yourownbestfriend

March 06: There Will Be Blood
March 11: If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?
March 13: Hamilton
March 13: Little Shop of Horrors
March 20: Drop Dead Gorgeous
March 21: See No Evil, Hear No Evil
March 22: Wicked: For Good
March 22: Zootopia 2
March 23: Zootopia 1
March 30: The Talented Mr. Ripley

Thoughts on each movie, in order

There Will Be Blood: Liked it deeply up until the end. Felt like the end kind of warped the obvious anti-capitalist anti-greed message of the movie. Or undermined it. Wish it had focused harder on the destruction of HW's relationship with his father, rather than his father's feud with Eli. At the same time I loved Eli and would have been sad if he never came back.

If Footmen Tire You: Very funny Christian propaganda piece I watched with the boys. Grindhouse schlock.

Hamilton: Don't come for me. I genuinely enjoy Hamilton. I hate Lin-Manuel's voice but I love this musical.

Little Shop of Horrors: Absolute banger, fucking love it. I've had people tell me, "You need to watch this movie, you'll LOVE it" since I was a kid but I never get around to it. Periodically people show me clips (like, after I got my wisdom teeth removed by the military in a torturous no-meds dentist visit, my friend Lopez showed me "I'm a Dentist") and it's gotten to the point where I think I've seen the whole damn movie, just out of order. Watched it with Rich and adored it.

Drop Dead Gorgeous: Madelgard recommended this one. Dark comedy about small-town beauty pageants. Favorite joke was at the very beginning: Home of the World's Oldest Living Lutheran.

See No Evil: Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder buddy comedy that reads as very gay. One of Rich's favorites since he was a kid.

Wicked: For Good - yeah, no, I had fun.

Zootopia 2: I thought this was awful until I rewatched Zootopia 1. Then I realized they're both awful, but Zootopia 2 wins because it actually made me laugh several times.

The Talented Mr. Ripley: Finally succeeded in watching this. I've tried before and was so turned off by Matt Damon's and Jude Law's performances that I couldn't finish it. The performances didn't seem as bad to me this time (but they did seem bad to Rich, who's never tried to watch this before) -- and I was able to watch it the whole way through. Enjoyed it a lot. Very different from the book, but in ways that don't really change the story, and DO help adapt it from book to film. Biggest difference is Ripley's personality/motives. The movie rehabs him a little, makes him less dark ... up until the end, at least.

amado1

Total: 11 books

- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler;
- This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff;
- The Six Loves of James I by Gareth Russell;
- In the Garden of the North American Martyrs by Tobias Wolff;
- The Real Cool Killers by Chester Himes;
- The Trial of Charles I by C.V. Wedgwood;
- Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid;
- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith;
- A Light Amongst Shadows by Kelley York;
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad;
- The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark.

The worst book was easily "A Light Amongst Shadows," but that feels almost unfair to say. It's a Kindle Unlimited gay romance. It comes very close to being ... like, built for me. Historical gay romance? Love it. Creepy boarding school, incest, CSA -- FUCK yes. Ghost children? Favorite horror trope. Yes please.

But no, it didn't work. Biggest problem was with the character voice. It's told in first-person by an upper-class teen living in 1870-1880, but he speaks like a modern-day teen who happens to be a teaboo and is desperate for his classmates to think he really spent the summer in London. Other big problem was that it didn't really work either as a romance or as a horror. Like, the horror element definitely took the backseat to the romance, but the romance itself was insta-love, so it wasn't interesting enough to justify side-lining the horror so much. (At one point, the main character casually tells us that he's been seeing ghosts every day and just didn't think to mention it).

Tobias Wolff really dominated my month. Really love his books. I downloaded a third book of his, a novel, but got distracted by a sudden strong desire to read about British kings. So James I and his son Charles took over the rest of my month. The thrillers and mystery novels are for my Detective & Mystery Lit class, and I enjoyed most of them, but couldn't really get into Raymond Chandler (I like his writing on a sentence/paragraph level, but I think structurally he struggles).

Annie John was excellent. Definitely the strongest novel I read all month. The Ox-Bow Incident was fun, but dragged BADLY in several spots. It follows a cowboy in 1885 who gets swept up in a lynch mob, and goes along with it despite his conscience screaming not to; much of the book concerns the men who DO speak up, and why they do it, and how they fail. The actual lynching scene is long -- detailed enough to be deeply uncomfortable but not gory. And there's a mean, depressing twist at the end that crushes one of the few good men even further. But it's a twist that feels necessary. Because right away, the characters with consciences start blaming the lynching on a scapegoat, a very easy scapegoat -- a wealthy rancher and ex-Confederate named Tetley. They convince themselves they had no way of stopping the mob because Tetley is just a monster; he loves cruelty and violence; he has no feelings. Then they find out Tetley has killed himself, and their excuses and justifications are swept away.

It feels cruel, like the author's decision to do this feels cruel, because the character most affected by Tetley's death is also the only guy who actively tried to stop the lynch mob. But I do think it's necessary, because that character might have done more than anyone else, but he still allowed it to happen. He admits he thought of ways to stop the mob and refused to take them. And three innocent men died as a result.

Anyway. Very fun book. Haven't seen the movie yet.

walkitout

I took M. to B&N today. N. appears to have passed last night; waiting for pronouncement (which is needful, because when there’s significant opioids for pain relief, things can be uncertain, altho I don’t think that’s what is happening here). Obviously expected, still a shock. It was nice to spend time with M. and we’ll probably get a walk later today.

No phone call this morning — for good reasons, tho! Springtime is bringing morning alertness which is delightful in every way.

ETA: I made a maple pecan sticky bun, just a fancy cinnamon roll with pecans, maple syrup and fake butter in the bottom of a custard cup, served upside down. A little of the roll stuck (honestly, I got off really easy here, it could have completely stuck), and a little of the juicy sweet fat spilled, but it was otherwise delicious.

walkitout

I don’t really know what the category of LEO is that is patrolling the roads — I know it includes all levels of law enforcement, because there are roads at all jurisdictional levels. City roads. Town roads. County roads. Interstates.

Anyway. They have drones. FB has a fucking wave of AI generated content with a certain “I’m cool and not in the police way” vibe (“yo, …” type thing) about how police have drones and they will catch you speeding wherever you are. Do police have drones. Yes. But are they really using them for speeding? Seems like a waste of time and resources, honestly.

Washington State, interestingly, has a comparatively large drone program, and has for longer than a lot of states. Once upon a time, they probably had the largest law enforcement drone fleet, but that was maybe 2019 time frame. Not recently. They — and other states — consistently say that a primary use for drones is to collective evidence after a collision has closed part or all of a roadway, so they can reopen the roadway more quickly. Washington State’s Amtrak derail towards the end of their drone pilot program really opened their eyes to this and is a big chunk of why they made it a permanent program and invested so heavily.

Maryland has a program to fly radar around on drones _to trigger radar detectors_ to convince people there is speed enforcement and thus slow down.

https://roads.maryland.gov/OOTS/06DroneRadarW-Summary.pdf

Various agencies also use drones to find missing folks both very young and older, and in lieu of high speed chases, and, yes, to sometimes enforce speed in work zones.

I don’t know who is doing the FB AI posts, but it absolutely bites. I’ve stuck with FB through a lot of garbage, but in combination with the increasingly fictitious “science” posts about “breakthroughs” that are done by scientists (that no amount of searching can turn up), I’m thinking about giving up entirely. It’s discouraging. On the other hand, I’d get some time back for reading and playing Sliding Seas and maybe I’d be motivated to go hang out with friends in person, or at least call people on the phone.

orbble posting in

addme_fandom

Name: Orbble
Pronouns: He/They
Age Group: I'm in my early 30s. Only looking to add folks 18 or older!
Country: USA
Subscription/Access Policy: Basically all access-only! Looking for folks who enjoy chatting, about shared fandoms, writing/fic in general, or just... life!

What I post about: General life updates, games I'm playing, and my fandoms. I like getting analytical about characters and want to post more of that. Occasionally I'll wax philosophical about life and the world through a fandon lens, which I also really enjoy doing.
I'm looking to connect with people who: Want to talk and share their enthusiasm, too! I'm a chatterbox who really wants to extend his fannish social circle - my work leaves me with a good amount of free time and I'd love to spend more of it engaging in fun talk!

I'm also looking to connect with people who are open-minded and accepting, and not interested in anti culture or the idea that censorship is a good thing. Absolutely not looking to connect with Trump supporters or other political extremists, nor TERFs or other transphobes. I will also note, I do best with people who aren't uncomfortable looking at the problems connected to their fandom and its creators/companies (I like multiple Disney properties and the Hellaverse, so... yeah...) but who are also understanding of the idea that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, and that what one likes does not equal who you are.

Main Fandoms: Pokemon (the games and the Horizons anime/early OG anime), Helluva Boss, Hazbin Hotel, Disney Duckverse (DuckTales and its reboot, the comics, etc)
Other Fandoms: Delicious in Dungeon, In Stars and Time, Steven Universe, Megaman NT Warrior (manga), Dimension 20's Cloudward Ho! and Fantasy High, The Muppets, Sonic the Hedgehog (the movies and the games, though I've only played a few) Lilo & Stitch, Tangled (though my feelings on the tv series for each are... mixed at best lol), Fraggle Rock. Inside Out, Zootopia, Kung Fu Panda, the Spider-Verse movies, Fire Emblem (Awakening, 3 Houses, Fates, Engage)
Favorite Ships: Blitzo/Stolas, Blitzo/Fizz, Fizz/Ozzy, Millie/Moxxie (Helluva Boss), Husk/Angel, Niffty/Baxter (Hazbin Hotel), Chilchuck/Marcille (Delicious in Dungeon), Protoman/Megaman, Lan/Chaud (NT Warrior), Comfrey/Daisuke, Maxwell/Torse (Cloudward Ho!), Judy/Nick (Zootopia), Jumba/Pleakley (Lilo & Stitch), Meowth/Pikachu (Pokemon anime), Rapunzel/Eugene (Tangled)

What I create for Fandom: Fanfic and meta! And occasionally icons, but mostly the other two.
Other Hobbies: Video games, reading, bracelet weaving, TTRPGs, icon making, and I've started getting into drawing this year!

daily_otter_feed

Posted by Daily Otter

https://dailyotter.org/posts/2026/4/4/whos-that-weird-looking-hairless-otter-across-the-water

Via Cloudtail the Jaguar

https://dailyotter.org/posts/2026/4/4/whos-that-weird-looking-hairless-otter-across-the-water

walkitout

No Dutch lesson today, alas. I did have a nice walk with M., and an indoor visit. I had a delightful phone call with K. I brought A. into school for her only and last Friday class and waited and brought her home after. We stopped at Roche Bros and did some grocery shopping including a lot of candy for her and chocolate bars for me.

I made a bao bun. I chopped up some rib and made my crappy bbq sauce (mustard, ketchup, sriracha from the farm box, maple syrup) for the filling. I did the pleats on top version and steamed it on the stove. It turned out much closer to right than I had any reasonable expectation of. It was fluffy and tasty, and it was structurally sound. It isn’t _as_ fluffy as the all white flour (some people use cake flour!!!) ones, but that was not what I was aiming for anyway. I think I’ll try the fold it and make the pleats invisible on the bottom version tomorrow.

walkitout

I drove A. to school and R. to the airport. He’ll spend a night in Miami and then get on a boat and see a helluva lot of bands.

I walked with M.

Other than the driving, it was a nice, quiet day all around. A. and I went to Season’s 52 after I picked her up from school.

romanajo123 posting in

tenminutesaday

( I know it’s not my turn, but it has been a week and we are so back!)

Write a scene where one character is sick or injured but won’t admit to it. How does another character try to help?

maru_feed

Posted by mugumogu

https://sisinmaru.com/2026/04/04/2010%e5%b9%b4%e3%81%ae%e3%81%be%e3%82%8b%e3%81%95%e3%82%93%e3%80%82maru-in-2010/

https://sisinmaru.com/?p=33746

今日は月の第1土曜日なので、まるさんの思い出デーです！今夜9時にアップ予定の「まるさんの思い出５。」は、2010年のまるさんです。ということで、今日の写真は2010年1月のまるさんです。 Today is the f […]

https://sisinmaru.com/2026/04/04/2010%e5%b9%b4%e3%81%ae%e3%81%be%e3%82%8b%e3%81%95%e3%82%93%e3%80%82maru-in-2010/

https://sisinmaru.com/?p=33746

cakewrecks_feed

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/easter-eggcellence-2026

Ok, bakers, huddle up!

Now, listen: Easter is coming. That means a lot of long hours, hard work, and painstaking effort on your part to ensure we make some of the most beautif...BWAHAHAHA!!

AHAHAHAHAA!!

[wiping eyes] Sorry, sorry! I really thought I'd get through that with a straight face this year. Heehee!

Right: start your airbrushes! I'll see you back here in five.

Bee-YOO-tiful.

Nice aim on those jelly beans, Jim!

And good call on the "Peep Peep." That'll clue 'em in it's not a swan or a banana or something.

Not bad, but I can still see a little icing. Can we get a little more plastic in here?

And speaking of plastic, here's a great recycling tip:

St. Patrick would be proud.

And remember, bakers: the more plastic, the less time, skill, and hassle!

I made this one in 15 seconds.

With my feet.

(Aaaand that'll be $14.99, please. Cha-ching!)

And lastly, I don't actually know what this is...

...but it looks like a really efficient use of time. So let's make a few dozen more.

Thanks to Stephanie J., Angela M., Alexandra M., Shay K., Tony D., Diana Y., & Stephanie R., who think that's supposed to be a bunny rabbit.

[staring in stunned silence]

Well, one thing's for sure: You're not getting a Peep out of me.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/easter-eggcellence-2026

xkcd_feed

https://xkcd.com/3228/

It has been −2,147,483,648 days since our last integer overflow.

https://xkcd.com/3228/

daily_otter_feed

Posted by Daily Otter

https://dailyotter.org/posts/2026/4/3/cute-and-cuddly-with-caveats

Via Sea Otter Savvy, which writes:

Fun Fact: If you hug a sea otter you can feel what it’s like to be attacked by a sea otter. 🦦‼️
Now you know…

We know sea otters are often called the “C words” — cute and cuddly. But approaching them is illegal. The southern sea otter is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Both laws require people to keep a safe distance and avoid disturbing them.

And beyond the law, sea otters are wild animals. They have strong teeth, sharp claws, and will defend themselves if they feel threatened.

The best way to love sea otters?
🦦 Give them space (>5 kayak lengths)
🔭 Watch from a distance
💙 Help keep their home calm and safe

Admire the fluff from afar. Respect the wild.
Stay Savvy.

https://dailyotter.org/posts/2026/4/3/cute-and-cuddly-with-caveats

cakewrecks_feed

Posted by john (the hubby of Jen)

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/pan-wow-2026

[adjusting headset mic]
[gelling hair]

Hi, it's john with Pan-Wow. This pan is shaped like a heart but it's also a pan so you can make cakes that are shaped like a heart.

A regular pan can only make cakes that look like a circle or a square, but the Pan-Wow can make a cake that looks like anything. Look at this apple.

You can't get an apple cake out of a round pan. Pan-Wow. It's a heart and it's an apple.

Use it at home, in the bakery, in the car or the boat. Going to a Halloween party?

Pan-Wow.

Oh, no. Is that a ghost?

No. It's a Pan-Wow.

Going tailgating at the football game?

Pan-Wow.

When you're done, just throw it in the dishwasher. It's metal. It's shaped like a heart. Look at these balloons:

There's three different colors. You could use four colors. Or five. It doesn't matter. Pan-Wow.

Made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff. Use it for Christmas:

Why not? It's a Pan-Wow. It's a heart and it's Santa Claus.

What's that? You're graduating?

Now it's a hat. Amazing.

Got a steak? Put it in the Pan-Wow.

It's a heart and it's a steak. It's like a heart steak. But it could also be an apple/scary Halloween/ football/balloon steak. So many uses.

Is that the Easter Bunny?

Pan-Wow.

And if you comment within the next five minutes, we'll give you a Pan-Wow absolutely free.* You can't beat that. Order now.

Thanks to Lisa S., Erin M., Shelley B., Melissa G., Marie H., Cristina Z., Jyap, Sarah S., and Anna C. who don't mind the three easy payments of $29.95.

*Plus shipping and handling. Other charges may apply. Pan-Wow may not be made in Germany. Pan-Wow may not be metal. Pan-Wow may not be shaped like a heart. Pan-Wow may not enjoy being taunted.

*****

P.S. You know what's even better than baking in heart-shaped things? Wearing heart-shaped things.

Polarized Heart-Shaped Sunglasses

These are my everyday shades, and I love them SO MUCH. I wear the pink mirrored ones, but there are lots more colors at the link.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/pan-wow-2026

daily_otter_feed

Posted by Daily Otter

https://dailyotter.org/posts/2026/4/2/theres-nothing-sweeter-than-sleepy-hugs

Via uso_otter

https://dailyotter.org/posts/2026/4/2/theres-nothing-sweeter-than-sleepy-hugs

nofna_rss_feed

http://www.nofna.com/?T=1-1-80-353

Today's minutes: Reflections.

http://www.nofna.com/?T=1-1-80-353

obliviousally

spring's finally here!

Feeling cold
Current Location: Akron, OH

xkcd_feed

https://xkcd.com/3227/

This xkcd.com update introduces a variety of new reading modes which can be activated through the menu below the comic.

https://xkcd.com/3227/

walkitout

Or April Fool’s. Or whatever.

A. is back at school, with extra allergy meds. I walked with M. Today’s single cinnamon roll included raisins and an egg and was truly fantastic (also, so large it was lunch).

R. has checked in for his flight to go on a cruise and listen to a ton of music, so A. and I get to have lots of together time for a few days.

I deleted a ton of email. I set up my SolarArk account, which is incredibly exciting. The coming months will include a ton of this kind of thing, as the more elements of the new house are completed.

I did a bunch of proxy votes (a couple railroads, J&J). It’s so nice how normal many women on the board has become. That was not how it was when I was first looking at these slates.

I re-upped at NYGB&S and here at dreamwidth as a premium paid account.

Lots of minor little administrivia. And listening to lots of Odd Lots podcasts.

I have multiple new books to read!

cakewrecks_feed

Posted by john (the hubby of Jen)

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/err-supply-2026

I know just how to ice it

And I know just how to sell

I know just how to read instructions

And I know just how too spell!

I know how to make a moose head

And I know how to make a bear

I know just how to write "Amurersary"

And I know what to do with hair!

And I know just how to stack cake...

And I know when I've gone too far!

AND I'M PROBABLY GONNA CHARGE YOU EVEN THOUGH

IT TOPPLED OVER 'CAUSE I REALLY HAVE TO

PAY FOR MY CAR!

But I don't think you should judge me

Just because it's hard to read my scra-ah-awl...

'Cuz you know I'll always be here

Making caa-aake

Look like nothing at all

{Making cake!}

Look like nothing at all

{Making ca-ay-ake!}

Look like nothing at all

Ahhh-awwww-AH!

Ahhhh-awwww-AH!

AHHHHHH!!

AHHHHHH!!!

THIS LOOKS LIKE NOTHING AT ALL!

Thanks to Kimberly M., Justine T., Kate L., Lauren B., Krista K., Beth W., Meghan M., Margaret, Amy C., Anony M., Fred M., Kris D., Beth, Kate H., & Chelsea V. for helping us write the longest CW post in CW history.

*****

P.S. Since this saved my butt during a long painting day recently, I have a random product recommendation:

No Buckle No-Show Stretch Belt

This is my new favorite belt, y'all. It basically turns anything with belt loops into an elastic waist. So comfy I forget it's on, slimline so it doesn't show under my t-shirts, and NO BELT BUCKLE to dig into my belly or unbuckle for bathroom breaks. Woohoo!

You know how stretch jeans are forever sliding down when you sit or bend, so you have to keep hitching them back up? No more! I wear this with all my jeans now. It's entirely elastic, so it moves and stretches with you, zero painful digging. I HIGHLY recommend for anyone well endowed with squish in the belly area.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/err-supply-2026

Dawn

yourownbestfriend

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Page Summary

amado1 - Film Diary March 2026
amado1 - What I Read in March, 2026
walkitout - Barnes and Noble, no phone call
walkitout - Drones for road police
orbble in addme_fandom - It's high time I reintroduce myself!
daily_otter_feed - Who's That Weird-Looking Hairless Otter Across the Water?
walkitout - No Dutch, phone call with K., zoom, groceries
walkitout - In Which I Drive to the Airport
romanajo123 in tenminutesaday - Challenge 561
maru_feed - 2010年のまるさん。Maru in 2010.
cakewrecks_feed - Easter EGGcellence
xkcd_feed - Day Counter
daily_otter_feed - Cute and Cuddly, With Caveats
cakewrecks_feed - Pan-Wow
daily_otter_feed - There's Nothing Sweeter Than Sleepy Hugs
nofna_rss_feed - The exit from the cycle, Page 353
obliviousally - pic-a-day april 2026
xkcd_feed - Creation
walkitout - Happy April!
cakewrecks_feed - Err Supply

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Reading

And I know just how to stack cake...

And I know when I've gone too far!

AND I'M PROBABLY GONNA CHARGE YOU EVEN THOUGH

IT TOPPLED OVER 'CAUSE I REALLY HAVE TO

PAY FOR MY CAR!

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