| Cauldy's Book List |
[Mar. 8th, 2019|01:48 pm] |
I've decided I'd like to build a reading list. Feel free to make suggestions -- but please remember I'm currently interested in non-fiction, with limited exceptions for classic fiction. I'll bold titles as I read them (they're in no particular order, though I did attempt to group them by theme). I starred the books that are particularly excellent (three stars for "absolutely must read"). Feel free to ask me about any of the bolded titles.
( Eventually I will read... ) |
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| When it rains, the it pours -- dolls |
[Aug. 31st, 2009|12:47 am] |
Why is it, now that I am in the limbo of waiting to find out whether or not I won Sasara from the Volks lottery, that a host of other dolls I am seriously interested in getting decide to appear?
Of course, I have been eyeballing Summer Term Marguerite from Rosette for quite some time now. When the Summer Term girls came out, my original debate was between Fir and Marguerite. Fir was definitely the right choice for me -- but Marguerite is still terribly tempting. Do I want two Rosettes so soon?
Or do I want Wake-Up Goldie from Peakswood? Beth, my regular Goldie, is one of my favorite dolls. I really adore her. And I adore dreaming dolls. So a dreaming Goldie? Oh yes. Very yes. I will own Wake-Up Goldie eventually. But now... or later?
Enter the third contender! Yaoyue from Oasisdoll is GORGEOUS. Look at that long, lean body! I love slender girls (see my love of Rosette). And her face is so sweet. She's absolutely charming. I know I should probably stay away, since my history with open-eyed dolls isn't too great, but still... so cute.
Of course, none of this matters if I win Sasara, now does it?
Wednesdayplzbherealreadykthnxbai. |
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| If you read DoA... |
[Aug. 21st, 2009|03:12 pm] |
I'd like to draw your attention to this thread: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318011
Here's the post I was about to make... just as the thread was locked:
I feel so sad for the moderators, for whom the upkeep of this forum is already a massive undertaking, and who have added onto that leviathan task the responsibilities of organizing and overseeing a variety of anniversary activities well beyond what I have seen any other forum even attempt to offer, who now have to sign on and see this thread comparing their actions to those taken by religious extremists and communists. There are so many better ways to voice a complaint such as this one.
It smacks of hypocrisy to complain the mods are not acting like professionals while you are behaving in such an unprofessional way; to complain that you do not like way they are donating their time and energy to handling this massive forum while you are participating in and enjoying the benefits of that same forum for free; to complain about their lack of communication while your own communication consists of calling things "idiotic" and "lame;" to complain that they are not using good judgment when your own judgment sees no issue with comparing the closing of a single thread on a doll forum to mass human rights violations committed by foreign governments?
Even if you had a valid argument, the manner in which you chose to convey your opinion is beyond insulting. I can tell you that if you attempted such behavior on Bad Dolly Deals, the moderators would not be discussing how best to answer you -- we would be discussing whether or not to merely warn you, or to outright ban you. The fact that the moderators here are reacting as calmly and patiently as they are is a testament to the fact that they are, in fact, EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD MODERATORS.
-----
Anyone have anything else they'd post, if the thread hadn't been locked? |
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| Now THIS is awesome customer service (and yogurt) |
[Jul. 31st, 2009|10:09 pm] |
As you all know, Rosette's customer service has been driving me batty. Today I received a package from Rosette. What did it contain? A replacement faceplate, for the one that arrived damaged? No. The correct shoes, since they originally sent me the wrong ones? No. The correct eyes, since they also sent me the wrong ones? No. A pair of cream-colored tights, which I never asked for, which I already have a pair of? Yes. Tights. WTF?!
Just as I was beginning to think customer service had died, I received the most awesome email. A few days ago, I had e-mailed Dannon Yogurt to tell them how much I liked their new watermelon flavor (it's awesome, btw, go try it) and how I hoped it would become a permanent flavor (it's advertised as seasonal). I usually eat a cup of yogurt & bran buds (sounds awful, is awesome) every single day, so I love when there are new flavors -- variety makes me happy. Non-traditional (not berry, banana, or vanilla) makes me even happier.
Well super-awesome Dannon actually replied! And it wasn't a generic "thank you for your comments" reply, it was a specific tailored reply thanking me for my input on the watermelon flavor. And they're sending me coupons! I didn't even ask for any, and it's not like I was a complaining customer who needed soothing. They're just sending coupons because they are full of WIN! OM NOM NOM. I'm going to go eat a watermelon yogurt in celebration.
(Note that this is not only a contrast to Rosette's fuck-around-the-rosey customer service, but also Yoplait, whose yogurt I will NEVER buy again. I got a batch of strawberry yogurt that tasted like rotting fruit, and I wrote them a letter about how disappointed I was, because I had eaten Yoplait almost exclusively up to this point, and usually their quality control was better. They wrote back and were essentially "not our fault, fruit flavors can vary depending n the season, here's two coupons, now shut up" and I switched to buying Dannon the next day.)
Dannon = 1
Rosette = 0
Yoplait = 0 |
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| Mass Photo Dump 2 of 2 |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|10:51 pm] |
The continuation (and completion) of the mass photo dump! Again, I know I like the first photo (and actually the second), but my brain is too fried to process any more than that. Help, please? Tell me what to post to DoA!
( The little schoolgirl... ) |
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| Mass Photo Dump 1 of 2 |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|10:32 pm] |
I apologize in advance for the mass photo dump, but my brain is too fried to cut them down any further... I think some of them are borderline crap/okay, tbh. All I know is I like this first one! I would really appreciate if you guys would let me know your favorites, and I'll post the top 5-10 on DoA.
( Many, many more! ) |
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| Doll Scales |
[Jul. 14th, 2009|10:58 am] |
This was deleted off of DoA, but in case you have trouble understanding scales (mathematical ratios), here it is for you:
1:3 = 1 inch in the model is 3 inches in the real world, the units are the SAME (also, 1in:3in is the same as 1cm:3cm and the same as 1ft:3ft, as long as the units before and after the colon are the same, you can use 1:3 no matter what measurements you are using -- it's universal).
1/3 = the model is 1/3 (one third) the size of real life, the same as 1:3 (also universal).
1'-3" = 3 inches in the model is 1 foot in the real world, not the same as 1:3 or 1/3 because the units CHANGE (foot versus inch) -- please note you HAVE to use feet and inches (NOT universal). This sometimes written as 1'=3" as well.
SDs are 1:3, 1/3, or 1'-4" (also known as "four-inch scale")
MSDs are 1:4, 1/4, or 1'-3" (also known as "three-inch scale"
Barbies are 1:6, 1/6, or 1'-2" (also known as "two-inch scale")
Dollhouses are 1:12, 1/12, or 1'-1" (also known as "one-inch scale")
Tiny matchbox cars are 1:64, 1/64, or 1'-3/16" scale (1'-0.1875") (also know as "three-sixteenths inch scale")
Please note that with 1:3 and 1/3, as the second number (the 3 in this example) gets larger, the model gets smaller. With 1'-3" or 1'=3", as the second number (again, the 3 in this example) gets larger, the model gets larger. 1:144 and 1/144 are extremely tiny, but 1'-144" would be twelve times real-life size size!
Working with a 6 ft [aka 72 inch] person:
In 1:3 scale, the doll would be 2 ft [aka 24 inches]. Each 1 of the 24 inches represents 3 inches in the real world, 24 x 3 = 72. This corresponds to "SD-size."
In 1/3 scale, the doll would be 2 ft [aka 24 inches]. The doll is one-third the size of the real model, so 72 ÷ 3 = 24. This corresponds to "SD-size."
In 1'-3" scale, the doll would be 1.5 ft [aka 18 inches]. Each foot in the real world is 3 inches in the model, so 6 x 3 = 18. This correponds to "MSD-size."
If you used 1:144 or 1/144, your 6ft man is a teeny half-inch tall. If you used 1'-144", your 6ft man is a massive 72 FEET tall! This is why using the right scale (and writing it correctly) are so important. Don't mix them!
Yay math! |
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| Obligatory Crappy New Doll Photos |
[Jul. 7th, 2009|09:57 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | bjd | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  aggravated | ] |
I have a new doll, and thus I have taken the obligatory, totally crap first photos, which I have shooped the hell out of. She is a Rosette Good Afternoon Fir. I really, REALLY hate the lashes and am going to have to take them out and replace them with something less spidery. She also has several marks and scratches (shooped out) that resulted from her arriving with her faceplate totally detached from her head and just rolling around loose inside the box. Rosette is dragging their heels about getting back to me about a replacement, which is making me pretty irritated.
...otherwise, damn, I do love this doll. Her expression is so perfect. No name for the girl yet, though.
( Fear the Fir? Fier de la Fir? Fire and Fir? Feeeeh. ) |
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| Fiona Apple Again! |
[Apr. 10th, 2009|08:21 pm] |
I don't know if you were like me, and absolutely loved Fiona Apple back in the day -- that mellow, smoky voice that just rolls around you like velvet. It had something you don't hear a lot these days: soul. No bubblegum here, folks.
Well, she's recorded a new song (maybe it's not that new, but it's new to me at least!). Just close your eyes and listen to this one. It really transports you to another time, and another place. Just beautiful.
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| Cute Materialistic Stuff |
[Mar. 22nd, 2009|07:55 pm] |
Pro: I have been making an attempt not to buy new dolls or doll clothing, since I just purchased a large amount of Cheerydoll and Azone stuff not that long ago.
Con: I have been spending a lot of time browsing HLJ and finding cute things I'd like to buy. These are significantly less expensive that dolls and doll clothing, but significantly more useless -- just cute clutter.
So what do I want?
( Hidamari no Tami! )( Fraulein! )( Walkie Bits! )( Jellyfish Mood Lamp )( Inanimate Character Stickers )
Anyone have any other really cute, not-totally-but-rather-only-slightly useless things I should look at?
Also. Seriously. Fraulein? Do I get one? Halp! |
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| Frustrated and Ranting -- As Usual |
[Mar. 6th, 2009|12:34 am] |
I think my job is turning me into someone I don't want to be. I'm pretty sure 25 is too young to be burned-out, isn't it?
The busy season is just beginning to heat up, and it already feels like I'm drowning. I'm so much more negative and intolerant than I used to be; it seems like all I can do is complain and bitch and rant. I'm exhausted all the time. I'm exhausted when I wake up, I'm exhausted when I get to work, I'm exhausted when I get home, and I'm exhausted when I go to bed. Except I don't sleep; I've never had a problem sleeping before, but now I'm an insomniac. It's not just a physical exhaustion, it's this deep down to the bone exhaustion that clouds everything.
Ugh, and even now all I can do is complain. I wish I knew how to fix this. Maybe seeing Deneb this weekend will help cheer things up... and I hope Christina comes down during her Spring Break. I wonder if it's even worth trying to look for a new job in this economy. |
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| True Beauty -- True Idiocy |
[Feb. 16th, 2009|09:35 pm] |
True Beauty drives me absolutely crazy. I absolutely adore Julia. She's passed every single test with flying colors; she's never NOT helped someone (given, I missed one episode, so maybe she flubbed there, but in all the episodes I've seen, she's the only one who HASN'T fucked up on at least one of the judges' cheesy-ass "tests"). She is a nice girl. She is a sweet, honest, down-to-earth, NICE girl. And she is gorgeous. GORGEOUS. She has always been my #1 in terms of physical beauty. She's just so cute! I would bang her in a hot second, and I wouldn't let any of the other contestants touch me with even one of their sleazy fingers.
But everyone keeps calling her "fake," as if no one could possibly be THAT nice. It drives me crazy. When did nice = fake on a show that's supposed to be about inner beauty? I want to smash these judges in their 15-minutes-of-fame-is-over faces with a sledgehammer. The truth is, people can be THAT nice. Heather in high school really was THAT nice. I never heard her say a bad thing about anyone, even her cheating-ass boyfriend when their relationship crashed and burned in flames. Laura at college. Laura was pretty as a Barbie doll, blonde, blue-eyed, body to DIE for, rich, designer clothes, graceful, and the center of attention at all times. She could have been a total bitch-whore-diva from hell, but she was the sweetest, kindest little thing you ever did see in a children's book. She was THAT nice. So it makes me so angry when everyone keeps calling Julia fake because she's THAT nice. Dammit!
Also, could someone explain the deal with Laura? The judges keep talking about how pretty she is... maybe I'm wired wrong. She's... just okay. She's not someone who would make me look twice (now Julia, I'd look about 1,000 times). Laura is just so generic. There's nothing distinct or gorgeous about her, other than her eternal slutitude. Which, now that I think about it, isn't distinct or gorgeous either. It's justy generic slut. I feel like I've seen her in every porno every made. |
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| Difficult Difficult Difficult |
[Feb. 1st, 2009|06:50 pm] |
Rhone drives me batty. She's such a lovely doll... but she's not photogenic. At all. I don't know what it is, but she turns out terrible in photographs. I think these three portrait shots (two more behind the cut) managed to turn out all right, but in general, Rhone looks at least 4x better in real life than in photos.
( The other two... ) |
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| Is this my song? |
[Jan. 22nd, 2009|11:48 pm] |
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
( ... )
I'm about half-way through The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
Still on my book list are Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and then Virginia Woolf's own A Room of One's Own, in addition to Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media and The Second Sex. Don't despair, though, my reading list isn't entirely feminist works: despite my hatred of John Steinbeck, I have The Grapes of Wrath on my list, as well as There Are No Children Here, The Hot Zone, and Bad Blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment.
It's strange, how my tastes have changed. I have trouble remembering the last sci-fi/fantasy book I read... perhaps Dead After Dark which, despite how much I like True Blood, was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe I'll read the next book in the series after the next season of True Blood is finished (Fall 2009?). I don't know what happened; I simply do not want to read about overcoming that Great Evil (TM) or meeting one's True Love (c). I can't believe it anymore; my mind screams "This isn't true, this is all false, all wrong!" with each page. I want truth. I want ugly, petty, unfair, tangled truth, with all its unhappy endings and unfinished stories.
Maybe it's because I think it -- and, perhaps, I -- won't be okay? |
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| ;_______________; |
[Jan. 14th, 2009|10:09 pm] |
IT'S SO COLD RIGHT NOW, THE SNOW IS WARMER THAN THE AIR.
Per the nightly news, a thermometer stuck in the snow in Madison reads 0°F.
A thermometer held up in the air reads -6°F.
SNOW SHOULD NEVER BE WARMER THAN SOMETHING ELSE.
SNOW SHOULD NEVER BE WARMER THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
It's so cold, that in the time it took me to hurry from the door to my car, my snot froze.
My snot froze. While it was still INSIDE MY NOSE.
OHMYGODSOMEONEPLZSAVEMENAO. PLZ. PLZ. PLLLLLZ. |
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| BOOBS! ---> ( . )( . ) |
[Jan. 13th, 2009|12:57 am] |
I keep waking up topless.
...
....
.....
......
.......
Did that get your attention? I hope so. Because it's true. I go to bed with a shirt on. I wake up without a shirt on.
I have no idea what's going on here. Since it's winter, I'm wearing long-sleeved shirts, usually with cuffs at the wrists and small collars. These are not exactly tube tops you can accidentally squirm out of while sleeping. It takes a definite, conscious action to remove these shirts. Besides, it's not like I'm waking up with my shirt tangled up with the covers, or fallen on the side of my bed. Oh, no, that would be too normal. I wake up with my shirt hanging out on the other side of my bedroom.
The thing is, I have no memory of taking my shirt off, either. First, I'm the type of person who remembers waking up to take a sip of water, or put on chapstick, or lotion my hands, or even re-adjust my pillows. It seems pretty illogical that I'd remember re-adjusting my pillows, but not taking off my shirt. Second, I have no history of sleep-walking, sleep-talking, sleep-eating, sleep-anything. I pretty much lie like a rock when I'm asleep. I don't really thrash or roll about; I wake up on the same side of the bed that I fell asleep on.
What the hell is going on? |
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cauldroness's journal