PnkNBlck71817's recent activity
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Comment on Tildes Book Club meta discussion - should we read nonfiction as well as fiction and with what frequency? in ~books
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Comment on What we learned about the publishing industry from Penguin vs. US Department of Justice in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI enjoyed the book a lot. It helped me come to terms with a lot of feelings that I had about my own childhood, and validated my decision to go no-contact with my mother. I definitely had to be in...I enjoyed the book a lot. It helped me come to terms with a lot of feelings that I had about my own childhood, and validated my decision to go no-contact with my mother.
I definitely had to be in the right mindset to read it. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much had I not been no-contact for over 6 years and low-contact for 4 years before that. I also read it while traveling with my husband, close friends, and my father (who all understand my feelings towards my mother and are very supportive of my non-contact status).
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Comment on What we learned about the publishing industry from Penguin vs. US Department of Justice in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI actually read this because of the subject (being raised by a narcissistic parent) and not because it was written by a celebrity. I didn't even realize it was by a celebrity until she mentioned...I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy.
I actually read this because of the subject (being raised by a narcissistic parent) and not because it was written by a celebrity. I didn't even realize it was by a celebrity until she mentioned her childhood acting career and I had to go look up who she was (iCarly aired during/after I was in college). I'm sure the publisher picked it up because of her celebrity and not the subject, but it is popular and made an impact on me and many others that grew up with narcisstic parent(s). I wouldn't discount the popularity of the book as people just wanting to read it because she was a minor celebrity a decade or so ago.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Piranesi in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI guess my feeling is that he did let Piranesi know that 16 was coming and was looking for him. Sure he could have given Piranesi more information, but he didn't even have to tell him that 16...I guess my feeling is that he did let Piranesi know that 16 was coming and was looking for him. Sure he could have given Piranesi more information, but he didn't even have to tell him that 16 wasn't someone that Piranesi shouldn't be afraid of.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Piranesi in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI loved Piranesi and 16, disliked The Prophet, and absolutely despised The Other. Piranesi reminds me of a child wrapped in an adult's body. The way he views the House and the world around him is...I loved Piranesi and 16, disliked The Prophet, and absolutely despised The Other.
Piranesi reminds me of a child wrapped in an adult's body. The way he views the House and the world around him is innocent, like a child's view of the world. Everything is new, even the hundreds of statues are all unique and he gives them stories of their own.
Throughout the book, while The Other was describing 16 I had it in my mind that they were another student/follower of The Prophet. I was happy surprised that she wasn't and it made her character even better. The trust she put in Piranesi to help her get out of the House and her willingness to do whatever it took to bring James Ritter back to his family really endeared her character to me.
I don't have much to say about The Other or The Prophet that other people haven't already written. The gaslighting and lies from The Other made him a character that was easy to hate. The Prophet was a fanatic and used other's to get what he wanted, but in the end slightly redeemed himself by helping Piranesi.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Piranesi in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI really enjoyed how the book dropped you in the middle of the story. Lately, I have been really into reading series of books - I know most of the characters already, so backstory isn't needed. It...I really enjoyed how the book dropped you in the middle of the story. Lately, I have been really into reading series of books - I know most of the characters already, so backstory isn't needed. It was a little jarring at first not understanding anything about the main character, but I really enjoyed that I, as the reader, discovered Piranesi's past as he was discovering it himself.
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Comment on Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentIt's kind of boring, but I do appreciate that they're focusing on midfield battles in their video coverage. I started watching during the 2020 season and it seemed that they would talk about the...It's kind of boring, but I do appreciate that they're focusing on midfield battles in their video coverage. I started watching during the 2020 season and it seemed that they would talk about the action in the middle of the pack but the cameras would still follow the podium places.
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Comment on Trans men enter Miss Italy pageant in droves after trans women are told they can’t compete in ~lgbt
PnkNBlck71817 (edited )LinkFrederico's last comment is really impactful. It drives home the fact that many people who are transphobic just don't care about the person or their feelings. It's like they see them as less than...“They are so focused on biology and bodies, and it’s often forgotten that there are people inhabiting those bodies,” he said.
Frederico's last comment is really impactful. It drives home the fact that many people who are transphobic just don't care about the person or their feelings. It's like they see them as less than human and are perfectly okay with it.
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Comment on What are your go to fast but tasty meals? Is there prep you do on weekends to make meals faster? in ~food
PnkNBlck71817 LinkI do a lot of pressure cooker meals during the week. Most have a small amount of prep work and some you don't even have to sear the meat before cooking (my pressure cooker has a sauté function, so...I do a lot of pressure cooker meals during the week. Most have a small amount of prep work and some you don't even have to sear the meat before cooking (my pressure cooker has a sauté function, so even that is easy). Lots of soups and stews. Family favorites are:
Chicken Lemon and Rice Soup - boneless chicken breasts, chopped onions/celery/carrots, minced garlic, lemon juice, chicken broth, rice, and herbs all thrown into the pot together and cooked up in about 20 minutes. Take the chicken breasts out at the end and shred - throw back in pot and stir.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole - basically what it sounds like, with onions, cheese, and spices. About 15 minutes cook time.
Also, anything I can throw on a sheet pan and cook in the oven for 30-45 minutes. Usually a mixture of vegetables, potatoes, and some type of protein tossed with oil and spices.
Salads are also easy, but take a bit more prep. I usually add a meat (chicken, salmon, bacon, etc) and fresh fruits or cheeses.
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Comment on Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
PnkNBlck71817 LinkI mostly enjoyed the race today, but I wish that the actual racing was more exciting. Yes we had a different race winner (go Sainz!), but there wasn't much on track action. Had it not not been for...I mostly enjoyed the race today, but I wish that the actual racing was more exciting. Yes we had a different race winner (go Sainz!), but there wasn't much on track action. Had it not not been for a massive mechanical failure, another botched pit stop, and a wreck that basically ended the race 2 laps early, there was not much to watch. I would have loved to see more battles for position and defending, but the times cars got past it seemed like the person in front was just allowing it to happen.
Also, I wonder how Vasseur is feeling about his decision to sign Hamilton instead of Sainz after today?
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Cloud Atlas in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentThanks! I've added them to my to-read list.Thanks! I've added them to my to-read list.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Cloud Atlas in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentHonestly, no. The first story almost had me wanting to stop reading before I got through. I understand that the author was writing with an authentic tone for the period, but I truly did not enjoy...Honestly, no. The first story almost had me wanting to stop reading before I got through. I understand that the author was writing with an authentic tone for the period, but I truly did not enjoy reading it at all. Throughout the entire book, I was looking for that thread that was going to tie all the stories together. It seemed like it would be the comet-shaped birthmark, but nothing came of it. I agree with many of the other posters that this could have been published as a book of short stories. I feel like it would have been much more satisfying to read knowing that the stories weren't really connected before starting.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Cloud Atlas in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI also was looking for something more between the stories. I kept waiting for that "ah-ha" moment when you finally figured out how all of the stories connected and was very disappointed to realize...I also was looking for something more between the stories. I kept waiting for that "ah-ha" moment when you finally figured out how all of the stories connected and was very disappointed to realize there wasn't anything. The Sonmi and Sloosha's Crossin' stories interconnected well and it seems to me that those two stories could have been more detailed and then released as a book of their own. I enjoyed (most of) the rest as individual short stories - their ties to the other stories were threadbare and ultimately had no impact on the story lines.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club discussion - Cloud Atlas in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI really enjoyed Letters from Zedelghem and Sloosha's Crossin'. I have a musical background and the way Mitchell describes the almost madness you feel when you hear music everywhere and just have...I really enjoyed Letters from Zedelghem and Sloosha's Crossin'.
I have a musical background and the way Mitchell describes the almost madness you feel when you hear music everywhere and just have to get it down really spoke to me. It's not something that I have seen written about often in fiction and it just really hooked me (which was much needed after The Pacific Journal - I almost gave up through that story).
I loved Sloosha's Crossin' for the dystopian future and the complexity of reading the language. I am typically drawn to science fiction and dystopian stories, so this one was an easy win for me. It was also perfectly sandwiched between Sonmi's story. I was first annoyed by the language and the way words were written because my mind was just trying to understand what was going on. After getting into the story and literally sounding out some of the words, it became much more enjoyable and almost a game to try and figure them out with minimal context.
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Comment on Three Cheers for Tildes: App updates and feedback (March 2024) in ~tildes
PnkNBlck71817 Link Parent@chopin mentioned above that you can double tap comments and topics to vote on them. I didn't know that before today!@chopin mentioned above that you can double tap comments and topics to vote on them. I didn't know that before today!
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Comment on Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 - Results in ~sports.motorsports
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentThe announcers spent an obscene amount of time talking about this during preseason testing. I wasn't paying full attention to the discussion, but I heard at least a couple times that they should...The announcers spent an obscene amount of time talking about this during preseason testing. I wasn't paying full attention to the discussion, but I heard at least a couple times that they should mandate minimum amounts of color on the cars. I don't agree that it should be a requirement, but I do agree that the cars are pretty boring.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - How is it going? Discussion of Cloud Atlas will begin the second full week in March in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 Link ParentI definitely agree with you on liking more sections than others. The first part took me a long time to get through and I almost gave up. Really glad that I'm reading this as a part of a book club,...I definitely agree with you on liking more sections than others. The first part took me a long time to get through and I almost gave up. Really glad that I'm reading this as a part of a book club, because I probably wouldn't have kept going otherwise.
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Comment on What are your cooking experiments that haven't turned out well? in ~food
PnkNBlck71817 LinkI have tried and failed multiple times to fry something. First was fried porkchops. I made an amazing panko and herb crust and dredged 2" porkchops through it. Then proceeded to overheat the oil...I have tried and failed multiple times to fry something.
First was fried porkchops. I made an amazing panko and herb crust and dredged 2" porkchops through it. Then proceeded to overheat the oil and char the heck out of them. To top it off, the outside was charcoal black but the inside was raw. We ended up having frozen pizza for dinner that night.
About 10 years later I felt I recovered from that incident, so I decided to make Fish and Chips. To start, I almost sliced a finger off with the mandolin (even with gloves and the hand attachment so I wasn't touching the potatoes), but the beer batter looked amazing. I had learned my lesson about the oil being too hot and was using a thermometer to make sure it was in the correct zone. I got through about 50 French fries before the oil degraded too much and boiled over. Of course, I have a gas stove so that could have been disastrous. The fries were great, so I cleaned up the mess and tried again. Apparently I learned nothing because the same thing happened again. So we went out for Mexican.
My husband and best friend now forbid me to attempt anything in the kitchen that needs to be fried.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club check in Feb 8 2024 - How are things going? in ~books
PnkNBlck71817 LinkI got the audiobook from my library and started listening. After about 30 minutes I realized I dislike the narrators voice and hadn't retained anything up to that point. Returned it to pick up the...I got the audiobook from my library and started listening. After about 30 minutes I realized I dislike the narrators voice and hadn't retained anything up to that point. Returned it to pick up the ebook and am now speeding through the book I was previously reading so I can start.
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Comment on Any tips for games for two or more players? in ~games.tabletop
PnkNBlck71817 (edited )LinkWe have quite a few games we enjoy playing with just two people and are great for groups as well. We really like tableau/deck building games, so there are quite a few of those listed. Fort: Card...We have quite a few games we enjoy playing with just two people and are great for groups as well. We really like tableau/deck building games, so there are quite a few of those listed.
Fort: Card drafting game where you play as kids to collect resources and build an awesome fort. It's easy to learn, fun, and quick to play.
Valeria: Card Kingdoms: Tableau-building game to recruit citizens, slay monsters, and build domains. We like this one because you gain resources during the other players turn, so it keeps you engaged throughout the game. It's not too time consuming to set up. There are a few fun expansions as well.
Parks: Works well as a 2-player game but is more challenging with more players. It has a beautiful design and simple play mechanics. Quick to learn and play with minimal setup.
Distilled: Tableau-building game. Each player is a distiller trying to create their own master spirit. You purchase cards to make your spirits, upgrade your distillery, and age your barrels until it's time to sell. Game is based around simple mechanics and beautifully designed.
Ticket to Ride: New York: This is a quick version game. It takes place in New York City, so the map is smaller and is more challenging than the base game for two players. Mechanics are the same - draw cards, place your colored taxi on routes, and try to complete your destination tickets.
Space Base: Tableau-building game. You are in charge of a fleet of ships and through dice rolling you gain resources to upgrade your ships. Like Valeria, you gather resources on the other players turn as well. I found that this game is easy to learn as you play. There are a lot of mechanics that make a lot of sense once you see the turns play out. Of all the games listed, this is my favorite!
Raiders of the North Sea: You're a Viking raider who gathers resources, builds a crew and then sets out to raid villages to impress the Clan Chief. When raiding villages, you win resources (gold and victory points) but can also encounter a Valkyrie to which you have to sacrifice one of your crew. Fun to play and easy to reset if you want to play more than one round.
Wingspan: Card drafting game. I tend to like this more as a 2-player game than my partner does. There is a 2-person version called Duet mode in the Asia expansion that our friends really enjoy (haven't had a chance to play it myself). There are 3 bird habitats that focus on different areas of growth. You start with 8 movement cubes to determine the actions you take on a turn. The game is played over 4 rounds and you are working to attract birds to the habitats on your board.
Hike: Deck building game. I will say that the main reason we kickstarted this game is that we own Huskies and it was just too cute. It is a quick, compact card drafting game. You draft sled dogs to your team and when both teams are ready, you set out to race through the trail to be the first to reach the finish line. There are great catch-up mechanics, so if you get behind all is not lost.
Mystic Vale: Deck building game. You start with a base set of cards and use your turns to purchase new cards to upgrade abilities you already have or slot them on blank cards to build new powers. There are so many expansions for this, but I recommend not purchasing all of them. We did and it made the game way too cumbersome - there were too many abilities that could never be activated because their synergies were never drawn. There are recommended starting decks with the expansions, so we have had to slowly sort out the cards to be able to play.
7 Wonders: Duel: If you have ever played 7 Wonders, this is exclusively a 2-player game based off of it. It is quick to play and uses many of the same mechanics as the 7-player game.
This last one is difficult to find, but worth it if you can grab a copy:
Dead Reckoning: Tableau building game. We have spent more hours playing this game than I care to admit. The mechanics make it a lot of fun, even if you're losing badly (which I usually am). You're a pirate setting out to gather a crew, discover new areas, pillage islands, and attack other ships. The expansions for this make it even more fun, as they are saga expansions. You follow along with a new story and slowly add new cards to the game.
I don't think the club is strictly about those genres, but it seems those are the genres that the commenters who suggested books mostly read. I would be all for some new genres, but I'm one of those people that usually read SciFi or Fantasy and have no idea what to suggest otherwise. Please join us in the next round of suggesting books and add in some different genres for us to read (cause I desperately need it but have no idea where to start).