cozy mysteries, citations, apple cultivars

[tozka]

A list of cozy mystery books by black authors, and the same site has more diverse mystery book lists as well!

George R.R. Martin Can Fuck Off Into the Sun, or: The 2020 Hugo Awards Ceremony (RageBlog Edition):

The proper role of an awards show host is to keep the audience entertained between awards and get the fuck out of the way of the people being honored. Martin did neither.

These were decisions that were made. Made by George R.R. Martin, made by Bob Silverberg, and made by the producers of the awards ceremony. The producers could have edited the pre-recorded statements for length. They could have demanded that Martin re-record all the segments where he mispronounced people’s names (people were asked how their names were pronounced, there is literally no excuse) and if he wouldn’t, they could have found someone with a modicum of respect for other people to present those segments of the productions.

Jessamyn West on how to add citations to Wikipedia, for librarians who miss doing research or are just bored at home.

I saw the commercial for these convertible shoes that go from heels to flats, and it was utterly fascinating. I definitely want to know how comfortable they actually are, though, since it looks like the soles are still pretty curved and that doesn't seem good for long-term walking. Maybe they're just meant to get you from the club to your home, though.

The curse of the Honeycrisp apple, including a history of the fruit which has really only existed since the late 1970s, at the earliest. If you're not in the business or a super fan of hybrid fruit, I suppose it's very easy to forget (or just not know) that many fruit varieties are created specifically for particular traits, and don't just randomly show up in a jungle waiting to be discovered. My favorite apple is Pink Lady, which apparently is a brand name for the Australian Cripps Pink and is a hybrid of Lady Williams and Golden Delicious.

And now I'm getting sucked into a Wikipedia wander of apple names. Western Dawn (Enchanted)! Grimes Golden! King of the Pippins!

Comments

[rebeccarobota]

Oh no oh no, why did I read the comments of the Hugo Awards blog post.

I should totally become a Wikipedia editor to fill my slow days at work, and that post looks like a good place to start. (Another department at work was actually talking about turning this into a formal WFH project, but never happened because bureaucracy...)

[tozka]

I liked the idea of filling in citations especially because creating entire new articles is so daunting, but it's pretty easy to find a reference (comparatively).

[merit]

I find an arch and heel (around an inch) to be the most comfy shoes. Utterly flat shoes are monsters on my arches.

Pink ladies are one of my favourite apples and relatively new too!

"George R.R. Martin Can Fuck Off Into the Sun..." correct.

[tozka]

I could see that! If you look at the video, though, it looks almost like their feet are bouncing back up into a high heel position, like they can't comfortably put their heels on the ground. Maybe that's just for a more dynamic video? But it's a little strange...

[spikedluv]

Thanks for that cozy mysteries link!

[tozka]

You're welcome!! <3

[genarti]

My mother is an enthusiast of old apple varieties, in the unfocused way where she sometimes reads books or articles about them and sometimes buys them at the farmer's market rather than in the way where she's an expert with a backyard orchard. There are so many great names! Cox's Orange Pippin! Sops of Wine! Hubbardston Nonesuch! Ashmead's Kernel!

(I don't actually like Honeycrisp very well, to be honest. It's no Red Delicious, but it's too sweet for me. Give me a Macintosh or a Cortland any day!)

[tozka]

That's so fun! I'm not as adventurous with apples but that's because I'm also a skinflint. I love the way the heirloom apples look, though!

[jesse_the_k]

Pink ladies are my default now. What I really want is a Haralson but sadly they're out of fashion now. ASFAICT no commercial orchard grows them, and my farmers-market supplier had just one tree that died.

It's as crisp and firm and small as a Pink Lady with bonus tart!

[tozka]

All this apple talk has really made me crave them; I didn't buy nearly enough at the last shopping trip!