Writing this blog is a perfect excuse to look at stuff every day, calling it, you know, "blogging research" or "keeping up with things for the blog". It is nice, it amuses me, sometimes it's frustrating, and sometimes I stumble across something that really touches me.

That happened to me yesterday, after I finished watching the paper about the medieval bread experiments. I clicked on UCD's youtube channel, looking for more nice stuff like it, and this one came up.



It started up on its own, and I would not have watched it otherwise. But it started, and the beginning sounded interesting, and it only got better from there. So I stayed with it until the end. It's a lovely, lovely piece - if you have a few minutes, do watch it. And thank you, dear readers, for being my excuse for doing blogging research, resulting into finding things like this!

While I was busily writing on the Beast, Springer has been active and the Special Issue of Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences is finally live. It's an issue focusing on Experimental Archaeology, and it features an article I have written about the dearly beloved and never ending spinning experiment. If you'd like to read the Editorial (for free) or have a look at the articles (paywall), the special issue is here.

More reading? Jim C. Hines is doing a guest post series on his blog, about those not mainstream in SF/F - people of colour, people of non-binary gender, people otherwise not corresponding to the privileged multitude. It really is worth reading, so head over there and take a look. (Who knows, you might end up with some new authors to try.)

Even more reading? Gillian Polack is having guest posts too, in honour of Women's History Month. Also worth taking a look - these are very personal and very interesting stories.

I, however, have done enough reading for now, and will instead sit in the sun while working. (Sewing work has to be done, and what better colour to sew today than green, when spring is coming, and the sun is shining...)

It's Friday, hooray! After the frenzy of the last few weeks and still recovering from the nasty cold (which is almost gone now, thank goodness), somehow it feels like all I've done this week is dragging my feet. Which is not entirely true, though. There was definitely progress - even some progress in the garden, where last year's neglect is still very, very visible and leading to a need for quite a lot of weeding.

Today, though, has some more sewing work on the agenda. Which I shall venture to do now, fortified by a nice cup of motivational caffeinated hot drink. And probably chocolate, because everything is always better with chocolate.

It's brilliant weather outside, the sun shining down and warming the air, crocuses are blooming, and my cold is finally letting up. I can taste things again, which is always wonderful (the one or two days where I don't have a sense of taste are the most miserable days during any cold for me), the cat is dozing, I have tea and a book to read and I'm still having the day off (still much-needed) and it's only half gone yet and that is wonderful.

For your delectation, while I am basking in the sun, here are a few links:

Canada's money can be Spockified.

Subterranean Press has a Humble Book Bundle that features Scalzi's Mallet of Loving Correction.

Speaking of Scalzi, he's helping the Internet with this list of Responses to Online Stupidity.

And the best lawywer's response ever.

I have this lovely little coffee mug that shows a comic-style woman who is a cross between a comic Viking and Obelix, with a blue-and-white striped dress and a helmet with horns and long red braids. The text framing this lady says "Alles unter Kontrolle" which is German for "Everything under control".

This mug was my absolutely favourite mug for a long time, and it still remains among my several favourites these days. I use it when I have things under control after a hard struggle - and when I wish that I had. Final-stage editing work definitely warrants the use of it today, though I won't tell you which of the reasons applies!

It's sunny, it's Friday, and I am headed into the weekend just as soon as I've printed out that last page and written that last email. Wheee!

Meanwhile, for your delectation, a picture that fits the wonderful weather outside:





They are not out yet, but if the weather continues like this, they will be soon!

It's really about time for the weekend to arrive! Which is really obvious by the fact that this morning, and this noon, completely got away from me (by being filled with stuff that had to be done) and I almost forgot I hadn't blogged yet.

To top things off (or to top them under?) I don't even have a nice amusing link for you. I can tell you, however, that my yoga mat still has a slightly rubbery smell (especially when freshly cleaned and hanging to dry in the bathroom), that the cat insist on sleeping on the Most Patient Husband's desk chair (which is no problem during the day, but leads to mild conflict when he's home in the evening and actually dares to sit there) and that having ample tea standing beside me is helping immensely with everything. Hot motivational beverages for the win!