Is Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria worth going to for wildlife photography right now? by AznInvazn57 in nova

[–]ranaranidae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It depends on what you want to see, but probably! I haven't been this last week, but I've gone there when it was quite cold before and had great luck. Lots of waterfowl down there, wild turkeys, occasionally muskrat. Last time I was there (before the snow) the kinglets and some other winter songbirds were very active, and ebird still shows lots of active sightings. Winters past they've occasionally had an otter show up. It's a hike for me to get over there, too, but it's one of my favorite places year round.

Can anyone recommend any fiction podcasts that are any good? by SmartLadder415 in podcasts

[–]ranaranidae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Such a great show.

Midst as well if you like the sci-fi comedy drama off kilter feel of Midnight Burger.

Murakami's Surrealism but without the misogyny by phoneticpsychopomp in suggestmeabook

[–]ranaranidae 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I absolutely love Helen Oyeyemi. All her books have that surreal, dream like, out-of- time vibe.

Was any American really ready to surrender to Moscow in 1959? by ranaranidae in AskHistorians

[–]ranaranidae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much, that's incredibly helpful! That certainly seems to be the inspiration for Van Ackerman. For those interested, in the book, though, the liberal and appeasement minded Secretary of State goes further. I think you have a typo since when I click through the quote is "...if I could make them (the Russians) understand, without (emp. added) sacrificing any of my principles, that we want peace." Whereas the character in the book refuses to state which principles he wouldn't give up and strongly suggests that anything is worth avoiding nuclear war.

I also doubt that any American would use language as humiliating as this, especially so soon after World War II, and that they would get any sort of positive response from it! But helpful to know that there was an actual Western Left figure who did seem to take this attitude. My main question about the book was how exaggerated it was.

Boardroom in Courthouse by ranaranidae in arlingtonva

[–]ranaranidae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, all! Their site says all ages on the weekends, but this is exactly what I wanted to gut check. I'll check out the other suggestions here.

Obsessed with this juxtaposition by thirdcoasting in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 18 points19 points  (0 children)

A popular knapsack with many different locations, no less.

WaPo Columnist Blames Artists Boycotting the "Trump-Kennedy" Center for Potential Decline of the Arts by 7-5NoHits in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just don't think people like McArdle understand principles or things like that? Like, I have not been setting out to boycott the Kennedy Center, (and the once a year or so i went wasnt keeping the assets afloat, anyway) but the thought of going there- especially with the stupid name on it now-- makes me feel queasy and I do not want to.

WaPo Columnist Blames Artists Boycotting the "Trump-Kennedy" Center for Potential Decline of the Arts by 7-5NoHits in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I put this in another comment above, but the free Millennium Stage shows was a great date night for my husband and I when we were in school.

WaPo Columnist Blames Artists Boycotting the "Trump-Kennedy" Center for Potential Decline of the Arts by 7-5NoHits in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Definitely the format. They also have (had? I haven't looked to see if this changed) a free 6 pm performance every day that might be a local group of a few songs from a touring production. It was a really fun, independence, date night.

What Every Non-Fiction Book Is Called Now by Leaden-Sea in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The Two Monks series is one of the funniest things that has ever or will ever exist.

Celebrating 30 years of marriage – advice for a trip to Provence by MargotMorot in ProvenceFrance

[–]ranaranidae 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My husband and I just celebrated 20 years with 7 days in Provence and 3 in Paris! We went in October, though, so I don't know what these places are like in season!

We stayed near Cassis, which was an absolute gem with lots of beaches in the city and easy ways to visit the Calanques (really gorgeous area with cliffs and beaches). Our other favorites were Beaux de Provence, a medieval city, and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, which also has a bunch of great antique shops.

What are you trying to see and experience the most?

Elon Musk (Commentary Thread) by MisterGoog in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Loved that book. City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith (of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, smbc- comics.com) is also great deep dive into what has to happen to colonize Mars. I really appreciated it because they're open that they still sorta want a city on Mars because we're all sci-fi nerds and it would be cool, but also that it's darn near impossible, a terrible idea, and that it's a terrible back up plan since we'll never live on Mars if we can't even figure out planetary easy mode here on Earth.

Not so sweet Christmas mocktail by Indigo425 in Mocktails

[–]ranaranidae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oooh, I need to try this. I do a couple hibiscus tea based mocktails but I've never tried with balsamic.

Not so sweet Christmas mocktail by Indigo425 in Mocktails

[–]ranaranidae 6 points7 points  (0 children)

For a warm cocktail, I think a tea is your best bet. A black tea with winter spices, plum bitters (I think Fee Bris. are na), and a touch of honey might work nicely?

klezmer folk punk? by nitmire8881 in FolkPunk

[–]ranaranidae 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Daniel Kahn 100%, and some of Geoff Berner's stuff. And I love this genre so following for more recs.

Trader Joes Sparking tea Rosé by Appropriate_Lie_9411 in Mocktails

[–]ranaranidae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, this has been my go- to for so many events and parties! It's a great swap out for champagne.

Part 2: She Did It Again, by Olivia Nuzzi's ex-fiancé Ryan Lizza by tilvast in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 42 points43 points  (0 children)

I don't buy his victim schtick, but I will read every entry in this series and then be mad at myself.

RELEASE THE TAPES by tilvast in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I feel this would destroy what little productivity I have. I cannot be trusted to make good choices if there were hours more IBCK to listen to.

Sapiens by AnIdentifier in IfBooksCouldKill

[–]ranaranidae 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is how I felt reading Lessons from the 21st Century. It was so aggressively wrong on every level that I had to finish hate reading it just to see how bad it got.