bcj's recent activity
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Comment on How do you live simply/save money? What does your lifestyle look like? in ~talk
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Comment on How do you live simply/save money? What does your lifestyle look like? in ~talk
bcj (edited )Link ParentWhat are your favorite shows and movies? It's easier to recommend things with a bit more about yourself. Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are great, but the sheer number of them are intimidating....What are your favorite shows and movies? It's easier to recommend things with a bit more about yourself.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are great, but the sheer number of them are intimidating. I'd personally start with The Wee Free Men. Tiffany Aching's books are some of his very best work. They're relatable, funny, and shockingly deep at the same time--which is kind of his whole thing.
For something super light and fun, I'd probably recommend Legends and Lattes. An orc settles down after a life of adventuring, and she makes a few friends and a lot of coffee.
"Cozy" science fiction and fantasy is currently having a moment as a relatively new genre.
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Comment on How do you live simply/save money? What does your lifestyle look like? in ~talk
bcj (edited )Link ParentI like this response. Before kids, we traveled a lot. It was intentional time we spent together. Money wasn't tight. We could easily save, travel within reason, and make occasional impulse...I like this response.
Before kids, we traveled a lot. It was intentional time we spent together. Money wasn't tight. We could easily save, travel within reason, and make occasional impulse purchases.
That said, we realized it was the intentionally engaging in stuff together we actually needed.
Nowadays, we spend a lot of time at the park, library, community pool, and hanging out with friends. Hosting is the only sure way to make it happen, but usually everyone is happy to participate in a potluck. Things don't have to be fancy to be fulfilling.
In terms of hobbies and stuff, my interests are relatively cheap.
I play on private Minecaft server with adult friends; we all came together online during the pandemic. I read lots of fantasy and science fiction books. I play a fair amount of emulated old games on my phone. Pokémon Romhacks are a current favorite.
Previously I did a lot of backpacking and backcountry trips. With kids? I like to take my kids on hikes to play in creeks and waterfalls.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
bcj LinkThat DBZ project sounds really neat. I never got into Parks and Rec. I did really enjoy Reno 911 though!That DBZ project sounds really neat.
I never got into Parks and Rec. I did really enjoy Reno 911 though!
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
bcj LinkI watched Haikyuu's "The Dumpster Battle" last night. They did some really cool first person POV scenes during volleyball rallies that were different from the series. That was really cool. There...I watched Haikyuu's "The Dumpster Battle" last night. They did some really cool first person POV scenes during volleyball rallies that were different from the series. That was really cool. There were a lot of callbacks and mirrored moments that felt really satisfying. I thought it was really well done.
Super fun. It's hard to pack a whole arc's worth of manga content into a movie, but it was nice.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
bcj Link ParentThat was the best era for SyFy. I loved both.That was the best era for SyFy. I loved both.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
bcj LinkAnybody else seeking out somewhat older shows that feel like home and demand very little of your brain given... gesticulates wildly...all this? Psych, IT Crowd, Gravity Falls, and Haikyuu have...Anybody else seeking out somewhat older shows that feel like home and demand very little of your brain given... gesticulates wildly...all this?
Psych, IT Crowd, Gravity Falls, and Haikyuu have been frequent flyers at my house this summer.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
bcj LinkI've spent much of my time away from my PC this summer. I needed something for my phone. I have been using an emulator to play Pokémon ROMHacks. There are a quite a few good ones that have come...I've spent much of my time away from my PC this summer.
I needed something for my phone.
I have been using an emulator to play Pokémon ROMHacks.
There are a quite a few good ones that have come out in the last few years.
I've really enjoyed Emerald Seaglass and Lazarus by Nemo.
Also: Pokémon Odyssey was really cool.
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Comment on ‘Moana’ flounders with $43 million debut, among weakest of Disney’s live-action remakes in ~movies
bcj Link ParentTo be fair, there are only a few personalities that thrive long term in middle school classrooms, and many of them embrace their inner chaos goblin.To be fair, there are only a few personalities that thrive long term in middle school classrooms, and many of them embrace their inner chaos goblin.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
bcj Link ParentSeems like we enjoy many of the same books!Seems like we enjoy many of the same books!
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - Have you started A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers? in ~books
bcj Link ParentThe worldbuilding in the Exodan fleet was so good. I thought Eyas and the caretaker profession were a particularly cool touch.The worldbuilding in the Exodan fleet was so good. I thought Eyas and the caretaker profession were a particularly cool touch.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
bcj Link ParentThat is definitely true. I did like Paladin's Grace though.That is definitely true. I did like Paladin's Grace though.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
bcj Link ParentThere's a lot of good cozy and cozy adjacent stuff out there. I loved Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books and T Kingfisher's Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking. I read both last year when I was...There's a lot of good cozy and cozy adjacent stuff out there.
I loved Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books and T Kingfisher's Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking. I read both last year when I was scouting things to read for my kiddos.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
bcj Link ParentVibes are good. I like vibes. I will add it to the list. :)Vibes are good. I like vibes. I will add it to the list. :)
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
bcj Link ParentWait. Cozy lit RPGs? This needs more investigation. Kind of like Beware of Chicken? That was a lot of fun, but I never finished the series. I got distracted.Wait. Cozy lit RPGs? This needs more investigation.
Kind of like Beware of Chicken? That was a lot of fun, but I never finished the series. I got distracted.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
bcj (edited )LinkIt's been an interesting week. I recently reread the first Dungeon Crawler Carl. I started listening to the audiobook of Can't Spell Treason without Tea by Rebecca Thorne. That's been fun. The...It's been an interesting week.
I recently reread the first Dungeon Crawler Carl.
I started listening to the audiobook of Can't Spell Treason without Tea by Rebecca Thorne. That's been fun. The performance is well done. The story hasn't blown me away yet, but it's not really supposed to. It's a cozy fantasy book. It does feel nice, and I like the characters so far.
I just checked out Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread, and Scuppernong Wine from the library. Pretty excited. Southern Appalachia is home, and it's a folklore and storytelling piece in addition to the cooking bits.
Sounds like you'd prefer something with a bit more going on than most "cozy" books.
Have you read the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells? They're functionally a series of novellas that are simultaneously delightful and fast-paced. They're a series of adventures that can mostly be read in one longer sittin each. The audiobooks are also great.
"Murderbot" is a security android that jailbroke itself, and it's just trying to live a normal life whilst the humans around it keep trying to get themselves killed. It's good fun. I think it recently became a Netflix series, but I haven't watched it yet.
That said, I will say again that Terry Pratchett is always worth another look. If I were to want to experience a series again for the first time, it would be probably be Discworld.