IarwainBenAdar's recent activity
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - June 2025 - A House with Good Bones by T Kingfisher in ~books
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - June 2025 - A House with Good Bones by T Kingfisher in ~books
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentI am a big horror junkie, I have read 30 horror books since I started keeping track in 2024. and I enjoyed the book enough that I went on a bit of a kick and read 4 of their books in a month or...I am a big horror junkie, I have read 30 horror books since I started keeping track in 2024. and I enjoyed the book enough that I went on a bit of a kick and read 4 of their books in a month or two. They are good, quick reads that you don't have to focus on too hard. I actually recommended this book to my mom.
T Kingfisher writes a lot of modern re-tellings of classic horror stories, for example What Moves the Dead is based on The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. So for suggestions I would recommend that if you have any of their books you like you can see what they where based on and read the classic. They kinda have their own style , but another author I would recommend is John Langan especially his short stories. However this recommendation is for plot, so they don't have the characters or more 'casual' writing style of T Kingfisher, so if that is what you enjoyed I would take a pass on Langan.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentThats what felt right, but I didn't know and I think there was recently a thread about this confusion which is what really made me ask.Thats what felt right, but I didn't know and I think there was recently a thread about this confusion which is what really made me ask.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentI feel its not dense in the way that you have to constantly look things up to understand what's being said, it's dense in that it has something deep to say, and sometimes you need to listen to a...I feel its not dense in the way that you have to constantly look things up to understand what's being said, it's dense in that it has something deep to say, and sometimes you need to listen to a bit and let it 'marinate' before you can continue.
For me it's a little more personal because I am looking for a job, and had to take something shitty temporary, so it probably wasn't the best time to read a book about how capitalism is the cause of most of our misery and without it we could be able to pursue our interest. It's a very well written and thought out book, and I am glad I am reading it, but with this and everything political going on, I really feel like I'm stuck in America. I'm a jack of many trades, but not enough of a master of any to get a visa, and my family is here. sigh, back to the American Dream©
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentI went with your recommendation and I am now on chapter 14 (41%) and it almost feels like it was written by China Mieville, there is so much world building and introducing characters that I have...I went with your recommendation and I am now on chapter 14 (41%) and it almost feels like it was written by China Mieville, there is so much world building and introducing characters that I have no idea where the plot is heading. I feel that's about to change since they just got their ship back and the cliffhanger was them opening the box.
So far I think I prefer Elder Race and Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovski, but I know he has some really good endings, so things may change. Elder Race was the first story of his I read, and my favorite quote has always been Arthur C Clarke's Third Law 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.' which I feel that story perfectly captures. As for Alien Clay, I just love the work building of Kiln.
Which of his stories have you read and where any exceptional?
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
IarwainBenAdar LinkRecently finished: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler - This was an interesting book that I'm glad I forced myself to finish, although I think i did myself a disservice by listening to the...Recently finished:
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The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler - This was an interesting book that I'm glad I forced myself to finish, although I think i did myself a disservice by listening to the audiobook while doing yardwork. It was a interesting story, and brought up lots of good debates about consciousness, it was just not quite what I was expecting, I rated it 3.75 stars, but I may go back and read the physical book and I might change my rating.
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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - I read this book as a lighthearted companion to pair with The Mountain in the Sea. It's not something I would normally have read but rit was a good quick read, although I feel it could have been trimmed down or edited better, but it was a fun and charming read. I rated it 4/5 stars.
Currently Reading:
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54% finished with The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow - This is a pretty dense one, I don't want to butcher trying to describe it but while its not one I'm enjoying reading because the concepts don't have a simple answer in modern life, I am glad I am reading it for knowledge's sake at least. I feel like I am learning a lot from it, but with everything going on in the news its pretty melancholy. I was listening to it as an audiobook at a soulless stock job I have to work until I can find something better, until that got to be too much and I borrowed...
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78% finished with Semiosis by Sue Burke - I have been on a book pairing kick lately, and I was waiting for some library loans, so I picked this book to reread to pair with Alien Clay. I really liked this book for its out of the box ideas and how it portrayed a sentient plant, but on rereading I realized I like the world developed and the portrayal of the characters more than the actual stories being told. I originally rated it 5/5 star, but I think I'm going to drop it to a 4.75/5. I should have finished it before starting Alien Clay, but I have a hard time resisting Adrian Tchaikovski
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90% finished with Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovski - Finishing up this one this evening. Another book by Adrian Tchaikovski that I'm rating 5/5 star, my pairing with Semiosis made it obvious. I am a big fan of the concepts Adrian Tchaikovski talks about, the stories he actually tells, and the way he tells them. Adrian Tchaikovski is quickly joining my favorite authors with Clive Barker and China Mieville.
Up Next
- Shards of Earth, and Dogs of War, both by Adrian Tchaikovski. I have both these two on loan from the library if anybody has a recommendation on which to read first.
Offtopic post script: does the biweekly in the tag mean twice a week or every other week?
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentIt was definitely someone else, it was all written out and no video. I just watched the video and while I appreciate the simplicity and speeded up cook time, I feel like I need the texture...It was definitely someone else, it was all written out and no video. I just watched the video and while I appreciate the simplicity and speeded up cook time, I feel like I need the texture difference of all the different nuts for it to really feel like granola, that seems more like a nut butter bar with oats. I admit I like to experiment with different things, so mine's definitely not the simplest way of doing things. I may try using some nut butter next time, but I'm still going to use a lot of seeds too.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentLike I said I'm pretty new to cooking, how much does the rince and steam change things? I would imagine that it gives it the stickiness but I'm not experienced enough to do more than guess. Do you...soak, boil to al dente, rinse well, final steam.
Like I said I'm pretty new to cooking, how much does the rince and steam change things? I would imagine that it gives it the stickiness but I'm not experienced enough to do more than guess.
Do you have any experence with rice cookers and how they compare to all of this. I like the conveince of being able to set-and-forget and the consistancy, but it seems like you have more control when making it yourself.
al dente
I'm not a big pasta person so I have never heard that term, but it's perfect and exactly what I was trying to say.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentIt probably was but I didnt save the comment, just the recipe, so I'm not sure. If it was thank you, it's really good and way cheaper than buying granola. I had to half the recipe, but I'm making...It probably was but I didnt save the comment, just the recipe, so I'm not sure. If it was thank you, it's really good and way cheaper than buying granola. I had to half the recipe, but I'm making a batch about once a week and have been eating it for breakfast most days or as a night snack for when I'm not really hungry, but want something to munch on.
Original Ingredients
- 4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ½ cup raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 1 cup pecans and ½ cup pepitas)
- 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
- ½ cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup dried fruit, chopped if large (I used dried cranberries)
My last batch
- 2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 cups nuts/seeds
- 5 Tbsp green pumpkin seeds
- 4 Tbsp peanuts
- 2 Tbsp sunflower kernel
- 1 Tbsp hemp hearts
- 4 tsp flaxseed
- 1/2 cups chocolate chips
- 1/24 cup milk chocolate
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentI feel like the hot take would be to soak non-glutinous rice. I know jasmine is not a sticky rice, but I'm not trying to make sushi level sticky rice, just a sticky jasmine. I've gotten it close...I feel like the hot take would be to soak non-glutinous rice. I know jasmine is not a sticky rice, but I'm not trying to make sushi level sticky rice, just a sticky jasmine. I've gotten it close twice, and both times have been when I have experimented with soaking it. Last night the stickiness was perfect, it was just a bit too soft. Next time I will use a 1:1.25 ratio and hopefully it will be right where I want it.
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Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
IarwainBenAdar LinkI've never been a big cook but I've recently turned 30 so I've been trying to get more adventurous in the kitchen. My struggle this week has been stovetop rice. I'm trying to get sticky jasmine...I've never been a big cook but I've recently turned 30 so I've been trying to get more adventurous in the kitchen.
My struggle this week has been stovetop rice. I'm trying to get sticky jasmine white rice but I'm having trouble with getting the stickiness without it getting mushy. My best batch so far has been 1:1.5 rice to water, rince, soak for ~8hr, cook 15 min, let set for ~7min before fluffing. Came out super sticky but a little too soft, not quite mushy but close. Would I be better reducing the water to 1:1.25, or to reduce the time to around 12-10 min? Or should I really just bite the bullet and get a rice cooker?
Over the last few months I have been dialing in a spicy dry rub recipe that I have finally got to where I'm really happy and is changed enough I'm okay calling it my own. I've been putting it on chicken cubes to combine with the rice for faux asian.
Otherwise, I have been playing around with a granola recipe I got from someone on here. Granola has been getting so expensive in the stores but its so cheap to make, plus its nice to be able to mix it up. My last batch was green pumpkin seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, and ground flaxseed, with coconut oil and honey, then I mix in dried fruit when I get it out to eat. Good for lazy breakfasts or a snack for my walking bag.
Speaking of breakfast, I have been trying to actually eat something in the morning, and its mostly granola or toast with honey, but I have been trying to make time to do actual breakfast and cook egg in the hole. I'm not a big egg person and usually like them scrambled, but when done in toast I like it with cooked whites but runny yolk. I'm starting to get it pretty consistently, cooking 90 sec and flipping for 60.
This is the first year I tried gardening and I have a handful of pepper plants growing, and I'm a bit worried I'll have more than I can eat so I am already looking into things to do with them, and I'm pretty excited to try making pepper flakes, and I'm probably going to try and pickle some too, does anybody have a pickling recipe to suggest, I have never done it before
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentI'm not the most qualified for this but I will give it a go. I read the Inferno for a whole year project for a highschool english class, so I'm not some a proper teacher or someone that really...I'm not the most qualified for this but I will give it a go. I read the Inferno for a whole year project for a highschool english class, so I'm not some a proper teacher or someone that really knows what they are talking about, I just know what worked for me.
I would start a canto by listening to it straight through, and focusing on the prose and the way the words sound together over the actual meaning. This reading is mostly vibe based. Depending on the translation it is very prosy, and it really feels like you're missing out on a lot if you don't hear the words. If you can't find a good narrator you can read it out loud to yourself, but I prefer the narrator that way you can fully focus on the sound of the words.
Then I look up the sparknotes, or whatever summery, to get a clear idea of what's actually happening and what's important. You already heard it, so it's not completely new, but you're not going to get yourself stuck at every old word or bizarre phrase.
Finally, I actually read the text. This reading I'll stop whenever I want to look something up, and it's when I take the time to make the notes to myself. If I don't read the summary first then I feel like I lose the forest in the trees, and I end up losing track of what's actually happening because of all the distractions from looking at things up. But with this order I feel like it helped me stay on track and get the most out of the book I could by myself.
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentIn other places I could see the confusion, but with pizza pep is a pretty common abbreviation. Plus I think just pepper is too broad, is it bell peppers, pepperchini, hungarian wax, jalapenos,...In other places I could see the confusion, but with pizza pep is a pretty common abbreviation.
Plus I think just pepper is too broad, is it bell peppers, pepperchini, hungarian wax, jalapenos, chili pepper flakes, ground black pepper, in could be anything.
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentThat's ridiculous.That's ridiculous.
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Comment on What is a non-problematic word that you avoid using? in ~talk
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentWhat is that whole word supposed to be? All I can think of is the Russian concept of avos.What is that whole word supposed to be? All I can think of is the Russian concept of avos.
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Comment on Google's new AI video tool floods internet with real-looking clips in ~tech
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentThis isn't new, my dream career is making physical props and effects, with my inspiration being Jim Henson when he does the darker stuff. However I graduated high school in 2013, CGI already took...Eventually as these tools are adopted some people will not pursue their passion into a career... because they will just think "why bother?".
This isn't new, my dream career is making physical props and effects, with my inspiration being Jim Henson when he does the darker stuff. However I graduated high school in 2013, CGI already took over so I was in this scenario of "why bother?"
I have a friend that is 5+ years older and he got a college degree for this kind of stuff, but all its good for now is to make him feel more legit as an local artist and it got him a job making toys for Hot Topic 10+ years ago when they sold that stuff.
(This paragraph is a poorly phrased rant, feel free to ignore)
I really wish we could find a better balance between taking advantage of new technology and still using the old styles when they are appropriate. Unfortunately the bottom line is its cheaper and easier to use AI/CGI, so thats the decision that gets made. If we could look past the bottom line to actually making something creative, and letting their vision get made then I think there would be a lot more of the old styles would still be done. But instead original ideas seem like a thing of the past and its all live action remakes or an nth level sequel for a series that really should have died long ago. -
Comment on If you were referred to with an Epithet, what would it be? in ~talk
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentI knew I'd forget something, the smell is definitely something to consider. I live in the suburbs, so its more feasible for me to do it in the garage or outside, but it still smells up the block....I knew I'd forget something, the smell is definitely something to consider. I live in the suburbs, so its more feasible for me to do it in the garage or outside, but it still smells up the block. When my sister was in school she could immediately smell if I roasted coffee that day when she got off the bus about a block away.
Its also not the best to breath in, most professional roasters have an exhaust system so its not blowing right in your face. I made a cheap setup for the Freshroast by making a frame for a 4" duct fan than just ran in out the woodshop window.
Unfortunately coffee isn't my worst hobby for the 'lottery list', there is only the roaster and a grinder, but if I had the money and the time I would have so many music instruments.
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Comment on If you were referred to with an Epithet, what would it be? in ~talk
IarwainBenAdar Link ParentI'm a coffee roaster that started as a home roaster, worked professionally at a local shop roasting all the beans for 4 stores and 2 other businesses, and now back to being a home roaster....I'm a coffee roaster that started as a home roaster, worked professionally at a local shop roasting all the beans for 4 stores and 2 other businesses, and now back to being a home roaster.
Background
I started roasting just after high school, I was/am a coffee snob, so when I learned about roasting I had to try it. I made my first machine out of the base and stir arm of a Stir Crazy popcorn popper and a Galloping Gourmet turbo oven, which is a pretty common and called the Turbo Crazy. I used that machine from probably 2013-2018/9 when it fell and broke. Its a fantastic cheap roaster if you are up to a little diy, it can roast around a pound and the stir arm is easy to reinforce and does a good job getting an even roast. I ended up selling beans to around a dozen friends for a while and roasted as a side gig for a while.
I roasted professionally for 2 years and it was really cool working with 'proper' roasters that could track data, log it, and give you fancy graphs. It was good working here because it gave me experience in the hard numbers and the mathamatical side of roasting where before I was all 'feel', going by timer, first cracks, and vibes. I left the job because of a bad owner, and Im back to home roasting.
Now to really answer your questions,
Home roasting is a great hobby for a coffee snob if you are obsessive and constantly working on your cup. When roasting for yourself you can experiment, this batch I'll roast an extra 30sec, or 5°f and really fine tune 'your' perfect cup. The flip side is that there will be lots of experimental batches that are not the best, but not worth wasting. If you like a consistent cup, or are really not into spending a lot of effort than this is probably a hobby to pass on. Something else to consider is that you have to take time to roast consistently, I'm roasting every few days for my mom and me, about 10 min for 110g or ~1/4 pound of coffee. Bigger machines roast more, but also are usually more expensive and have a longer roast time, the professional roaster did ~18 pounds in 15-25 minutes a batch.
So you like to experiment and have some free time to take on a new hobby, where can you start?
I started on my Frankenroaster, but I can't necessarily recommend it. The heating unit is a convection oven, so the only control you have over your roast is the oven heat and time. I've seen people online mod into really cool roasters, but unless that's what you are really into I'd recommend getting a prebuilt unit, home roasting has gotten more popular and there is way nicer roasters than when I got started.
I currently am using a Freshroast I got for a Christmas gift. Its a neat roaster that blows the hot air to roast the beans and stir them. It gives you a good amount of control with a power and fan knobs, and a thermometer to tell you the current heat. Its a good machine and I get consistent roasts, I've even recommended it to a irl friend to get into roasting. My negative is it was a gift and I got the smaller model, the SR540, so I can only roast 130g at a time for around 110g of coffee. Besides being straight up bigger the SR800 also has an expansion tube for larger and more consistent roasts. If you go this route get the SR800.
For other machines, at the shop we used a Gene Cafe CBR-101 to sample and dial in how to roast the beans, I roasts around half a pound. We used it as a 'set and forget' machine so if you don't like to fiddle this may be for you. I was going to get the Behmor 1600+ refurbished until I got the Freshroast for Christmas, which is like a microwave with rotating cylinders and can roast around a pound. I can't recommend it for a first machine, but the Aillio Bullet R1 V2 is the top of the line home roaster, and its on my list for if I win the lottery.
Finally, beans.
I used to get my green beans from https://happymugcoffee.com/, but my local shop still lets me buy green beans, and Brazil Cerrado for I think $1.90 a pound is hard to beat. My preferred bean is a natural Ethiopian with a light roast, and I just checked HappyMugs has the Guji lot that is one of my favorites, for $8.50, which really isn't bad.
If this is something you are interested in, you can ask me any questions or If you get a roaster I can give you some pointers, or an least a good place to start. Sorry for the long reply, I get excited to nerd out over my hobbies.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
IarwainBenAdar LinkThe Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler - This book seems right up my alley, the more philosophical book about octopuses developing consciousness and sentience, but I only got 14% before they...The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler - This book seems right up my alley, the more philosophical book about octopuses developing consciousness and sentience, but I only got 14% before they introduced a character by having him go to a brothel of trafficked girls (it repeatedly says girls which really grosses me out) and I had to put it on pause. Im hoping someone can say this is an one time thing and I can enjoy the rest of the book but if its more of this than it will be a DNF
Perchance to Dream: Selected Stories by Charles Beaumont - A short story collection by a writer of The Twilight Zone with an introduction by Ray Bradbury. The introduction was a cool glimpse on how they look at writing, Beaumont asked how to get better at writing and Bradbury said to write a short story a week, and I love this approach and it makes me think of Stephen King, who I read writes every day until lunch, then switches to editing. I have so much respect for authors like that because the first step is to create something, if you wait for perfection it will never come but if you make something it can be refined until it is great. I think this is relevant to the GRRM thread.
As for the actual stories, I'm only on the forth one, they are good but not too exceptional. The story I'm on is about a guy that plans to sleep with EVERY girl that's to his standards, and is expectedly misogynistic and rapey. Put this one on hold while I finish some other library loans, but I'm going to come back to.
And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky - I've been on a Tchaikovsky kick since I read Elder Race for the book club, and he has become one of my favorite modern authors with China Miéville. My loan for Dogs of War just came in, and I'm excited to read one of his longer stories.
This book feels like a Lovecraft inspired version of Narnia, without the Christian symbolism. Not the most 'high brow' read but it was a quick read and I really enjoyed it, I finished it in two days and would recommend it. I rated 4.5/5 stars on Storygraph
The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick - I wasn't able to finish Ubik before it had to be returned to the library, so I grabbed this one to fill that niche. I liked it, but I'm not sure I completely understood it on a first read, which is how I usually feel with Philip K. Dick. I think it did a good job of balancing religious themes without being allegory for a particular religion. I haven't settled on a rating yet, but its going to be between 4-4.5/5 stars.
Still reading from last week: Perchance to Dream: Selected Stories by Charles Beaumont
Currently (re)reading: Necroscope by Brian Lumley, my favorite vampire story, its so good.
Up next but haven't started: Dogs of War by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Ubik by Phillip K. Dick, Blood Music by Greg Bear (the novel, I read the short story and really liked it)
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - off topic - question re spinoff/ parallel to Storygraph in ~books
IarwainBenAdar LinkI've beel using StoryGraph for the past year to track books, but have never used the 'social' features like book clubs or friend/follow anyone, so Im not sure how it works. I'd prefer if the...I've beel using StoryGraph for the past year to track books, but have never used the 'social' features like book clubs or friend/follow anyone, so Im not sure how it works.
I'd prefer if the discussion was all in one place, ideally here, so nobody needs another account and you don't have to juggle between the two. However it would be neat to have a group on StoryGraph to see how far everyone is in the book, maybe a rating when they finish, and see what else they are reading.
It's a pretty silly one, but something worth noting is that T Kingfisher is a pseudonym for writing horror and fan fic while they mainly write kids stories.