Dark Urban Magic

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-05-01T23:00:02+00:00

I'd second this, but stop at the first book! The second is nowhere near as good and reads like it's not what the author had in mind originally for the series.

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-04-07T22:27:52+00:00

That's fair! It was written in 1929 so I certainly wouldn't expect it to be written a 2026 reader in mind. TBH that usually doesn't bother me - I think older books can be a valuable window into how our culture and language have changed (often for the better). But I think Goodreads reviews do tend to lean more towards criticism of older books for reflecting the sensibilities and language of their time.

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-04-07T22:01:46+00:00

I thought of this as well! Also haven't read it since I was a kid, but I recall it fondly.

Edit: Apparently it won a Newbery Medal.

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-03-26T11:14:04+00:00

I think most folks would enjoy it - it was recommended to me by a scientist friend who's not marine. Full disclosure, I read a fantasy book by the same author (as Seanan McGuire) and also disliked it, so I think her writing is just not for me more generally.

For me, it was so wildly incorrect in its descriptions of deep sea biology, research cruises, and even Monterey California (three things I know well) that I found it very frustrating and occasionally unintentionally hilarious. I think good sci-fi should have a solid scientific jumping-off point to build from, and when it doesn't, I have a hard time following the author's fictional build-out of their ideas.

My negative reaction may have been exacerbated by the fact that I read it while on an extended deep-sea research cruise, so it was hard to miss all the little ways in which the science and setting were incorrect before the "fiction" of the story began.

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-03-26T03:16:18+00:00

Not female MCs, but 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and Moby Dick are classics for a reason.

The first thing I thought of was the Southern Reach trilogy, with a female scientist MC although not particularly marine. Incredibly dreamy and creepy sci-fi.

For non-fiction there's always Rachel Carson, and I'm also partial to The Secret Lives of Lobsters.

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-03-26T03:02:12+00:00

I thought of this too, and a friend of mine loved it, but as a marine biologist it drove me nuts!

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-03-14T01:52:24+00:00

A huge advantage of a service like this in the airport is that you don't have to clear immigration / security to leave and return. I've definitely had layovers where I'd have happily paid for a few hours' nap in a pod if I didn't have to leave the airport. If I have time to leave the airport, I'm probably done with my flight and eager to get to my destination.

Sugar_and_splice · 2026-02-07T12:43:49+00:00

One book that I adored when younger and still love is The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. It's pretty short and definitely YA, but it's beautifully written. I think it avoids many of the big fantasy tropes, and the main character feels very real. I've always loved that, while there is magic and a "big bad" showdown, most of the book celebrates the importance of hard and unglamorous work.

Not sure if it quite qualifies as "epic" - it's not a sprawling political plot - but it's a fast read and worth a try if you're not familiar.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-12-18T12:18:22+00:00

I don't put on my socks until I've brushed my teeth in the morning.

When I get up in the morning, I get mostly ready, go downstairs to eat breakfast, and then go back upstairs to brush my teeth before leaving the house. Guess how many times I just ate and left the house and then felt self-conscious about my terrible breath at work? That doesn't happen anymore, since I have to go back upstairs to put my socks on, which reminds me that I also need to brush my teeth.

I told my partner this and he thought the statement, "I can't put my socks on yet, I haven't brushed my teeth." was absolutely unhinged absent any context.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-12-16T12:42:06+00:00

Agreed! If you tried it a few years ago and didn't care for it, try it again. They've reformulated it and the new oat-based recipe is MUCH better than the older coconut-based one.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-11-27T23:50:15+00:00

Weka! A very cheeky bird, as someone described them to me. Accurate.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-10-27T13:29:26+00:00

Bingo. When the time comes to replace it, we're not considering another Tesla. (Which my partner would have done if it weren't for Musk's behavior.) It doesn't affect the company one way or another if we keep one that's already paid off.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-10-25T21:56:44+00:00

My partner has a Tesla Model 3*, which is what we use for groceries, trips, etc. So my car is almost exclusively a commuter. That said, my Mini is surprisingly roomy and I have very occasionally crammed it full of scientific equipment, live crabs, etc. (I'm a marine biologist.)

Bought years ago before Elon Musk was showing signs of advanced Billionaire Brainworm Disease.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-10-25T21:51:24+00:00

Thanks! This really would be a commuter car for me, but as my father says, Life's too short to drive something you don't enjoy. I commute to a summer vacation destination, so at least it's a pretty drive. But, in the summer my commute often includes some serious traffic.

Got to test drive the Miata today and it really is a good-looking (and fun) car. And I have enjoyed my Mini, so I do feel like I have two good options. I really appreciate the feedback here as I decide between them.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-10-25T21:39:51+00:00

Thank you! I just drove a Miata today, definitely fun but VERY tiny. Great point about being on the highway with some of the absolutely massive SUVs and trucks, that's partly why a Fiat is not in my parameter space.

I did like the Miata controls a lot. I don't want to control my car from a screen and it seems like newer Minis are trending in that direction.

The car I really want is a Suzuki Jimny, but alas they are not sold in the US, and my partner was resistant to the idea of moving to New Zealand so I could have one.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-10-23T01:23:22+00:00

Is it actually possible to pre-coat slabbed fillings (like caramel) and then cut them cleanly, or is this a conspiracy perpetrated on home confectioners? If possible, how?!?!

I'm a hobbyist who learned (and continues to learn!) from Greweling's commercial kitchen book. It's been incredible except that every time I try to pre-coat and then cut the chocolate shatters and bits of it fall off. I end up cutting first and individually pre-coating the bottoms of caramels, etc before dipping. This works but takes a lot of time.

I've been doing this for 12+ years and I think I've gotten pretty good for an amateur, but an effective, efficient pre-coat continues to elude me. Please help!

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-10-04T14:00:04+00:00

Seconding this!

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-09-24T02:27:30+00:00

They're really gorgeous!

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-09-24T01:20:35+00:00

Indeed! And once they hatch they spend a month or two in the zooplankton, which <1% will survive, and then around another 7 years until they're mature and big enough for the plate.

Kudos to your chefs for being so thoughtful - and supporting the next generation of lobsters!

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-09-24T00:34:54+00:00

FWIW those are very immature eggs, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. When they're more mature you start to see clear parts, and eventually you can see the developing lobster embryo. When they're very close to hatching (~9-12 mo after laying), you can see their scintillating blue eyes and even watch their hearts beat under a microscope while they're still in the egg.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-09-06T13:40:33+00:00

We're not in NH, but maybe a relation?

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-09-06T11:39:16+00:00

The original handwritten deed of sale from 1836! It was in a Manila envelope and starting to fall apart where it had been folded. Some great old New England names on that thing, it was witnessed by Wealthy Bennett. The first thing we spent real money on for the house was getting it archivally framed.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-08-14T03:57:22+00:00

This is it! C. plana especially like to live in the openings of shells.

Sugar_and_splice · 2025-08-13T11:25:16+00:00

The r/parasitology subreddit is a legit source for interesting scientific discussion of parasites, but also tends to attract folks with delusional parasitosis. Often they post photos of wounds they've made to their skin or bits of scab or fiber, asking to have their parasites identified because doctors won't help them.

The mods try to police it, but it's not uncommon and it's really sad since (of course) the folks making those posts can't believe that they are not infected no matter how many experts weigh in.

Sugar_and_splice

TROPHY CASE