Archive for the ‘Collections of Excellency’ Category

I am back from vacation! I am catching up at the dayjob! I don’t have any links! Sorry!

But I like exclamation points!

*ahem*

As an apology for the lack of links, how about I give you two of everything else this wonderful Friday?

Current Earworm #1: A song described by my sister as “like Nirvana met with Chinese trad instruments and made sweet sweet music baby love.”

Current Earworm #2: Tanglefoot’s two voyageur songs, Paddle Like Hell and La V’La M’Amie. Celtic fiddlin’ meets Appalachian styles with French vocals? Sign me up!

The Friday Quote #1:

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Friday Quote #2:

I prefer to call religion “applied neuroscience.” ~Drew Jacob, The Rogue Priest

Instagram of the Week #1:

My partner, myself, and our dog BB, hiking in my homeland of West Virginia.

Instagram of the Week #2:

The place where my heart lives, inside these lapping waves.

I have been working so much this week that I haven’t been able to scour the internet for a lot of links to share here – sorry! Consider this a small sampler instead of a hearty meal.

• Super Frieza Bros – I laughed way too hard at this.
• Praying Mantises, Mantis Style – A jaw-dropping photo.

Current Earworm: Khajiit Like To Sneak by Miracle of Sound! I can’t resist linking to Nord Mead and The Sovngarde Song, as well.

The Friday Quote:

When in doubt, paint. Or when angry, or when frustrated, or worn out, or sorrowful, or confused, or lost, or… Fuck it, just paint. ~Abigail M. Markov

Instagram of the Week: A sampling of my office notepad, complete with doodles, Kalash (script), and Kommu (cypher).

One of my favorite things about the previous incarnation of this blog was a series of posts, one per Friday, of Things I Learned This Week. And judging by my friends’ and readers’ comments, those were some of your favorite posts, too. And I really enjoy collecting piles of cool stuff, so I have every intention of continuing this tradition. :D And I’ve added a few weekly extras, too!

So, without further ado, this week’s compilation o’ nifty:

• Building An Airship House – holycrap it is so pretty.
• Korean pronunciation guide for new learners – This is both awesome and convenient!
• JRR Tolkien reading LotR poetry–in Elvish and English
• The Warp Drive Could Become Science Fact – I am nothing but starry-eyed over this, guys.
• XKCD’s Click & Drag – Jaw-dropping and delighting. :D
• Death & Your 11 Lives Until Then – Eye-opening!
• Lexicity – A resource for ancient languages online! EEEE~

Current Earworm: April March’s Caribou

The Friday Quote:

Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts. ~Yogananda

Instagram of the Week: My excessively photogenic babycat, Kitsune.

I found a bunch of creative, witty 404 error pages.

I learned that boats are an elder god’s only weakness. Seriously, you have got to read this – it’s friggin’ hilarious.

I read about how corvid intelligence differs from parrot intelligence.

I saw some gnarly examples of what it would look like if men in comic books were drawn just like females are. Worth it for the art, guys, holy crap.

I learned that “… the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new.” A great post about carving your own path, with all the greatness and pain that comes with it.

I learned the truths about the top ten myths about introverts and identify with most of ‘em myself.

I learned that some sneaky bugger is planting story excerpts, dollar bills, and little notes in envelopes around town. Sweet!

Whoop! Last-minute addition!

I heard a Republican Senator say something that’s utterly perfect: “You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing. … I’m tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I’m trying to do the right thing, and that’s where I’m going with this.” (source)

Senator Roy McDonald, you are fucking awesome, sir.

Your Friday photo is totally not mine. It is © Michael Rathmann on Flickr, and it was taken about 15 minutes from where we’ll be moving next month:

Last Friday, I did not post because I had but three links to give! So you get two weeks’ worth of shiny things. Enjoy!

I learned that there is a giant water bug that eats turtles. Holy crap.

I saw fabulous photos of outfits from genderfunky weddings. :D

I learned how to spread warm fuzzies and not let a good memory just be a memory. Pay it forward!

I learned what “Twitter” and “tweet” would be in Latin. Yes, seriously.

I learned why heroism makes a pretty kickass religion.

I read writing tips from 22 authors.

I saw the first photos of one of the world’s last uncontacted tribes in Brazil. Wow.

I learned that great white sharks love AC/DC.

I sent my name to Mars with the next rover – and you can too! AWESOME. (It closes June 13th, so don’t dawdle!)

I read about four things you can do in the morning to totally rock your day.

I found a thing that replaces Peanut’s dialogue with random tweets. This is surprisingly funny.

I read a lot of one-liners that interrupt negative thinking.

I found out what one person means when they say “queer”.

And I read about what “bitch” really means and how to take back the word. I hate that word, but I like this post.

Your Friday photo is totally a cheat, since I haven’t processed any of the photos from the camping trip yet. It is a flower that finally came back to our yard, which delights me to no end, because it turns into this GIANT PUFFBALL that’s bigger than my fist!

I learned that you may need outside help to distinguish good pain from bad pain.

I found a blood-stirring, no-holds-barred page that says, essentially, “do it, motherfucker.”

I read about a blind man who taught himself to see by echolocation. Oh my god.

I read about the care and feeding of a novelist – oh, man, so true.

And since I’m writing this on Thursday and missing all of Friday’s great links (because, as you read this, I have been on the road for four hours with another four to go!), I am giving you the rest of our best Six Flags photos!

Oh man, after last week’s Mega Edition, this week has some awfully slim pickin’s.

I learned that writers can parallel visionaries and mystics in many ways.

I found a really cool random collection of science and nature photographs.

I learned why new experiences are important and positively affect your perception of time. This is awesome.

I watched SJ Tucker’s first music video, Playing D&D, then got earwormed by Roll A D6 on top of that. Man! The musical geekery abounds. :D

Your Friday photo is half of our yard, gloriously unmowed and lush:

Man, this is the Mega Edition. Too much cool stuff in one week!

I learned that avoiding suffering is not the path to happiness and how to learn from it instead.

I read the 56 worst most smart-ass analogies used in high school papers and laughed my ass off.

I saw a sweet, beautiful story in art.

I learned that scientists have finally created a parthenogenic lizard species in the lab via hybridization. Sweet!

I howled at the best obnoxious responses to misspellings on Facebook. Oh, god, guys, I died.

I learned that being allowed to struggle is a kindness and a necessity, as it is how we learn and grow best.

I read about some authors’ lessons learned from master worldbuilders.

I learned that being “cool” can be like wearing an emotional straightjacket.

I saw an incredibly beautiful, inspiring image-story on artistic evolution – you’ve got to see this, guys.

I learned that there are two kinds of asking why – the gentle, exploratory kind and the accusatory, perfectionist kind.

I read about best practices for beta readers and was relieved that I seem to be doin’ it right.

I learned how to live deeper, not busier.

I read a beautiful, brilliant post on self-wisdoms.

I learned the importance of a really good wallow (and a really good metaphor).

I learned that Camp NaNoWriMo is coming this summer! NaNoWriMo! In the summer! I squeed.

I was reminded that decompressing between actions is just as important as the actions themselves, and I wish more people practiced this.

And your Friday photo is from my yard, taken yesterday:

I found 50 questions to ask yourself to create the life you want.

I learned some good ways to smite stress.

I learned .

I learned that seemingly embodying opposites is not strange or bad – it’s actually a positive and balanced thing.

I learned that ladies and gents prefer bookworms – bonus lovely photos!

I learned how to help someone who won’t help themselves.

I read about the lion’s mane jellyfish, which can grow up to 120 feet long. So cool.

And I wanted to share an old favorite critter of mine, the coconut crab, the largest land arthropod with a leg span of up to three feet.

And your Friday photo is a two-fer, both courtesy Wikimedia Commons, of the aforementioned jellyfish and coconut crab:

I found a ton of photos of basset hounds running, which are guaranteed to make you smile and/or laugh. Best way to start a Friday.

I found an in-browser program to make your own music – it’s so easy and so incredibly addictive. I love this.

I also found a source of white noise that can help drown out audible distractions while working, writing, or just chilling. The oscillate function can make it sound like ocean waves.

I learned how important and awesome it is to wave your freaky flag and be completely you, authentic and vulnerable.

I read a fantastic letter to women in tech apologizing for doin’ it wrong by not being “meek” and “unambitious.” (I have a fondness for sarcasm. I laughed.)

I read the complete guide to not giving a fuck, which is all kinds of no-nonsense and awesome.

I learned why we may judge others and how to accept them and ourselves.

I learned that making mistakes is actually both useful and a sign you’re doin’ it right.

I learned 23 things I might not’ve known about me through this wonderful little (free) ebook. It was happy-making to read.

And your Friday photo is an exceptionally friendly corvid I met in Colorado:

I really want to resume taking pictures of everything around me. Nevada can be quite beautiful, but I haven’t been keeping my camera around to immortalize some of those moments. So, hopefully, you’ll start seeing more photos from this year instead of a few years back. :)