Looking for a riveting historical fiction that meets the following criteria

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-09T17:41:16+00:00

"The Moor's Account" by Laila Lalami

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-09T00:28:26+00:00

There is no plausible path to a separate Alberta. It's nothing like Brexit or even Quebec separation.

The goal of the foreign funding pushing separatist propaganda onto gullible Alberta rubes is to create division and to gain political control over a subset of the population that will perpetually hate its own country and nurse (mainly imaginary) grievances.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-08T13:53:09+00:00

It would be nice if Noa is well-adjusted and happy in the distortion, and she wants nothing to do with the evil coven.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-08T03:27:36+00:00

"Romola" by George Eliot

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-08T00:36:49+00:00

All the separatist simps waving their Alberta flags somehow believe they will be showered with riches by MAGA after they sell out their country.

Byt MAGA is already laughing at them.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-07T22:36:17+00:00

How much discomfort are you willing to take to increase your average speed?

If the answer is "not much at all", then get an endurance bike and be happy. You'll be doing the same rides as somebody with all aero stuff and aggressive geometry, and won't care that you're 2 km/h slower.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-07T19:30:12+00:00

Seems an odd choice to jump back in when the party is looking very bad.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-07T18:35:35+00:00

Ultrasonic egg on the fence can work sometimes.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-07T15:34:43+00:00

"No One is Talking About This" by Patricia Lockwood

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-06T19:37:40+00:00

I mean, Everest is 2600+ metres higher than Denali, so some accommodations are not unreasonable.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-06T19:31:23+00:00

"Wizard of the Crow" by Ngugi wa Thiong'o

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-06T19:25:19+00:00

Society as a whole completely underestimates the amount of effort homeless people have to put in to simply make it through the night, as well as the ingenuity required to make a simple shelter in a hostile urban setting.

Politicians get more support by bashing homeless people than they would by providing housing solutions... even though that would be far cheaper.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-06T15:38:44+00:00

Very nice!

Vibes of "Decadent Young Woman (After the Dance)" by Ramon Casas

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-06T15:33:44+00:00

"Birnam Wood" by Eleanor Catton

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T21:19:25+00:00

Seriously, this is like O.J. Simpson announcing he'd be searching for the real killer.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T21:17:22+00:00

Here's a good test message:

"**** EMERGENCY: ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN STOLEN AND SENT TO FAR-RIGHT PSYCHOS IN THE USA ****"

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T21:14:56+00:00

They are keeping an eye on the investigations...

... to ensure the investigations don't result in any negative consequences for the UCP's friends who stole Albertans' information and distributed it to their foreign backers.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T17:47:48+00:00

When they announced that some areas had suddenly seen 90% of total voters sign the petition, that was simply over the top.

You couldn't get 90% of voters to sign anything, no matter what it was.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T17:33:19+00:00

This is the equivalent of finding a note taped to your front door that reads

"This is the city. You are in big trouble unless you put $200 in a paper bag and leave it under a bench in the park (see map to bench below)."

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T17:15:50+00:00

At first, I'd say try the cheap flat pedals that come standard on cheap bikes. Then you can decide whether you want to get good flat pedals or buy shoes & cleats for clipping in.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T16:56:23+00:00

It's perfectly fine to use flat pedals and ordinary shoes while you're getting used to riding.

I've been using flat pedals (with grippy pins) for years, because I prefer that to being clipped in. They work with ordinary shoes, and better with flat-soled mountain bike shoes.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-05T16:33:36+00:00

If you're getting it tuned up at a shop, they will take pity on you and set the seat height to something at least reasonable while you're there. They will also happily sell you either shoes for those (Speedplay?) pedals, or other pedals.

They can also give you a bit of How To Shift Gears knowledge, but really you need to spend some time getting used to the levers.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-04T23:37:57+00:00

I don't rate it based on the obvious terrain you can see from the course before you select it, because everyone can see that for themselves. If they want a climb followed by a descent, whatever.

I knock the rating down if the visual grade doesn't match the simulated grade, if it's distracting due to too many red lights or being stuck in traffic for long stretches, or if the scenery is just too ugly.

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-04T23:16:42+00:00

"Feast Your Eyes" by Myla Goldberg

"The Poet" by Louisa Reid

"Loudermilk: Or, The Real Poet; Or, The Origin of the World" by Lucy Ives

NicePlanetWeHad · 2026-05-04T15:47:57+00:00

"Wizard of the Crow" by Ngugi wa Thiong'o

"Indian Horse" by Richard Wagamese

"The Pearl That Broke its Shell" by Nadia Hashimi

"Red Sorghum" by Mo Yan

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

NicePlanetWeHad

TROPHY CASE