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My apologies if you left me a message or replied to a post here, as I've managed to commit technical mayhem again and accidentally deleted everything before I could even read them, never mind reply. Despite having been regularly online for the last 25 years, I can still mess up now and then.
So, I finished The Originals, which was okay. The series would have been much stronger if edited more tightly, which would also make the series shorter but quality beats quantity. It seemed to be hampered by a cast of thousands - I kept losing track of who was who, which was not helped by too many of the female actors looking too similar. But it was okay, though hardly original. The werewolf aspect of the series could have been explored a lot more fully, as they really didn't do much beyond exist. I still say Klaus and Elijah were just Lestat and Louis rewritten, though, or maybe I'm just hard to please. Still, the man playing Elijah was easy on the eye.
I've watched the first two seasons of The Strain, which I didn't get into at first but it's grown on me hugely. The basic plot initially relies on Stoker's story of Dracula's arrival in England, the empty ship, etc., which is a tad well-trodden, but then a whole bunch of fresh ideas and new angles unfold, supported by a great cast of actors, strong characters and believable dialogue.
I've also been watching The Shield, which is a fast-paced and gritty police drama that's entertaining, and a spy thriller series called Spooks, which is very good.
Browsing for vintage bargains is a long-time hobby of mine. Consequently my home is full of pretty treasures that I haven't enough room for, but I'll never part with! Earlier this week I came home happily clutching a glass vase hand-painted with delicate flowers. It's just so adorable, and was only £3 - far too tempting to leave behind! And then I also spotted a ceramic pot with lid, hand-painted, and fell in love with the rich blue and purple tones. I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to use it for yet, but it's been washed, and now it's sitting on my fire surround till I figure out where it's going to live.
YouTube has many "thrifting" videos (as Americans call it; here we say charity shops). Other countries seem to have much better charity shops than we do - much bigger and displayed better, with more choice. I'd say 98% of stuff in British charity shops is junk. The quality isn't what it was, as the better things now get sold online, eBay usually. Car boot sales are better, if you're willing to do the footwork. I never bother looking at clothes in charity shops. They're nearly the price of new stuff in Primark or similar, so why bother buying something that's half worn out already but only a bit cheaper than new? Plus charity shop clothes pong to high heaven more often than not.
I've another holiday jaunt booked, and I am totally looking forward to that. I've not been to Edinburgh since I was a teenager, and then I was with a family group and we did stereotypical touristy things. It's a mid-week break, before the season gets going properly, to avoid crowds. All I need to do now is plan a proper itinerary, to make the most of my time there. If you've any suggests for any "must see" places, let me know.
So, I finished The Originals, which was okay. The series would have been much stronger if edited more tightly, which would also make the series shorter but quality beats quantity. It seemed to be hampered by a cast of thousands - I kept losing track of who was who, which was not helped by too many of the female actors looking too similar. But it was okay, though hardly original. The werewolf aspect of the series could have been explored a lot more fully, as they really didn't do much beyond exist. I still say Klaus and Elijah were just Lestat and Louis rewritten, though, or maybe I'm just hard to please. Still, the man playing Elijah was easy on the eye.
I've watched the first two seasons of The Strain, which I didn't get into at first but it's grown on me hugely. The basic plot initially relies on Stoker's story of Dracula's arrival in England, the empty ship, etc., which is a tad well-trodden, but then a whole bunch of fresh ideas and new angles unfold, supported by a great cast of actors, strong characters and believable dialogue.
I've also been watching The Shield, which is a fast-paced and gritty police drama that's entertaining, and a spy thriller series called Spooks, which is very good.
Browsing for vintage bargains is a long-time hobby of mine. Consequently my home is full of pretty treasures that I haven't enough room for, but I'll never part with! Earlier this week I came home happily clutching a glass vase hand-painted with delicate flowers. It's just so adorable, and was only £3 - far too tempting to leave behind! And then I also spotted a ceramic pot with lid, hand-painted, and fell in love with the rich blue and purple tones. I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to use it for yet, but it's been washed, and now it's sitting on my fire surround till I figure out where it's going to live.
YouTube has many "thrifting" videos (as Americans call it; here we say charity shops). Other countries seem to have much better charity shops than we do - much bigger and displayed better, with more choice. I'd say 98% of stuff in British charity shops is junk. The quality isn't what it was, as the better things now get sold online, eBay usually. Car boot sales are better, if you're willing to do the footwork. I never bother looking at clothes in charity shops. They're nearly the price of new stuff in Primark or similar, so why bother buying something that's half worn out already but only a bit cheaper than new? Plus charity shop clothes pong to high heaven more often than not.
I've another holiday jaunt booked, and I am totally looking forward to that. I've not been to Edinburgh since I was a teenager, and then I was with a family group and we did stereotypical touristy things. It's a mid-week break, before the season gets going properly, to avoid crowds. All I need to do now is plan a proper itinerary, to make the most of my time there. If you've any suggests for any "must see" places, let me know.
I have to go to PT today. I should be resting because of this damn cold.
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fardell24 Apr. 22nd, 2025 08:37 pm)
fardell24 Apr. 22nd, 2025 08:37 pm)A minute later, they were on top of the Historia.
“So, those goggles have night vision?” Philippa asked.
“Yes, amongst other modes.”
“And you don’t have powers?”
“I’m neither confirming nor denying. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be doing this without these gadgets,” the Shadow explained. “It’s like my own play. It seems that in the drama of Lawndale, I have taken this role to help.”
“And the other vigilantes?”
“SpiderGirl does have powers. But I am not sure if her webs are organic or not. Ninja Talon seems to be just a teenager skilled in martial arts who also uses some gadgets alongside her weapons. The fourth vigilante is telekinetic and can project energy blasts. I haven’t yet met the apparent fifth.”
“You don’t know what name she’s taken?” Philippa asked.
“I do, but it seems she wants to remain in the shadows as she helps Lawndale in her way. I just hope any battle between her and SpiderGirl is short.”
The Shadow was about to say more, but she then heard something to the northwest of the Historia, in Dega Street. “Duty calls!” she said to Philippa.
“You are going to leave me here?” Philippa asked.
“You’d be a liability. I trained with my mentor a while before I started doing this,” the Shadow then handed her the spare grapple gun. “It is relatively easy to use. But I’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on Daria and Sandi.”
Daria and Sandi also heard the noise as they examined an Oscorp building. “What’s that?” Daria asked.
“Sounds like something to respond to,” Sandi replied.
Daria nodded. “Right. There are plenty of places along here…”
Sandi nodded and ran off to some cover.
‘What are they doing?’ Philippa wondered.
( Read More )
“So, those goggles have night vision?” Philippa asked.
“Yes, amongst other modes.”
“And you don’t have powers?”
“I’m neither confirming nor denying. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be doing this without these gadgets,” the Shadow explained. “It’s like my own play. It seems that in the drama of Lawndale, I have taken this role to help.”
“And the other vigilantes?”
“SpiderGirl does have powers. But I am not sure if her webs are organic or not. Ninja Talon seems to be just a teenager skilled in martial arts who also uses some gadgets alongside her weapons. The fourth vigilante is telekinetic and can project energy blasts. I haven’t yet met the apparent fifth.”
“You don’t know what name she’s taken?” Philippa asked.
“I do, but it seems she wants to remain in the shadows as she helps Lawndale in her way. I just hope any battle between her and SpiderGirl is short.”
The Shadow was about to say more, but she then heard something to the northwest of the Historia, in Dega Street. “Duty calls!” she said to Philippa.
“You are going to leave me here?” Philippa asked.
“You’d be a liability. I trained with my mentor a while before I started doing this,” the Shadow then handed her the spare grapple gun. “It is relatively easy to use. But I’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on Daria and Sandi.”
Daria and Sandi also heard the noise as they examined an Oscorp building. “What’s that?” Daria asked.
“Sounds like something to respond to,” Sandi replied.
Daria nodded. “Right. There are plenty of places along here…”
Sandi nodded and ran off to some cover.
‘What are they doing?’ Philippa wondered.
( Read More )
I have recently written limericks in: due South, Interview with the Vampire (TV), Murderbot, Star Wars Original & Prequel Trilogies, and Venom (Movies). Go here for the links and summaries, in alphabetical order by fandom.
I would be happy to write more, so if reading my limericks makes you want more of them, prompt at will.
I would be happy to write more, so if reading my limericks makes you want more of them, prompt at will.
Tags:
I have a really bad cold, I must have caught it at the con, there were about a zillion people there. I don't think it's covid. I had to drag myself out of the house to get groceries including cold pills, the only kind they had at the store was some kind I never heard of. They were also out of some things I wanted, including dental floss but I'm too tired to go to other stores. I hope they work. I have to do laundry too, I am currently taking a breather and cooking lunch. Apart from this cold I'm in a good mood.
I was so sad to learn that Pope Francis died early this morning. I'm not a Catholic, or even religious, but I think he was very good for the Catholic church and for humanity as a whole. He believed in and championed the basics of Christianity, which are all but forgotten by many (at least in the U.S.) who claim to follow the faith.
Kindness, compassion, caring for the less fortunate, and treating each other well... for some, that message is still too radical even now.
I had really hoped he would recover from his recent illness. The signs were not good, especially give his age, but the world needed more of him. There is no question that he gave all he had, and was surely grateful to at least have celebrated one last Easter. I wish he could have seen many more.
Kindness, compassion, caring for the less fortunate, and treating each other well... for some, that message is still too radical even now.
I had really hoped he would recover from his recent illness. The signs were not good, especially give his age, but the world needed more of him. There is no question that he gave all he had, and was surely grateful to at least have celebrated one last Easter. I wish he could have seen many more.
Tags:
This is a bundle of material for Coyote & Crow, an alternate-history science fantasy RPG set in the Free Lands of an uncolonized North America, with a mixture of technology and magic. I'm told that it's created by a First Nation (Native American) team and has some very positive reviews.
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Coyote
At the moment I'm travelling and can't insert graphics etc or open the game due to a very old iPad and crappy internet access. I'll add more tomorrow night. It should be on line in an hour or so and It looks like it might be interesting, and you get quite a lot for a very reasonable price.
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Coyote
Tags:
(fardell24 Apr. 21st, 2025 06:16 pm)
fardell24 Apr. 21st, 2025 06:16 pm)Daria – Trouble in Lawndale
“Girls, I just want you to know your mother and I realize it's not easy moving to a whole new town -- especially for you, Daria, right?” Jake Morgendorffer said, as he and his daughters approached Lawndale High.
“Did we move?” Daria asked, as she looked around, annoyed that her father had spoken after remaining silent since they left their new home half an hour before.
“Stop following me, Daria!” her sister, Quinn, said.
“Excuse me, we’re walking along to the same school!”
“You don’t have be right behind!” Quinn said.
“It’s not my fault Lawndale has such narrow sidewalks.”
Jake, annoyed with his daughters’ arguing, put his headphones back on. “I've been working on the railroad... come on, guys, we know this one.”
Meanwhile at Lawndale High, two students were already there. (Although calling one of them a student might have been stretching the definition a bit…) “Come on, Mack Daddy! I'll get the coach to write us a note. I'll say we need extra time on the free weights.”
“I told you not to call me that!” Mack said, exasperated. “And they're not going to excuse you from English for weight training.”
“I can't take any more of this Shakespeare dude, bro. He's, like, a total chick writer!”
Mack sighed.
“Maybe we could go to that Mall of the Millennium this weekend, Daddy?” Quinn asked as they approached the school.
“A hundred miles? To go to a Mall? There’s a Mall less than five minutes from home. In a car!”
“I’m sure there are some fascinating Malls in Southeast Asia.” Daria snarked.
“Southeast Asia! To go to a mall!” Jake exclaimed.
“She’s joking!” Quinn said.
“Oh!”
Jane Lane arrived at Lawndale High. She switched off the audio recording of the last night’s Sick Sad World episode. The concept of a model creating an encyclopedia was appropriately inane. “Drawing pictures in margins…” she mused. That was something she did often.
Having been enrolled at the School, Daria found that she had Science for first period. In class she quickly found that the teacher had issues… “…and like a husband going home to his noble and self-sacrificing wife, the rat keeps returning to the food box. That is, the positive reinforcement. Huh, if only men could be more like rats. Oh, sure, they come home at first. You feed them, you wait on them, and then, after twenty-two thankless years, they just up and leave. No note, no phone call, no nothing!” She slammed her ruler on her desk for emphasis. “Just... like... that!”
“I wonder why he left,” Daria murmured to her new acquaintance, Jodie Landon.
“Now, before I divide the class into teams of two, who can give me another example of reinforcement?”
The class didn’t give an answer.
“Fine, class. Ignore me... just like he did!”
“Just as well he wasn’t Jones,” Daria commented.
“I heard that!” Barch said. “But we’re not talking about cults. You can ask DeMartino about that! But you have stumbled upon an interesting answer. A charismatic man re-enforcing herd-like behaviour in his followers, leading to tragic results!”
“Excellent example Daria,” Jodie said.
Daria shrugged.
Between classes, Sandi Griffin was talking with Joey Green, Jamie White and Jeffy Brown, ‘So I said, "Sure, it's a nice car. Do you have enough gas to get to Loserville?’”
“That’s funny, Sandi,” Joey said.
“You really know how to tell a story,” Jeffy said.
“Thanks,” Sandi said.
“Tell us the part with Stacy again,” Jamie said.
“Stacy wasn’t in that story. It was just Tiffany and I,” Sandi said.
“Well then, take Tiffany out and put Stacy in,” Joey suggested.
Stacy then came along. “Hi guys!” she said. “Sandi, Joey, Jeffy, Jerome.”
“Hi, Stacy,” Joey said.
“Hi, Stacy,” Jeffy added.
“Hi, Stacy. It’s Jamie!”
“Oh, sorry!”
“Have you seen that new girl?” Jamie asked.
“The redhead?” Stacy asked.
“She could be new member for the Fashion Club,” Sandi answered.
“There she is!” Jamie said.
Sandi sighed as Jamie and Jeffy ran off.
Daria listened as Jodie told her how busy she was. “…And that is why I can only go to study sessions in the early evenings,” Jodie said.
“I bet you don’t have to deal with Family Court,” Daria said.
“Family Court?” Jodie asked incredulously.
“It was an attempt by my Mom to use Jurisprudence in family matters after my sister and I came home late one night.”
“That sounds crazy,” Jodie commented.
“It was,” Daria said. “But it didn’t last long, because they were too busy to enforce a month-long grounding.”
“That’s something I’d like to hear about at some point,” Jodie said as they came to the next class.
“Can monkeys surf the net, and corrupt our kids? Chimpanzee chat rooms, next on Sick Sad World.”
Claire Defoe switched off the TV after students started filing into the classroom. She saw the new student, Daria. “Ms. Morgendorffer!”
Daria came over. “Yes?”
“Your records from Highland are intriguing,” the teacher said.
“I experimented, that’s all.”
“Using a glue gun as an actual gun?” Claire asked with an eyebrow raised.
Daria raised her own eyebrows. “Oh, that. Those two deserved it, but I won’t do it here in Lawndale.”
“Good. I just wanted to hear it from you personally. I would like to talk about your previous art after class. There’s a student I’d like you to meet.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Fifty dollars an hour!” Jane groused as she approached the art classroom. That was the amount Mr. Ewing had quoted for the average Math tutoring cost in Lawndale. She doubted it would be any cheaper in Oakwood. ‘Or Middlebury for that matter,’ she mused as she overheard other students complaining about exorbitant prices.
“Girls, I just want you to know your mother and I realize it's not easy moving to a whole new town -- especially for you, Daria, right?” Jake Morgendorffer said, as he and his daughters approached Lawndale High.
“Did we move?” Daria asked, as she looked around, annoyed that her father had spoken after remaining silent since they left their new home half an hour before.
“Stop following me, Daria!” her sister, Quinn, said.
“Excuse me, we’re walking along to the same school!”
“You don’t have be right behind!” Quinn said.
“It’s not my fault Lawndale has such narrow sidewalks.”
Jake, annoyed with his daughters’ arguing, put his headphones back on. “I've been working on the railroad... come on, guys, we know this one.”
Meanwhile at Lawndale High, two students were already there. (Although calling one of them a student might have been stretching the definition a bit…) “Come on, Mack Daddy! I'll get the coach to write us a note. I'll say we need extra time on the free weights.”
“I told you not to call me that!” Mack said, exasperated. “And they're not going to excuse you from English for weight training.”
“I can't take any more of this Shakespeare dude, bro. He's, like, a total chick writer!”
Mack sighed.
“Maybe we could go to that Mall of the Millennium this weekend, Daddy?” Quinn asked as they approached the school.
“A hundred miles? To go to a Mall? There’s a Mall less than five minutes from home. In a car!”
“I’m sure there are some fascinating Malls in Southeast Asia.” Daria snarked.
“Southeast Asia! To go to a mall!” Jake exclaimed.
“She’s joking!” Quinn said.
“Oh!”
Jane Lane arrived at Lawndale High. She switched off the audio recording of the last night’s Sick Sad World episode. The concept of a model creating an encyclopedia was appropriately inane. “Drawing pictures in margins…” she mused. That was something she did often.
Having been enrolled at the School, Daria found that she had Science for first period. In class she quickly found that the teacher had issues… “…and like a husband going home to his noble and self-sacrificing wife, the rat keeps returning to the food box. That is, the positive reinforcement. Huh, if only men could be more like rats. Oh, sure, they come home at first. You feed them, you wait on them, and then, after twenty-two thankless years, they just up and leave. No note, no phone call, no nothing!” She slammed her ruler on her desk for emphasis. “Just... like... that!”
“I wonder why he left,” Daria murmured to her new acquaintance, Jodie Landon.
“Now, before I divide the class into teams of two, who can give me another example of reinforcement?”
The class didn’t give an answer.
“Fine, class. Ignore me... just like he did!”
“Just as well he wasn’t Jones,” Daria commented.
“I heard that!” Barch said. “But we’re not talking about cults. You can ask DeMartino about that! But you have stumbled upon an interesting answer. A charismatic man re-enforcing herd-like behaviour in his followers, leading to tragic results!”
“Excellent example Daria,” Jodie said.
Daria shrugged.
Between classes, Sandi Griffin was talking with Joey Green, Jamie White and Jeffy Brown, ‘So I said, "Sure, it's a nice car. Do you have enough gas to get to Loserville?’”
“That’s funny, Sandi,” Joey said.
“You really know how to tell a story,” Jeffy said.
“Thanks,” Sandi said.
“Tell us the part with Stacy again,” Jamie said.
“Stacy wasn’t in that story. It was just Tiffany and I,” Sandi said.
“Well then, take Tiffany out and put Stacy in,” Joey suggested.
Stacy then came along. “Hi guys!” she said. “Sandi, Joey, Jeffy, Jerome.”
“Hi, Stacy,” Joey said.
“Hi, Stacy,” Jeffy added.
“Hi, Stacy. It’s Jamie!”
“Oh, sorry!”
“Have you seen that new girl?” Jamie asked.
“The redhead?” Stacy asked.
“She could be new member for the Fashion Club,” Sandi answered.
“There she is!” Jamie said.
Sandi sighed as Jamie and Jeffy ran off.
Daria listened as Jodie told her how busy she was. “…And that is why I can only go to study sessions in the early evenings,” Jodie said.
“I bet you don’t have to deal with Family Court,” Daria said.
“Family Court?” Jodie asked incredulously.
“It was an attempt by my Mom to use Jurisprudence in family matters after my sister and I came home late one night.”
“That sounds crazy,” Jodie commented.
“It was,” Daria said. “But it didn’t last long, because they were too busy to enforce a month-long grounding.”
“That’s something I’d like to hear about at some point,” Jodie said as they came to the next class.
“Can monkeys surf the net, and corrupt our kids? Chimpanzee chat rooms, next on Sick Sad World.”
Claire Defoe switched off the TV after students started filing into the classroom. She saw the new student, Daria. “Ms. Morgendorffer!”
Daria came over. “Yes?”
“Your records from Highland are intriguing,” the teacher said.
“I experimented, that’s all.”
“Using a glue gun as an actual gun?” Claire asked with an eyebrow raised.
Daria raised her own eyebrows. “Oh, that. Those two deserved it, but I won’t do it here in Lawndale.”
“Good. I just wanted to hear it from you personally. I would like to talk about your previous art after class. There’s a student I’d like you to meet.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Fifty dollars an hour!” Jane groused as she approached the art classroom. That was the amount Mr. Ewing had quoted for the average Math tutoring cost in Lawndale. She doubted it would be any cheaper in Oakwood. ‘Or Middlebury for that matter,’ she mused as she overheard other students complaining about exorbitant prices.
.