Inspired by a Space Wizard discussion on Discord
May. 4th, 2026 07:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicollSpace wizard cultists but instead of one sanctioned cult and one forbidden cult, there are hundreds of space wizard cults, each of whom is convinced they have the best space wizardry. So they're continually fighting to see whose is better.
The Space Emperor's antipathy is due to the disruption caused by incessant space wizard cultist fights.
The Space Emperor's antipathy is due to the disruption caused by incessant space wizard cultist fights.
1 1/2 concerts
May. 4th, 2026 04:04 pmcalimacSaratoga Symphony, Sunday: This community orchestra gave a fairly rarified program under Jason Klein, the best-known piece being the Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 by George Enescu, played with sufficient liveliness and drive. Plus A Fugal Overture by Gustav Holst, which wasn't very fugal, and two unusual turn-of-the-20C tone poems, neither apparently ever played in the U.S. before: The Witch of Atlas by Granville Bantock, a character which in the Shelley poem it's based on is more of a benevolent angel than a witch, and which was accordingly represented in peaceful music with a lot of solos for violin and English horn; and The Isle of the Dead by the Swedish composer Andreas Hallén, one of numerous tone poems based on the Arnold Böcklin painting, but unlike any of the other composers, who treated it as dark and ominous, Hallén preferred to depict the consolatory aspect of death, and after a mournful beginning his composition turns gentle and even incongruously lush in a slightly Wagnerian manner.
San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra, Saturday: I attended this, or rather part of it, by livestream. Student conductors led Beethoven's goofy King Stephen Overture and Revueltas's Sensemayá, the latter with firm enough rhythm but nevertheless sludgy. Music director Edwin Outwater, a former assistant to MTT, dedicated the concert to MTT's memory, pointing out that all the pieces were ones he'd play, and led the orchestra in John Adams's Absolute Jest, his concerto for string quartet and orchestra, much better-balanced than the last time I'd heard it, but at which the Esmé Quartet were wasted as soloists, their exquisite approach to Romantic music having no role in Adams's jerky and rigid postmodernism. But I was too tired to sit in my work chair and listen to the concluding piece, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, so I skipped it.
San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra, Saturday: I attended this, or rather part of it, by livestream. Student conductors led Beethoven's goofy King Stephen Overture and Revueltas's Sensemayá, the latter with firm enough rhythm but nevertheless sludgy. Music director Edwin Outwater, a former assistant to MTT, dedicated the concert to MTT's memory, pointing out that all the pieces were ones he'd play, and led the orchestra in John Adams's Absolute Jest, his concerto for string quartet and orchestra, much better-balanced than the last time I'd heard it, but at which the Esmé Quartet were wasted as soloists, their exquisite approach to Romantic music having no role in Adams's jerky and rigid postmodernism. But I was too tired to sit in my work chair and listen to the concluding piece, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, so I skipped it.
Bundle of Holding: Critical Kit Solos
May. 4th, 2026 02:43 pmjames_davis_nicoll
This all-new Critical Kit Solos Bundle presents Be Like a Cat, Be Like a Crow, and other one- and two-player tabletop roleplaying games from designer Tim Roberts at UK games publisher Critical Kit Ltd.
Bundle of Holding: Critical Kit Solos
These are all fairly depressing, sorry
May. 4th, 2026 05:44 pmoursinSyphilis cases in expectant mothers have dramatically risen since the pandemic (in the USA) and there is consequently a rise in congenital syphilis:
can result in a range of negative outcomes, the most serious of which is miscarriage or stillbirth. If the fetus survives, long-term developmental delays, blindness, hearing loss, permanent teeth and bone malformation, heart defects and rashes can occur. Symptoms of congenital syphilis can happen immediately at birth, or they may not be recognized until the child is over 2 years old, when molars erupt, or as bones grow and the changes become more pronounced.
Congenital syphilis is treatable with antibiotics, which will stop progression of the disease but cannot reverse any negative outcomes that have already occurred.
***
And will this once more become a common tale? Telling abortion stories: The life of Florence P. Evans (1913–1935)
***
This is well creepy: ‘It ruined my night’: photographers accused of targeting women at St Andrews May Dip: 'Students taking part in university’s annual ritual say images of them in swimwear are being published without consent in national newspapers':
In recent years this quirky ritual has become a target for agency and freelance photographers looking to cash in on images of students in bikinis, including some who camp out overnight on the East Sands dunes near the Fife coastal path.
2026.05.04
May. 4th, 2026 11:38 amlsandersonDNA Just Exposed The Drug Berserkers Drank Before Battle — And Their Genes Still Walk Modern Norway
Origin Decoder
https://youtu.be/vWKnK1HCuoU?si=Ci0V3lzv4uL2y4Cs
8 things you should know about Trump’s effort to “take over” the midterm elections
From dismantling guardrails that upheld the integrity of past elections to gutting federal agencies and installing allies who supported Trump’s claim that the 2020 vote was stolen, here are the key takeaways from our recent investigation.
By ProPublica
https://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2026/05/trumps-effort-to-take-over-the-midterm-elections/ ( Read more... )
Origin Decoder
https://youtu.be/vWKnK1HCuoU?si=Ci0V3lzv4uL2y4Cs
8 things you should know about Trump’s effort to “take over” the midterm elections
From dismantling guardrails that upheld the integrity of past elections to gutting federal agencies and installing allies who supported Trump’s claim that the 2020 vote was stolen, here are the key takeaways from our recent investigation.
By ProPublica
https://www.minnpost.com/national/washington/2026/05/trumps-effort-to-take-over-the-midterm-elections/ ( Read more... )
What Was the First Book You Bought From Each SF Publisher?
May. 4th, 2026 10:08 amjames_davis_nicoll
Let's take a trip down the book-lined pathways of Memory Lane...
What Was the First Book You Bought From Each SF Publisher?
Hacking Polymarket
May. 4th, 2026 09:46 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
bruce_schneier_feedPolymarket is a platform where people can bet on real-world events, political and otherwise. Leaving the ethical considerations of this aside (for one, it facilitates assassination), one of the issues with making this work is the verification of these real-world events. Polymarket gamblers have threatened a journalist because his story was being used to verify an event. And now, gamblers are taking hair dryers to weather sensors to rig weather bets.
There’s also insider trading: a lot of it.
Food science marches on
May. 3rd, 2026 04:46 pmpetrea_mitchellTwo new things to me at the farmers' market:
1. Ergonomic beets. They look like tiny chonky sweet potatoes, but they're elongated beets, allegedly easier to hold and peel than the regular spherical kind. One of the youngsters manning the cashbox at that booth said the term they use is "cylindrical beets".
2. Edible strawberries in May! Used to be we didn't get strawberries at all until June, and the first varieties would be the kind which is better for pies and preserves than eating directly. But yesterday there were ripe, full flavored ones available. I was expecting an explanation that involved climate change, but no, it's not that drastic here yet, they just have a trick involving wrapping the plants in plastic to get the berries to ripen faster.
Inflation marches on, too: those delicious strawberries are $6 for a pint, so I think that'll be a one-off treat. I expect cherries to be $10 a pound or more at the market this summer.
1. Ergonomic beets. They look like tiny chonky sweet potatoes, but they're elongated beets, allegedly easier to hold and peel than the regular spherical kind. One of the youngsters manning the cashbox at that booth said the term they use is "cylindrical beets".
2. Edible strawberries in May! Used to be we didn't get strawberries at all until June, and the first varieties would be the kind which is better for pies and preserves than eating directly. But yesterday there were ripe, full flavored ones available. I was expecting an explanation that involved climate change, but no, it's not that drastic here yet, they just have a trick involving wrapping the plants in plastic to get the berries to ripen faster.
Inflation marches on, too: those delicious strawberries are $6 for a pint, so I think that'll be a one-off treat. I expect cherries to be $10 a pound or more at the market this summer.
Penric's Intrigues releases this week
May. 3rd, 2026 01:50 pmlois_mcmaster_bujold_feedPenric's Intrigues, the 4th Pen & Des collection on paper from Baen Books, should be reaching stores this week, or maybe a bit earlier -- Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore and Dreamhaven Books & Comics here in Minneapolis have theirs already, signed.
I don't know how widely distributed this one is going to be, but in any case your favorite local bricks 'n mortar bookstore should be able to order it via their usual channels on request, if it hasn't popped up on its own.
The online booksellers will start shipping it Tuesday, which means you can hit that order button most any time now.
It contains the novel-length The Assassins of Thasalon, and the novella "Knot of Shadows".
All three of the prior volumes remain available in hardcover, and can be ordered. (Some of the paperbacks are sold out.) To recap:
Penric's Progress, containing "Penric's Demon", "Penric and the Shaman", and "Penric's Fox".
Penric's Travels, containing "Penric's Mission", "Mira's Last Dance", and "The Prisoner of Limnos".
Penric's Labors, containing "Masquerade in Lodi", "The Orphans of Raspay", and "The Physicians of Vilnoc".
A week or so ago I recorded an hour-long interview for the Baen Free Radio Hour podcast in support of the new release; I'll link it here when it goes live.
Ta, L.
posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on May, 03
I don't know how widely distributed this one is going to be, but in any case your favorite local bricks 'n mortar bookstore should be able to order it via their usual channels on request, if it hasn't popped up on its own.
The online booksellers will start shipping it Tuesday, which means you can hit that order button most any time now.
It contains the novel-length The Assassins of Thasalon, and the novella "Knot of Shadows".
All three of the prior volumes remain available in hardcover, and can be ordered. (Some of the paperbacks are sold out.) To recap:
Penric's Progress, containing "Penric's Demon", "Penric and the Shaman", and "Penric's Fox".
Penric's Travels, containing "Penric's Mission", "Mira's Last Dance", and "The Prisoner of Limnos".
Penric's Labors, containing "Masquerade in Lodi", "The Orphans of Raspay", and "The Physicians of Vilnoc".
A week or so ago I recorded an hour-long interview for the Baen Free Radio Hour podcast in support of the new release; I'll link it here when it goes live.
Ta, L.
posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on May, 03
movie not finished
May. 3rd, 2026 01:51 pmcalimacThe Power of the Dog (2021)
An article on the best movies on Netflix said that this was "not just one of the best movies on Netflix right now: It’s one of the best movies ever." Unfortunately it turned out to be great only in the sense that some of those "great novels" I had to read in literature class were great, i.e. totally wretched.
The main characters in this one are a pair of brothers who are cattle ranchers together in Montana (played by New Zealand) in the 1920s. One of them, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a hard man. Though they've worked together for decades, he considers his brother George (Jesse Plemons) to be something of a wimp. George is sweet on the widow lady (Kirsten Dunst) who runs a cookhouse where the ranchers often eat. Phil doesn't think much of her, the more so as her late husband had committed suicide, which Phil evidently considers a rather wussy thing to do. As for the widow's teenage son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who has artistic leanings, Phil thinks he's a total pansy. This is all played out as if it were written in neon signs.
George is incredibly awkward courting the widow, the more so after they suddenly up and get married, which George doesn't even tell Phil about until afterwards. Uh-oh, there's trouble ahead, forced on the story by the contorted plot. I stopped watching at this point and consulted the Wikipedia plot summary, which I'd previously avoided. Yup, there's trouble ahead. I'm glad I didn't have to watch any more of this tortured pretentious mess.
An article on the best movies on Netflix said that this was "not just one of the best movies on Netflix right now: It’s one of the best movies ever." Unfortunately it turned out to be great only in the sense that some of those "great novels" I had to read in literature class were great, i.e. totally wretched.
The main characters in this one are a pair of brothers who are cattle ranchers together in Montana (played by New Zealand) in the 1920s. One of them, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a hard man. Though they've worked together for decades, he considers his brother George (Jesse Plemons) to be something of a wimp. George is sweet on the widow lady (Kirsten Dunst) who runs a cookhouse where the ranchers often eat. Phil doesn't think much of her, the more so as her late husband had committed suicide, which Phil evidently considers a rather wussy thing to do. As for the widow's teenage son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who has artistic leanings, Phil thinks he's a total pansy. This is all played out as if it were written in neon signs.
George is incredibly awkward courting the widow, the more so after they suddenly up and get married, which George doesn't even tell Phil about until afterwards. Uh-oh, there's trouble ahead, forced on the story by the contorted plot. I stopped watching at this point and consulted the Wikipedia plot summary, which I'd previously avoided. Yup, there's trouble ahead. I'm glad I didn't have to watch any more of this tortured pretentious mess.
Culinary
May. 3rd, 2026 07:06 pmoursinLast week's bread held out remarkably.
Friday night supper: penne with Peppadew roasted red peppers in brine whooshed in the blender and heated.
Saturday breakfast rolls: eclectic vanilla.
Today's lunch: diced lamb shoulder casseroled in white wine with baby carrots, chopped leeks, bay leaf, thyme, white peppercorns and salt, with a sliced potato topping (blanched in boiling water for 5 mins, brushed with melted butter, and seasoned with salt and pepper, put on for the final 45 mins or so), served with white-braised fine green beans and baby courgettes.
nggg
May. 3rd, 2026 11:22 amjames_davis_nicollYesterday I had a very, very annoying set of shifts that started with me locking myself out of my office. Then, despite the client in question being a total sweetheart who is very familiar with the theatre, one particular group of dancers kept blocking the same fire door, over and over and over. It was blocked in different ways by different people all but two times I checked.
In fact, I encountered twice as many fire code violations involving that door yesterday as I have in the previous ten years.
The client was reportedly aghast but that didn’t stop it from happening.
If I’d been house manager in the evening, I would have parked an usher by that door full time to keep an eye on it. I happened to be the usher at the aisle just up the hall, so I did check every 30 minutes.
However, on my way home I missed my train and that meant I could spend ten minutes playing a ground hog. So that was good.
In fact, I encountered twice as many fire code violations involving that door yesterday as I have in the previous ten years.
The client was reportedly aghast but that didn’t stop it from happening.
If I’d been house manager in the evening, I would have parked an usher by that door full time to keep an eye on it. I happened to be the usher at the aisle just up the hall, so I did check every 30 minutes.
However, on my way home I missed my train and that meant I could spend ten minutes playing a ground hog. So that was good.
2026.05.03
May. 3rd, 2026 09:18 amlsandersonMayday 2026 Powderhorn Park
https://www.maydaympls.org/
‘This is just disarray’: alarm inside Pentagon after Hegseth staff purges
Insiders portray defense secretary as increasingly isolated after officers with impeccable reputations forced out
Robert Tait in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/03/pentagon-pete-hegseth-us-military ( Read more... )
https://www.maydaympls.org/
‘This is just disarray’: alarm inside Pentagon after Hegseth staff purges
Insiders portray defense secretary as increasingly isolated after officers with impeccable reputations forced out
Robert Tait in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/03/pentagon-pete-hegseth-us-military ( Read more... )
Books Received, April 26 — May 1 poll
May. 3rd, 2026 09:57 amjames_davis_nicollPoll #34548 Books Received, April 26 — May 1
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 45
Which of these look interesting?
View Answers
This is Free Trader Beowulf by Shannon Appelcline (2024)
21 (46.7%)
Darksight Dare by Lois McMaster Bujold (April 2026)
25 (55.6%)
Blood to the True Crown by Sung-Il Kim (November 2026)
6 (13.3%)
Some other option (see comments)
1 (2.2%)
cats!
31 (68.9%)
I am very tired, thus the lack of a poll earlier.
Books Received, April 26 — May 1
May. 3rd, 2026 08:52 amjames_davis_nicoll
Yesterday was a very long work day so I didn't have time to post this. Two books new to me. One I wanted in paper.One non-fiction about an--no, THE SF game, and two fantasy. Both fantasies are series.
Books Received, April 26 — May 1