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not-good spinning: demo of spinning silk on a treadle wheel
Ashford Traveller (single treadle although you can see that, Scotch tension). Spinning mulberry (bombyx) silk from combed top.
Favourite debuts
A.C.E - Cactus
1 (3.0%)
Ateez - Pirate King/Treasure
6 (18.2%)
The Boyz - Boy
3 (9.1%)
B.A.P - Warrior
5 (15.2%)
Billlie - Ring x Ring
4 (12.1%)
CIX - Movie Star
2 (6.1%)
Dreamcatcher - Chase me
7 (21.2%)
Enhypen - given-taken
7 (21.2%)
Everglow - Bon Bon Chocolat
6 (18.2%)
EXO - MAMA
9 (27.3%)
(G)I-DLE - Latata
2 (6.1%)
ILLIT - Magnetic
4 (12.1%)
Infinite - Come back again
2 (6.1%)
Itzy - Dalla Dalla
5 (15.2%)
IVE - Eleven
3 (9.1%)
Kai - Mmmh
0 (0.0%)
Key - Forever Yours
0 (0.0%)
Le Sserafim - Fearless
4 (12.1%)
Loona - Hi High
2 (6.1%)
Lovelyz - Candy Jelly Love
2 (6.1%)
Meovv - Meow
1 (3.0%)
NCT U - 7th sense
5 (15.2%)
NewJeans - Attention
4 (12.1%)
NU'EST - Face
2 (6.1%)
Oneus - Valkyrie
6 (18.2%)
QWER - Discord
1 (3.0%)
Red Velvet - Happiness
4 (12.1%)
Seventeen - Adore U
9 (27.3%)
SHINee - Replay
9 (27.3%)
Siyeon - Paradise
1 (3.0%)
Stray Kids - District 9
5 (15.2%)
SuperM - Jopping
5 (15.2%)
Taemin - Danger
4 (12.1%)
Ten - Dream in a Dream
2 (6.1%)
Tri.be - Doom Doom Ta
1 (3.0%)
TWS - Plot Twist
2 (6.1%)
TXT - Crown
3 (9.1%)
Wanna One - Energetic
3 (9.1%)
NaNoWriMo is as good as, if not officially, closed. I'll just remember the good things, like how it's helped launch my writing career. (I guess I can call it that?) One of the alternatives that have sprung up is Weeknight Writers. Their First Draft Fall event, whose goal is to create a first draft, will begin on October 1st and run through December 13th.
The premise of Queen Mantis: To solve a copycat serial killer case, a cop must ask for help from the original serial killer: his incarcerated mother. I've watched the first episode and so far the only character I like is the mother (no surprise there).
So I made a great tweet a few weeks ago replying to someone about why EN yuri fans seem so hostile & act like drama queens over anything (context: himetwt got mad at someone’s shoujo rec list for not including yuri). And I THINK I cracked the code guys. I still can’t believe I managed to come up with this, but here’s my tweet:
`` Modern yuri fans nowadays aren't coming from Otaku space & not entrenched in otaku culture, in fact most modern himes comes from stantwt/kpoptwt which riddled w/ toxicity & flamewars add that radfem & performative activism into the mix. you'd get the most insecure community. ``
Existentially Challenged is the sequel to last month’s book review, Differently Morphous by Yahtzee Croshaw. Once again, Croshaw has a refreshing take on urban fantasy by showing the impact of magic being revealed to the world.
This book’s focus in on religion. Magic in this universe comes from bargains or possession by one of the Ancients, Cthulhu-esque entities that live outside of space and time. Like gods. And if you can prove that there are gods that are real and grant power, how does that affect people’s beliefs? Crowshaw’s tackles this theme with his subversive sense of humour.
A year after the events of Differently Morpheus, the Extradimensional Appropriation Act is passed that makes it illegal for people to claim to have magic. (Cue a nice gag scene where a group of stage magicians have to admit that they are cold reading people to stay ‘legal’ during performances).
The Department of Extradmensional Affairs (or DEDA) is empowered to investigate claims of magic. Their current case is where a young girl, Miracle Meg, can heal people through her connection with her Ancient, El-Yetch. Genuine faith healing! However, a few suspicious corpses of people horribly aged to death are found in the area, which suggests that this healing isn’t as genuine as it appears.
Alison Arkin and her over-the-top partner Doctor Diablerie (think of a dramatic 1930s villain in top hat and tails) investigate what’s really happening with Miracle Meg, and her family, Miracle Dad and Miracle Mum. The role of the internet is a big part in the Miracle Meg case, with her followers big on the forums, her father desperate for fame and television appearances, and a group of Youtubers in a van (with a dog) following the case and making things more complicated for Alison.
Several subplots weave in the background for the other DEDA agents. Pyrokinetic Victor Casin tangles with a woman possessed by the same entity that empowers him. Is she his girlfriend or his archnemesis? Or is that one and the same? And Adam Hesketh struggles with his first proper investigation that isn’t a seek and destroy mission. And he’s terrible at it. Alison tries to piece together Diablerie’s real backstory and agenda; what’s he actually planning?
Despite their powers, the DEDA agents aren’t the world’s sharpest lot. They blunder their way through events, making disastrous decisions, but get there in the end. The story’s told through a mix of regular third person narrative, internet forum chats and other extracts. The book skewers the religion and the media, particularly in a great scene where the Christian Church is accused of breaking the Extradimensional Appropriation Act, culminating in a late-night television debate between followers of El-Yetch and hardline pastors.
I enjoyed the first book more (the mystery was tighter) but this is still an entertaining read. I liked how the characterisations of the DEDA were dug into a bit more. And I’m looking forward to the next one, and discovering Doctor Diablerie’s secret agenda…
Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".