#Weekend Wrapup

[egophiliac]

Silver is finally here...he just took the title for the most beautiful card in TWST's history...

me five years ago: wow I really hope we get to see dragon Malleus someday! that'll be so nice and wonderful. I bet he's a big silly! :)

twst: :)

GOD. it occurred to me literally three hours before the anniversary stream that they might've been saving the reveal for then to just explode us all at once. this timing was EXTREMELY deliberate. thank you Twst. I can't even focus on all the Blazing Jewel stuff because Silver wielding the physical manifestation of his Complicated Dad Issues is busy eating my entire brain. and -- oh what's that? he duos with Lilia? I'M RUINED THANK YOU ᕕ( ᐕ )ᕗ

this is your warning that I'm going to be the most annoying person on the planet come Monday morning, thank you everybody and goodniiiiiiight

[lionstamer]

Weekend Herb Blogging WrapUp

[fourohfourrealitynotfound]

Woooooaaaaaah we're halfway there!

[layaart]

hello here's a little update of events for the first half of the year! I'll probably do a couple of local markets/zinefest too.

I also posted a newsletter/wrapup today! read it here & subscribe

my store will be closed after this weekend, for a couple weeks!

[theophagie]

Final chapter official release time!!! I can't believe that bnha is over, I don't think it has already registered. I'm kinda dreading next weekend ngl, it was such a long journey... At this point I don't think that anything in this last chapter is really going to answer any of my "what was the point of X if..."-s, but. Idk. I haven't Accepted the sudden themes fumbling + tonal shift, but I guess that I've come to terms with them, even though I'll forever be confused about why these las 10something? chapters have been like that. Save me fix-it aus. Let's see this wrapup in the meantime ig...

[talenlee]

July 2024 Wrapup!

I don’t know if there’s any kind of rhyme to go with July. I think when I set this post up at first I had some idea about the fist being a symbol for paper rock scissors, but now I’m saying it I don’t think that’s the case. Anyway, July ends! July has drawn to its miserable close, its cold and haunted month and – oh I should go schedule a COVID booster.

But while I do that, you should check out this festival of fun writing, articles and videos that are all about the stuff I have made and done throughout the course of July, paid for with the support of my beloved Patrons, and presented here, for you, to read, for free.

First of all, every week I do a Game Pile article, which is a treatment of a game of some sort. This month we had:

Princess Wing, a TTRPG that by one metric, is better than Dungeons & Dragons 5.5.

Traffic Department 2192, a game from the 1990s that was ‘made wrong’ – a hugely overwritten novel of a book that has cool fly-shooty levels between it.

Knit Wit, a beautifully produced game about playing with the social, which is predicated on its exclusions.

and finally Fox and I played Pet or Pass with the creatures of Thunder Junction! See what critters from that Magic: The Gathering set we have opinions on!

Also, for those of you hungering for more time with Fox and me, you can check out our playthrough of Day of the Tentacle (part 1, part 2)!

Then there’s the Story Pile articles, where I take a piece of media and inspect it from a few angles.

Barry, Season 4, which wraps up a show I really liked and did a good job of it!

The Phantom of the Paradise, a movie demonstrating that the surreality of the 70s just looks like the queerness of the now.

Shy, which sucks.

Love Flops, which sucks also but in a way that’s pretty interesting to talk about.

Zom 100, which absolutely whips ass because we all deserve a little treat.

Do you want to read me talking about making games? I did a bunch of that this month! First, even a little tangential, there’s an assessment of things that Brennan Lee Mulligan does in his dungeonmastering that I can use for myself. I also did a reflection article about Lysen Co, talked about specifics in making the Loom videos and the Youtube interface problems it presented. I shared a tool I use when dealing with students and other designers to consider the choices they make in their game, in the form of 50 questions. Then I even did a treatment for a game concept I’ve wanted to make for a while now, Intergalactic Paper Rock Scissors.

There were some thoughts about ‘evil people’ this month in world building. Specifically, I got thinking about Demons and Ogres, and the ways that stories represent them as threats for people to deal with. But don’t worry, there’s also some nerdy stuff about street food and magical theories!

If you like reading about older editions of Dungeons & Dragons we had two articles in the specific genre of ‘whoops, this was a mistake’ design stories. One, I did an article about the absolutely broken ridiculousness of Psychofeedback, a power so wonky that it needs an article explaining how it’s wonky, and the 4th edition class the Blackguard, which not only fails to deliver on its promise, but makes it worse.

Sometimes a shirt design is just a matter of a joke in my mind that I go ‘hey, can I make that design look good?’ and never whether or not anyone wants it. Anyway, here’s a design based on two ideas crossing over.

July was a big month, wasn’t it? I try to not let real world events play into things on this blog – the impersonal, kinda thing. Still, July featured a major windstorm, two major international news incidents that distracted me at length, power outages and a weekend where I couldn’t get into my work email right before the start of semester. Which means that as this month winds down I’ve been kind of exhausted, but in a totally new way. Like, I don’t have to worry about this happening, I don’t imagine anyone’s going to shoot at a Presidential candidate for the first time in my lifetime again.

Wait hang on, maybe I was alive when Reagan got shot at.

A chunk of July is spent between teaching. That means there’s no income but it also means there’s no demands. July was largely spent grinding my way through some PhD writing and trying to address my backlog on the blog. That felt productive, and man, literature review writing is really fun and interesting after Methodology writing. I found a new favourite academic, and I’m going to feel really embarrassed if she ever finds my work and roasts it.

That was an impact on my videos next month; I thought I’d have a lot to say about one of the topics, but it turns out the game is very fluid and easy, and mostly it pulled me back to two sources I really like – The Art of Failure and Paratexts: Thresholds of Interpretation. Which is itself, a whole thing. It’s wild to write this month’s wrapup post and realise that I’m already a step ahead. As I write this, my scripted videos for August are made, and they’re scheduled on Youtube, ready to go. Part of what let me do that was getting the videos for July done ahead of time — which did mean moving something from July to September.

We’ll see how that goes when it drops.

It’s a little thing too but I’ve been practicing card handling all month. Whenever I’m nervous I try to shuffle a deck of cards controlling the same pair of cards to the top, every time. This has been such an extensive practice that now, one of those two cards has my fingernails worn in the top of it, which tells you that this deck of cards is in fact, a bit bad.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[ilikekidsshows]

That last episode wrapup might have read as kinda final, and that's for a reason. I've said this in regards to Miraculous, but it also holds true here; in this house, we don't watch bad retools of good cartoons. So, this really was the liveblog of the last episode of the best TMNT cartoon made.

But, it's not the end for Turtles on this blog. This weekend, we'll be tackling the TMNT 2007 film, which might not be a sequel to this series, but it might as well be.

[sandwichtribunal]

September List Sandwiches and August Wrapup

In September, the Tribunal will be trying the Mexican Mulita, Senegalese Ndambe, and Boston's North Shore 3-Way.

Welcome to September, sandwich fans! We’re a couple days late posting our September sandwiches, but as long-term readers may be aware the Tribunal has a big event every Labor Day Weekend that brings us to a farm in Northeastern Missouri with little connectivity to the outside world. But before we can unveil September’s sandwiches, we need take a look back at August! August 21st marked the…

[husbandograveyard]

Update

Now till Nov 10th - ABC event -> requests close Nov 10th, wrapping up during the weekend

Nov 13th onward - Spooktober wrapup + Awkward Fluff

December - Mini holiday event OR regular box opening

Also question: if you have an event ongoing (particularly JJK related, but I'm looking for One Piece, Twisted Wonderland, Demon Slayer and Hero academia too), let me know! I am looking for open askboxes as well as things to read, so if you have fics that need some love, yeet them my way please! I wanna be able to start filling my queue for when this abc event is over!

[whyitsmemyselfandi]

Choir performances ended last week, and after a huge weekend hibernation, I feel I'm emerging back out into the world. I have so many feelings about choir.

The Beginning

This year, the beginning felt fresh and exciting. Learning new songs, Becoming more familiar with the music, and hearing the group perform for the first time--it felt so meaningful and hopeful. I got some positive feedback at the beginning, and I felt like I'd improved

The Middle

Then comes the long middle, the 2-3 months of detailed focus on the specifics of the song, along with the introduction of 2-3 more songs mid-semester. My director would focus on specific songs more than others, and then others songs wouldn't sound as precise. It was sometimes a slog to get through and rework pieces and find that perfect sound.

The End

Then the actual performances came. This time, the festival adjudicators gave precise, thoughtful feedback on how we could improve, and it really injected some life back into these songs. I felt in the last week there was a spike in improvement and brought back that freshness from the beginning. It was a full week, rehearsing nearly every night with the choir, and all leading up to the final Saturday performance. Honestly by the time Saturday came, I was quite tired, so the evening wasn't as exciting as the Wednesday performance. I wasn't nervous during the performance, just tired and determined. However, three of the more soulful songs (including Storm Comin') felt really exciting and fresh, and it was satisfying hearing our improvement in our phrasing, dynamics, and heart. I look forward to watching the recording and hopefully being able to hear the full voices.

The Aftermath

In a way, I wished the choir was longer or that there was a final wrapup party. So many hours of preparation, so much heart and emotion pushed into the performance, and then in a week, it's over and gone, and leaving me feeling a little empty and lonely. I really feel the absence of choir, and it reminds me of weekend camp trips with the team and the post-weekend depression after all that buildup. As much as being around people exhausts me, they bring a sense of comfort, community and fulfillment too, and I miss it when they're gone. Is it weird to grieve the end of the semester? Time to insert some joy into my regular life, I guess.

[wausaupilotreview]

This week's wrapup from Lincoln County, where deputies responded to more than a dozen slide-ins due to weather:

[cleverhottubmiracle]

The Princess of Wales released a video today sharing her relief at concluding chemotherapy treatment but noting, “…my path to full recovery is long.” Here is the full three-minute video.  The video was shot by Will Warr last month in Norfolk. Mr. Warr also did the coronation weekend wrapup video last May and a brief video marking the couple’s tenth wedding anniversary. In the new film, the family is seen relaxing outside.  The Princess speaks of the last nine months being “…incredibly tough for us as a family. The cancer journey is complex, scary, and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.” The family is seen roughhousing and relaxing on the beach. With their dog, Orla. More from the Princess’s voiceover: “This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.” Thoughts on the video from The Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey.  After everything she has gone through, the once-guarded Catherine clearly decided to throw caution to the wind – and the candour caught on camera is as heartwarming as it is revealing.  The touching scenes filmed last month by Will Warr in Norfolk, however, reflect a deliberate attempt to finally lay bare the love and affection at the heart of one of the most high-profile – and well-documented – relationships in the world. The family playing cards with the Princess’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. More from The Daily Mail’s coverage. The setting of the footage is deeply symbolic, drawing on the strength Catherine has drawn from her family and loved ones and from spending time on the things which bring her joy, particularly the sanctuary she has found in the natural world. It also features her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, who have been an unwavering source of support. Sharing a moment on the beach.  The Princess talks of a new perspective in the video: “Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time. Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling.” More card playing.  We see the Prince of Wales remove a bug from Princess Charlotte’s hair.  And her brothers take a closer look at the bug. The voiceover also notes, “Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”  The couple with Princess Charlotte.  A hug for Prince George.  We see the Princess in some contemplative moments. She closes the video with a special message for those confronting cancer: “To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.” The video comes as the Wales children have returned to school after their summer break. A Sunday Times story by Roya Nikkhah reported on possible additions to the Princess’s schedule this fall.   But if she continues to have more “good days”, it is understood she has set her sights on “potentially” joining the King and the royal family at the Cenotaph for the National Service of Remembrance on November 10. Royal aides are also understood to have started planning for the princess’s annual televised “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey in December. Continuing with some work from home at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, Kate has been holding more regular meetings with her private secretary, Tom White, her assistant private secretary, Natalie Burrows, and the Waleses’ communications secretary, Lee Thompson, to plan for the future. In the video, the Princess is seen wearing two dresses. One is by US designer Veronica Beard, with thanks to Laura for the ID. The Castella Floral Boho Midi Dress (sold out) is made of lightweight ramie, lined in 100% cotton. It is described as “our elevated take on bohemian dressing. Cut for a relaxed fit, this midi silhouette features an engineered block print—which mixes painterly blooms and floral stripes—as well as gentle blouson sleeves and a tiered, ruffled hem.” A closer look at the print and some of the other details. I have not yet been able to find the denim dress seen in the video, but I will update the post when it is identified. I saw so many similar styles I added quite a few to the RepliKate Dresses page. UPDATE SEP 10: It looks like the blue dress is by H&M. With thanks to Valerie and Middleton Maven, it is a LOGG Denim Dress (Label of Graded Goods), long since sold out. Here is a photo of the piece as offered on eBay by A British Rose.  You see the Princess wearing her Veja Esplar Sneakers in the video, shown here as worn on a previous occasion. It looks like the Princess is wearing her Daniella Draper Trio Diamond Midnight Moon Necklace in the video as well as a pair of Kiki McDonough earrings, either her Citrine Drops or the Green Amethyst Drops. I am leaning toward the green drops. There is a second pair worn in the video that looks like tiny hoops, possibly the Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoops. Here is the full text of the Princess’s statement in the video.  As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment. The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family.  Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.  With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything. This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved. Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.  Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time.  Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling. To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.  One other note about the video: the wide shot of the family is now the header on the Wales’s social media pages.  (function(d, s, id) var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); (document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Source link

[norajworld]

The Princess of Wales released a video today sharing her relief at concluding chemotherapy treatment but noting, “…my path to full recovery is long.” Here is the full three-minute video.  The video was shot by Will Warr last month in Norfolk. Mr. Warr also did the coronation weekend wrapup video last May and a brief video marking the couple’s tenth wedding anniversary. In the new film, the family is seen relaxing outside.  The Princess speaks of the last nine months being “…incredibly tough for us as a family. The cancer journey is complex, scary, and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.” The family is seen roughhousing and relaxing on the beach. With their dog, Orla. More from the Princess’s voiceover: “This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.” Thoughts on the video from The Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey.  After everything she has gone through, the once-guarded Catherine clearly decided to throw caution to the wind – and the candour caught on camera is as heartwarming as it is revealing.  The touching scenes filmed last month by Will Warr in Norfolk, however, reflect a deliberate attempt to finally lay bare the love and affection at the heart of one of the most high-profile – and well-documented – relationships in the world. The family playing cards with the Princess’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. More from The Daily Mail’s coverage. The setting of the footage is deeply symbolic, drawing on the strength Catherine has drawn from her family and loved ones and from spending time on the things which bring her joy, particularly the sanctuary she has found in the natural world. It also features her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, who have been an unwavering source of support. Sharing a moment on the beach.  The Princess talks of a new perspective in the video: “Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time. Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling.” More card playing.  We see the Prince of Wales remove a bug from Princess Charlotte’s hair.  And her brothers take a closer look at the bug. The voiceover also notes, “Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”  The couple with Princess Charlotte.  A hug for Prince George.  We see the Princess in some contemplative moments. She closes the video with a special message for those confronting cancer: “To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.” The video comes as the Wales children have returned to school after their summer break. A Sunday Times story by Roya Nikkhah reported on possible additions to the Princess’s schedule this fall.   But if she continues to have more “good days”, it is understood she has set her sights on “potentially” joining the King and the royal family at the Cenotaph for the National Service of Remembrance on November 10. Royal aides are also understood to have started planning for the princess’s annual televised “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey in December. Continuing with some work from home at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, Kate has been holding more regular meetings with her private secretary, Tom White, her assistant private secretary, Natalie Burrows, and the Waleses’ communications secretary, Lee Thompson, to plan for the future. In the video, the Princess is seen wearing two dresses. One is by US designer Veronica Beard, with thanks to Laura for the ID. The Castella Floral Boho Midi Dress (sold out) is made of lightweight ramie, lined in 100% cotton. It is described as “our elevated take on bohemian dressing. Cut for a relaxed fit, this midi silhouette features an engineered block print—which mixes painterly blooms and floral stripes—as well as gentle blouson sleeves and a tiered, ruffled hem.” A closer look at the print and some of the other details. I have not yet been able to find the denim dress seen in the video, but I will update the post when it is identified. I saw so many similar styles I added quite a few to the RepliKate Dresses page. UPDATE SEP 10: It looks like the blue dress is by H&M. With thanks to Valerie and Middleton Maven, it is a LOGG Denim Dress (Label of Graded Goods), long since sold out. Here is a photo of the piece as offered on eBay by A British Rose.  You see the Princess wearing her Veja Esplar Sneakers in the video, shown here as worn on a previous occasion. It looks like the Princess is wearing her Daniella Draper Trio Diamond Midnight Moon Necklace in the video as well as a pair of Kiki McDonough earrings, either her Citrine Drops or the Green Amethyst Drops. I am leaning toward the green drops. There is a second pair worn in the video that looks like tiny hoops, possibly the Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoops. Here is the full text of the Princess’s statement in the video.  As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment. The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family.  Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.  With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything. This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved. Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.  Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time.  Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling. To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.  One other note about the video: the wide shot of the family is now the header on the Wales’s social media pages.  (function(d, s, id) var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); (document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Source link

[chilimili212]

The Princess of Wales released a video today sharing her relief at concluding chemotherapy treatment but noting, “…my path to full recovery is long.” Here is the full three-minute video.  The video was shot by Will Warr last month in Norfolk. Mr. Warr also did the coronation weekend wrapup video last May and a brief video marking the couple’s tenth wedding anniversary. In the new film, the family is seen relaxing outside.  The Princess speaks of the last nine months being “…incredibly tough for us as a family. The cancer journey is complex, scary, and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.” The family is seen roughhousing and relaxing on the beach. With their dog, Orla. More from the Princess’s voiceover: “This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.” Thoughts on the video from The Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey.  After everything she has gone through, the once-guarded Catherine clearly decided to throw caution to the wind – and the candour caught on camera is as heartwarming as it is revealing.  The touching scenes filmed last month by Will Warr in Norfolk, however, reflect a deliberate attempt to finally lay bare the love and affection at the heart of one of the most high-profile – and well-documented – relationships in the world. The family playing cards with the Princess’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. More from The Daily Mail’s coverage. The setting of the footage is deeply symbolic, drawing on the strength Catherine has drawn from her family and loved ones and from spending time on the things which bring her joy, particularly the sanctuary she has found in the natural world. It also features her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, who have been an unwavering source of support. Sharing a moment on the beach.  The Princess talks of a new perspective in the video: “Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time. Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling.” More card playing.  We see the Prince of Wales remove a bug from Princess Charlotte’s hair.  And her brothers take a closer look at the bug. The voiceover also notes, “Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”  The couple with Princess Charlotte.  A hug for Prince George.  We see the Princess in some contemplative moments. She closes the video with a special message for those confronting cancer: “To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.” The video comes as the Wales children have returned to school after their summer break. A Sunday Times story by Roya Nikkhah reported on possible additions to the Princess’s schedule this fall.   But if she continues to have more “good days”, it is understood she has set her sights on “potentially” joining the King and the royal family at the Cenotaph for the National Service of Remembrance on November 10. Royal aides are also understood to have started planning for the princess’s annual televised “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey in December. Continuing with some work from home at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, Kate has been holding more regular meetings with her private secretary, Tom White, her assistant private secretary, Natalie Burrows, and the Waleses’ communications secretary, Lee Thompson, to plan for the future. In the video, the Princess is seen wearing two dresses. One is by US designer Veronica Beard, with thanks to Laura for the ID. The Castella Floral Boho Midi Dress (sold out) is made of lightweight ramie, lined in 100% cotton. It is described as “our elevated take on bohemian dressing. Cut for a relaxed fit, this midi silhouette features an engineered block print—which mixes painterly blooms and floral stripes—as well as gentle blouson sleeves and a tiered, ruffled hem.” A closer look at the print and some of the other details. I have not yet been able to find the denim dress seen in the video, but I will update the post when it is identified. I saw so many similar styles I added quite a few to the RepliKate Dresses page. UPDATE SEP 10: It looks like the blue dress is by H&M. With thanks to Valerie and Middleton Maven, it is a LOGG Denim Dress (Label of Graded Goods), long since sold out. Here is a photo of the piece as offered on eBay by A British Rose.  You see the Princess wearing her Veja Esplar Sneakers in the video, shown here as worn on a previous occasion. It looks like the Princess is wearing her Daniella Draper Trio Diamond Midnight Moon Necklace in the video as well as a pair of Kiki McDonough earrings, either her Citrine Drops or the Green Amethyst Drops. I am leaning toward the green drops. There is a second pair worn in the video that looks like tiny hoops, possibly the Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoops. Here is the full text of the Princess’s statement in the video.  As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment. The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family.  Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown. The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.  With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything. This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved. Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes. I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.  Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life. William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time.  Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling. To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.  One other note about the video: the wide shot of the family is now the header on the Wales’s social media pages.  (function(d, s, id) var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); (document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Source link

[halflingkima]

Recent Reads

I'm not usually one for monthly wrapups or whatever – if i think a book is good, i'll recommend it; if i think i a book is bad i'll yell about it. most of my reads are middling so it's unworth it. but february was a struggle month so i figured i'd commemorate what i did indeed read cuz it feels like a read nothing and that is false. i haven't done any Official Storygraph reviews yet so instead of forgetting the entire experience, i thought i'd document it here in the meantime.

What's Your Vibe by Kat Majik: Milo is demisexual and works in a sex shop; Stevie is bisexual, agoraphobic, and a sex shop customer; the two negotiate a relationship while feeling out the edges of their own identities.

Best book I read this year so far. Cute fluffy romance with a queer friends group and without shying from the scrutiny (including self-inflicted) that demisexual & bisexual people handle on the regular. as a demi bisexual semi-agoraphobic, this spoke to me. Also, iirc, there was no sex in this, which was so deeply refreshing. the inciting incident is that the demisexual character experiences immediate physical attraction and has a bit of a crisis. were this not written by a demisexual, the focus would be on milo exploring sexual experiences, but it simply was not. as a nearly 30yo virgin, reading a book featuring a 30yo virgin was, to be frank, healing.

this is also the book i made a vaguepost about while i was reading it cuz i am lowkey afraid the author may find me through such vagueposts.

When You Get the Chance by Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson: Cousins Mark and Talia – both gay – find themselves in Ontario on pride weekend and take a spontaneous road trip to Vancouver pride.

This was my zipbook for the month (if you're in california, ask me about libraries' zipbook programs!), and ngl, I regretted it a little bit. This was pitched to me as a cousin/bff road trip and that is absolutely not the story here. This is a family drama centering on the queer teens of the family. It was clearly a hand-off where one author wrote each pov. The plot is strange and pointless. It is absolutely not a road trip book. Nothing interesting happens, glad i got it thru the library instead of buying it myself.

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral: Teenage piano prodigy Glory has gone missing from inpatient care, where she was admitted after uncontrollably playing Chopin's Chopsticks.

this was in the free bins at work and i found it intriguing. it was published in 2013 which i think is its downfall. the format is cool and innovative. it's like a graphic novel, but using photography and mixed media (like newspaper articles & report cards). the beginning implies a sorta mystery/thriller/missing person story, but it's more of a (traditional, played-out) romeo & juliet deal. i think it could've been produced today and it would've been way more interesting and better executed, given the general popularity of and respect for graphic novels in general.

Paper Girls, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughn: With the girls split across the timestream, they must survive, find their way back to each other, and return home in one piece.

I powered through this in january and i gotta say, it's nothing special. the timeline got predictably confusing, but the narrative doesn't do anything to help you with it. i was also disappointed in the ending even though it wasnt as hopeless as it couldve been. still disappointing in general. i've also seen this on "good sapphic rep" lists and i'm not sure i'd agree with that. ngl, i think i've already forgotten most of the series, let alone what happened in which volume.

A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy: Emmett wants a career as an openly gay country singer, and his first step is performing at a country superstar's amusement park; Luke was brought up hating country music, but his concerns over his mother's illness lead him to reluctantly take a job at the amusement park.

This was pleasantly better than i expected it to be. i thought it struck a perfect balance between pride & the gravitas of coming out, big dreams of stardom and small dreams of the future, young love and adult themes, and ultimately, realism & camp. there was a clear dolly parton insert character here, and yes, the characters meet her in person. but honestly, bc it's balanced with some southern-style casual homophobia, it didn't feel too outlandish for me. the fact that this book remained steadfastly YA while not shying from discussing things like terminal illness & coming out in the south really impressed me.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce: Alanna of Trebond steals her twin brother's knighthood commission, disguising her gender, and uses her powerful healing to help her fellow knight, the prince.

i started this series (of series) in junior high and never finished it cuz it wasn't published yet lol. i've always wanted to revisit it so i finally began again and i gotta say. i had thought i'd forgotten most of what happened but no; not much happens at all in this book. the prince got sick and i was like aw hell yeah the story's getting started and then it was over. that was the climax. thank goodness it's in audio now cuz idk if i'd have the patience to reread the series otherwise.

Tea Leaves by Jacob Budenz: A collection of queer short stories leaning into the witchy, the horror, and the speculative.

I was so hoping this one would be a success, but it fell apart pretty quickly for me. Mostly, the stories just drag on far too long. There are promising premises and the writing style isn't untenable, but almost every story needed a heavy editing hand.

The Lawrence Brown Affair by Cat Sebastian: An agoraphobic inventor hires a new secretary and finds himself falling in love, not least because this secretary helps him cultivate a relationship with his young son.

I found myself moderately invested in this one. i liked the couple, but wasnt rly invested in the characters on their own outside of the relationship. this also felt a little piecemeal plotwise. single dads are in my tropebox but that doesnt rly come up until 60%ish. so far, i've largely preferred sebastian's sedgewicks series over the turner series.

Mister Invincible: Local Hero by Pascal Jousselin: Mister Invincible is the only true comic book superhero – his powers allow him to use the format of comics themselves to save the day.

This was a very cute read! It read just like a sunday comics strip, like beadle bailey or garfield, but elevated to an deliberately meta level. I picked it from a branch of my library knwon for artsy books and this one fulfilled.

Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3) by Seanan McGuire: Everything has returned to normal at Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children after the twins escaped; until a dissolving girl falls from the sky, demanding to see her mother Sumi – who is a recently murdered teenager.

I've seen this one talked about mostly as the most disappointing of the series - it's fine, but ppl tend to agree its the weakest. after i tricked my own damn self into disappointment with the previous one, i found this a delight! i especially loved that we visited multiple worlds.

Rizzio by Denise Mina: On the evening of March 9th, 1566, a conspiracy to assassinate David Rizzio, private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots, took place.

I likely would not have been as disappointed had i known any specifics about this piece of history going in. i expected some espionage, a focus on rizzio as a main character. instead, he was dead by page 20, and the rest of the book sprawled on, debating how mary could keep her crown. had that been the book that was pitched to me, i likely wouldve still picked it up! but i wouldve had more accurate expectations.

Bloody Jack by LA Meyer: Orphan Mary Faber finds herself aboard a ship of Queen VIctoria's British navy, masquerading as a boy – Jacky.

I've been wanting to get through this series since junior high and after rereading this one... i remember exactly why i never did. its the driest piece of historical fiction wrapped in a difficult accent. most disappointing now is how tragically heterosexual it is. i dont need every genderbend story to be explicitly about transness but it does seem weird if its never addressed; and I'd also prefer if 15yos weren't swearing marriage vows ngl. I'm gonna read the second book, but i may throw in the towel after that.

[cameronjonesweb]

WordCamp Europe 2023 Wrapup

I recently spent a whirlwind weekend in Athens for WordCamp Europe 2023. For much of the last 3-4 years I wasn’t sure if I would even get to attend a WordCamp again. The WordPress community in Australia has been very slow to recover from COVID, so this was not only my first WordCamp outside of Australia, it was my first WordCamp anywhere since 2019. I was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the…