Today marks six years since I built this computer, though only the motherboard, CPU, CPU cooler, RAM, power supply and case that I’m still using now are actually that old. The video card will turn five in two weeks and the DVD drive is approaching three, but the case fans and HDDs are only slightly over a year old, being purchased last February. The TV tuner, on the other hand, will turn ten later this year.
Of course, I definitely didn’t plan to keep using this computer this long when I bought it, in fact originally intending to upgrade after only three years, but I first added another year to that after getting this video card, and since then I keep saying every year that I will upgrade “next spring”. Until very recently, I was absolutely set on finally doing so this year, but I’m now finding myself simply hoping that nothing will fail and I’ll be able to keep it for another year, because I don’t particularly need more performance at the moment and needing to switch to a 64-bit operating system may prove a problem for at least some of the old games I want to at least try playing, not to mention that said switch to 64-bit will almost certainly require me to replace this old TV tuner. I’m considering a better CPU cooler, but replacing that truly frightens me and, either way, I’d want an outstanding one that I’ll be able to keep on the next computer as well, but those I’d have my eyes on now are likely to have compatibility issues with what I currently have, so I’m rather at a loss.
Either way, it just so happened that today dad sprayed the small amount of mold that had appeared in my room over the winter, since he said he had time for it now. Unlike in previous years, the mold actually only appeared in two places and didn’t spread, obviously thanks to the particularly mild winter, so I only actually needed dad’s help to move the desk, but he did the actual spraying as well since he was here. That left me to first take everything out of the desk, then put everything back in once it was moved back in place, and clean the room, including moving the bed to vacuum under it as well, since I can actually grab and drag that on my own. As such, there was no reason not to open the computer and clean as much dust as I could from it as well, since I hadn’t done so since last summer, and this seems to have resulted in the CPU running a couple of degrees cooler than before. The temperatures I’m seeing now still mean that a hot summer will pose a serious problem, however, hence me considering that better cooler…
I’ll also briefly mention here that I went out for a while, so I won’t stay here right after that spray was used, and decided to check out one small bookstore that sells books in English, since I noticed that they had a sale this week. Didn’t get anything, however, since the books I may have gotten immediately were more expensive than I could find them elsewhere, despite the discount, and I feel too uncomfortable whenever I’m there to browse others at length and still manage to actually purchase them. There were a few I was considering and some particularly cheap ones that I may have at least looked into, perhaps writing down at least the authors, if not the titles as well, to check some reviews and then go back in case any will actually seem interesting, but when I was the only potential customer there and had two people staring straight at me by the time I finished casually browsing, one literally standing right next to me, if probably simply because that was the only place where he could stand in that cramped space and still talk with the other, all I wanted was to get out.
Setting some clear goals apparently did work, as I did manage to write the review for Heiress of Healing that same evening, then the next protest report on Monday, so I wasn’t late for once, and then I somehow also went over those sections I had finished in my story! That was far too hard and took way too long, but I started Tuesday with that longer one and then did the rest as well over the next three days, so as of yesterday I can finally say I caught up once again. All of this, and making sure I wasn’t falling behind with anything else as well, meant I wrote very little, but that was also the case back when I wasn’t doing any of these.
Also managed to finish that scenario I was stuck at on Age of Wonders II, as well as the next one, so now I’m at what should be the final one and, after realizing what I should be doing and settling into it, I think winning is only a matter of time, if quite a lot of time. Probably won’t manage to finish it by the end of this week, but should be no problem to do it the next, which should also give me enough time to have a chance to write the review by the end of the month as well. Not making any promises, however.
What I didn’t do was contact any of those independent candidates, and I’m not even sure how I’d go about doing that, so I’ll probably first wait for the decisions to be final, which will apparently happen on Wednesday, and then see how they’ll choose to present their views and interact with the potential voters. It may end up being unnecessary anyway, at least when it comes to the matters that the activists also focus on, since I know there are plans to ask all parties and independent candidates to state their views on these issues.
I also didn’t go out at all this week, since there were no protests or related events that I cared to attend, I didn’t need to buy anything and for the past few days it was rainy and therefore I definitely didn’t want to just go for a walk either. Since deciding to do so, seven years ago, I went out at least once every single week and I don’t plan to skip this one, so let’s see what I’ll do tomorrow. At worst, I may simply exit the building and then turn around and come right back, as I did I think twice before.
But now I think I’m going back to the game, since it finally seems to be going well. Or I could see what I can do about all the MobyGames links that simply redirect to the site’s front page since the new owners decided that subdomains were bad and removed them, without adding any other method of restricting by platform or even making the redirects work properly. After getting bored waiting for them to do something about it, I changed two such links, as well as the scripts that generate them on my games played list, but a quick search shows some 60 more posts that will need to be edited and I sure don’t feel like doing that.
The date for this year’s National Anti-Fracking Day had been set to April 6 quite some time ago, activists from several dozen cities, communes and villages, including some from abroad, organizing protests on that day, all starting at 3 PM. As such, after the on-line campaign had begun even earlier, the efforts aimed to create awareness about the event on the streets of Bucharest started in earnest on March 30, apparently at 1 PM. As proof of how serious the activists were this time around, on top of printing huge numbers of fliers and posters, they had also managed to secure a location to serve as campaign headquarters, where volunteers could go to receive the materials to be spread around the city or to help create the signs and banners that were to be displayed or offered to people during the protest itself. In addition, some messages first asked those willing to lend a hand to gather on April 4, at 5:30 PM, in a little park, before others called all volunteers to come to the University Square underground passage on April 5, at 11 AM and 5 PM, as well as the next day, again from 11 AM.
Despite all this, and no doubt at least in part due to the weather and to the fact that, as some had correctly pointed out, a significant number of people would have preferred the event to start two or three hours later, the protest itself was rather subdued, largely consisting of a series of speeches in front of a crowd of no more than a few hundred. In fact, the mainstream media limited itself to either reporting that we were “over 100” or quoting the Gendarmerie, which was estimating between 100 and 150. However, around the time the first speech started, some five minutes before 4 PM, I actually tried to count the protesters and ended up a little shy of 250, while not long after that George Epurescu announced from the stage, after listing the few cities in which thousands were attending, that “over 250” people were present. Later, I had the impression that more had arrived and was tempted to estimate our numbers at up to 400 at the peak, but now, after looking over the pictures I took as well, I strongly doubt that.
The organizers even followed the procedure required by our restrictive laws, so this protest was entirely legal. Admittedly, it was hard to believe that they’d have managed to use the stage, have a generator and a sound system, and set up a tent without these approvals, and the fact that the protest was meant to be calm and static probably meant that they didn’t have many difficulties in obtaining them. I don’t actually have any information about that, but I consider just this lack of information as evidence in favor of my assumption, seeing as activists usually post when they attempt to obtain such an approval and are given a hard time.
In fact, the protocol signed with the authorities this time around was unnecessarily permissive, stating that we were allowed to occupy the area until 9 PM when the protest ended shortly after 6 PM, and even that meant that it lasted longer than many wanted it to. That was because, despite being mostly on topic, the speech made by a known and, in my opinion, respected activist was particularly long and some people started scattering as a result, the process continuing in earnest when it was announced that anyone who has something to say is welcome to use the stage and two of those who generally take advantage of this movement to rather aggressively promote their own views and causes rushed to seize the opportunity. The rant the second one had launched himself into was eventually stopped by an activist, after he had ignored the protesters who had started chanting against fracking in an attempt to remind him why we were there.
After that rather unpleasant moment, a couple more brief speeches marked the end of the event and, while the sound system remained in use, for music dedicated to the cause, and the tent was still manned, the activists began gathering the materials and equipment. A few had a different idea, wanting to start a march, on the sidewalk, to the Government building, but no more than a handful seemed interested and some of the better known figures argued against it, correctly pointing out that having so few people try to march, breaking the protocol the organizers had signed with the authorities in the process, would put the event in a bad light. While I left a few minutes later and therefore don’t know for sure, I assume there was no march.
Otherwise, the events set to take place as part of the exhibition I mentioned before, which opened on March 27 and aims to be a retrospective of the protests that started last September, continued with a concert on March 30, a debate about mainstream and independent journalism from the point of view of portraying the protests on April 3, and a mix of both, a debate on the topic of art as protest followed by another concert, on April 5. According to the listed schedule, this latter debate should have taken place on April 2 and I don’t know whether it was rescheduled or this means that there were two of them, and I also saw no mentions of the concert and the painting workshop scheduled for April 6. I did see, however, a message stating that some other concerts and workshops, which were supposed to take place outside, had to be rescheduled due to the weather.
Last but definitely not least, according to a picture I saw, a flash mob in support of women’s right to have an abortion, reminding people that over 10000 died as a result of the procedure being banned by the Communist regime, took place in front of the University Square fountain on March 31. That image was shared by a few others after the fact, but I saw nothing whatsoever about the event otherwise, so the only other piece of information I have comes from the description of the picture, which states that it was taken at 5:13 PM.
Full disclosure: I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This has in no way influenced the opinions expressed in this review.
I became interested in Heiress of Healing hoping it was the start of an epic fantasy series and began reading it fearing it may in fact be merely paranormal romance disguised under a thin veil of more “proper” fantasy. On both counts, I was right and wrong at the same time, because it is something between the two, featuring a decent enough actual fantasy side and a paranormal romance part that, though I generally have no interest in or experience with the genre, I have to recognize as outstanding.
To get this out of the way, yes, that means there is sex as well. No, it’s definitely not used for cheap thrills. Whether we’re talking about main or secondary characters, and whether it’s making love, merely fucking or something in between, each sex scene has a clear purpose, is relevant for the characters and the story, and is portrayed almost perfectly. At times, when this approach is needed and possible, you’ll find rather detailed descriptions, while other times you’ll see no more than brief mentions. Perhaps most notably, however, the author recognizes when mere words would prove inadequate in conveying the emotions experienced and the bonds created during such an encounter and allows and trusts the reader to understand the moment’s intensity and significance on their own.
In fact, Heiress of Healing is greatly aided every step of the way by good writing and a significant amount of polish. Without this being in any way meant as a criticism against the actual contents, it can be said that the writing style was the main reason why I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and it definitely was the reason why my initial concerns were quickly forgotten. Sure, those reading with a critical eye or who simply have a penchant for nitpicking may notice the odd style issue here and there, particularly after the first part, but you do need to search for them in order to do so, the overall quality of the writing exceeding not only what one would be tempted to expect from a new and unsigned author, but that found in many well-known and popular works as well.
If I’m to mention some complaints, I must begin with the frustration caused by the behavior and personality of the lead character. I could probably muster some shred of empathy even for the queen, but definitely not for Iminique, particularly since she’s usually not the only one paying the price for her actions or inaction, and at times not the one paying the price at all. True, I can’t say I found any characters truly worth cheering for, but she’s the main one and supposed to be the champion of good, inasmuch as this story has one, which only makes it worse. At the same time, none of this can exactly be said to be a flaw of the book, the author very accurately portraying personalities that one would reasonably expect to find in those positions, considering the world the action takes place in.
As such, perhaps it would be fairer to complain about how jarring it sometimes is when the story jumps forward in time, especially when this is also associated with changing the location and characters. The first time this happened was actually quite a shock for me and I can’t exactly say I ever got used to it, so I’m sure there is a better way to do something like this.
In addition, at least one storyline introduced in such a manner not only doesn’t get resolved in any way, but doesn’t even appear to have an actual purpose, though that becomes understandable once you remember that Heiress of Healing is the first in a series and therefore parts of it are expected to be little more than introductions for the following books. Yet viewing it this way may make one expect it to include details that are not to be found here, the author at times making use of some shortcuts and simplifications that may give those used to complex stories and detailed worldbuilding some reason to frown. Whenever this happens, however, one would do well to remember the genre Heiress of Healing is meant to fit into.
To conclude, if you’re looking solely for the next great epic fantasy series, you won’t find it here. If, on the other hand, what you’re searching for is a character-driven fantasy story that won’t give you headaches while trying to follow all that’s going on, or perhaps simply some well-written and, at least for a new and unsigned author, surprisingly polished escapism, you could do a whole lot worse than Heiress of Healing. Most importantly, however, if you aim to find an ambitious mix of romance and fantasy that seeks and, for the most part, manages to go beyond many of the limitations one may consider typical of paranormal romance and, as my case proves, may well be thoroughly enjoyable even for those who’d normally stay well away from the genre, then seriously, do yourself a favor and pick this up!
Rating: 4/5
As expected, merely mentioning backlogs didn’t exactly get me far when it comes to the more difficult things, so let’s see if setting some clear goals for this month, as laughable as they’ll be, will help in any way.
I did finish reading Heiress of Healing on Sunday, but I’m yet to write a review, so that would perhaps be the most urgent matter at the moment. I have the first and the last paragraph, parts of another and a list of the other ideas I want to include, but that was all I could find words for so far, so I’ll need to try again this evening. If it still won’t work, I guess I’ll be delaying it until next week, because I seriously doubt I’ll manage much of anything tomorrow, after returning from the protest.
I’ll definitely also need to find some way to go over all the sections I finished writing in my story since I last checked any, starting with that last one from what I consider to be part three, which I keep avoiding because I estimate it’ll take me some six hours and the mental effort I put into editing means I can’t remain focused for more than two hours or so at a time. If I don’t do that, I’ll just keep falling behind even more and the prospect of catching up will be more and more daunting, so I must work it out somehow… And I also must figure out some way to write more as well, or at the very least enough to keep the average above 250 words per day all the way to the end of this month as well. It peaked at almost 263, halfway through September, but now I consider managing to add about 150 at a time to be pretty good, so that average keeps going down.
To move past writing, I should also finish Age of Wonders II by the end of the month, though I’m still stuck at that second “death” scenario. No longer in any immediate danger of losing, but it sure was ugly, and still is, so I think I only played some 35 or so more turns over this past week and, even after I’ll win this, I’m not looking forward to the remaining scenarios… Nor am I looking forward to reviewing it, but I’ll definitely want to do that too, though not necessarily this month.
Last but definitely not least, with the elections for the European Parliament taking place next month, I guess I’ll need to figure out who I’m going to vote for, and that may well involve asking the two, or possibly three, independent candidates I didn’t immediately rule out about their stance regarding the issues that matter to me, seeing as I can’t find any list of goals or views from them otherwise.
With Erwin Albu obtaining less than half of the required number of signatures, Remus Cernea not even being allowed to apply, apparently because he hadn’t numbered the lists of signatures and arrived 12 minutes before the deadline, so at that point the issue obviously couldn’t be fixed anymore, and the Green Party (PV) and even the Ecologist Party (PER) having their lists rejected, I went from having three more or less acceptable options and one backup in theory, to none whatsoever in practice. So at this point I’m looking at eight parties and three independent candidates that definitely aren’t tolerable options and two, or perhaps three, depending on a court ruling, other independents that I didn’t rule out simply because I don’t know what they plan and stand for, so my only hope is that one of these will prove to be at least somewhat tolerable…
