library haul

First proper trip (beyond just picking up holds) since they re opened, and I picked up:

Precursor - #4 in Cherryh's "Foreigner" series. I wanna know what happens with the atevi-human space race!

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife - heard an interview with the author on NPR ages ago and thought it sounded fun. Besides, it's hard not to be entertained when the author's questions include "What will that [death] feel like? What will I do all day? Is there a place to plug in my laptop?" :P

The Subtle Knife - #2 in Pullman's "Dark Materials" series. I read the first sometime last year and never quite kept up; I figure if they're being made into movies it might be good to get on the ball.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Been wanting to read this ever since I saw this exhibit last fall. Picked up the 1961 edition, as the revised version has a 2 week wait list.

gained in translation

Still plugging away at the Spanish-English translation of last month's Spanish costume photocopies and I think I've figured out:

• What things are: saya = bodice with skirt attached; jubón = doublet; basquiña = closed skirt; cuerpa = bodice; ropa = gown (all one piece - kirtle?); faldilla and manteo = semi-circular underskirt
  
• In all times and places, there are always some yo-yos complaining about the immorality/vanity of one kind of clothing or another: I'm reading quotes from satirists who thought stays ("cardboards of the chest") were dishonest and writers who thought platform shoes ("chapines") were excessive. Some things never change :P
  

(no subject)

To forever solve the question of "Where are we going out to eat tonight?": Wheel.... of...FOOOOOOOOOD!

Hat tip D., with whom I often play the "What do you want?" "Well, what do YOU want?" game :P