Saturday, July 26, 2025

recs, hacks, and saves

A couple of recs: 

This NYT quiz on dreams--I'm what they classified as "a big dreamer" but there's plenty I learned about how we dream in the process of taking the quiz. 

This list of most recommended books in The Atlantic. I'm horrified I've read so few. 

A couple of hacks:

If you hit a paywall and don't want to pay or don't feel like supporting Islamophobic/Transphobic outlets like The New York Times or The Atlantic, you could use archive.is. Paste the URL of the piece you want to read into the second box (the one that says: "I want to search the archive for saved snapshots"). Usually, that should do the trick. 

I figured out this next hack myself! When I came back from last week's health nightmare, I found I wasn't able to leave comments on some (WordPress?) blogs like Nicole's, J's, and Jenny's. "Mod_Security" kept telling me that my server was "Not Acceptable!" (Threatening exclamation point and all.) But if I toggle my computer WiFi to my phone's hotspot, I can!

Pic: I saved this meme to my desktop years ago... Good save. And I guess those little things did save me and keep me mostly sane.

19 comments:

Jeanie said...

That's a good tip. I like a lot of the Atlantic article titles but not the paywall! And the meme is great. And yes, I do that to stay sane too (but not in the field!)

Jenny said...

I defintiely want to read that Atlantic article- I'll try it using your tip. And what is this, you couldn't leave a comment on my blog? I wonder if anyone else is having this problem.
Glad big A is feeling better! Phew.

Nicole said...

I just looked and I've read only one of the recommended books! Huh.
Glad you figured out a hack!!! On all ends!

Gillian said...

Good for you.

Lisa's Yarns said...

I’ve only read one and I did not care for it! (7 Moons). No one in our book club did actually!

I got big dreamer, too. But I learned a lot. Dreams are fascinating!!

Nance said...

I haven't read any of those books; however, I don't feel the least bit concerned, nor do I feel compelled to read them. Maybe each of us should post a list, too, and see if any of us have books in common.

StephLove said...

We were watching a movie in which the main character dreams she is flying and then the next day I heard on a podcast what it supposedly means when you no longer have dreams about flying (which is apparently almost universal but sometimes stops). It allegedly means the adventurous part of your life is over. And come to think of it, I don't think I have dreamed of flying in quite a while.

Bibliomama said...

I love Book Lists, even when I haven't read many - I know that even though I read a lot the list of books in the world is infinite, but I'm still surprised when I haven't read any on a list.
Yeah, the world is big, but we are small - we kind of have to do little things not to become completely overwhelmed by the bigness, I think.

Bibliomama said...

I have only read one as well, and I think it might be the same one as Nicole (the Ann Patchett)

maya said...

I got the tip from a younger friend, and it has been revolutionary!

maya said...

I think it was just me, Jenny. We changed internet providers recently, and I wonder if that caused it.

maya said...

I've read the Karunatilaka and the Patchett, and am interested in the Eve Babitz, and Hua Hsu... Maybe Careless People too?

maya said...

Thanks!

maya said...

Hey there, fellow Big Dreamer :)!

I did like Seven Moons... but I think it helped that I have connections with the language, history, and culture. I don't think the novel contextualizes those sufficiently.

maya said...

This is such a TERRIFIC idea, Nance!!! You could post yours and everyone could post their lists in the comments to your post?

maya said...

I haven't dreamt of flying in a long while either, dammit. I dream of falling all the damn time though.

maya said...

Allison! Somehow, this is nestling into your other comment about The God of Small Things for me <3

Stephany said...

I was getting that weird Mod Security error whenever I was on my mom's wifi - it was so weird! I was able to circumvent it, too, by hotspotting. It's never happened anywhere else - JUST my mom's wifi. The weirdest thing!

I got "Big Dreamer" too!

maya said...

Great minds :)!

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