Quote by rolandlytle

Tina Guo celloist

Here she is in full metal mode, joining the Finnish metal cello group Apocalyptica for a Metallica cover (something Apocalyptica kind of specializes in, though they have some good original material, too). This was one of the first official videos released from Wacken Open Air this year, one of the world's largest metal/rock festivals and regarded as a "Mecca" for metalheads. Nice to see Tina at Wacken again. She actually opened the festival not too many years ago.

Tabby. I have never been that fond of Siamese for some reason.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Comp is ticking down to it inevitable conclusion. 16 is good for here but more are still welcome. Any last minute entries lurking in the weeds?

Quote by Meagananne1986

Congrats. We had ours lengthened and widened a few years back.

We kept basically the same layout, just switched from brick to concrete. Easier to maintain and do snow clearing.

I am ... looking forward to visiting a rock festival in Germany (by livestream, not live) tomorrow morning.

Quote by Meagananne1986

Egad! My 'Contestant' badge shows 6 instead of the correct 3 competitions that I have entered and to make it even worse, the 'Competition' badge section shows FIVE, count them, FIVE (!) 'Summer Love' badges. Hopefully, one day, the techs will get everything tuned-up correctly so that the correct numbers and badges show for people.

Eek! I checked my badges and if I add up Contestant, Competition Runner-Up, Competition Top 10, and Competition Winner, it does match my competition badges so I think I am good. I notice the image for "New Year's Do Over" is MIA but I think that's been that way for a while and I've already reported it.

I assume the weird number on your Contestant badge is related to the proliferation of "Summer Love" badges so hopefully fixing that will fix both.

I've done both. For my current office, the answer is neither. Would need at least 3 buses to get here on our f-d up transit system and too far for bicycle commutes. However, I have done both in the past and certainly bike has its advantages and is more enjoyable. But in Southern Ontario, there's also winter and only certain very hardy cyclists brave that.

Cat or dog?

I never got into the Dead. Heard them back in the day, but their style never quite clicked with me.

Quote by verbal
Watching The Fall, and on our next to last episode. Gillian Anderson vs. a serial killer. She's perfect in this.

I loved her in the X-Files but have never got around to The Fall.

Hopefully watching a livestream concert on Saturday. My favourite singer is at one of the biggest metal festivals in Europe, if not the world, and her set is going to be on their livestream. She's done this festival at least three times as a band member but never solo.

I am ... going home to my new, improved driveway. Yay!!😊

I love it when two bands I love get together and produce something that is more than the sum of the parts. Lord of the Lost are a German dark rock/metal band who I came across when they represented Germany in Eurovision. Within Temptation are from The Netherlands and are one of the OGs of symphonic metal. This song brings them together to spectacular effect.

Sledding. Tubing always looks uncomfortable to me, esp. given my f-d up back.

Soft mattress or firm mattress (for sleeping, you pervs)?

Welp, I am caught up in the comp again. I think I might have my picks for the top 3. And no, I'm not one of them. We'll see though. I am generally terrible at picking comp slates. Two more days if anyone else wants to jump into the ring.

I came here to read stories and kick a$$ and I'm all out of stories. So how about some more stories? Because I'm actually kind of meek and not really into kicking butts. Two days left (assuming the deadline is end of day August 1). Anyone else?

I am ... feeling better than I expected after a meeting with a bunch of execs (including our group's CEO) today.

OMG, they've gone to the War of the Worlds well again. And they've added some weird new element about the aliens feeding on data???? The war machines look great, though.

I mean the novel is public domain and is the root of the whole alien invasion subgenre but it still seems a bit overdone and most recent versions have pulled in elements from other alien invasion movies to the point of losing H. G. Wells' original story and point. IOW, they might as well call them something else and just cite Wells as an influence. Oh well, so goes Hollywood. I suppose this means we'll get half a dozen more "adaptations" as happened when the Spielberg-Cruise version came out (which, to its credit, was actually a decent modernization of the original).

Snow skiing, but cross-country. Downhill would almost inevitably end in disaster for me.

Pie alone or pie a la mode?

Cookout. Unless I felt too tired, then restaurant as backup.

Buffet or a la carte?

Quote by verbal
I will try to write that cat scene though!

Do it! You know you can. Cats are fun to write for (says the guy who has cats as major characters in two of his last four stories).

Oh, I love Ping stories. They sometimes go way off the beaten path for this place, but they are usually amazing, imaginative pieces.

Depends where I am. In North America, I usually drive. Overseas, usually do a bus or other tour where someone else handles the driving.

Visit historic sites or nature preserves?

Welp, the title might raise some eyebrows but Ping is in the comp. Bracing for impact. Hopefully will have time to read it today. Any more? There's still time.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/romance/dcks-tts-swastkas

And good morning. Fresh pots of tea and coffee are on. And there's cookies.

16!! And it's a Ping story!!

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/romance/dcks-tts-swastkas

Quote by rolandlytle
The Mets are playing well and had a great chance to make the playoffs. With Judge out, the Mets are the best team in NYC.

After all these years of listening to Verbs moan about the Mets, I now feel like I have stepped into some weird alternate reality.🤔😁

Quote by verbal

Nevermind

Yep. That's it. The flerken may actually be the best character in the movie. 🤣

This one looks like fun. Soldiers in Vietnam apparently end up in the Cretaceous or something. Dinosaurs galore and the effects look pretty good, at least in the trailer. And some of the dinos have feathers!! A known, demonstrated fact about dinosaurs that the Jurassic Park/World movies haven't really touched yet. It's low budget, so may not be exactly Jurassic Park level but give me some well done dinos (WITH FEATHERS!!!!), and I'll be in.

And, yes, I think the "This ain't no walk in the park" line is a dig at those Jurassic movies.

Quote by verbal
Too busy trying to describe what a cat with tentacles coming out of her mouth would look like.

Watched Captain Marvel (MCU movie from 2019 starring Sam Jackson and Brie Larson)? If you haven't, do. It has exactly what you describe.

Welcome back. Sounds like a fun trip. Fossil redwoods sounds cool.

You've got lots of reading to do. 15 entries in the comp and 5 days left. And, of course, an entry from you is always welcome but I know you're just back so we'll excuse you this time if you don't.

And Happy Birthday!! Steak and cake sounds pretty good for a celebration (and rhymes nicely).

Submersible. I'd be terrified but being "inside" would be less terrifying than standing out in the open on a mountain like that. And I'm fascinated by marine life so I would hopefully be too glued to the window/monitor to notice how much water I am under. 😋

Explore an uncharted part of Earth or head to Mars (I'm sure Elon could arrange it)?

I'm an early riser pretty much all the time. Even on vacation.

Exercise first thing in the morning or later in the day?