol 1 The Cat. i can't wait for that too! But I didn't want to pay extra shipping costs, so i am having them sent at the same time. Oooh.... September is so worth waiting for... :-D Current Mood:  In a good Way-ish |
leradny
|
9:18a |
laaaaaaaaa Okay, TODAY is the day I'm going to not sing at all and give my vocal cords a break. In other news, my mom thinks any adoption process more complex than going to the shelter and taking it home that day is "too much", even if said complex process gives people a chance to get to know the dog and/or call the adoption off at multiple points if the dog turns out to be unsuited for their current lifestyle. ( Writing Stuff )( Fandom Stuff )And now I have to get dressed and go to work. |
mizzadamz
|
2:52p |
Bored
I'm bored and outa practice, so here you go LJ
If you are on my friends list I'll give you a three card tarot reading, but only if you speak up before midnight tomorrow. (Friday the 29th), and I'm working to GMT time so it is MY midnight...
Comments screened so you can ask your question privately and in the comment post tell me if it is ok to post the answers here, or if you would prefer an e-mail.
Current Music: Meat Loaf - Out of the Frying Pan (And Into the Fire) |
mizzadamz
|
2:38p |
Random Quote
"There are so many wonderful things to be afraid of if you just learn how scary they are."
Sums up my life..
Current Music: Meat Loaf - It Just Won't Quit |
| Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 |
technomom
|
11:55p |
Protect Your Dogs and Boycott Four Paws Products Ltd. Originally published at Enemy of Entropy. Please leave any comments there. First, if you dog has a Pimple Ball With Bell (what an icky name!), take it back wherever you bought it and ask them to refund your money for the dangerous thing, and take the rest off the shelves.
After reading about the injuries at least four dogs have experienced due to the absolute refusal of Four Paws Products Ltd. to modify or recall their product after being informed of these problems. One dog had to be euthanized.
The company and its insurer (I wish I knew their name) have been irresponsible, at the very least.
Please talk to pet stores in your area about removing the “pimple ball with bell” from their shelves. Warn other dog owners about the problem. Consider talking to your vet, so he or she can do the same.
Consider writing to Four Paws, as well. E-mail isn’t nearly as effective as a mailed or faxed letter, or even a (polite!) phone call.
I didn’t find the name of any executives on their web site, but will add that after I try calling tomorrow. Here’s the mail and phone information:
50 Wireless Blvd.
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: (631) 434-1100
Fax: (631) 434-1183
Their parent company is Central Garden & Pet Company. The president of the “Pet Group” is James V. Heim
President of Pet Group
1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600
Walnut Creek, Callifornia 94597
Phone: (925) 948-4000
I haven’t found a fax number. Yet. |
xephyr_42
|
10:39p |
Still alive.  more animalsThis brought tears to my eyes. The good kind, this time. Not the other kind that have been coming at really bad times, and for no apparent reason. Went to the CNE, had fun, got a sunburn, took almost three hundred pictures. Been knitting a lot. Made a bunch of updates to ravelry. It's crack-tastic. Ravelry, not my knitting. Had one too many blast from the past friend requests on facebook. Only one is really deserving of an individual post. Packing has commenced........ Current Mood:  drainedCurrent Music: Blow Up The Outside World - Soundgarden |
niaskywalk
|
5:55p |
Project: Change Everything Ok, so lately I have gotten really bored with using templates and I really want to get into changing things on my LJ... however, although I know how to USE CSS trying to figure out how to apply it to LJ is giving me a tremendous headache. LJ isn't the only thing I am going to be changing. I really need to my own website up and running. It has been down for far too long and most of the stuff is so out-dated that I am just falling further and further. But not worries. I AM working on it. Well, anyway, as a Step in the right direction, I FINALLY put up a custom mood theme. I may not have made the theme myself, but I definitely had to work at putting it up...and that headache has been overcome -- this time. THANK YOU ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) morningstar4, your Saiyuki Burial mood theme is fantastic on my pages :-D I am excited... now... I need to find out the code to put Sticky Notes on the pages and icons on each entry... I think I can muck about and find other things. The website part of project change everything will be posted at my blogger since I can just write things out randomly and post them... and it was originally meant to be a build log anyway. After NSCR is up and running, the subsites and a whole new website will be built and presented. If you are interested in volunteering time on the new website, contact me and I will tell you about it and let you know the help I need. Current Mood:  accomplished |
spring_violet
|
12:44p |
Wednesday my new favorite work day
Finally, I have been cleared to work from home on Wednesdays. At this very moment, I'm all set-up at the dining room table. It's incredibly surprising at how productive I've been this morning. It rocks. Now I just need to keep the momentum after lunch. :) |
| Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 |
technomom
|
6:05p |
Review: The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu Originally published at Enemy of Entropy. Please leave any comments there.  The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
My review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Iron Hunt is a beautifully written book with some interesting twists on established fantasy memes. To some extent, I felt that I’d come in to the world on book 2 or 3, but as far as I know (and from what Amazon says) this is the first book of the Hunter Kiss series. There was a bit of Buffy and a little Witchblade, with other elements I’m sure I’m overlooking.
For once, it’s good to see a novel in which an established couple has a seemingly-healthy relationship. Maxine and Grant have very different skills, but they work together well. That said, this is not a romance, so some of Liu’s readers may not enjoy it.
Edited to add: I just learned that there is, in fact, a prequel to this book in Wild Thing (an anthology), which I hadn’t heard of before. I’ll certainly be looking for it.
Next up: The Down Home Zombie Bluesby new-to-me-author Linnea Sinclair
View all my reviews. |
mizzadamz
|
11:58a |
my boys are home safe and sound and I get to play with them the rest of the day!!
/end happy squees |
evil_overlord
|
1:42a |
fortunate fortune!! First of all, bad me! Bad! I missed wishing fayzalmoonbeam a Happy Birthday! Hope it was a good one!! It's been...heavens, only a week? Darn...anyhoo, the hubby got a phone call from the MIL, saying that FIL had collapsed, and they thought he had a heart attack. So, yeah, we headed up as soon as we could that Friday [the 15th] to Jefferson City, where they now live. So, I knew something like this was probably going to happen eventually, as we heard *nothing* but "oh, my health is SO bad" from the man the whole time we lived in the same town and when they announced they were moving to Jeff I was just *waiting* to have to rush there in an emergency [which, for reference, it takes us roughly 5 hours to get there from where we live....]. Yeah, he lived. No, they had no idea what brought on his collapse [and the nurse on-site couldn't find a pulse at one point, we learned, which I guess is why they assumed he was having a heart attack. This incident, BTW, was at a gym attached to one of the two hospitals in Jeff], but it wasn't a heart attack, or even blockage, according to all the tests that were done. So, we ended up running to Jeff essentially for a false alarm [and I had to call in for Sunday, as I knew I wouldn't be back in town by 6am Sunday morning to be able to go to work] which ruined my perfect attendance for this year. :P Ah well. Anyhoo, there's a Chinese restaurant in Jeff....not even five blocks from the hospital the FIL was taken too, oddly enough, that is pretty darned kick-ass [and for *me* to say it...LOL]. So we went there to eat, which was good, and I got my fortune.... Keep in mind two things.... 1)I'm a girl 2)the whole additive "in bed" [or "between the sheets", whichever you prefer] that can be added to fortune-cookie fortunes. The fortune I got? "A dark haired woman will soon be giving you a gift." O_o ...................... O_O **checks her watch** Still waiting for my present.... *VEG* Then, the hubby and a friend want to go eat Chinese [and no, it wasn't TS for once. LOL None of you have met this guy, but he's cool]. I didn't really, so I didn't eat, but got a fortune cookie anyway. The fortune I got from that one would have been a lot spookier teamed up with the one I got in Jeff, except for the fact that the lady at the next table got the exact same one I did [which I know 'cause she read it out loud...and loud enough those getting food at the bar and maybe halfway down the restaurant probably heard it too]. The fortune? "Now is the time to call loved ones at a distance. Share your news." I guess, the gift I'm supposed to get is gonna be REALLY good. Or something. 'cause I don't have any news to share otherwise. LOL Current Mood:  amusedCurrent Music: Un-break my heart [spanish version]-Toni Braxton |
| Monday, August 25th, 2008 |
spring_violet
|
10:00p |
I'm babbling like a brook
Okay, "muahahahah" it is! Now that that's out of the way...
For a moment at the office I was certain I had kissed my possible promotion goodbye. But then within minutes I fixed the problem, realized it only impacted 3 people out of 500 and that a big chunk of the error came from the client. I think my ass has been covered. If not, and it does cost me the promotion, it's probably for the best. The absolute perfection the big boss is requiring is beginning to annoy me.
In work news of the excellent sort, I will be working from home this Wednesday. Rock on! I look forward to processing an exam from the comfort of my couch.
I was reminded of a knitting request from a few months ago. Doh! I've restarted the knit baby cocoon project. Sorry Kye!
I've finally started the third book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. I've been away from it for a while. I hope I remember what's going on. |
niaskywalk
|
7:28p |
Cosplay: Light Yagami Frustration. Nothing like finding the perfect wig shape that you want....and realising the color you need is not part of the style. Fashion 101 WigI am fairly confident in my skills for shaping down, but I have no confidence in re-dying wigs. Does anyone know of this something similar to this fashion in a medium to light brown? As for the clothing... I am a bit flustered now. I realise that Light is a neat looking person, but clothes wrinkle as soon as they get a glance of me and I have no press or iron to fix that. I think I am going to start with a base. I am going to don the clothing that made me think I could pull off playing light, then I will take a photo and ask for help in deciding what needs to change and what accessories to add. I have never built a character before, so this is the closest idea i have for getting people to help me since anyone of you are all so far away. btw, if anyone is going to the NYAF, please let me know and we can meet up. Edit August 29, 2008: I just placed the order for the Fashion 101 wig with the sandy blond coloring. I also just learned that I might not get it in time. And if I do, I won't have time to mod it... We'll see how that turns out. Current Mood:  artistic |
technomom
|
5:40p |
Review: The Watcher Series by Lilith Saintcrow Originally published at Enemy of Entropy. Please leave any comments there.
 Mindhealer by Lilith Saintcrow
My review
rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m actually reviewing all five of the Watcher books. They’re quite short—novella length, really—and very much interrelated (especially the first four). I read all of them in about a day and a half, despite doing other things. I do advise taking them all in row, which is the equivalent of reading one “normal” novel.
Dark Watcher opens in Santiago City (aka Saint City), with a quartet of witches. Mindhealer is the only book that takes place outside of Santiago City, which seems to be the primary setting for all of Saintcrow’s novels (from what I’ve read in their descriptions).
Theodora, earth witch and healer, runs the Cauldron, an occult book and supply store. Mariamne Niege (water witch, prognosticator) and Elise Nicholson (fire witch) work for her in addition to being, respectively, a graduate student and a musician. Suzanne (air witch, I don’t believe we ever learn her last name) is Elise’s foster mother and their teacher, something of a high priestess to the little group.
The four women know that they’re psychic and that “magick” is real. They don’t know that they are “Lightbringers,” that there are groups and creatures in the world that hunt them, or that a group called Circle Lightfall trains and sends out “Watchers” to protect (and recruit) Lightbringers in order to counterbalance the darkness in the world.
Watchers are formerly wicked men with some psychic talents who have been given a chance to redeem themselves. They are bonded with a tanak, a dark symbiote that gives them supernatural speed, strength, healing power, and longevity. The tanak also makes it possible for them to sense darkness, but it causes the Watchers to experience pain whenever they’re around Lightbringers.
The catch is that for every Watcher, there is one Witch whose presence and touch will be intensely pleasurable instead of torturous. The hope of finding that one witch is what keeps each Watcher going, fighting and surviving horrific wounds for one chance at happiness.
The use of the tired soulmate meme (though that specific word is never used) is annoying, and it detracts from what is otherwise a fairly original concept. The fact that there are only male Watchers, though there are a few (mostly queer) male lightbringers, is a bigger disappointment. The reasoning given is that women do not have the viciousness to kill without hesitation. That’s simplistic, at best. Male lightbringers are also painted as weaker than females, and that, in combination with the pedestal upon which Watchers place Lightbringers, unbalances the novels.
Theodora is the main subject of the first book. Mariamne is the focus of Storm Watcher. Fire Watcher, of course, is primarily about Elise. We meet a new air witch, Anya Harris, in Cloud Watcher. And finally, Mindhealer is about Caro Robbins, whose brother plays a small part in Fire Watcher.
The books should certainly be classified as romances first, although they do have very strong paranormal themes. Every book follows the classic romance novel formula. The fact that I kept reading despite my dislike of romances is a testament to Saintcrow’s talent.
I suspect that the author either is pagan, or is very familiar with pagan practices. The rituals in each novel are nicely done, and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear people using some of the invocations used in Circle.
I do have to propose the Watcher drinking game. Take a shot every time there’s any mention of treating a Watcher “dreadfully,” and every time a Watcher moans about how unworthy he is to be in the presence of a Lightbringer. You’ll be past noticing any formulae in no time!
View all my reviews. |
niaskywalk
|
2:03p |
Roleplaying and Swords: An Artist's Devotion Heh, Not sure what to say today, but I wanted to say something... hmm.m.. .lets see, what did I do over the weekend... OH!~ Gaming! I hardly ever talk about that! I have been involved for the last year in a roleplaying campaign (One campaign, one DM, one setting, one... er.. sorry TWO characters... ONE YEAR!). ( Read about our campaign and ask questions if you like... )OOoh! Just as I was writing this post, a new book came into the office that I was allowed to snag and keep! Swords: An Artist's Devotion by Ben Boos ISBN: 780763631482 (I really need to get an Amazon affiliate link at some point..... ) Anyhow, I have had a chance to go through this book and it is GORGEOUS! Fantastic detail to various types and shapes of swords, daggers, knives and other sharp pointy weapons (incl: caltrops and shuriken) The art of the swords so detailed that it looks as if you could take them right of the pages. I might come up with a better review when I have a chance to read most of the text with the pictures, but at the moment, the book is mostly the artwork of swords and sword details. Current Mood:  Goofy |
mizzadamz
|
4:59p |
Writer's Block: Six-Word Story
She knew we are all wrong. |
| Sunday, August 24th, 2008 |
leradny
|
4:24p |
Wow
Upon learning to sing classically from my sister last week, I have learned that I am a mezzo soprano. Today I decided to see what my range was, and I have three notes until I reach a two-octave range! I am so pleased!
My happiness was ruined when I remembered that I was a flutist for about five or six years, and it's probably due to my acquired lung capacity and breath control rather than any natural talent, but still! It's fun singing a duet by myself xD. |
mizzadamz
|
9:30p |
knitting update
ok the Starghan I was crocheting for my Eldest Son turned into an unofficial Olympic project and I did do it in the allotted time. it is blocking now and I will be posting pictures of it when I have sufficient daylight to take pictures.
MY youngest son fell in love with on of the colours and I may have to break my yarn diet to buy a cone of the Pink Lemonaid to crochet him a similar Starghan.
Juno is on the back burner, as I am not really int he mood to knit such an intricate project. I will finish some of my UFOs, like Jeanie, the Simply knitted bodice, and the rainbow afghan.
Again pictures in daylight
but I needed to update on something other than navel gazing
Current Music: Evanescence - All That I'm Living For |
mizzadamz
|
8:57p |
update
Duncan is fine, my baby has been seen to by some rather nice doctors, who still can't tell me what for sure is wrong with him, but with a bottle of steroids (how I hate that) and a wheeze management plan we appear to be armed for the future.
Issues with the divorce were spoken about out of the hospital and when I thought things were workable, he did the stupid again.
I'm moving to a woes rant... |
technomom
|
7:00a |
Review: Night Child by Jes Battis Originally published at Enemy of Entropy. Please leave any comments there.
 Night Child by Jes Battis
My review
rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, and hope Battis returns to this world. His prose is lyrical, engaging—a major departure from most of the urban fantasy genre. There were a few little consistency blips that made me think that the book had been edited with less care than it deserved, but they didn’t detract seriously from the plot.
View all my reviews.
|
| Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 |
technomom
|
2:27p |
Review: In Legend Born by Laura Resnick Originally published at Enemy of Entropy. Please leave any comments there.  In Legend Born by Laura Resnick
My review
rating: 3 of 5 stars
Well-written high fantasy, but honestly, it just went on too long. So far, everybody has lost someone important. Anybody who loves anyone seems to be doomed. Betrayals are everywhere, and that’s something I find profoundly disturbing.
The book did end on a note of hope, and I want to know what happens next. I just don’t know if I want it enough to slog through (at least) two more volumes.
View all my reviews.
|
starsongky
|
1:06p |
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crit_knitters