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Redecorating Middle-Earth in Early Lovecraft - LiveJournal.com
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Happy Towel Day!
Happy Towel Day to all of you hoopy froods!
Here's a video for the day:
And here's a quote for the day...
"Yes," said the old man, pausing to gaze hopelessly round the room. "Ten million years of planning and work gone just like that. Ten million years, Earthman... can you conceive of that kind of time span? A galactic civilization could grow from a single worm five times over in that time. Gone." He paused.
"Well that's bureaucracy for you," he added.
"You know," said Arthur thoughtfully, "all this explains a lot of things. All through my life I've had this strange unaccountable feeling that something was going on in the world, something big, even sinister, and no one would tell me what it was."
"No," said the old man, "that's just perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the Universe has that."
"Everyone?" said Arthur. "Well, if everyone has that perhaps it means something! Perhaps somewhere outside the Universe we know..."
"Maybe. Who cares?" said Slartibartfast before Arthur got too excited. "Perhaps I'm old and tired," he continued, "but I always think that the chances of finding out what really is going on are so absurdly remote that the only thing to do is to say hang the sense of it and just keep yourself occupied. Look at me: I design coastlines. I got an award for Norway."
He rummaged around in a pile of debris and pulled out a large perspex block with his name on it and a model of Norway moulded into it.
"Where's the sense in that?" he said. "None that I've been able to make out. I've been doing fjords in all my life. For a fleeting moment they become fashionable and I get a major award."
He turned it over in his hands with a shrug and tossed it aside carelessly, but not so carelessly that it didn't land on something soft.
"In this replacement Earth we're building they've given me Africa to do and of course I'm doing it with all fjords again because I happen to like them, and I'm old fashioned enough to think that they give a lovely baroque feel to a continent. And they tell me it's not equatorial enough. Equatorial!" He gave a hollow laugh. "What does it matter? Science has achieved some wonderful things of course, but I'd far rather be happy than right any day."
"And are you?"
"No. That's where it all falls down of course."
- from Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
On the "Elementary" Situation
I love Lyndsay Faye's Holmes pastiche fiction, and this made my day by saying so well many of the things I've been thinking. If you have any interest in the new CBS Holmesian drama Elementary, don't miss her letter:
"A Holmes Fans Mistrust of Elementary: An Open Apology to CBS"
Regarding elementary: you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
- Lyndsay Faye
Three Things for Hump Day
1. My latest unabridged narration for StarShipSofa, which is of Storm Constantine's story "The Rust Islands," is now available to stream or download on the newest episode of the podcast. If you listen, I hope you enjoy! (A full list of links to my unabridged dramatic readings is here.)
2. I'll be a guest next weekend at ConCarolinas, and I now have my schedule. I have the delight of sitting on panels with some truly fantastic folks, including Jack McDevitt, David B. Coe, and The Blibbering Humdingers, among others. Here's my lineup:
Friday, June 1
5pm: The Legacy of Harry Potter
7pm: The Hunger Games
9pm: The Hobbit
Saturday, June 2
11am: Sherlock
3pm: Young Adult Genre Literature
3. By the way, I'm continuing to drink my way through the Sherlock Holmes-themed tea blends at Adagio Teas. (You can search for blends by name or by creator here.) My niece and nephew created a monster when they gave me the new teapot for Christmas! In case you're interested, here are my updated amateur "reviews" of the blends I've tried thus far, ranked in order of my enjoyment.
"Must Have" Blends
DI Lestrade by Vanessa Harper
Tea? Definitely my division.
Description: Everyone deserves a holiday now and then; especially the long-suffering, lovable DI Lestrade, whose years of trying not to punch Sherlock have left him understandably (earl) grey around the temples (and, well, the rest of his head too). Even if that holiday is limited to a few blessedly chaos-free moments at his desk, everyone's favorite Met officer (still faintly cinnamon-tan from his recent trip to an undisclosed location in the country) might reach for this blend of traditional earl grey with notes of chocolate, caramel, and a hint of cinnamon both to relax and to be ready for whatever bizarre case next comes his way.
Review: I was so excited to see the Lestrade blend added to Vanessa's Sherlock set - and then it turned out to be BRILLIANT. After one cup, I already knew I'd be ordering more. The Earl Grey is the strongest flavor, but the subtle chocolate and caramel notes from the tiger eye follow and add wonderful depth, and the cinnamon pulls all of it together. It's bold and rich and absolutely perfect without anything added, almost as lovely as the DI himself. This goes straight to the top of my list of favorites.
Sherlock's Eyes by Molly Endries
His eyes have such power.
Description: The mint awakens and piques the senses. The green adds some softness and comfort. The Earl Grey provides a lasting, lingering, and comforting base.
Review: Fantastic! I could stand around all day, just inhaling the smell of this tea. The chocolate and bergamot scents really jump out at me from the bag (and the finished cup). The taste, however is more the clean coolness of the green tea and especially the spearmint. It's wonderfully refreshing and complex, and I immediately want another cup. I'm so glad I took a chance with this blend! I suspect (deduce?) that I'll be buying more.
My Dear Watson by Christa Y
The game's afoot, but first you'd better have a spot of tea.
Description: Bergamot-infused Earl Grey combines with delicious chocolate in this deerstocking-capped blend, together with a tiny hint of cream to round out the flavors.
Review: I'm a big Earl Grey fan, so I was worried about the chocolate becoming overpowering, but I'm also a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, so I had to give this a try. It's ideal! The Earl Grey taste hits first, perfectly clear, and then the dark chocolate follows behind and leaves a haunting, yummy aftertaste. The cream brings it all together. The flavors play off each other so well, and I absolutely love how comforting and complex this is. I'll certainly be buying more.
Watson by Cara McGee
A crack shot and brown as a nut.
Description: Queen and Country traditionalist, but still recounting his days in Afghanistan drinking green tea, John Watson prefers his tea with a bit of cream, no sugar, and just a little warm from a touch of cinnamon.
Review: This is my favorite of Cara McGee's blends (that I've tried thus far). It's downright comforting while at the same time feeling strong and energetic. (Perfect for Dr. Watson, isn't it?) I'm an Earl Grey fan, and this note is clear and dominant; there's an added kick from the Irish Breakfast, and the cinnamon comes across subtly throughout and then wonderfully at the end to round out the flavor in a very satisfying way. I'll need more of this one.
Very, Very Good Blends
The Mind and the Heart by Cara McGee
A perfectly complimentary blend.
Description: 'Spicy and Jammy' with a 'buzzy mouthfeel'. Stir a spoonful of honey into this this subtly fruity tea for a surprisingly sweet pairing.
Review: This is quite lovely. It smells wonderful. The first taste is the tartness of the berries and the warmness of the vanilla, but the cinnamon and ginger follow up for the perfect ending. I love that it's strong and it needs nothing added. My favorite of Cara's Sherlock collection (thus far, at least) remains the Watson blend, but I really love this one, as well.
Mycroft by Vanessa Harper
Add a bit of cream and sugar and it just might be enough to make you forget about the cake that your diet has prohibited.
Description: Vanilla green, almond, and blackberry mingle in this subtle and sophisticated tea worthy of a 'minor member of Her Majesty's government.'
Review: This is a brilliant blend, complex and refined, as befits Mycroft. I taste the almond first, then it's smoothed by the vanilla, and the blackberry comes in last and lingers in a delightful way. Not too sweet, not too tart. I drink it hot without anything added, and it's perfect. I suspect I'll be going through this bag rather quickly. I can't seem to stop drinking it! Here's hoping there will be a Lestrade blend in Vanessa's Sherlock-inspired set soon. This one couldn't be better.
Donovan by Cara McGee
Careful, could be arsenic*. (*It's not.)
Description: Hard working and long suffering, this blend comes off a little strong at first, then mellows out with the taste of vanilla cookies laced with almonds.
Review: I really like this one. It smells amazing - chocolate and spice - but the taste is very subtle and mellow. The chai boldness comes out first, but almost immediately the taste turns smooth, with vanilla and almond as the strongest and most lasting notes. Like Sally at a press conference (and not, for example, persecuting Sherlock), this is calming and capable, with a lot going on just under the surface.
Very Good Blends
The Woman by Vanessa Harper
Irene Adler knows what you'll like; this tea will have you begging for another cup. Twice.
Description: A slap of blood-red raspberry lurks beneath a smooth disguise of vanilla and sinfully spicy chocolate chai.
Review: This tea smells like sin in a bag. The taste lives up to the scent. The chai hits first (the chocolate very subtly, the spices more boldly), and then the vanilla follows and cools it down. The raspberry appears last and lingers longest in a delightful way.
Lestrade by Cara McGee
A great cup of tea. And, if we're very lucky, it might even be a good one.
Description: Smoky traces of gunpowder, aged leather, mellowed with a trace of hazelnut. A distinguished, if tired, blend.
Review: This is such an ideal interpretation of Lestrade's character! Down-to-earth, calm, with hidden depth. I love its smokiness. I prefer to drink my tea plain, with nothing added, and this works wonderfully well that way, but it's even better, I think, with a splash of lemon. Normally hazelnut is a bit too sweet for my taste, but the slight hint of it here perfectly offsets the earthy-bitterness to create a rich, smooth taste.
Moriar-tea by Vanessa Harper
If you don't fall for this cup of tea, I'd be surprised, really I would.
Description: Hidden beneath this deceptively harmless Irish breakfast, notes of blood orange and gingerbread reveal a bloodthirsty, good old-fashioned villain waiting to burn the heart out of you.
Review: This is a great interpretation of Moriarty's character. I love the symbolism of each of the ingredients. The Irish breakfast comes through clearest, with the gingerbread a subtle but persistent undertone, and the blood orange joining in with a bite at the end. It needs a longer steeping time than some others for the flavors to develop fully, but it's well worth the wait. This complex blend won't exactly burn the heart out of you, but it's definitely for when you want a "wake-up call." Of Vanessa's Sherlock set, the DI Lestrade and Mycroft blends are my very favorites (thus far), but this one is quite good.
Meh
Mycroft by Cara McGee
No brother, I have not been eating more cake. I've been drinking it.
Description: Chocolate chip, rooibos vanilla chai, and cream.
Review: This tastes like drinking a weakly-flavored spice cake. The chocolate scent is strong, but the taste is vanilla and spice. It's a very mild taste. It's pleasant, but rather lacking in personality. I've found that mixing half Mycroft and half Lestrade, however, or half Mycroft and half wild strawberry, makes a far more enjoyable blend.
"A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King."
- Emily Dickinson
It's Good To Be A Geek
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
There are two new nonfiction e-books out of possible interest to Sherlockians, both by professional pastiche authors: scientist Stephanie Osborn's exploration of the rationale behind Holmes's cocaine habit, Sherlock, Sheilas, and the Seven-Percent Solution, and Barbara Roden's collection of Holmesian essays on various topics, I Am Inclined to Think....
In science fiction news, the latest issue of Booklist has the young adult dystopia 1.4 on its cover. I just finished the book (the sequel to Human.4) and recommend it.
I was intrigued by Booklist's "Top Ten SF/Fantasy for Youth" list. Sometimes I think I'm the only one who was underwhelmed by Paolo Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker. Lest I sound like a curmudgeon, I should say that I was delighted to see that Delia Sherman's The Freedom Maze won this year's Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. Well deserved!
In other news...
In the last day or so, a number of videos have appeared on YouTube from past meetings of PhreakNIC: Technology and Culture Exposition, the largest U.S. "hacker con" east of the Mississippi River. Several of these from the years 2003-2006 are my... well, not formal presentations exactly, but very informal talks. (These aren't professional videos like my other YouTube films; originally these simply were shown throughout the con hotel on closed-circuit TV.) It was fun reliving some terrific memories. I miss my "Got Jedi?" shirt! Ha.
"nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-cant-control-yourself love it. Hank, when people call people nerds, mostly what theyre saying is you like stuff. Which is just not a good insult at all. Like, you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness.
- John Green
"Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. Its basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating."
- Simon Pegg
A Study in Chalk
A good friend and colleague of mine just wandered across this while in Oxford. Good man, he took a photo and sent it my way. I had to share.
The truth is out there, and the game is on!
Hey there! Remember me? I'm back from a fantastic and thought-provoking colloquium in DC, rather tired, but in a good way. My final lecture for my spring classes is done, I've celebrated our seventeenth anniversary with my best friend and true love, and now I'm turning my attention to my as-yet-incomplete writing projects before the beginning of the summer term.
Happy early birthday wishes to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1) lexie_marie, jalara, theladyrose, elvenjoy, gondoriangirl, vivien529, and senket. May all of you enjoy many happy returns of the day!
In other news, my sold-out "Sherlock and Science Fiction" Webinar, hosted last February by StarShipSofa's "HoloDeck Workshops," is now available for purchase as a video and audio download, including the question/answer session. Here is more information. It was terrific fun, and I'm grateful to StarShipSofa for making it available to those who might be interested.
This mashup of The X-Files and Sherlock made my day. (Thanks to ![[info]](http://l-files.livejournal.net/userhead/699?v=1332749567) killerweasel.)
Hi guys. My names Martin Crieff, the Captain, and Im the guy in charge of flying you today. On behalf of the rest of the guys on my team and the guys back on the ground, let me give you guys one hell of a big MJN welcome on board today. Now, before we go right ahead and fly some plane, Im going to ask you to pay attention to this short safety demonstration. Hey, I know guys. Big yawn, eh? But you know what? It might just save your life... A-a-although of course an air accident is statistically incredibly unlikely. See you on the flip side of the safety demonstration. Ciao!
- Martin Crieff, "Rotterdam," Cabin Pressure <- I now hear this in my head before takeoff every time I fly!
A General Update, Huzzah
Whew! My final grades are in for one course ("Native American Film, Fiction, and Myth"), and I have one lecture remaining in my other one ("Taking Harry Seriously: The Artistry and Meanings of the Harry Potter Saga"). Now to think about my summer classes!
At the moment I'm packing to go to Washington, DC, where I'll be for the next several days leading a series of roundtable discussions on The Bourgeois Virtue in Film and Fiction with a group of think-tank specialists and policy folks. (We'll be talking about several scholarly articles as well as Gaskell's North and South, Trollope's The Way We Live Now - both remarkably timely and relevant works - along with Lodge's Nice Work, the film King Rat, and other fascinating texts.)
In other personal news, my Achilles tendon continues to improve slowly but surely, thanks in large part to intensive physical therapy I've been receiving three to four times a week from the fantastic faculty and staff members at Lenoir-Rhyne's Athletic Training Program, who are more than awesome, and to whom I'm deeply indebted. I can see quite a difference already, and I have more to go. (Patience, Grasshopper...)
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