#Grace Chiang

[thepermanentrainpress]

UNDER THE RADAR: APRIL 2023

April's Under The Radar brings new releases from Porteau, The Evan Williams Project, Grace Chiang, Hotel of the Laughing Tree, Down the Lees and Odum Abekah.

1) Porteau - “Split Screen Eyes”

Sometimes, it takes a hurtful dynamic to uncover quiet strength.

“Split Screen Eyes” is helmed by inner monologue—an emotional push and pull from “caring for someone with mental illness and concurrent substance use.” Victoria Williams and Craig Stevenson acknowledge the codependence and create distance with some whimsical, less orthodox language. The single combines Williams’ winsome vocals, relaxed guitars, synths, harmonies, and a hint of harmonica. “Aberration is uncomfortable but it’s what I need,” Williams sings, setting boundaries and deepening the sentiment simultaneously. Porteau’s sophomore album What I Need is out June 2, 2023.

Written by: Natalie Hoy

2) Hotel of the Laughing Tree - “Faraway Friends”

“Faraway Friends” is a fun and throbbing melody despite isolating emotions. It was lyrically inspired by the majority of their band members moving away from New York, and is sung from the perspective of vocalist AJ Estrada, who remained in their home state. “No need to let go, please keep me in your world / Back in your old back seat / Time never slows when I want to leave the scene...” Time can be unforgiving when you’re going through a period of change and uncertainty. The result is woozy, beautiful, bracing—vocals, drum machines, keys and guitars trying to shake the rearview mirror.

Hotel is comprised of Estrada, Brandon Peterson and Jonathon Streker. “Faraway Friends” is the title track off their fifth full-length album, out now.

Faraway Friends by Hotel of the Laughing Tree

Written by: Natalie Hoy

3) Grace Chiang (featuring Rebecca Sichon & Amanda Na) - “Played”

A modern day love triangle that leans on the shared experiences of women is at the core of “Played.” Encapsulating the manipulation and betrayal of a lost lover, the song’s use of two female vocalists plays on the misplaced anger and fraught emotion. It’s a sublime debut single from producer/songwriter Chiang, creating notes and tones that are sultry, distracted and resentful. The harmonies and vocal runs between Sichon and Na are sweet to the ear – a division and predicament that reaches an understanding towards each other. In the pop/R&B realm with a soulful lining, soft piano is richly elevated by punchy hip hop beats.  

I couldn’t be more thrilled to hear that Chiang is collaborating with other female artists and creatives from underrepresented communities, in a project set for release later this year. “Played” celebrates the strength of emerging women in music and encourages us to let go of those who don’t show us the same loyalty and respect.

Written by: Chloe Hoy

4) The Evan Williams Project - “Contact”

“I know that prison in the palace of a demagogue / Is ever better than the curse of being free.” 

Scott McGowan’s struggle with his spiritual belief is heard in “Contact,” omnipresent thoughts that err on regret and a looming end. They bring a new definition to raw—creating music while going through an honest bout of questioning one’s faith and mental health. It is less of the heavy, hard rock found in past releases, instead having a progressive, ambient feel built by vocal layering, clean guitar leads, and reverb. McGowan and his sister Launey have a perpetual quality to their voices that linger in the weight of Christianity and desperation. They have a mysterious, almost vigilant sound rooted in questioning reception and our existence; a very compelling listen and a story far from its conclusion.  

The Evan Williams Project is fronted by McGowan, with Allayne (Launey) McGowan (drums), Isaac Robinson (keys) and Jaxon Russell (guitar). Their new album Willpower is out now.

WILLPOWER by The Evan Williams Project

Written by: Chloe Hoy

5) Down the Lees - “Dead and Over”

Oh so bleak and penetrating as they veer into frustrating territory in “Dead and Over,” a release of negative emotions felt over the course of the past few years. Laura Lee Schultz fronts the post-rock/shoegaze act, carrying a piece of her soul and a jaded energy to elevate the single. Her voice is tired and anxious, angry and embattled in a losing fight. I love the mystifying sound, it’s both biting and tormenting as instruments crash in and out. In addition to the general overcast of the pandemic, they address artist mental health struggles and ageism in the challenges faced by older female musicians (“No one gives a f*ck about aging women”). 

For any creatives who have faced doubts about ability, recognition, assumed retirement or expiration, the band carves out the best of what is left—which is plenty of passion and perspective. Something to remember. Down the Lees is Schultz, Chris Carlson (bass) and Andy Ashley (drums).

Dead and Over by Down the Lees

Written by: Chloe Hoy

6) Odum Abekah - “GOOD FOR YA”

Odum Abekah’s “GOOD FOR YA” started with a sinuous beat, and blossomed into a dancefloor special with its lush layers and persuasive tone.

Originally from Fredericton, NB and now based in Calgary, Abekah is a graduate of both Humber College and Mount Allison University music programs. His sound is uplifting and put-together—retrowave mixed with modern rock guitars and sturdy drums. Abekah’s slick vocals play the part of wooing a potential lover well (“But the world they capture's digitized black and white / You deserve some colour”). “GOOD FOR YA” is a song with no regrets; leaving everything on the line for a shot at something special.

Written by: Natalie Hoy

[elioherondale]

I'm going to be honest, the art that you use as your banner is what sold me on reading Green Arrow I love it so much

Aww, thank you so much~

[classic-who-review]

The Talons of Weng-Chiang 1977

8/10

This is going to be slightly controversial, but I think this episode gets an 8. Let me explain. This episode has some extremely racist elements that are not something to be proud of. I personally think we should extend some grace considering how anti-racist Doctor Who has always been. This was a huge mistake on their part, and it's not something to just flippantly excuse, but I think this episode can still be enjoyed. I love the Victorian London setting and the Sherlock Holmes vibes so much. Jago and Litefoot are the best guest stars ever. They're so fun! I am personally of the opinion that this episode would get a 10/10 and could possibly be the best episode in the show, if it wasn't for the racism.

Feel free to disagree!

[madmanswords]

Challenge request!

Tell me the most CHARACTER DEFINING episodes of Doctor Who... For EVERY COMPANION. 1963 - 2024.

OK, so I worry this list will not satisfy you. It's been over a decade since I've done a full Doctor Who watch through, so there's a lot of companions I haven't seen in a long time. Some of these choices, as a result, will be a bit vibes based.

I was going to do some justification write-up on some, but I'm looking at a list of like 60 names (and that's after I omitted the 10th Doctor Specials companions since they're all only one episode). Feel free to ask me about any specific choices.

This will be TV Companions (counting plot-important Webisodes as TV, but most of those are just regular TV companions anyway), but I do reserve the right to have an audio adventure as the chosen episode (in one case, it's a Companion Chronicle). I am also including spin-off shows.

List under the cut

Susan Foreman - The Dalek Invasion of Earth (Maybe The Empire of Death if the theories are right, lol) Barbara Wright - The Romans Ian Chesterton - The Daleks Vicki Pallister - The Rescue Steven Taylor - The Celestial Toymaker Katarina - The Daleks' Master Plan Sara Kingdom - The Daleks' Master Plan Dodo Chaplet - The Gunfighters Polly - The Power of the Daleks Ben Jackson - The War Machines Jamie McCrimmon - The Mind Robber Victoria Waterfield - The Tomb of the Cybermen Zoe Heriot - The Mind Robber Liz Shaw - Inferno Jo Grant - The Death of the Doctor Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Spearhead from Space Sergeant John Benton - Invasion of the Dinosaurs Captain Mike Yates - The Dæmons Sarah Jane Smith - The Monster of Peladon Harry Sullivan - The Ark in Space Leela - The Talons of Weng-Chiang K9 - School Reunion Romana I - The Androids of Tara Romana II - Destiny of the Daleks Adric - Earthshock Nyssa - Castrovalva Tegan Jovanka - Time-Flight Vislor Turlough - Planet of Fire Kamelion - The King's Demons Peri Brown - Peri and the Piscon Paradox Mel Bush - The One Doctor Ace - A Death in the Family Grace Holloway - Doctor Who: The Movie (Mentioned in Night of the Doctor counts, so...) Charley Pollard - The Chimes of Midnight C'rizz - Creed of the Kromon Lucie Bleedin' Miller - Lucie Miller Tamsin Drew - Situation Vacant Molly "Dark Eyes" O'Sullivan - Dark Eyes 1 Rose Tyler - Journey's End Adam Mitchell - The Long Game Mickey Smith - The Age of Steel Donna Noble - The Fires of Pompeii Martha Jones - Last of the Time Lords Captain Jack Harkness - Captain Jack Harkness Wilfred Mott - The End of Time Amy Pond - The Beast Below Rory Williams - Dinosaurs on a Spaceship River Song - The Husbands of River Song Craig Owens - Closing Time Clara Oswald - The Magician's Apprentice Nardole - The Doctor Falls Bill Potts - World Enough and Time Missy - The Doctor Falls Graham O'Brien - The Woman Who Fell to Earth Ryan Sinclair - Spyfall Yasmin Khan - Survivors of the Flux Dan Lewis - Legend of the Sea Devils Ruby Sunday - 73 Yards (So Far)

This list is probably bad

[uovoc]

2023 Media consumption

God tier: media that invoked blorbo-induced euphoria, mini-obsession, or just haunt me

White Cat Legend (大理寺日志, Dali Court Journal) - donghua, seasons 1 and 2. The new vice minister of the imperial court of criminal justice is, unfortunately, a cat demon. Tang Dynasty workplace comedy/political intrigue. Lovely animation, sick fight scenes, and catboys.

Scissor Seven (刺客伍六七) - donghua, seasons 2-3. Netflix summary: "Seeking to recover his memory, a scissor-wielding, hairdressing, bungling quasi-assassin stumbles into a struggle for power among feuding factions." Season 1 was just ok at best, season 2 was great, season 3 was phenomenal, season 4 was meh.

Derkholm duology by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

God Troubles Me / Hanhua Riji (汉化日记) - donghua. Cringefail loser girl Su Moting, her cringefail smartphone god, and her cringefail cat (demon) have to save the world. But first she has to go to work. And get takeout. And watch dramas. The premise sounds SO cringe but it's well-executed and hilarious. And actually a pretty sharp but good-humored window into the delights and horrors of modern everyday life in china.

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt (reread). At the peak of the California gold rush, hitmen Charlie and Eli Sisters are hired for a job that Eli is liking less and less. 1st-person perspective of a stone-cold killer, where it turns out the killer is just Some Guy. Who is kind of awkward. And pathetic. And maybe not very bright.

Gobelins graduation animated shorts: "Chroniques de l'Eau Salée" (2021), "Last Summer" (2022), and "Go Fishboy" (2022). Available to watch on YouTube. Got caught up on 2021 and 2022 and these are the ones that will haunt me.

Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi - manga (reread). Teenage martial artist is cursed to transform into a hot girl whenever he's splashed with cold water. Still some of the funniest and most deranged comedy I've ever read.

"Golden Age" - short story by Naomi Novik set in the Temeraire universe. Hilarious and delightful Feral Temeraire AU.

Just ok: media that I didn't hate, and maybe even enjoyed

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

Coyote Blue by Christopher Moore

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore

Glass Onion (2022) dir. Rian Johnson

Puss in Boots: the Last Wish (2022) dir. Joel Crawford

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

Witch's Business by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones (reread) - Charmed Life, The Lives of Christopher Chant, Mixed Magics, The Pinhoe Egg

Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction, ed. Sharyn November. Faves: "Beauty" by Sherwood Smith, "Little Dot" by Diana Wynne Jones, and "Remember Me" by Nancy Farmer.

All Systems Red (异星危机) by Martha Wells, Simplified tr. by 黎思敏

All Saints Street (万圣街) - donghua, seasons 1-3

Moira's Pen by Megan Whalen Turner

Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

The Game by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

Selected Discworlds: Thief of Time, Unseen Academicals (reread)

The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer (reread)

The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer

"Louise", Gobelins 2021 graduation animated short. Pretty good, but not god tier.

The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Most of it was a slog, but the ending was wonderfully tender.

The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones (reread)

Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Spinning by Tillie Walden

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (reread)

The Mermaid (美人鱼) - movie (2016)

Exhalation by Ted Chiang. Fave: Exhalation

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

Motorcity - cartoon (rewatch)

Sing 2 - movie

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - movie

White Cat Legend (大理寺日志) manhua through chapter 186

A Monster in Paris - movie (rewatch)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - movie

Lionboy trilogy by Zizou Corder: Lionboy, The Chase, and The Truth (reread)

The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (封神第一部：朝歌风云) - movie

Our Flag Means Death - season 2

Skellig by David Almond (reread). Even more unsettling and magical than I remembered.

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (人渣反派自救系统) by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Savvy by Ingrid Law (reread)

The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry

Golden Age and Other Stories by Naomi Novik. "Golden Age" alone was amazing. Every thing else: meh.

Wonder by RJ Palacio except that the ending sucked

蓝溪镇 (Lanxi Zhen/Blue Creek Town) - manhua (reread), through chapter 112

Translation State by Ann Leckie

Disliked and often DNF'd

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley

Phoenix Rising by Karen Hesse

Palimpsest by Catherine Valente

Knives Out (2019) dir. Rian Johnson

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nhi Vgo

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots. Genuinely creative concept, enjoyable characters, and horrifying (affectionate) ending! Writing was just very, very bad.

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore

Stowaway by Karen Hesse

Nirvana in Fire (狼牙榜) - ok objectively it was fine. It was just SO long that I started losing patience at multiple points.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes on (2021) dir. Dean Fleischer Camp

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

Suzume - anime movie

Fairies Albums (百妖谱) - donghua

Link Click （时光代理人）- donghua

The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong - webcomic

Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo

Journey to the West: Demons Strike Back (西游伏妖篇) - movie

Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Others Writings by Jorge Luis Borges

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

Frozen 2 - movie

Logan - movie

The Three Sisters of Tenmasou - movie

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Nothing new.

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

Nimona (2023) - movie

Prophet by Helen MacDonald and Sin Blache

One Piece - the live action Netflix series

Good Omens season 2

Birdwing by Rafe Martin

Blue Eye Samurai - netflix cartoon

Haven't You Heard I'm Sakamoto - anime

System Collapse by Martha Wells

The Cay by Theodore Taylor (reread)

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Bottoms (2023) - movie

Daily Life of the Immortal King (仙王的日常生活) - donghua

Witch King by Martha Wells. Actually I enjoyed the Kai/Bashasa storyline a lot. The present-day storyline I found extremely boring. Which was unfortunate because it was more than half the book.

The King's Avatar (全职高手) - donghua

The Apothecary Diaries - anime

Assorted nonfiction

The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May. Bored. DNF

Alone in the Wilderness (2004) - dir. Dick Proenneke. Documentary of Proenneke's year spent living alone in the Alaskan wilderness. Neat look at one dude building a cabin, furniture, and all his accompanying household implements by hand.

A River Lost: The Life and Death of the Columbia by Blaine Harden. The human and environmental significance of the Columbia dam system.

Gifted Earth: The Ethnobotany of the Quinault and Neighboring Tribes by Douglas Deur. Guide to key native species and their traditional uses.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders. Four classic Russian short stories with accompanying technical analysis of their narrative construction. Great look at the process of writing and analyzing stories.

Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin - animal behavioral psychology

Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin - more animal behavioral psychology

Crying in HMart by Michelle Zauner. DNF. Felt like the book could have been 1/4 of its length. Mostly nothing new.

Wood in American Life: 1776-2076 by WG Youngquist and HO Fleischer. Wood use in America. Really makes you realize just how many things are now made out of plastic but used to be wood. And how much more difficult and expensive it was to make and replace objects.

Authentic Diversity: How to change the workplace for good by Michelle Silverthorn. Concise and nicely concrete. Would be a good starting place for an executive.

Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil - how some big data algorithms reinforce preexisting inequality, and how to improve them.

The Relationship Cure by Joan Declaire and John M. Gottman. The classic originator of the "bids for attention" approach. Pretty good, most helpful was the part where it identifies the styles of responses.

Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Childless Adults by Sara Zeff Geber

A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs

the excellent hyperlocal nature guidebook I bought after encountering the author at the mall

Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. 2018 ed.

[sennsational]

random genshin ships bcs✨anxiety✨

as a response to what is happening in my personal life, i thought it would be fun to distract myself and pair my moots with genshin males and females + a song [🎧] + a perfume [💋]. needless to say, i had a blast lmaoo — pls don’t take these too seriously, it’s all in good fun (and a distraction for myself),, if i forgot you, then i’m truly sorry! i’m doing these from the top of my head 🚶

@imaushi-ji - candace

[🎧] lowkey by niki | [💋] memoirs of a trespasser by imaginary authors

@asunflowerana - thoma

[🎧] that’s love by sundial | [💋] kogaï for her by annayake

@dottores - kamisato ayato

[🎧] paragraphs by luke chiang | [💋] petite by maison francis kurkdjian

@snezhnayans - kaveh

[🎧] empty love by gracey ft, ruel | [💋] coffee break by maison margiela replica

@alucrds - cyno

[🎧] east of eden by zella day | [💋] eau de soleil blanc by tom ford

@planetxiao - kaedehara kazuha

[🎧] heart in tokyo by good gasoline | [💋] lira by xerjoff

@sugardaddyreo - shikanoin heizou

[🎧] i wouldn’t know any better than you by gentle bones | [💋] luna by penthaligon’s

@darlingimawitch - yoimiya

[🎧] melody by jeremy zucker | [💋] the scent for her by hugo boss

@darkchocola - scaramouche/wanderer

[🎧] wasted nights by one ok rock | [💋] dear polly by vilhelm parfumerie

@sleepy3 - zhongli

[🎧] dreaming by mar | [💋] vanille insensée by atelier cologne

@itoshi-s - diluc ragnvindr

[🎧] limbo by keshi | [💋] teint de neige by lorenzo villoresi

@shoyoist - hu tao

[🎧] i like u by niki | [💋] amazing grace magnolia by philosophy

@portfolio-of-dreams - albedo

[🎧] conscience by jacob lee | [💋] bubble bath by maison margiela replica

@litepowee - yae miko

[🎧] urs by niki | [💋] delina by parfums de marly

@saecore - tighnari

[🎧] need by david archuleta | [💋] white tea by elizabeth arden

@sugr - childe

[🎧] stranger by lauv | [💋] fox in the flowerbed by imaginary authors

@sugusshi - xiao

[🎧] love about it by waterparks ft. blackbear | [💋] wood sage & sea salt by jo malone

@suyacho - pantalone

[🎧] say my name by nello | [💋] blackberry & bay by jo malone

@jotatetsuken - kaeya alberich

[🎧] coming home by honne ft. niki | [💋] magnolia bliss by juliette has a gun

@oo-mi-ru-oo - alhaitham

[🎧] skeletons by keshi | [💋] book by commodity

[someonelookingpraediti]

Quarterly Roundup April - June 2023

April

The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie ★★★★½

The Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie ★★★★☆

The Whispering Skull - Jonathan Stroud ★★★★★

The Hollow Boy - Jonathan Stroud ★★★★★

The Steps up the Chimney - William Corlett (re-read)

A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara ★★★★★

Stories of Your Life and Others - Ted Chiang ★★☆☆☆

May

The Door in the Tree - William Corlett (re-read)

The Tunnel Behind the Waterfall - William Corlett (re-read)

The Bridge in the Clouds - William Corlett (re-read)

My Friend Anna - Rachel DeLoache Williams ★★★☆☆

Maurice - E.M. Forster ★★☆☆☆

This is How you Lose the Time War - Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone ★☆☆☆☆

The Foxhole Court - Nora Sakavic (re-read)

The Raven King - Nora Sakavic (re-read)

The King's Men - Nora Sakavic (re-read)

Captive Prince - C.S. Pacat ★★☆☆☆

Prince's Gambit - C.S. Pacat ★★★★☆

Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare ★★★★☆

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (re-read)

Kings Rising - C.S. Pacat ★★★★★

June

Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson ★★★★☆

Belladonna - Adalyn Grace ★★★★☆

Icebreaker - A.L. Graziadei ★★★☆☆

Bunny - Mona Awad ★★☆☆☆

I'm Glad My Mom Died - Jennette McCurdy ★★★☆☆

Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones ★★★★☆

The Summer Palace and Other Stories - C.S. Pacat ★★★☆☆

Owain Glyndŵr - Terry Breverton ★★☆☆☆

view my rating system here

We're half way through the year, and I'm very close to catching up to my yearly goal. I fell way behind in the first quarter, but I got so much read in May I made up for it!

I had a fair few five-star books this quarter, but I also had a lot of really low rated books as well.

[indiesole]

THE 236 GREATEST PERSONALITIES IN THE ENTIRE KNOWN HISTORY/COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THIS WORLD! (@INDIES)

i.e. THE 236 GREATEST PERSONALITIES IN WORLD HISTORY! (@INDIES)

Rajesh Khanna

Lionel Messi

Leonardo Da Vinci

Muhammad Ali

Joan of Arc

William Shakespeare

Vincent Van Gogh

Online Indie

J. K. Rowling

David Lean

Nadia Comaneci

Diego Maradona

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Meena Kumari

Julius Caesar

Harrison Ford

Ludwig Van Beethoven

William W. Cargill

Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche

Samuel Curtis Johnson

Sam Walton

John D. Rockefeller

Andrew Carnegie

Roy Thomson

Tim Berners-Lee

Marie Curie

James J. Hill

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Roman Polanski

Samuel Slater

J. P. Morgan

Cary Grant

Dmitri Mendeleev

John Harvard

Alain Delon

Ramakrishna Paramhansa (Official God)

The Lumiere Brothers, Auguste & Louis

Carl Friedrich Benz

Michelangelo

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Ramana Maharishi

Mark Twain

Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri

Bruce Lee

Bhagwan Krishna (Official God)

Charlemagne

Rene Descartes

John F. Kennedy

Bhagwan Ganesha (Official God)

Walt Disney

Albert Einstein

Nikola Tesla

Alfred Hitchcock

Pythagoras

William Randolph Hearst

Cosimo de’ Medici

Johann Sebastian Bach

Alec Guinness

Nostradamus

Christopher Plummer

Archimedes

Jackie Chan

Guru Dutt

Amma Karunamayi/ Mata Parvati (Official God)

Peter Sellers

Gerard Depardieu

Joseph Safra

Robert Morris

Sean Connery

Petr Kellner

Aristotle Onassis

Usain Bolt

Jack Welch

Alfredo di Stefano

Elizabeth Taylor

Michael Jordan

Paul Muni

Steven Spielberg

Louis Pasteur

Ingrid Bergman

Norma Shearer

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Ayn Rand

Jesus Christ (Official God)

Luciano Pavarotti

Alain Resnais

Frank Sinatra

Allah (Official God)

Richard Nixon

Charlie Chaplin

Thomas Alva Edison

Alexander Graham Bell

Wright Brothers

Arjun (of Bhagwan Krishna’s Gita)

Jim Simons

George Lucas

Swami Sri Lahiri Mahasaya

Carl Lewis

Brett Favre

Helen Keller

Bernard Mannes Baruch

Buddha (Official God)

Hugh Grant

K. L. Saigal

Roger Federer

Rash Behari Bose

Tiger Woods

William Blake

Jesse Owens

Claude Miller

Bernardo Bertolucci

Subhash Chandra Bose

Satyajit Ray

Hippocrates

Chiang Kai-Shek

John Logie Baird

Geeta Dutt

Raphael (painter)

Bhagwan Shiva (Official God)

Radha (Ancient Krishna devotee)

George Orwell

Jorge Paulo Lemann

Catherine Deneuve

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Bill Gates

Bhagwan Ram (Official God)

Michael Phelps

Michael Faraday

Audrey Hepburn

Dalai Lama

Grace Kelly

Mikhail Gorbachev

Vladimir Putin

Galileo Galilei

Gary Cooper

Roger Moore

John Huston

Blaise Pascal

Humphrey Bogart

Rudyard Kipling

Samuel Morse

Wayne Gretzky

Yogi Berra

Barry Levinson

Patrice Chereau (director)

Jerry Lewis

Louis Daguerre

James Watt

Henri Rousseau

Nikita Krushchev

Jack Dorsey

Dev Anand

Elia Kazan

Alexander Fleming

David Selznick

Frank Marshall

Viswanathan Anand

Major Dhyan Chand

Swami Vivekananda

Felix Rohatyn

Sam Spiegel

Anand Bakshi

Victor Hugo

Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Official God)

Steve Jobs

Srinivasa Ramanujam

Lord Hanuman

Stanley Kubrick

Giotto

Voltaire

Diego Velazquez

Ernest Hemingway

Francis Ford Coppola

Michael Douglas

Kirk Douglas

Mario Lemieux

Kishore Kumar

James Stewart

Douglas Fairbanks

Confucius

Babe Ruth

Raj Kapoor

Titian aka Tiziano Vecelli

El Greco

Francisco de Goya

Jim Carrey

Mohammad Rafi

Steffi Graf

Pele

Gustave Courbet

Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi

Milos Forman

Steve Wozniak

Georgia O’ Keeffe

Mala Sinha

Aryabhatta

Magic Johnson

Patanjali

Leo Tolstoy

Tansen

Henry Fonda

Albrecht Durer

Benazir Bhutto

Cal Ripken Jr

Samuel Goldwyn

Mumtaz (actress)

Panini

Nicolaus Copernicus

Pablo Picasso

George Clooney

Olivia de Havilland

Prem Chand

Imran Khan

Pete Sampras

Ratan Tata

Meerabai (16th c. Krishna devotee)

Queen Elizabeth II

Pope John Paul II

James Cameron

Jack Ma

Warren Buffett

Romy Schneider

C. V. Raman

Aung San Suu Kyi

Benjamin Netanyahu

Frank Capra

Michael Schumacher

Steve Forbes

Paramhansa Yogananda

Tom Hanks

Kamal Amrohi

Hans Holbein

Shammi Kapoor

Gerardus Mercator

Edith Piaf

Bhagwan Shirdi Sai Baba (Official God)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

The Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop summer fundraiser is almost over! I am an alum, instructor and volunteer board member for this nonprofit workshop whose alums include Octavia Butler, Kim Stanley Robinson, Bruce Sterling, Nalo Hopkinson, Kameron Hurley, Nnedi Okorafor, Lucius Shepard, and Ted Chiang! Your donations will help us subsidize tuition for students, making Clarion — and sf/f — more accessible for all kinds of writers.

#10yrsago Iain Banks’s The Quarry, his final novel https://memex.craphound.com/2013/07/26/iain-bankss-the-quarry-his-final-novel/

#10yrsago What EFF learned at Comic-Con https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/07/what-we-learned-san-diego-comic-con

#10yrsago PIN-punching $200 robot can brute force every Android numeric screen-password in 19 hours https://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/07/22/pin-punching-robot-can-crack-your-phones-security-code-in-less-than-24-hours/

#10yrsago UK censorwall will also block “terrorist content,” “violence,” “circumvention tools,” “forums,” and more https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/sleepwalking-into-censorship/

#10yrsago No, Mr Cameron, you can’t solve porn with a hackathon https://www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2013/jul/24/anti-porn-hackday-cameron

#10yrsago Teachers open camping kid’s sealed letter home; eject kid for confessing to eating chocolate https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10190649/Child-banned-from-school-trip-for-eating-chocolate.html

#10yrsago David Cameron’s favourite censorware is built and maintained by Huawei https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-23452097

#10yrsago Jane Austen to grace £10 notes https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jul/24/jane-austen-appear-10-note

#5yrsago Bloom County’s second reboot collection: the election of 2016 and beyond https://memex.craphound.com/2018/07/26/bloom-countys-second-reboot-collection-the-election-of-2016-and-beyond/

#5yrsago Big Tech’s active moderation promise is also a potential source of eternal commercial advantage over newcomers https://memex.craphound.com/2018/07/26/big-techs-active-moderation-promise-is-also-a-potential-source-of-eternal-commercial-advantage-over-newcomers/

#5yrsago Facebook shares plummet on tiny shortfall in predicted growth https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-just-learned-the-true-cost-of-fixing-its-problems/

#5yrsago Appeals court kills the dirty trick of using Indian tribes as a front for patent trolls and claiming sovereign immunity https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/07/court-native-american-tribe-cant-be-a-sovereign-shield-during-patent-review/

#5yrsago What it’s like when Nazis infiltrate your conference https://twitter.com/JairusKhan/status/1021576115670933511

#1yrago “A Half-Built Garden”: Ruthanna Emrys’s stunning First Contact novel https://pluralistic.net/2022/07/26/aislands/#dead-ringers

[poppletonink]

An Inspired Reading Recommendations List: Pink Covers

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

Valley Of The Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Taming Of The Clueless by Ian Doescher

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra

Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney

Dreamin' Sun Vol 1 by Ichigo Takano

How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughn, Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson

Make A Scene by Mimi Grace

A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow

Doughnuts and Doom by Balazs Lorinczi

[sorrowfulnow]

I have Strong Opinions about Exhalation by Ted Chiang.

We need to talk about Exhalation, a short story by Ted Chiang, published in an anthology of science fiction short stories of the same name.

We need to talk about it because while not my favourite of his stories so far (that title goes to a very short story called The Great Silence, contained in the same book), I do think it is something we can derive a great amount from it as a piece of fiction.

Spoilers - both for plot and theme.

The very quick summary of the story goes: Society notices a strange occurrence where time seems to be moving faster, until a scientist discovers that instead humanity is perceiving time more slowly and eventually, within the next few centuries perhaps, no human will be able to think at all.

It is however more complex than that.

Exhalation is set in a world with metal walls surrounding it, and what is initially believed to be an infinitely high column of air above. Below the world is a reservoir of high-pressure air that is pumped up and is used to power the machinery that the society uses. Humanity itself is part of that machinery, each person is a robot powered by the movement of air and whose brains function because of that air moving.

Because all technology, and even Humans, are powered by the movement of air, they require the ambient pressure around them to remain lower than the pressure in their own bodies and the machines they use - and as it is used the air is released (exhaled) into the surrounding atmosphere. This isn't a problem until they discover that the sky is not infinite but is sealed and they are in effect in a large chamber where air is slowly accumulating and eventually the pressure will become equal meaning air will stop moving.

It's a metaphor for entropy and the heat death of the universe.

But more interestingly, it is a metaphor for the entropy and heat death of the universe being something caused by anthropological means.

Naturally in our own universe this isn't feasible, the universe is infinitely vast by comparison to our capacity as a species to produce heat. I do however offer an alternative.

It is a metaphor for climate change being the heat death of the world. It isn't an unobvious suggestion, but it's a fascinating one because of its cynicism towards technological salvation and the pursuit of an almost darkly pessimistic outlook on things.

The story ends with the pressure-death of the world, it is ultimately revealed the story itself is a blackbox style record left for explorers from our own reality to recover (this is a recurring trend in Chiang's stories, it seems to be a pet trope of his to reveal at the end of the story, it was being addressed to the reader directly), but immediately before it, after the discovery of this eventual doom there was talk about a great effort being made by certain groups (the technologists) to find a solution using machines, which failed.

Now granted this is realistic, and it drives home the point, but I think it brings up somewhat of a trend in thinking for Chiang, whose writing seems fatally deterministic. This isn't a fault or a criticism, and doesn't challenge the work, but it is of interest to me when reading Exhalation.

It is said in the story that a third of all people simply gave up on trying to find solutions, while another third looked for solutions in technology. The people looking for solutions are dragged out into the spotlight to show their failure, and ultimately it is the people who gave up that are right.

In The Great Silence, a similar conclusion is drawn - that extinction of an entire species is simply inevitable because nothing can be done. That what is framed as genocide is impossible to circumvent and that there is a value to "going out in grace". In The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, the main character is forced to simply accept their fate.

The end is pre-determined.

In What's Expected of Us, people have discovered a means to send electrical signals back in time and have used it to create a device which predicts if you will press a button or not. This ends up causing people to realise that free-will is effectively non-existent and that all things are predetermined.

If you're not seeing the trend in Chiang's work, so far from what I have read they're all stories about accepting something bad, because it was destined to happen.

The one to break furthest from the mould so far has been Dacey's Automatic Patent Nanny, a story about the risks of replacing humans with machines, and the need for human interaction in the nurturing process. It is however a story about accepting the status quo because while it was bad, it is destined.

They're stories that at the end of the day are about how liberalism is unwilling to challenge itself in order to avert self-annihilation, or how it can't fathom escaping a cycle of destruction. Everything is pre-determined and thus it must mean that the status quo was itself pre-determined.

Exhalation is not special amongst these, it simply builds a world around that assumption, creating a metaphor for climate change - machines which are killing the planet and life itself - and cannot imagine a way out of it.

It ends not with a message to do something about it, but to remember what you have lost as you allow yourself to die. It asks you to "enjoy what you have while it lasts, because the end is inevitable".

I do not personally think it is a particularly "wonderful parable".

[exalibur]

for the end-of-year book ask, 14 + 24!

thank you vera !! mwah !!

14. What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

the shadow of the wind by carlos ruiz zafón

wake, siren by nina maclaughlin

the people in the trees by hanya yanagihara

exhalation by ted chiang — but this is a stretch goal tbh, more likely a book for january

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

i wish you all the best by mason deaver — honestly, i think i wanted to like this / felt like i should like it so badly that i ended up on the other side of it. made it about halfway, but the mc was so frustrating they made me want to claw at my face.

portrait of a thief by grace d. li — similarly, it seemed like it was exactly up my alley, but man. it was slow. and the character voices were so repetitive and indistinct it just felt like a slog. also DNFed about halfway through, but i might come back to this one in the future!

[hausofsunflowersexplores]

Discover Your Perfect Thai City Match: A Guide to Thailand’s Urban Gems

As the kingdom of Thailand unfolds before you like the pages of an ancient manuscript, each city tells its own captivating tale. From the misty mountains of the north to the crystal waters of the south, these urban narratives weave together a tapestry of tantalizing possibilities - each thread carefully spun to beckon a different kind of dreamer.

Whether you're planning your next tropical vacation or considering a relocation to the Land of Smiles, let this guide help you discover the Thai city that perfectly matches your unique lifestyle and aspirations. Dive in and find your perfect urban soulmate!

Chiang Mai: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Digital Dreams

In the ancient walled city of Chiang Mai, where morning mist clings to temple spires like delicate silk, a new generation of seekers has found their sanctuary. Here, digital nomads tap away at laptops in centuries-old coffee houses, while [wellness enthusiasts] flow through sun-dappled yoga studios housed in traditional teak structures.

The city whispers to those who listen closely - spiritual wanderers drawn to saffron-robed monks gliding through narrow alleyways, nature lovers who hear the call of waterfalls cascading through nearby mountains. But beware the season of burning, when the air grows thick with the breath of smoldering fields, sending sensitive souls seeking temporary refuge elsewhere.

 Bangkok: The City That Never Exhales

Bangkok rises from the plains like a dragon of steel and glass, its scales glittering with neon and gold leaf. This is where ambitious dreams take flight, where entrepreneurs and culture seekers collide in an intoxicating dance of old and new. Street food vendors serve ancient recipes beneath towering skyscrapers, while centuries-old temples stand guard over gleaming shopping malls.

This city belongs to the restless, the ambitious, those who find poetry in chaos and opportunity in crowds. But be warned - Bangkok's embrace comes at a price, measured in both baht and patience, as traffic crawls through arteries of concrete and steel.

Pattaya: Where Sunset Meets Spotlight

Along the curved bay of Pattaya, retirement dreams mingle with nightlife fantasies. By day, retirees stroll along manicured beaches, their faces turned toward the gentle sea breeze. As twilight falls, the city transforms, donning sequins and neon like a dancer preparing for their nightly performance.

This is a tale of two cities - one of peaceful beachside living, another of endless entertainment. Choose your chapter wisely, for while some find paradise in Pattaya's dual nature, others may seek quieter shores.

Phuket: Pearl of the Andaman

Phuket floats in the Andaman Sea like a jewel in Thailand's crown, its beaches strung like pearls along the coastline. Here, luxury whispers from private villa pools and haute cuisine restaurants, while adventure beckons from crystal waters teeming with marine life.

This island writes its story in grand gestures - superyachts anchored in azure bays, remote workers tapping away in beachfront offices with million-dollar views. But paradise comes with a price tag, and high season brings a flood of tourists seeking their slice of heaven.

Koh Samui: The Wellness Warrior's Paradise

Emerald waters lap at white sand shores while palm fronds whisper ancient secrets - welcome to Koh Samui , where come to heal body and soul. This island moves to the rhythm of yoga flows and meditation bells, its air perfumed with lemongrass and possibility.

But isolation is both blessing and curse on this tropical haven. Those seeking constant connection to the mainland may find the island's embrace too tight, while others discover that disconnection is exactly what their soul required.

Hua Hin: The Gentle Coast

Like a graceful dowager of Thailand's resort towns, Hua Hin offers refinement without pretension. Here, retirees and families find their rhythm in the gentle lap of waves against wide beaches, in the satisfying thwack of golf balls across manicured greens.

This is not a story of wild adventures or pulsing nightlife - rather, it's a tale of contentment, of finding joy in small moments and peace in routine. Those seeking excitement may find the pace too languid, but for many, this is precisely the point.

---

Each city in Thailand's urban constellation calls to different seekers, different dreamers. The key lies not in finding the "best" destination, but in matching the rhythm of a place to the beat of your own heart. Whether you're planning a brief sojourn or seeking a new home, let the story of these cities guide you to your perfect chapter in the Land of Smiles.

[arjunrajsingh]

Finding the Perfect Budget Hotel in White Town: Pondicherry is Affordable Charm

The French flavoured heart of Pondicherry, White Town, is famous for its colourful colonial architecture, a serene ambiance and a lively street life. Its streets seem an anachronism: tree-lined avenues, pastel colour building, and charming cafes on every corner. It’s a great idea to stay in a budget hotel in White Town and get a taste of this beautiful place without overdoing what you pay. This gives you both convenience and comfort, which allows you to have the best Pondicherry offers in terms of history and culture.

Why not Stay in a Budget Hotel in White Town?

For anyone wanting to be close to the main attractions of White Town, choosing a budget hotel is an advantage. Reason being, the French Quarter is surrounded by picturesque surroundings, popular landmarks, and here they are; not far from the coastline and, of course, where many tourists desire to come to. You can go out and explore attractions such as the famous Rock Beach, Aurobindo Ashram and Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus without having to spend much travelling, as you are located in such a budget hotel.

His nearby location also means that a budget hotel stay places you close to cafes, galleries, shops and weekend markets, so you can spend more time out and about, and less time on the road. White Town is compact enough to walk, giving it a good chance to soak in the views at your own pace.

Affordable Comfortable Stays

It doesn’t mean that you can’t stay in a comfortable hotel in White Town. But this is one of the most budget friendly cities in Europe and most budget hotels here have comfortable, clean rooms with basic amenities such wifi, ac, and 24 hour front desk service. Some of these budget hotels also provide you complimentary breakfast or in house dining options so that you might begin your day with a tasty meal without extra expenses.

White Town’s budget hotels tend to have simple yet charming decor of the sort that you’d find in the French Quarter, minimalistic and often colourful. These hotels are cosy and comfortable hotel for when you are travelling solo, with a partner, or as a family that just need to relax after a day of exploring the city.

Close to White Town’s Best Attractions

Accessing some of Pondicherry’s famous attractions is easy — one of the greatest benefits of staying in a budget hotel in White Town. It’s a few minutes walk to Rock Beach, where you can grace your sunrise walk along the promenade, or sit with the ocean. South India’s charm, its beaches, golf courses, art galleries, quaint book stores and cafes offering both South Indian and French inspired treats line the streets of White Town.

Within walking distance also is Aurobindo Ashram, a peaceful retreat for meditation and self reflection. Among other things they do is visit the nearby Manakula Vinayagar Temple, which, along with being a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, one also uses as a detoxifying ritual. White Town is still within driving distance of these sites so you can actually experience them and see the unique French Indian cultural blend that results from the mixing.

Go out exploring Local Cuisine and Cafes.

If you’re a food lover, then staying in a budget hotel in White Town is a dream. There’s a lot of cafes and restaurants there serving either French or or traditional South Indian dishes. A short walk from your hotel, you can have a coffee and croissant at a French bakery; or dosa and chutney from a South Indian eatery and finish the day.

From high end to street, food is plentiful in Chiang Mai with each of the local dining scene available at whichever price point you are looking for. It’s a budget friendly option to stay in White Town because you can get to taste the vibrant tastes of Pondicherry while staying there.

Value and Convenience

A budget hotel in White Town gives you great value when it comes to not only staying but also while you commute. You can walk to most places near White Town and the variety of attractions means you can avoid having to eat out which can save a lot of money, plus there’re a number of picturesque views to take in on the walk. This area is great since you can enjoy the best of Pondicherry without spending a fortune.

When on a trip to the White Town side of Pondicherry, it is best to stay in a budget hotel there, for it will help you experience the French quarter’s charm and history. White Town offers affordable and comfortable accommodation and close proximity to top attractions while offering helpful travel tips for getting eating options in the area. If you are coming for the heritage sites, the beach or the odd mixture of cultures, but don't want to blow your budget then a budget hotel in White Town allows you to do all without the strain.