Books Received, August 30 — September 5
Sep. 6th, 2025 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
Five books new to me, at least four of which are mystery (not sure about the El-Mohtar) and three instalments in series.
Books Received, August 30 — September 5
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 1
Books Received, August 30 — September 5
View Answers
Lies Weeping by Glen Cook (November 2025)
1 (100.0%)
Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar (March 2026)
1 (100.0%)
The River and the Star By Gabriela Romero Lacruz (October 2025)
0 (0.0%)
The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers (November 2025)
0 (0.0%)
The Burning Queen by Aparna Verma (November 2025)
0 (0.0%)
Some other option (see comments)
0 (0.0%)
Cats!
0 (0.0%)
Hôtel Cathédrale Unexploded Shell in Strasbourg, France
Sep. 6th, 2025 08:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
atlas_obscura_places_feed
In the shadow of Strasbourg's towering cathedral, sinister evidence of the city's past is lodged in a hotel facade. The defused mortar shell dates back to the siege of Strasbourg, a battle that took place in 1870.
The siege lasted from August 14 to September 28, 1870, marking a pivotal stage of the Franco-Prussian War. Prussian forces swept in and vastly outnumbered the French defenders, who were barricaded in what was considered one of the strongest fortresses in France. Despite their advantage, the Prussians launched a bombing campaign on the civilian part of Strasbourg, hoping to terrorize the French into a quick surrender. A staggering 200,000 shells fell on the city during the six-week siege. This deliberate attack on civilian morale foreshadowed tactics used in the world wars of the next century.
341 civilians died, and while the bombardment destroyed much of the city, it didn't result in an instant surrender of the French forces holed up in their fortress. They fought for several more weeks before capitulation. The result was a resounding Prussian victory, and the devastated city became part of Prussia under the peace treaties that ended the war.
During the reconstruction, residents recovered several unexploded shells and defused them. They then walled them into buildings, leaving them visible for all to see. The shell embedded near the cathedral is the most well-known, but seven others are scattered across Strasbourg's facades. The eight shells could have served as a symbol of resistance against the Prussian forces, recalling the siege that destroyed nearly a third of their city.
Today, Strasbourg is once again French and the largest city in the Alsace region. Large crowds gather daily in the Cathedral Square, with many failing to notice the unexploded shell hiding in plain sight. It hangs right above a busy café in the facade of the Hôtel Cathédrale.
FAKE: Fanfic: Burning Issue
Sep. 6th, 2025 12:43 pmbadly_knitted posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fan_flashworksTitle: Burning Issue
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Dee, Ryo, JJ.
Rating: PG-13
Setting: After Like Like Love.
Summary: Overhearing Dee and Ryo’s conversation, JJ manages to get the wrong end of the stick.
Word Count: 300
Content Notes: None needed.
Written For: Challenge 490: Issue.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Triple drabble.
( Burning Issue... )
The Day in Spikedluv (Friday, Sept 5)
Sep. 6th, 2025 06:32 amspikedluvI hit the Pharmacy (for myself) and Price Chopper and CVS (both for mom) while I was downtown and I got in a walk around the park.
I visited my aunt, did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher and ran another load, hard-boiled eggs, and scooped kitty litter. We had leftover ziti for supper.
I visited mom and read more in True Gretch.
Temps started out at 53.6(F) and reached 79.0. It was so dark when I left the house this morning, and foggy. Not Pitch Black, but close enough that it made me want to cry. I checked the rain gauge when I got home; we got 7/8 inch of rain overnight.
Today would’ve been my parents’ 61st Anniversary if my dad were still alive.
Mom Update:
Mom was doing pretty good today. ( more back here )
I visited my aunt, did a load of laundry (washed, dried AND folded), hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher and ran another load, hard-boiled eggs, and scooped kitty litter. We had leftover ziti for supper.
I visited mom and read more in True Gretch.
Temps started out at 53.6(F) and reached 79.0. It was so dark when I left the house this morning, and foggy. Not Pitch Black, but close enough that it made me want to cry. I checked the rain gauge when I got home; we got 7/8 inch of rain overnight.
Today would’ve been my parents’ 61st Anniversary if my dad were still alive.
Mom Update:
Mom was doing pretty good today. ( more back here )
ah, yes, this again
Sep. 6th, 2025 05:10 amyhleeAt this point, because life is too short, I block on sight people I see recommending anything by/to do with the serial racist TERF harasser Benjanun Sriduangkaew (Zen Cho's summary), who now writes as "Maria Ying" (with someone else)? (WinterFox, Requires Hate, whatever the hell other pseudonyms and/or monikers). There's a chance current readers/recommenders/etc. have no idea and just haven't heard, but like I said, life is too short, so why give any more time of day than "nope, blocking" to someone running around reccing a harasser?
(I was in her targeting crosshairs but fortunately only in a glancing fashion, unlike people I know whom she harassed in pretty awful ways, in an ongoing pattern of behavior.)
(I was in her targeting crosshairs but fortunately only in a glancing fashion, unlike people I know whom she harassed in pretty awful ways, in an ongoing pattern of behavior.)
Daily Happiness
Sep. 5th, 2025 09:03 pmtorachan1. I saw both Gemma and Molly using the new cat box tonight! I think someone other than Ollie might have used it once or twice but I never saw confirmation until now. Now if Chloe and Jasper would just come around, I'd feel confident about replacing the other two boxes and no longer having to worry about people peeing outside the box.
2. I have had bad neck issues from sleeping for years and things got somewhat better after I bought a pillow that was specifically for stomach sleepers, but it's several years old now and I've been thinking about replacing it anyway, plus it's also never been perfect and I still do have a lot of neck pain, though thankfully not constantly. I saw a list of best pillows on Wired a week or so ago and have been thinking about the one they recommended for back and stomach sleepers and finally bit the bullet and ordered it the other day. It arrived today and while I haven't slept a full night on it yet, it feels amazing to lie on, both back and stomach, so I have high hopes. It was pricey, but if it helps my neck, it's worth it.
3. Having a three day work week was so nice! It's the weekend again already!
4. If only I could sleep this comfortably!
2. I have had bad neck issues from sleeping for years and things got somewhat better after I bought a pillow that was specifically for stomach sleepers, but it's several years old now and I've been thinking about replacing it anyway, plus it's also never been perfect and I still do have a lot of neck pain, though thankfully not constantly. I saw a list of best pillows on Wired a week or so ago and have been thinking about the one they recommended for back and stomach sleepers and finally bit the bullet and ordered it the other day. It arrived today and while I haven't slept a full night on it yet, it feels amazing to lie on, both back and stomach, so I have high hopes. It was pricey, but if it helps my neck, it's worth it.
3. Having a three day work week was so nice! It's the weekend again already!
4. If only I could sleep this comfortably!
Digital communication.
Sep. 5th, 2025 10:54 pmhannahMy phone's inability to hold a decent charge is starting to grate on me. I don't use it for a whole lot of things or for many minutes throughout a given day, and based on the stats provided by said phone, the things that I use it for the most - the phone function itself for calls, the CitiBike app, and the home and lock screen - are fairly baffling that they're taking up the most energy. I can't claim to understand the details of the technology involved, but I can claim to be confused that using this phone as a phone is a major drain.
I'm not replacing it, though, not unless I can get the exact same model in the exact same color. I'm holding out until I've got no choice in the matter. Hopefully by then, technology's going to have advanced to the point I can replace the battery myself.
I'm not replacing it, though, not unless I can get the exact same model in the exact same color. I'm holding out until I've got no choice in the matter. Hopefully by then, technology's going to have advanced to the point I can replace the battery myself.
Watching "Kpopped" on Apple TV.
Sep. 5th, 2025 02:49 pmbrithistorianYesterday I started watching Kpopped, the new song competition show that blends K-pop and Western artists. I watched the first two episodes last night, and I'm really enjoying it. I think the format is really great — everyone has fun because the stakes are so low. Each episode follows the same format:
- A K-pop group is split in half.
- Each half of the group works with a Western artist to create and perform a "K-popified" version of one of that artist's songs.
- The in-studio audience votes on the winning group.
- Immediately after the winning group is announced, the two halves of the K-pop group are reunited to perform one of the group's songs along with the Western artists.
There are no penalties for losing, no prizes for winning. Just performance and comradery between musicians.
The two episodes I've watched so far are:
- Half of Billlie performs "Savage" with Megan Thee Stallion, the other half performs "Lady Marmalade" with Patti LaBelle.
- Both halves of Itzy perform with Emma Bunton and Mel B from the Spice Girls. One group performs "Wannabe" and the other performs "Be As One."
A recurring theme is the Western artists having trouble learning the K-pop choreography. (Except for Patti LaBelle — out of respect for her age, they had her stay still and everyone danced around her.)
Today's Adventures
Sep. 5th, 2025 09:34 pmysabetwordsmith posting in flaneursToday we went to the Broomcorn Festival in Arcola, Illinois. This is a big harvest festival, well worth catching, and it runs the whole weekend if you want to check it out. The weather was beautiful, cloudy and mild, couldn't ask for better weather.
Arcola is a nice town with several favorite shops that we like to visit. The old buildings are colorful with beautiful architecture. Most of the streets along the festival are still brick. There are benches along the sidewalks. Several places had picnic tables set up for the event, too.
( Read more... )
Arcola is a nice town with several favorite shops that we like to visit. The old buildings are colorful with beautiful architecture. Most of the streets along the festival are still brick. There are benches along the sidewalks. Several places had picnic tables set up for the event, too.
( Read more... )
[#458 - Blood] Paradox Live - the blood is in your hands
Sep. 6th, 2025 09:19 amincomplete_ruler posting in 100wordsTitle: the blood is in your hands
Fandom: Paradox Live
Rating: PG
Notes: Mild Blood and Violence
Summary
In the illusion of comfort I can only hear screams.
AO3 | Dreamwidth
Fandom: Paradox Live
Rating: PG
Notes: Mild Blood and Violence
Summary
In the illusion of comfort I can only hear screams.
AO3 | Dreamwidth
