Blue Beetle #8
Jun. 4th, 2025 12:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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Writer: Len Wein
Pencils: Paris Cullins
Inks: Dell Barras
A reformed criminal tries to make an honest living, but life keeps beating him down.
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Wednesday Reading Meme & Books 37-39 of 2025
Jun. 4th, 2025 07:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells, Out of the Deep I Cry (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) by Julia Spencer-Fleming and Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells.
What I am Currently Reading: In a Dark House (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) by Deborah Crombie.
What I Plan to Read Next: I have three more library books out, and four more on request, so definitely one of those!!
Book 37 of 2025: Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)
So good! ( spoilers )
So good! I'm trying not to read these all at once, but I'm already getting the final two books from the library, so it's going to be hard to hold back. I'm giving this book five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 38 of 2025: Out of the Deep I Cry (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Julia Spencer-Fleming)
I really enjoyed this book!!! ( spoilers )
Really good book. I've requested the next and am giving this one five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 39 of 2025: Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)
So good! ( spoilers )
This book was really good. I'm giving it five hearts, natch.
♥♥♥♥♥
What I am Currently Reading: In a Dark House (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) by Deborah Crombie.
What I Plan to Read Next: I have three more library books out, and four more on request, so definitely one of those!!
Book 37 of 2025: Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)
So good! ( spoilers )
So good! I'm trying not to read these all at once, but I'm already getting the final two books from the library, so it's going to be hard to hold back. I'm giving this book five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 38 of 2025: Out of the Deep I Cry (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Julia Spencer-Fleming)
I really enjoyed this book!!! ( spoilers )
Really good book. I've requested the next and am giving this one five hearts.
♥♥♥♥♥
Book 39 of 2025: Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)
So good! ( spoilers )
This book was really good. I'm giving it five hearts, natch.
♥♥♥♥♥
Korean Potato Salad
Jun. 4th, 2025 04:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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Korean Potato Salad
Total Time 45 minutes (plus 1 hour for chilling) 6 servings
Ingredients
1 small red onion, finely chopped
2 Persian cucumbers, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
1 small carrot, peeled, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided, plus more
1 lb. russet potatoes (about 2 medium), peeled, cut into 8 equal pieces
2 large eggs, rinsed
1 cup fresh corn kernels (from about 1 ear; optional)
½ cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. yellow mustard (such as French’s)
Preparation
Step 1 - Place 1 small red onion, finely chopped, 2 Persian cucumbers, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise, 1 small carrot, peeled, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in medium bowl and massage until vegetables look shiny and are just starting to release some liquid. Let sit while potatoes cook to allow vegetables to soften further and release more liquid (at least 15 minutes).
Step 2 - Place 1 lb. russet potatoes (about 2 medium), peeled, cut into eight equal pieces, in medium saucepan and pour in cold water to cover by 2". Season generously with salt and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Carefully lower 2 large eggs, rinsed, into pan. If using 1 cup fresh corn kernels (from about 1 ear), add to pot. Cover and cook, adjusting heat as needed to maintain a simmer, 10 minutes (exactly). Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water. Slide a skewer into a potato piece; there should be no resistance. If potatoes aren’t tender, continue cooking until they are, up to 5 minutes longer. Drain cooked potatoes and corn (if using) in a fine-mesh sieve; return to pot.
Step 3 - Peel eggs and add to pot with potatoes. Using a potato masher or fork, smash eggs and potatoes until broken up into small, irregular pieces (exact size doesn’t matter).
Step 4 - Drain vegetables in same sieve, squeezing fistfuls very hard to remove excess liquid. Add to potato mixture along with ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar, 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp. yellow mustard (such as French’s), and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt; mix well with a rubber spatula to combine (potatoes will break up further and become creamy). Taste and season with more salt if needed. Transfer potato salad to an airtight container, cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour, before serving.
Do ahead: Salad can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
The Day in Spikedluv (Tuesday, June 3)
Jun. 4th, 2025 06:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I did zero shopping while I was downtown \o/, but still got in a short walk around the park. I did run to a local shop on my way home to get the meat sticks that Pip likes, and of course they were out of them. I got a yogurt parfait to try and was impressed to see that they used fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries). It was good, and filling.
I did a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, scooped kitty litter, and paid a bill online.
I finished Network Effect and started the next Duncan Kincaid book, and talked with mom. For my walk with the dogs, I went on a different trail, one that’s .50 mi instead of .25. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to add on a 1/4 mile each week. If so, by next week I’ll be doing a mile a day, which is good, considering. I also did some more writing, ~900 words on a brand new fic for
smallfandomfest. (If you guessed that it’s a Murder, She Wrote crossover, you’d be right. *g*)
We had leftover pulled pork (from Sunday’s b-day party) for supper, so another night I didn’t have to cook!
Temps started out at 39.9(F) (I know! I was o_O about it too!) and reached 84. It was very nice out, but still cool inside the house, so I wore a sweatshirt most of the day while iside.
I did a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, scooped kitty litter, and paid a bill online.
I finished Network Effect and started the next Duncan Kincaid book, and talked with mom. For my walk with the dogs, I went on a different trail, one that’s .50 mi instead of .25. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to add on a 1/4 mile each week. If so, by next week I’ll be doing a mile a day, which is good, considering. I also did some more writing, ~900 words on a brand new fic for
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
We had leftover pulled pork (from Sunday’s b-day party) for supper, so another night I didn’t have to cook!
Temps started out at 39.9(F) (I know! I was o_O about it too!) and reached 84. It was very nice out, but still cool inside the house, so I wore a sweatshirt most of the day while iside.
Just One Thing (04 June 2025)
Jun. 4th, 2025 10:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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It's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Black Panther #3
Jun. 4th, 2025 10:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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Words and pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Mike Royer
T'Challa and his pals travel to King Solomon ‘s tomb in search of the second brass frog.
( Read more... )
Irregular Webcomic! #2785 Rerun
Jun. 4th, 2025 10:11 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)

Well it's better than going backwards.
2025-06-04 Rerun commentary: It took them 2269 strips and just over six years to get to the Swamp of Terror, having finally done with crossing the Orcrift Mountains. Who said nothing ever happens in this comic?
All-New Venom #6-7
Jun. 4th, 2025 01:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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People come up with these little fanfictions about what's going on behind the scenes and it's like, no, you're always way off. You're always way off. There's stuff I can't talk about, but there will come a point where I will be able to tell you exactly what editorial thinks of Paul, and you'll see it with your own eyes. -- Al Ewing
( Read more... )
Sellafield could leak until 2050s, MPs warn
Jun. 4th, 2025 08:18 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)
A report criticises the speed of decommissioning work at the UK's largest nuclear site, Sellafield.
Secretary Lutnick Visited
Jun. 4th, 2025 02:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, a prolific inventor with many patents, visited the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Tuesday morning, to give a speech praising innovation and the patent system, and then answer questions. A number of employees were in the auditorium; I attended remotely. In answer to one question, he defended Trump’s tariffs, whether out of sincere belief, or because he needs to say things like that in order to stay in the boss’s good graces. He did have a vision of factories being largely automated, rather than of tens of millions of Americans working on assembly lines, the way they did before America ceased to be great, and became in need of the Mango Mussolini’s work to restore its former greatness.
At the end of the session, the acting Director of the USPTO presented the Secretary wit( two gifts: a framed copy of his first patent, and a wooden pen made of American white oak, and crafted by Peter MacArtisan from a salvaged “shoe.” Back in 1998, the Patent Office still had “shoes” with paper copies of patents that examiners could consult, although there was an electronic search tool already. Today, we have more advanced electronic search tools, and no shoes. Ms. Coke, the acting Director, described “Peter MacArtisan” as a former examiner, now on the Board of Appeals. The name was quite familiar to me (I’m not using the man’s real name because I don’t have his permission, and he’s not a public figure like Secretary Lutnick); a few months after I had submitted a job application, he got back to my father, who then called me (I had started my probationary period as a science teacher and dorm parent at a private high school for troubled teenagers) to inform me that I had a better offer, and here I am.
I talked with Mr. MacArtisan on the phone, and then met him; he was a supervisory patent examiner at the time, and then ascended to the Board of Appeals. I didn’t know that he also made wooden pens.
At the end of the session, the acting Director of the USPTO presented the Secretary wit( two gifts: a framed copy of his first patent, and a wooden pen made of American white oak, and crafted by Peter MacArtisan from a salvaged “shoe.” Back in 1998, the Patent Office still had “shoes” with paper copies of patents that examiners could consult, although there was an electronic search tool already. Today, we have more advanced electronic search tools, and no shoes. Ms. Coke, the acting Director, described “Peter MacArtisan” as a former examiner, now on the Board of Appeals. The name was quite familiar to me (I’m not using the man’s real name because I don’t have his permission, and he’s not a public figure like Secretary Lutnick); a few months after I had submitted a job application, he got back to my father, who then called me (I had started my probationary period as a science teacher and dorm parent at a private high school for troubled teenagers) to inform me that I had a better offer, and here I am.
I talked with Mr. MacArtisan on the phone, and then met him; he was a supervisory patent examiner at the time, and then ascended to the Board of Appeals. I didn’t know that he also made wooden pens.
D.O.P.-T.
Jun. 3rd, 2025 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
We went to Walgreen's; which was surprisingly quiet, because every food and drink item in the place is labelled not to be sold. Apparently a glacially slow inventory after a corporate acquisition. Barmy. Then we went to Costco, which was bedlam. Got bananas and jam and the housemate got frozen teriyaki chicken.
Link soup, from quite a range of dates
Jun. 3rd, 2025 09:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The usual mess of interesting things I've read, most of them quite out of date, in approximate order of my having read them. Brought to you by my browser crashing twice when I tried to start it after my most recent reboot.
As always, I use Export Tabs to wrangle this. And maybe my current 1,625 tab count will decrease some after I close all these?
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/export-tabs/odafagokkafdbbeojliiojjmimakacil?hl=en
Some good news from the south:
Woman who went on the lam with untreated TB is now cured | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/woman-who-went-on-the-lam-with-untreated-tb-is-now-cured/
Mechanical Watch – Bartosz Ciechanowski
https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
How a North Korean Fake IT Worker Tried to Infiltrate Us
https://blog.knowbe4.com/how-a-north-korean-fake-it-worker-tried-to-infiltrate-us
How I Got My Laser Eye Injury - Funranium Labs
https://www.funraniumlabs.com/2024/07/how-i-got-my-laser-eye-injury/
( Read more... )
As always, I use Export Tabs to wrangle this. And maybe my current 1,625 tab count will decrease some after I close all these?
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/export-tabs/odafagokkafdbbeojliiojjmimakacil?hl=en
Some good news from the south:
Woman who went on the lam with untreated TB is now cured | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/woman-who-went-on-the-lam-with-untreated-tb-is-now-cured/
Mechanical Watch – Bartosz Ciechanowski
https://ciechanow.ski/mechanical-watch/
How a North Korean Fake IT Worker Tried to Infiltrate Us
https://blog.knowbe4.com/how-a-north-korean-fake-it-worker-tried-to-infiltrate-us
How I Got My Laser Eye Injury - Funranium Labs
https://www.funraniumlabs.com/2024/07/how-i-got-my-laser-eye-injury/
( Read more... )
More preparation
Jun. 3rd, 2025 10:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Got up around 11:00 and had breakfast and coffee. Showered, washed my hair, and dressed.
Then I did various things in preparation for my trip. I took out the garbage, and walked around the block. I took out the recycling, and walked around the block. I cleaned the cat pan, and took out the dirty litter and walked around the block.
I waited for the purse I ordered to show up, as it was to be delivered today.
At 3:30 I checked in for my flight online, and printed out my boarding pass. I also emailed it to my computer and phone, for extra security. It was the first time I used the printer since setting Oldest Brother's ashes and pictures there.
RK had a job interview today, but was done by 2:30ish. He went home, and then came and got me at 5:00.
WE went to California Pizza Kitchen and I got us dinner, that's his thank you for taking care of my cat and turtle while I'm gone. It was delicious, I had the Wild Mushroom pizza with the white truffle oil. Yum.
I gave him my keys, and
mashfanficchick's too, and kept the one I had copied for myself so I can lock up tomorrow when I leave.
When I got home my purse had been delivered, and it was almost time for my Al-anon meeting. I used the short time before to put the things from my purse that I want to bring in my computer bag. And then I had the meeting. It was very small, just me and M and S.
After the meeting I Teamed the FWiB. We talked for a little over an hour. After we were done, I took my Pathfinder book, my dice, and one of my Al-anon books and the new purse and fit them all in the duffle bag.
Then I fed the pets, and started here.
Oh, the turtle tank light was on when I got up this morning. So I assume I did in fact get the timer set up properly.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. RK.
3. Everything fit in my duffle bag.
4. Turtle tank light timer works.
5. Got checked in OK.
6. My new purse is just what I wanted for now.
Then I did various things in preparation for my trip. I took out the garbage, and walked around the block. I took out the recycling, and walked around the block. I cleaned the cat pan, and took out the dirty litter and walked around the block.
I waited for the purse I ordered to show up, as it was to be delivered today.
At 3:30 I checked in for my flight online, and printed out my boarding pass. I also emailed it to my computer and phone, for extra security. It was the first time I used the printer since setting Oldest Brother's ashes and pictures there.
RK had a job interview today, but was done by 2:30ish. He went home, and then came and got me at 5:00.
WE went to California Pizza Kitchen and I got us dinner, that's his thank you for taking care of my cat and turtle while I'm gone. It was delicious, I had the Wild Mushroom pizza with the white truffle oil. Yum.
I gave him my keys, and
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
When I got home my purse had been delivered, and it was almost time for my Al-anon meeting. I used the short time before to put the things from my purse that I want to bring in my computer bag. And then I had the meeting. It was very small, just me and M and S.
After the meeting I Teamed the FWiB. We talked for a little over an hour. After we were done, I took my Pathfinder book, my dice, and one of my Al-anon books and the new purse and fit them all in the duffle bag.
Then I fed the pets, and started here.
Oh, the turtle tank light was on when I got up this morning. So I assume I did in fact get the timer set up properly.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. RK.
3. Everything fit in my duffle bag.
4. Turtle tank light timer works.
5. Got checked in OK.
6. My new purse is just what I wanted for now.