I saw this little cutie inside my squash flowers.

Based on a request from a comment deep in another thread I have a quick review of the novel Katabasis by R.F Kuang

The novel in brief (without any spoilers) is about two magicians, doctoral candidates, who must venture into hell to save their thesis advisor in order to receive letters of recommendation. Its a deep look into academia and our concepts of hell and the underworld.

Overall I would recommend the book especially if you enjoy fantasy, or deep world building. Like other R.F Kuang novels is it well researched, full of real world references and root in her own experiences. In this book the experiences is academia especially the cut throat elite university of a PhD program. The book is about a journey to hell deep with references toward underworld deities and stories from around the world that add a depth and complexity to a hero’s journey. The trip to the underworld is a method to both explore the deep world building including an unique magic system as well as the protagonist personal journey of discovery. The novel is about two similar characters who are both magician going through a personal journey to rescue their advisor for their own personal reasons. Overall, its fascinating, well researched and definitely unique. Overall I would recommend it, especially if you enjoy Babel.

Like some of her other novels it can get long but in this case the multiple layers of hell do provide a direction as well a structure about its length. Like most of her other novels there are multiple themes and ideas that are explored which can seem meandering but I quite enjoyed all the ideas.

Long long time ago I had a few months where I brewed my own kombucha. At the time I was able to get a SCOBY by adding the bottom of a commerical kombucha to some sweetened tea which eventually grew into a full SCOBY which I used and split to make some batches. It was simple and easy

Is this something I can still do? Is there any brands that are more "raw" that would be a better starter?

Straight from the crop art exhibit at the MN state fair

I want you to be a Gay Dean for the school board. https://youtu.be/-ar5zQeTdxw

Last Sunday my partner and I finalized our main planting for the year a Mother's Day tradition. We did our vegetable garden and cut flower garden and are now waiting for everything to grow. We got our plants from a mixture of the Farmers Market (Great deals with limited selection) and two different garden stores nearby. Everyone was out buying plants and getting them ready and in the ground. Its so great to see everyone out gardening.

Here is our main vegetables:

• Tomates (Sweet 100 and Roma)
• Cayenne Peppers
• Sweet Corn
• Leeks
• Peas
• Acorn Squash
• Decorative Gourds
• Salad Greens (6 Pack mixed)
• Cabbages (2 green, 2 red 2 savoy)
• Lemon Verbena
• Dill

My wife did a lot of cut flowers for our flower garden this year as well. We have zinnia, cosmos, delphium as well some other annuals I have never heard of beofre. We are ready to have plenty of flowers for bouquets between this and the rest of our perennials until the fall.

I am looking to get a budget exercise bike for my wife and I to use. Neither of us are super active but want something basic and simple that we can use for 30 minutes or so a few times a week to keep us in shape. We have a new baby so need something at our house that is fast and simple. Doing some research I was thinking about getting this YOSUDA exercise bike with Magnetic resistance bike

I want something that is magnetic to reduce wear and tear and will fit our sizes. (I am 6 ft 1" and she is 5 ft. 1"). It says it works for 6 foot so it should work for me if just a little small. Has anyone used this? Do they like it? Is it cheap junk?

I am looking to get a budget exercise bike for my wife and I to use. Neither of us are super active but want something basic and simple that we can use for 30 minutes or so a few times a week to keep us in shape. We have a new baby so need something at our house that is fast and simple. Doing some research I was thinking about getting this YOSUDA exercise bike with Magnetic resistance bike

I want something that is magnetic to reduce wear and tear and will fit our sizes. (I am 6 ft 1" and she is 5 ft. 1"). It says it works for 6 foot so it should work for me if just a little small. Has anyone used this? Do they like it? Is it cheap junk?