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George Gershwin - Piano Concerto in F, III. Allegro Agitato
Apr. 27th, 2026 05:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
mpr_daily_download_feedGeorge Gershwin - Piano Concerto in F, III. Allegro Agitato
Kathryn Selby, piano
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hayman, conductor
More info about today’s track: Naxos 8.550295
Courtesy of Naxos of America Inc.
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Forms, Mr. Rico!
Apr. 26th, 2026 10:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
billroperI have filled out the forms for Gretchen and me to apply for Medicare. Now I just need to get someone to accept them. This is important, because even if I were to sign up for COBRA for both of us, it is subordinated to Medicare, which we do not have, which seems to indicate that we wouldn't have health insurance anyway. This may or may not be legal, but that probably doesn't matter.
In different news, I have determined that our combined prescription cost at Sam's Club -- excluding our Ozempic and Mounjaro! -- should be less than $100 per month. Given the sheer number of prescriptions that we take, that's pretty good. This does require us to get the prescriptions 30 days at a time, but it's not like I don't get to Sam's Club frequently -- and, of course, the program is set up that way to get you to Sam's Club frequently. :)
It looks like there is some sort of reduced rate available for the GLP-1 drugs, but the landscape is moving so quickly there that sorting out which information is correct is a challenge. And that is one of the reasons that I have an advisor to sort this out...
In different news, I have determined that our combined prescription cost at Sam's Club -- excluding our Ozempic and Mounjaro! -- should be less than $100 per month. Given the sheer number of prescriptions that we take, that's pretty good. This does require us to get the prescriptions 30 days at a time, but it's not like I don't get to Sam's Club frequently -- and, of course, the program is set up that way to get you to Sam's Club frequently. :)
It looks like there is some sort of reduced rate available for the GLP-1 drugs, but the landscape is moving so quickly there that sorting out which information is correct is a challenge. And that is one of the reasons that I have an advisor to sort this out...
Bigotry DEI-nied
Apr. 26th, 2026 05:55 pmnotalwaysworking_feedRead Bigotry DEI-nied
New Hire: "I said I left my last place to get away from all this DEI bull-s***!"
Me: "I'm a DEI hire because I'm… a woman? So my business degree is, what, just window dressing?"
New Hire: "Oh, shut up."
Read Bigotry DEI-nied
Cherryh to retire
Apr. 26th, 2026 12:25 pmjames_davis_nicoll
The text of Cherryh's post reads:
"Dear readers and friends. The unhappy fact is---the numerous bouts of anaesthetic I've had have made it pretty well impossible for me to write. I drop stitches. Not many. No problems with daily life or doing creative stuff or enjoying life in general. But the ability to control narrative is just not what it was, and it's just not going to be there. I've accepted that, painful as it is. I thank all of you who've stood by me patiently. The body of work is what it is, and I am lastingly grateful to my publisher, Betsy Wollheim, who has given me every extension of time and resource. And of course to Jane, who is all things.
2026.04.26
Apr. 26th, 2026 11:16 amlsandersonTwo dead, including Fargo state representative, in small-engine plane crash near Crystal Airport
Plane remnants between trees
A small-engine plane crashed at Southbrook Park in Crystal, Minn., on Saturday, April 25, 2026.Feven Gerezgiher | MPR News
MPR News Staff
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/25/plane-with-2-people-onboard-crashes-near-crystal-airport
North Dakota state legislator and pilot killed in small plane crash in Minnesota
Liz Conmy’s death ‘is a profound loss’, Democratic party affiliate says following crash shortly after takeoff
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/26/brooklyn-park-mn-plane-crash-crystal-airport ( Read more... )
Plane remnants between trees
A small-engine plane crashed at Southbrook Park in Crystal, Minn., on Saturday, April 25, 2026.Feven Gerezgiher | MPR News
MPR News Staff
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/25/plane-with-2-people-onboard-crashes-near-crystal-airport
North Dakota state legislator and pilot killed in small plane crash in Minnesota
Liz Conmy’s death ‘is a profound loss’, Democratic party affiliate says following crash shortly after takeoff
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/26/brooklyn-park-mn-plane-crash-crystal-airport ( Read more... )
“Mine” The Gap
Apr. 26th, 2026 02:30 pmnotalwaysrelated_feedRead “Mine” The Gap
I am waiting at a train station and overhear a dad and his young son as the train is pulling up.
Boy: "Whose train is this?"
Read “Mine” The Gap
Caught Red Finger
Apr. 26th, 2026 01:30 pmnotalwaysfriendly_feedRead Caught Red Finger
There is an SUV with two people waiting in the back seat. One appears to be an adult woman reading a magazine, and the other is a little girl of about nine years old. The girl is staring out the open side window and... seems to be daring herself to flip off strangers.
Read Caught Red Finger
Gone thinkin’
Apr. 26th, 2026 12:14 pmsharonlee_feedSunday. Sunny and again said to be heading into the vicinity of warm.
Today, will be electron-free here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory.
Nether Mind
Apr. 26th, 2026 12:30 pmnotalwayslearning_feedRead Nether Mind
It’s 2008, and I am an exchange student from the Netherlands in a small town in Arkansas. I spent five wonderful months there, and I loved my time abroad, but I did get some interesting questions/statements… Student #1: “You’re from the Netherlands? Ain’t that where Peter Pan’s from?” She was also asked to point out […]
Read Nether Mind
Gone thinkin'
Apr. 26th, 2026 08:13 amrolanniSunday. Sunny and again said to be heading into the vicinity of warm.
Today, will be electron-free here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory.
Harold Darke - O Gladsome Light, Op. 38
Apr. 26th, 2026 05:00 ammpr_daily_download_feedHarold Darke - O Gladsome Light, Op. 38
Vasari Singers
Jeremy Blackhouse, conductor
More info about today’s track: Naxos 8.574416
Courtesy of Naxos of America Inc.
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Purchase this recording
Learning New Things
Apr. 25th, 2026 10:30 pmbillroperOne of the things that I've been planning to do since getting laid off is to figure out how to do some new things in the studio. Today, it was stupid Cubase tricks.
I pulled up a song that I've been fiddling with in the editor. Then I spent some time figuring out where the heck VariAudio had gone, because when you hide things in Cubase, sometimes you hide them *very* effectively. Having recovered it, I sent it to analyze the vocal track and determine what notes were in it. Then I told it to convert the track to MIDI.
Ok, now I have a lot of entertaining (if not wonderful) MIDI data. I pasted that onto an instrument track and started fiddling with it using the various instruments that are available inside of Cubase. I also moved the track up an octave, because most respectable instruments would prefer not to be in the octave that I sing in. :)
You will not be at *all* surprised to hear that I got nothing at all that was useful. But I didn't *expect* to get something that was useful -- I just wanted to see what I *could* get this way.
I *much* prefer to have my friends singing and playing real instruments on my recordings.
It's interesting to see what sort of sounds you can get out of the software though... :)
I pulled up a song that I've been fiddling with in the editor. Then I spent some time figuring out where the heck VariAudio had gone, because when you hide things in Cubase, sometimes you hide them *very* effectively. Having recovered it, I sent it to analyze the vocal track and determine what notes were in it. Then I told it to convert the track to MIDI.
Ok, now I have a lot of entertaining (if not wonderful) MIDI data. I pasted that onto an instrument track and started fiddling with it using the various instruments that are available inside of Cubase. I also moved the track up an octave, because most respectable instruments would prefer not to be in the octave that I sing in. :)
You will not be at *all* surprised to hear that I got nothing at all that was useful. But I didn't *expect* to get something that was useful -- I just wanted to see what I *could* get this way.
I *much* prefer to have my friends singing and playing real instruments on my recordings.
It's interesting to see what sort of sounds you can get out of the software though... :)
Texts From Superheroes
Apr. 25th, 2026 09:00 pmtextsfromsuperheroes_feedTexts From SuperheroesFacebook | Threads | Patreon | Instagram | BlueSky
Dammit, Universe…
Apr. 25th, 2026 11:52 pmsharonlee_feedAnd, I’ve hit a snag in the republication project.
Draft2Digital has produced Content Guidelines, to wit:
What are the requirements for self-certifying erotica content?
You must accurately declare the presence of specific erotic themes during the publishing process. You are required to disclose if your work contains any of the following:
Incest or Pseudo-Incest: Sexual relations between family members, whether biologically or non-biologically related (including step-relatives).
Bestiality: Sexual relations between humans and real-world animals. (Note: Fantasy creatures such as shape-shifters or aliens are not classified as bestiality).
Rape for Titillation: Content where the dominant theme is non-consensual sexual relations intended to titillate the reader.
Age Play: Consenting adult characters role-playing or pretending to be babies or children.
Dubious Consent (Dubcon): Scenes exploring the gray area between consent and non-consent where the receiver’s willingness is unclear.
Non-Consensual Sexual Slavery: Erotic depictions of kidnapping, imprisonment, or trafficking. This is distinct from BDSM, which relies on informed consent and safe words.
We do not accept content with pornographic images or content that glorifies taboo subjects such as sexual exploitation of children or rape.
. . . Given the squeamishness of the audiobook company that backed out of its contract because Chapter Whatever-It-Was, I’m guessing that D2Digital will find The Fey Duology to be in violation of its terms of use.
This? Is disappointing. To say the least.
The other, somewhat disturbing thing about this new policy is that books that certify “erotic” content will not be offered to libraries. I’d like to know if the libraries know that they’re being “protected” in this manner. And, I do have right here a review from Library Journal stating that Duainfey is “for most libraries.”
#
Sigh. This has been a good day for Stress Eating. At least it was strawberries. Mind you, strawberries and whipped cream, but it could’ve been worse.
So, the Plan. I’ll continue getting the book together while I’m waiting for D2D to answer me (surprise! They warn of higher-than-normal customer contacts. Gee, I wonder why.), and based on their answer, I’ll … figure something out.
You’d think the people who are trying to suppress “erotica” would understand that hiding things in the corner, or forbidding certain things that people want, like, oh, I dunno? Abortion? Oh! Alcohol! Only drives it underground, where it warps and becomes deadly.
Yes, well. Back to work.
This day has not been as productive as I had envisioned.
#
Despite the best efforts of the universe, I did get some useful stuff done today. I include washing the dishes and vacuuming the dining room, living room, and bedroom in that.
Tomorrow, I need to research how/how much it will cost to register the copyright for The Fey Duology (we had always assigned and noted an ISBN, and published the copyright notice, which, until the late shenanigans with the AIs, provided protection as it showed Intent. The Anthropic Settlement teaches us that there’s no protection without you spend money for it. Well. Lesson learned.), fill out the necessary forms, and maybe even finish formatting the book.
After which, it can languish until I get some Answers from D2D.
. . .I keep catching myself saying, to myself, or to the cats, or, yanno, to all of us, “Why is everything taking so long?” And, aside the universe being bored, the answer is — today? Today, if I was focused on getting the book formatted, Steve would have vacuumed, done the dishes, and cooked dinner, too. If he’d drawn the book, then I’d’ve picked up the chores, and the book would have been ready for formatting (except we’d probably still be talking about if we’re paying the copyright fee, and wondering to each other WTF D2D has got into its head) right about, oh — now.
I’m never going to get used to this, am I?
Well.
Onward.
Everybody have a good evening. Stay safe. I’ll check in tomorrow.
Here, have some daffodils:
