Proper link this time
www.twitch.tv/kaz_phd

Will I make it to Meridian today? Let's find out!

Also, my cat turned 7 and I'm complaining about AI, all here:👇
www.twitch.kaz_phd

The former, the focus demanded from these books, is seeing the real ideas and themes beyond the adventure, how the real adventure is the one in front of us and behind us.

Anyway, yeah, great read, highly recommend, glad to have made it a part of my journey!

Thanks for reading!

The writing is sweet and beautiful, requiring focus in one way that is compelling and another which may leave readers frustrated.

The latter is because some things happen, without the setup we're used to. They make sense in the moment but demand the reader see between the lines, fill gaps.

That last point is fascinating; it feels like more modern writers & audiences would want to explore every corner of the world, but there are time jumps here, following mostly one character through the stages of his life.

Side adventures, not important to the heart of things, are assumed & skipped.

Le Guin does a wonderful job of balancing simple and complex, high and low fantasy. Magic exists and it's explained just enough to be consistent and present. But common sense & emotional themes are more important and shape magic and the world alike.

The world feels big, but also relatable enough.

Book cover for Ursula K. Le Guin's "Earthsea: The first four books" featuring the silhouette of a figure standing on a cliff overlooking the sea. The figure is holding a quarter staff, wearing a billowing cloak, and the image colours are black and orange.

Just finished reading the first 4 books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, and enjoyed it!

Even if I had read these as a child, they're worth a reread as an adult.

They deal with some universal, adult themes through the lens of fantasy and adventure, giving them quite a timeless quality.
#booksky

Lazarus, sphynx cat. on Instagram: "Officially 7 years old, and still as naughty as ever, inserting himself between the coffee machine and the cupboard to chew on my bamboo matcha spoon 🦷🦇 It was Laz... 2 likes, 1 comments - lazarus_sphynxcat on April 21, 2026: "Officially 7 years old, and still as naughty as ever, inserting himself between the coffee machine and the cupboard to chew on my bamboo mat...

My cat, Lazarus, is 7 years old!

He has been such a wonderful part of my life and I am made happy every single day by him.

Here are a few pics of him getting up to shenanigans!

www.instagram.com/p/DXaXZJ1gnS...

Twitch Twitch is the world

Went to Colorado, read 3 Earthsea books, playing Horizon Zero Dawn now!
www.twitch.tv/kaz_phd

A friend of mine, @thesquidsink.com , once wrote a poem with literal similes. Something like, "Dawn broke, and everyone screamed in horror at the broken day". Or something like that, but better :)

my account is empty after getting my meds yesterday and i'm out of food and other essentials. my dad took another week off work because of health issues. i still need to raise the money but i need to just get by for now. this is impossible. any help is appreciated.

A sticker from ohmygollyembroidery on Etsy that says Trans Lives Are More Important Than Harry Potter.

Islamic history becomes video game wonder in this lovely new puzzle platformer The House of Hikmah is a celebration of the Islamic Golden Age

The House of Hikmah is a celebration of the Islamic Golden Age

Book cover for "The Tombs of Atuan" by Ursula K. Le Guin, featuring a cloaked girl in a cave under a pile of pillared stones.

Finished reading "The Tombs of Atuan" by Le Guin, and found it to be quite bold writing!

Focused on one female protagonist in one specific place. The setting and themes are haunting, ritualistic, oppressive.

Less magical but more impactful. Like the Tombs, a lot under the surface.

#booksky

I think it's a book for all ages. It hints at a larger world of a larger history, while also seeming like a small story about one guy, but the character is facing a pure, primordial enemy, and the stress this takes over a lifetime is very well told.

Looking forward to the next part of the series!

a cartoon of a group of superheros with a caption that says " you 're overwhelmed " Alt: a cartoon of a group of superheros with a caption that says "You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anyone ever just 'whelmed'"

It's interesting that the writing structure is old/classical, in a kind of Yoda-like way, but the word choice is ahead of its time.

Like, the joke about being "whelmed"? That's in this book from the '60s.

For some, the "backwards" writing may be tough, but I recommend it, take your time.

Finally👇

Book cover for "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin, featuring a lone, cloaked silhouette, standing in a field overlooking the sea.

Finished reading "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin!

Not sure how I missed it, but I'm glad to have caught up with it. It's a large world but focused purely on one character's journey.

Earthsea is at once magical but ordinary, classic English writing.

#booksky

Two more things👇

Hopefully, some external support helps. You are awesome, and while it sucks that you're not internalizing it, it's a very human response. You're not alone.

Lynyrd Skynyrd was all like “lord knows i can’t change” and then immediately changed tempos

Today, I'm flying to a city that people used to confuse* for my name.

Can you guess where?

*Sometimes a joke, sometimes not

Congrats on the certification!

"paper money in fantasy isn't realistic, no one had paper money in the 1400 - 1500s!"

1. It's fantasy.
2. The merchants of the Song dynasty worked with the emporers to invent feiqian, or "flying cash" ie: paper money / fiat currency, in the 800s. Not the 1800s. The 800s. So honestly, skill issue.

Here’s the story of one of them. Awful www.thestranger.com/forced-out/f...

Official Launch Trailer for The House of Hikmah | Arrives April 8th, 2026 YouTube video by Lunacy Studios

I've wished for Arab-made games about Arab mythology for so long, and despite assisting on the project I still can't believe there's one swinging for the fences this hard. House of Hikmah is something very needed in a time where the world would rather erase us.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTu...

a man with long hair and a beard has a gifsec.com watermark on the bottom of the image Alt: a man with long hair and a beard asking what year is it

Streaming, ranting, belated birthday, been a while

www.twitch.tv/kaz_phd

Dam him up!

for the ten thousandth time, it's been proven the the best way to deal with this guy is look him in the eye and go "oh yeah make me buddy boy" and the lesson they take away in the USA will of course be that they continue to give him everything he demands in case he gets upset with them

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown Iran S04 E06 Dailymotion video by L3arnTV

If you’re an American should watch the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown ep on Iran. A deeply humanizing look at a country full of people just like you and me. I watched it after Anthony died and it moved in ways that are hard to relay. I also immediately ran out to try kabob koobideh and tahdig.

how about instead of a pocket square, you fucking SAY SOMETHING when Trump horrifically insults women journalists in the White House Press Corps instead of everyone standing around like tree stumps, afraid to be rude and lose their access privileges

Thanks! Yeah, despite her previous successes, she still surprises me! Hope you're doing well!