Returned our Zipcar to find a ton of police swarming the area, details showing up on the news sites now:

http://www.komonews.com/news/76870887.html

Book rec time!

I'm not finished this one yet, so if it turns out badly towards the end I will promptly retract this, but it's just brilliant so far and I have to recommend it. It's called Conceit, by Mary Novik, about Donne's family - she's a Canadian author, and if you know My Views on Canadian lit, well, I mostly avoid it? It's kind of horrible of me, and I'm mostly growing out of it, but I generally just don't like it. Anyway, Novik is determined to prove me wrong - she has done a marvelous job with the material. It's a gritty and realistic portrayal of 17th-century London without wallowing too inappropriately in the dirt, and it's not all that kind to its characters, but it's so terribly fair to them. And it's romantic and sexy but also very level-headed and practical, and the prose is just absolutely delicious, and there's just enough of Donne's poetry spliced in to make me melt when I want to be melted, without relying on it as a crutch. (A marvelous crutch.)

It's about John Donne's daughter, Pegge Donne. And it's also about Donne himself, in all his grimy glory, and it's also about Donne's wife Ann More - it slips around in the timeline really effectively, from the time of the Great Fire to the turn of the century to the 1630s and back 'round again. The true heart of the story - for me, anyway - is John and Ann's love affair, and it's treated so, so gorgeously. I realise I'm a romantic sap, and I'm especially a romantic sap when it comes to John Donne, so this is just such a treat for me to read.

Check it out on Amazon?


...Also, my interview went okay? I think. I hate hate hate hate hate interviews, but I was not (entirely) a gibbering idiot, so, points for Emma. And I have decided to die into A Song of Ice and Fire, wish me luck.

@s Hi @steampunkRings thanks 4 #follow by: @live_spaces @aheneghana @squidoo_u_2 @artntwit @stoansteirer on #twitter .com #followfriday

gr8 #twitter #followfriday in #China #Qinghai 2400 m altitude ; visit #Tibetan hospital ; oh yes, the pills taste bitter, the medicine is good, the #price is right. #people = kind. #Weather freezing #temperatures -12 deg. chill no snow ; No #fb #facebook allwd. ; posting via Hellotxt @aheneghana @live_spaces @artntwit #wonderfulworld #art_porcelain

watched good 'KungFu' #movie this morning #chinese martial #art ;on #china tv; morning chill cont; visit #Bhuddist temple #photography @stoansteirer @aheneghana

it is sunny dark outside at the moment.

Happy Thanksgiving, Americans! This poor Canuck is still drowning in work, alas and also woe. I have 700 words written? I'm aiming for 2k on this one, which is lowish for me but eh. I just want to get the stupid thing finished. Like, I love you, John Donne, I'm your biggest fangirl, but can you write this paper for me? Thanks.

(Also I find it amusing that pretty much every paper I've written this semester is about sex. Or gender politics, or both. Ahaha, oh self. Why I don't just go into Women's Studies is a good question.)

The last couple of days have been both eventful and lazy. I changed around a bunch of my classes next semester? I'm dropping Renaissance Drama for section two of Russian Lit, and I'm dropping Atlantic Canada since Confederation for British History (George III-Victoria). More exciting? I hope so. Also last night I went down to the other campus for Trivial Pursuit night, which was hella fun, but then I of course slept in this morning and just narrowly made it to my early class. And it's foggy and damp and ugly outside and oh God oh God one more week of school.

Oh, and I have a job interview tomorrow, for a seasonal job at a book store? And I am biting my nails over it because I have only ever worked for my parents and, you know... the real world! SCARY. But if I must plunge myself back into the death spiral of retail hell, as of course I inevitably must, money dear boy and all that, a book store is as good a place as any (and better than most) to do it, so... cross your fingers for me.

First, though: to finish this damned paper.

(Have I mentioned lately that I love these three to little bitty pieces? Because I do. There you are, your moment of zen.)

I'm being haunted by a dream I can't remember.

The images don't stay for long enough for me to even grasp them - but they trigger a huge dump of adrenaline and fear... whatever it is, it's very real and I can't access it for long enough to assure myself it's nothing.

This has been going on for about a week.

There's something in the back of my head that isn't me.

And I am freaked right the FUCK out!!

Tweaks and enhancements

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4. You'll now receive the Writer's Block Question of the Day in the body of email notifications. To sign up for Writer's Block notifications, visit writersblock and choose the Watch Community option. Next, update your Writer's Block notification settings by checking the box to the right of "Someone posts a new entry to writersblock."
5. Paid and permanent users can now view, add, and edit Notes of commenters. Notes will appear beside the username of comment posters (instead of stars) on S1-themed comment pages.

Send some lovin' thanks to your friends with our holiday vgifts!

Photos of the week

We're so delighted with the immense talent of our growing, global lj_photophile community that we've decided to introduce a poll. Each week, we'll choose a half-dozen photos (based on user comments and staff feedback) and ask you to select a photo of the week. The winning photo will be announced in the next newsletter. If possible, please limit photo size to 350x350 to ensure that images display properly on friends pages. We want to thank you again (and again!) for sharing your passion.

Check out this week's photo poll and more fantastic user content after the jump!

( Read more... )

Curtains

Thanks for joining us. To our American friends, have a fantastic Thanksgiving. To all of our international neighbors, we'll eat a little extra for you!

Knowing that this sort of thing tends to blindside the less attentive among us, here is a friendly reminder (to help you plan ahead) that on 1-1-2010 (i.e. the start of next year), Metro fares are going up 25 cents, to $2.00 during off-peak hours, $2.25 for one zone during peak hours and $2.75 for two zones for most of us. Senior fares get a 25 cent hike as well.

Also noteworthy is that starting 1-1-2010, Sound Transit paper transfers are worthless on Metro buses, and Metro paper transfers are worthless on Sound Transit (including Link Light Rail) and other transit systems. If you want to transfer between systems you will need to pay via ORCA card:

Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, only Metro transfers are valid on Metro buses. Also, Metro transfers are not valid on Sound Transit, Pierce Transit and Community Transit buses. If you use more than one transit system you will have to pay a fare each time you board a different bus. If you use an ORCA card that is loaded with a bus pass or E-purse, you will get a two-hour transfer credit for the fare paid.

Also, starting 1-1-2010, passes will be distributed solely by ORCA card. Swipe-card passes will be phased out. So if you don't have an ORCA card, get it now: After 1-31-2010 it will cost $5 to get a new card whether you're replacing one (you already need to pay $5 for replacements) or getting a new one. Right now you can order your first ORCA card on the house.

Don't get too comfy with the bigger and better fares either, because in the King County Council's announcement that Metro has saved existing service from proposed cuts, we learned that Metro is also going to raise fares again at the start of 2011, likely to $2.25/$2.50/$3.00.

Happy riding!

I want to celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional way, but I don't know any local liquor stores that will be open Thursday. Do any of you know one with Thursday hours?

Also, I could use help with the other half of our great American tradition, too. Which local Indian tribes are interested in trading land for firewater?

What this now were no even passed thanskgiving and they gots all chritsmas stuff all over. Man I nearly crapped wehn I seen one of thems snow globes on someone front lawnn like what?

Is thanksgiving a holiday no more or we juts skip it after hallowen? When is early to early??

Awwww, man. I was just rubbing my hands and cackling, thinking of all the fun fic I'd get to write after school's out, and I was rereading my fic (don't judge me) and I totally remembered that sequel to name the stars I'd meant to write and inexplicably, the plot is still all in my head, four months later, and...

*adds sequel to the list*

*breaks out the Richard Siken*

(I mean, I have no idea if anyone even wants to read it at this point. But whatever. I write for myself etc etc!)

(I am superficially very jovial right now, but for future reference, I'm actually slowly dying of terror inside over my schoolwork. You know: in case you were curious.)

One paper down, three to go! Ack ack I still haven't started my paper for Friday and I'm going out tomorrow night and Thursdays I usually book off for general brainlessness (it is TV Night you see) so this is probably not going to go well. Oh dear. I'm not in the most academic state of mind, I spent much of Russian history today doodling steampunk Starfleet Medical uniform designs instead of blah blah revolutions wars Lenin-cakes. I'm so terribly focussed!

But good news on the Death-paper? (Oh, that class is so awkwardly named.) I have been thinking of the topic incessantly for days and I finally came up with a working thesis just this afternoon when I was walking down to talk to my prof and, egads, she actually liked it! And she suggested I throw in some Heidegger (sigh, moan) which, okay, but she also suggested I work in the chess game from Philosopher's Stone and... well, any opportunity I get to rhapsodise about all things Harry Potter earns a hearty thumbs-up.

(If anyone can send a book about pagan Slavic gods my way...? No?

*kicks stupid useless university library*)

It kind of sucks that I'm on such a mental roll with that paper when it's the last one I have to write and I won't be dealing with it (probably) until a week into December. John Donne, don't fail on me, please. Paper, write thyself!

You know what's actually writing itself? My highwayman AU. I've had the word document open for days, picking at it when I have a second here and there, and I have to say it is much trickier to transpose the characters into that universe than the Civil War one, but so so so fun. How can I pass up the chance to write Jim Kirk and McCoy being ridiculous with pistols and masks and/or Chapel being a BAMF? I ask you.

Also I've found that I have a lot of songs about highwaymen in my iTunes... I might have to share them?

My sister's insurance recently changed from Premera Blue Cross to Group Health and the OB/GYN doc that she just loves is no longer covered. She is due at the end of January and will be going to Overlake Hospital and works in Bellevue, so she is looking for recommendations in the area.

Do you have an OB/GYN in Bellevue that you just love?

Award-winning journalist Amy Goodman, host of the daily, grassroots, global, radio/TV news hour Democracy Now!, is on a national speaking tour to mark DN!'s 13th anniversary and launch her new book, Breaking the Sound Barrier.

WHEN: Today, November 24, 3pm - 5pm
WHERE: Elliot Bay Books, 101 South Main Street. Seattle WA 98104
DESCRIPTION: A reading by Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, who will speak about her new book Breaking the Sound Barrier, with an introduction by the book's editor, Denis Moynihan.
TICKETS: Free

WHEN: Tomorrow, November 25, 10am - 2pm
WHERE: Borders Bookstore in the Main Terminal at Seattle-Tacoma Airport
DESCRIPTION: Traveling for Thanksgiving? Meet Amy Goodman for a special holiday signing of her new book Breaking the Sound Barrier.
TICKETS: Free

WHEN: Friday, November 27, Doors open 6 pm, event 7-9 pm
WHERE: Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street), Seattle, WA 98101
DESCRIPTION: Amy Goodman Live: Celebrating an expanding world of grassroots community journalism. KBCS, Reclaim the Media, and the Seattle Plus 10 Organizing Committee present a benefit for KBCS 91.3FM Community Radio, featuring broadcast journalist Amy Goodman, who will speak about her new book Breaking the Sound Barrier, with an introduction by the book's editor, Denis Moynihan.
TICKETS: Sliding Scale: $15-$25, available at www.kbcs.fm

More info at http://tour.democracynow.org/

Does anyone know why a little section of Kirkland lost power this morning? Between 0530 and about 0715?

on i90 near the 5 south exit...later in the day, the far left lane is coned off. but there is never any work being done.

why?

WHY?

also, do you use q-tips? and if so, do you produce a lot of ear wax? and if so, what color is it?

dear tc,
i fucking love you. can i be you when i grow up, really? living the dream by day, tending bar by night. monopolizing in your bumblefuck town with your pizza makin husband and your cute as a button babies. i told you i'd improve, it was not due to hard work but rather a change in attitude. mark my words, i'll be heading to philly this time next year. you are an inspiration.
love, holly
ps) i cant believe youre charging me the same as advanced beginners

Rainer Valley Food Bank needs volunteers to help them sort out their more than $100,000 in food donations they have received from the community since $2,000 in food was stolen last week.

Interested? Drop by 4205 Rainier Ave. S. before 8 p.m. today or from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and there should be plenty to do. Call the food bank at (206) 723-4105.

( The rest of the story behind the cut )

Source: Seattle PI Big Blog