rachelmanija's recent post reminded me that I never did get around to posting my recommendations from the 2008 Yuletide rare-fandom fanfic exchange. So a little cat-vacuuming with my bookmarks, and here they are.

First, two stories that everyone has to read, period, end of discussion. They are fanfic in only the very broadest sense and could easily be published in, say, a Datlow/Windling fairy tale anthology or a magazine or some such. Also, they are perfectly and utterly brilliant.

• Fire, Measured By What Doesn't Burn
  A contemporary re-telling of a traditional fairy tale, dark and gritty and grab-your-throat compelling. R, 13233 words.
• One Thousand and One and Counting
  To the prompt, "A woman tells stories to a man at night - stories that keep her alive. Let it matter that much." Powerful and sad and hopeful. PG, 2894 words.

Seriously, I mean it: go read them.

And now for the rest, behind the cut: 36 stories in 32 fandoms, mostly books, ranging from 200 word character-based snippets to plot-full 16,000+ word tales.

( recommendations )

(Note that commenting on the stories is currently closed because the archive is being moved, but if you like, say so here, and I will leave links when the comments are back up. Also, the author links are closed because they always are before the current year's stories are posted and the authors are revealed, so if you want to see what else those authors have written, you'll have to wait a month.)

Last time I looked, it seemed like Samsung was making the best all-around machines, in terms of keyboard size, battery life, and weight. That still the case? And is Windows 7 an actual advance for netbooks, or should I stick with XP for operating system consistency?

There is free time (gasp!) on the horizon, and there's always the middle-of-the-night holding of SteelyKid, but I don't know what I'm in the mood to read. Suggest me things?

ETA: duh, I know what: our ARC of Iorich (with nightlight, if necessary). But other suggestions will be noted for later.

Recommend to me, o LJ readers, non-European epic fantasy. Specifically, I'm looking for something that would answer the question, "Gosh, I liked the way The Lord of the Rings took elements and themes of existing mythologies and cultures and used them to give depth to a really epic fantasy story. What about something like that, but not using Northern Europe, or at least not principally using Northern Europe?"

I am aware of David Anthony Durham's Acacia (which I haven't read yet). And, I suppose, Jordan's Wheel of Time, though I'm not sure what I think of it in this regard (partly because I don't remember a lot about many of the societies). I am also aware of Bridge of Birds and The Orphan's Tales, but they are not epic fantasies. And I already have looked at 50books_poc's links and the Carl Brandon Society's reading lists.

What else—if anything?

ETA: I forgot, in print, please. (And good, though I thought that was implicit in "recommend.") And secondary-world fantasy, by analogy to LotR.

Somehow I'd failed to remember until now that as a member of Anticipation 2009, I'm eligible to nominate works for the Hugo ballot again.

I expect that Terry Pratchett's Nation will make my novel ballot, and I hope to get around to reading Half a Crown, Matter, and Sly Mongoose before February 28. Other recommendations, with reasons please, for works eligible for best novel—and, also, best graphic story?

So thanks to an ice storm that knocked out our power, Chateau Steelypips removed to a hotel last night (and may well be here tonight too, since there's no estimate for power's restoration yet).

I keep reminding myself that we are very lucky, to have found a hotel that still had a room, would let the dog stay, and had a large enough room that we aren't all tripping over each other; to be able to afford to stay here; and to have a workplace didn't mind Chad and SteelyKid accompanying me yesterday.

But here's the vexing thing. Our furnace runs on gas, and yet we don't have heat because it still requires electricity to run. I'm given to understand there are systems or generators or something that would run on gas as backups, when the electricity goes out. Even just something that would let us have heat would be great, though a bit of extra electricity for the sump pump would be even better, and enough electricity for the fridge and lights would be ideal.

Does anyone have experience with such things? Reliability, likely price, installation as add-on or part of a furnace replacement, other pluses and minuses? After the night we had, I'm thinking that even if we wouldn't earn back the cost through hotel savings, the reduced inconvenience might well make it worth it. (Last time an extended power outage sent us to a hotel, we had neither a dog nor a child.)

Just stuff from bestofyoutube.com, this time.

• Dolphin plays with bubble rings
• Stop-motion pancake making
• An Engineer's Guide to Cats (it's the section on cat yodeling that gets me)
• Dancing walrus
• Putting on pants two legs at a time
• Dog and a ball-throwing machine
• Stealth cat

What with one thing and another, it's been kind of a rough day here at Chateau Steelypips, and so I found myself watching happy-making videos on my iPod. One of them reminded me that I've been meaning to recommend a bunch of vids—fan-made music videos that set some movie, TV show, etc., to music—for well over a year now, and I might as well give up on writing a big thinky post and just toss out the links.

Besides, my big thinky post was going to be about how I enjoyed these vids both for themselves and for the way they commented on and transformed their sources, and thus it would probably just repeat most of what Micole said in the context of the Supernatural vid "Women's Work", so go read that instead.

Links here are all to pages where you can choose to download or stream the videos.

• "People Get Ready", Heroes, music by the Frames (Amazon, iTunes), vid by heresluck. This is the one that I started watching tonight, reminded by the discussion of the start of season three (which apparently sucks). "People Get Ready" is what season one (I said this was old) should have been: about connecting, choosing, growing up, making a difference. Its technical details are also, as far as I can tell, impeccable and impressive; I really love the way it uses motion and builds tension even through the slow portions of the song. Watch it even (especially) if you haven't been satisfied with the show.

  For more, see this detailed review by 12_12_12 and commentary by heresluck.

• "The Mountain", The Lord of the Rings, music by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer (Amazon, iTunes), vid by astolat and melina123. A highly-accessible vid that sets Frodo and Aragorn's parallel journeys to a beautiful and remarkably appropriate song. It doesn't strike me as technically flashy as "People Get Ready," but it's probably easier to grasp on the first viewing for that reason, and I really appreciate the way it brings out the sadness that the movie downplays.
• "Vogue", 300, music by Madonna (Amazon, iTunes), vid by sockkpuppett. Not only is the concept absolutely brilliant—talk about subverting the source!—but it's technically amazing, with comic-book-like triple panels, motion sped up and slowed down to fit the beat, and even more things that I don't have the vocabulary to describe.
• A three-fer:
  • "Jesus Walks", Angel, music by Kanye West (Amazon, iTunes), vid by mimesere;
  • "Origin Stories", Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, to the song "Coffee" by Aesop Rock (featuring John Darnielle) (Amazon, iTunes), storyboard and editing by giandujakiss, concept by untrue_accounts;
  • "Women's Work", Supernatural, to the song "Violet" by Hole (Amazon, iTunes), vid by sockkpuppett and sisabet.

  This is the "vids critiquing race and gender in shows I don't actually watch, but am just familiar enough with that I can appreciate the vids" set. "Jesus Walks" reexamines the character of Gunn, a black man who I believe fans generally feel was ill-treated by the show. "Origin Stories" is a blistering critique of Buffy and Angel's (and Buffy and Angel's) prioritizing of the white vampire Spike over characters of color and women, using the image of Spike's trademark coat, which he stripped from the body a black Slayer he killed (see additional commentary by untrue_accounts and giandujakiss). "Women's Work" forces recognition of the way Supernatural sexualizes, and is driven by, the suffering of women-as-objects.

  The last two in particular I found difficult to watch, but worth it.

• "Hold me now", Princess Tutu, to the song "Håll Om Mig" by Nanne Grönvall (iTunes), vid by Marisa Panaccio. Okay, this isn't very transformative, but it's just awesome: the whole series in three minutes, with absolutely perfect timing to a great driving song.

I don't watch a lot of movies or TV, and so most vids go right by me; but feel free to rec others that you think I might like.

Chad's new desk for the family room/office/library was delivered today, and we're contemplating how to best arrange all his equipment cables in a way that will be as aesthetically pleasing and safe as possible. The end goal is something like this or this, but as you can see from the pictures behind the cut, the underside of the desk is visible through the window, so I'm not quite sure the best way to attack this problem . . .

( pictures )

I am not particularly crazy about the idea of drilling into the nice new wood desk, or of having a cord basket/power strip visible from outside, but there may be no alternatives. Also, I'd prefer stuff I can pick up locally, i.e., from Staples/Office Max/Best Buy, not Ikea.

Anyone out there tackle similar problems or have suggestions?

This weekend I have contributed to the household by hacking back a set of overgrown shrubs in the backyard (and marking for Imminent Death a vicious triffid that snuck up on me; as soon as I get a pair of gloves, it is gone) and stuffing some high-density foam into the squooshed-by-use couch cushions.

This, however, is pretty much the extent of my abilities when it comes to gardening and upholstery. Thus, I ask LJ:

1. What can we plant in our backyard (pictures over on Chad's blog) as grass-replacement ground cover? Requirements:
   • Thrive in Zone 5 in basically constant shade, under sugar maples and one enormous oak tree, in soil that's not obviously sandy or clay-like but doesn't drain particularly well (possibly because it's pretty tight-packed at the moment).
   • Safe for FutureBaby.
   • No maintenance except maybe seasonal trimming.
   • Not going to take over the neighbors' lawns if we turn our backs.

   Of the things suggested at Chad's so far, I like the idea of moss, and hate the idea of gravel or pavement. Vinca sounds too invasive, and hosta apparently requires a good deal of water. Other suggestions?

2. If I wanted to walk into a store and buy ready-to-sit-on rocking chair cushions, do I want a furniture store? A department store? Something else?

   (Yes, I know I can get them online, but I'd like to sit on them first.)

Thanks, all.

As Chad said today, after FutureBaby becomes an ActualBaby (knock on wood), we're leaning toward referring to him or her by a pseudonym on our blogs just to provide a mild amount of privacy (after a birth announcement with the actual name, probably). I've been having fun reading the pseudonym suggestions over at his blog, so I'll toss it open here too:

Recommend a post-birth pseudonym for FutureBaby, preferably one independent of age and sibling status.

Heck, if you're so moved, recommend a non-pseudonym for FutureBaby; it's unlikely that you'll come up with a suitable name that we haven't thought of yet, but since Chad's commenters got to offer suggestions, y'all might as well, too. Nb.: FutureBaby's last name will be Orzel (pronounced or-ZELL), with a middle name of Nepveu; probably no second middle name.

(Pseudonym, by the way, is a really weird looking word, or perhaps it only is if you've been awake since five this morning.)

And yes, we know about the Baby Name Wizard's NameVoyager (Java applet).

It seems like time to start educating myself about childbirth in more depth. Since I will not be taking classes, I am now soliciting recommendations for books, videos, web sites, or similar self-study educational resources about childbirth.

I already own The Pregnancy Book by Sears & Sears and have a recommendation for Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Simkin.

( important note on giving me advice )

For extremely tight muscles: menthol, menthol and camphor, or capsaicin? Bonus if you can vouch for non-stinky brands.

(No Aspercreme or equivalent.)

So I've got this idea in my head that I want to cross-stitch a decoration for FutureBaby's room. We're eschewing most of the usual nursery decoration stuff (lamps? valences? no, thanks), but I haven't been able to shake the urge to make something.

( cross-stitch wibbling )

Comments from cross-stitchers or people who know what kids tend to like in decorations are welcome.

Okay, if you've been bursting to give us advice related to FutureBaby, here's your chance:

( two questions )

For reasons too long and boring to mention, I'm only just looking at this whole new-fangled podcast thing. And today I was inordinately delighted to discover the Car Talk Podcast — Click and Clack! free and without any effort on my part!

I also discovered, through iTunes, a free Cook's Illustrated video podcast (which doesn't appear to be available through their website). And behind the cut are a bunch of audiobook-like things that I'm going to try:

( audiobook-type podcasts )

Any other recommendations? Note that I prefer to read my news, and don't have time to watch more than short videos (the Cook's Illustrated ones are in the five-minute vicinity). Things like audiobooks, radio plays, and other entertainment listening are best.

Suddenly it's February, I have less than a month to get my Hugo nomination ballot in order, and so far my ballot consists solely of Shaun Tan's The Arrival (ETA: booklog entry) for Best Related Book. Eek!

( cut for lists )

What else? I did a very quick search for 2007 lists and tagged them on delicious, if you're looking for reminders. Recommend me novels: but, it should be accompanied with specific reasons that I, personally, would like it, and as much or more than I might like the three things I plan to read. I will either ignore or mock anyone who fails to follow directions.

Recs from the Yuletide rare-fandom fanfic exchange behind the cut. All of them are appropriate for wide audiences (I originally said "general" but that might have a connotation of "G-rated"). Alphabetical by fandom (listed in the tags, as these are semi-automagically posted from del.icio.us).

And yes, this is me being selective, and yes, I'm far from done reading.

( 13 Yuletide recs )

I have several paper journals from my teenage years, which are currently sitting in a box in an upstairs room. I'm organizing and decluttering that room, and am trying to decide what to do with them.

I don't want to re-read them, because they make my skin crawl with embarrassment. I don't want anyone else to read them, because ditto. The only thing I can think to do with them is move them to the basement.

 . . . and yet I hate the idea of throwing them away.

Suggestions, from experience or otherwise?

Princess Tutu is a 26-episode anime about ballet, fairy tales, and hope. It is metafictional like whoa, very peculiar, and not for everyone, but I ended up loving it, enough that it is a close second to Fullmetal Alchemist on my list of favorite shows.

( cut for length; no spoilers )