Nurture and Support

 

 Mel’s Recommendation:

Game App: Card Crawl

* A fun solitaire style dungeon crawler game. Let me explain: You pit your avatar card’s face value against monster cards attack value while collecting coin cards and health potion cards. If you survive to the end, you win the hand and get to keep the coins you collected. You get to use these to buy special ability cards.

* Simple right? It’s more challenging than it sounds.

* The app is available on iTunes for $1.99 and that’s it. There are no power ups to buy or anything else, which makes me happy!

 

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Music: Misfits ~ The Kinks

* a 1978 album by The Kinks!

* Features the only known (to us) song about Hayfever.

* This album covers fun topics like Allergies (Hayfever), Hair Dressing (Permanent Waves), and Cross Dressing (Out of the Wardrobe)

* Here’s your Spotify link or listen on Youtube below:

 

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Travel: Cheap (& Legal) Ways to Kill Time in Las Vegas

* Original tips and tricks by Kelly himself!

* We’ve got low roller activities on The Strip and Downtown on Freemont Street

* Kelly’s favorite low roller reference site: http://www.cheapovegas.com/

* Wondering where the best “cheap food” is? How about some loose slots? Looking for a casino with friendly (i.e. helpful) dealers? Wanna know where the WHITE CASTLE is on The Strip???  Look down!

Casino Royale is also home to low limit table games, $1 Michelobs, and $1.99 foot long hot dogs!  Did we mention THEY HAVE A WHITE CASTLE??

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

 

Book: Dead on the Delta by Stacy Jay

* 2 words: Fairy Apocalypse

* This urban fantasy takes place in Louisiana in the aftermath of mutant Tinkerbell sized venomous fairy apocalypse.

* Annabell Lee is one of only a small percentage of the population immune to fairy venom. This means she gets fun jobs, like collecting corpses that are outside the iron gates of the town.

* This is a fun, extremely fast paced murder mystery with a gritty heroine who’s not about to let venom-crazed junkies, pint-sized murderous fairies, or the FBI get in her way.

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Kelly: @julieannemery: Betsy Kettleman herself from Better Call Saul

“@kellythul: #BetterCallSaul Rico – in honor of #Kettleheads absent @karmic9 @julieannemery https://t.co/cC9NxXFwV0” Oh. My. God.

— Julie Ann Emery (@julieannemery) March 24, 2015

Also, @JeremyShamos: Mr. Craig Kettleman from Better Call Saul

@kellythul @Prettypixiecat @julieannemery #kettlemeup let’s do this.

— Jeremy Shamos (@jeremyshamos) March 13, 2015

Click below for Kettleman awesomeness

Mel’s: @slothfacts: Unnecessary facts about sloths that you really need to know….

No sloths were on the titanic.

— Sloth Facts (@SIothFacts) March 16, 2015

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (

This week we have a Fiery Social Media Tool and an album with an floating apple on the cover.

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

Music: of Verona’s album The White Apple

* an Indie Rock band/futuristic/elctro-pop group from California.

* They’ve had a few songs in some cool shows, notably Teen Wolf!

* ‘Dark in My Imagination’ is a favorite of course, but I really enjoy the entire album.

* This album is free to stream on Amazon Music for Prime members, Spotify (the deluxe album too!, Soundcloud

 

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Web Service: Meshfire

* A social media management service that has recently become free for use for one of your Twitter accounts.

* Meshfire uses an artificial intelligence named Ember (how cool is that?). Ember helps you set goals to increase your twitter followers, or to interact with more of your followers.

* It also goes through your followers and suggests ones you might want to block, such as Mike aka @OfficialPagan (for both Kelly and Mel! :D) So, use your own judgement.

* Kelly says you really need to take the time to check this out, especially is you are community building.

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Mel: @StarWarsReact: Star Wars Gifs (Thanks @TScottBrave for the rec!)

One year until #TheForceAwakens pic.twitter.com/YbM0PEVi8z

— Star Wars Gifs (@StarWarsReact) December 18, 2014

 Kelly: @MissDestructo: Amber is a co-founder of Meshfire!  And she is hella cool.

There’s window washers outside my office window… I grab my dog and shout “Queenie! the assassins have found us!”

— Amber Osborne (@MissDestructo) March 19, 2015

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

Kelly brings you a new music recommendation that will calm you down after you check the next blast of winter on Mel’s app recommendation.

Kelly’s Recommendation:

 

Music: Brocka Nolen‘s album Body Politic

* Her 6 song EP is available pretty much everywhere, including Spotify and Youtube

* Check out brockamusic.com for a free download.

* Her voice is very soothing, and reminds Kelly of a hybrid of Grace Slick and Peter Gabriel.

* She’s very active on twitter, follow here: @conservexx, @BrockaMusic

* There’s a bit of cello going on here, too!

 

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

 

App: Weather Underground

* A very useful  (and FREE) weather app powered by data from a community of Personal Weather Stations.

* These personal weather stations are owned and operated by individuals who are probably in your very own neighborhood.

* Some even have webcams hooked into the network, which is pretty cool and surprisingly useful!

* This Community Powered Weather app is available on iOS, Android, and Roku

* If you want to get your own Personal Weather Station, check here.

 

Kelly’s Supporting Link:

* http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/Conus/full_loop.php

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Kelly: @Wieneraaron:  Hashtag Games

Fifty Shades Of Whey #MakeAMovieHealthy @midnight

— A Wiener (@Wieneraaron) March 12, 2015

 

Mel: @OldWeatherPics:

Capturing snowflakes in photographs, early 1900s (NOAA) pic.twitter.com/Q9DIYyNkpy

— Old Weather Pictures (@OldWeatherPics) March 12, 2015

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

Vampires and a lot of Hooey!

Mel’s Recommendation:

Audiobook: Disturbing the Devil by Mike Bennett

* This is another story in the “Underwood and Flinch” world.

* Unlike the previous stories that were available as a free podcast, this story will cost you a few dollars. BUT IT’S WORTH IT!

* This one also introduces us to another member of the Flinch clan, Ben.

* You can pick it up at MikeBennettAuthor.com for $4-5 and it’s about an hour long.

* Here’s your link to Disturbing the Devil on Goodreads. There’s also a direct link there to buy the story.

 

Kelly’s Recommendation:

 

Book: ‘A Load of Hooey’ by Bob Odenkirk

* The amazingly talented Bob Odenkirk collects a lot of funny here.

* Contains Enhanced Quotes from historical figures that you need to experience.

* Kelly does a dramatic reading from the book!

* It’s available as an audiobook as well at Audible.

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Mel: @ZenDiPietro: womenofbadassery.com

Thinking about being The Bride for Halloween this year. pic.twitter.com/Bg1hayHviP

— Zen DiPietro (@ZenDiPietro) March 1, 2015

 

Kelly: @CamilleKennerly:  Camille and Kennerly play Electric Harp!

We just released our brand new @Metallica Electric Harp duet of “THE UNFORGIVEN”! http://t.co/bZUmdECh7s If you enjoy, please RT! — Camille and Kennerly (@CamilleKennerly) March 4, 2015

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

This week: a handy app, a great (short) book, and two lovable Russians…

Kelly’s Recommendation:

App: Just Unfollow (Now Crowdfire)

* Available as an iOS or Android App, and on the web. (Note that they now call it Crowdfire.)

* Let’s you easily track new follows unfollows/

* Will also let you see a list of who is not folowing bsck

* Works for Twitter and Instagram!

 

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

Book: The Plagiarist by Hugh Howey

* This is a  mind bendy novella about simulated people on simulated worlds inside simulated universes.

* Adam Griffey is a man struggling to live two lives, one in the “real” world and one in a simulated world. What happens when the simulated world starts to feel more real? And what in the end is real anyway?

* It’s available for $.99 on the Kindle or Nook and also in print and audio. Goodreads Link.

 

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Kelly: Slow Mo Labs on Youtube

 

Mel: @mybookishways : Book Related Awesomeness!

Something very cool came in the mail today @RealCliveBarker #ScarletGospels pic.twitter.com/CR5SziMSdX

— MyBookishWays (@mybookishways) February 26, 2015

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

Scavenge in the mysterious post apocalyptic world of ‘A Dark Room’. If you’re lucky you’ll find some pasta and shrimp to make a yummy meal. So, Post-Apocalyptic Pasta, anyone?

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

Game App: A Dark Room

* Available as either an iOS app or play it in your web browser at adarkroom.doublespeakgames.com

* An intriguing text based post-apocalyptic adventure!

* Stoke your Fire, talk to a Stranger, explore mysterious caves, and scavenge in abandoned neighborhoods.

* Can you survive?

 

 

Kelly’s recommendation

Food: Lemon Pasta with Shrimp

More from Chef Kelly.  Outside of peeling and deveining the shrimp, this is a super fast meal to make with just a few ingredients – and it tastes AWESOME.  If you are making this for 2-3 people, you probably want to cut the recipe in half – makes a lot.

Ingredients

* 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined

* Olive oil

* Kosher salt

* Black pepper

* 1 lb angel hair pasta

* 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

* Zest and juice of 2 lemons

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Toss the shrimp  with 1 Tbl olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper on a cookie sheet.  Cook for 6 to 8 minutes.  When they are pink, they are done.

Drizzle a little olive oil in a pot of boiling salted water, add angel hair pasta and cook about 3 minutes. Drain, but save a cup or so of the cooking liquid.

Quickly toss the angel hair with the melted butter, 1/4 cup olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid. Add the shrimp and eat!

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Mel: @PatriotOfMars: Jeff Faria

These pickles taste funny. pic.twitter.com/uteICSZDG3

— Jeff Faria (@PatriotsOfMars) February 19, 2015

Kelly: @scottmcdonald3: Scott McDonald!

Poor Rick has to carry his own daughter now #WalkingDead

— Scott McDonald (@ScottMcDonald3) February 16, 2015

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

This week we welcome back Mike from Pagan! He brings us some cool music courtesy of John Carpenter, while Kelly tells a tale of Santas, and Mel talks about some zombie food.

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Documentary: ‘I Am Santa Claus‘ on Netflix

* A documentary that follows several Professional Santas throughout an entire year.

* Being Santa is harder than it looks, folks.

* Did you know that wrestler Mick Foley wants to be a Pro Santa? Kelly did!

* Mr. Foley also produced this movie.

* See more at iamsantaclausemovie.com and @IAmSantaMovie

* “No Nudity At The Buffet!”

*Turns out the Santa that Mel knows in Texas isn’t one from this movie. Darn.

And here is Kelly with Mick Foley…

Mike’s Recommendation:

@OfficialPagan Returns! Check out Pagan’s newest album ‘Chapter 1: The Aftermath‘. It’s Dark Ambient!

 Music: Lost Themes by John Carpenter

* Did you know that John Carpenter scored most of the films he made? Mike did!

* This is Mr. Carpenter’s first standalone album, and it’s a work of art. (Mel really liked it too!)

* Rowdy Roddy Piper was in ‘They Live’, which John Carpenter directed and scored…

* Go to johncarpenter.sacredbonesrecords.com and watch film clips as the song ‘Vortex’ plays. IT IS AWESOME!

* Listen over on Spotify, if you dare.

*Also listen for a beautiful Julian Sands (WARLOCK!) story from a con that Mike was at.

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

Book: ‘The Snacking Dead’ by D.B. Walker

* A fun cookbook that also contains an entertaining little story about a man named Daryl. He may or may not be a Dixon. I’ll leave that up to you.

* It features a Pizza Peel wielding mom determined to keep her family together AND well-fed during the Zombie Apocalypse.

* Grab this little gem for your next ‘The Walking Dead’ party or just anytime your home is hosting a horde. The recipes are fairly simple, but have just enough flair to make them interesting (lime pickled jalapenos, anyone?).

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Mel: @BethCato, because she has a section of her blog called ‘Bready or Not’!

Today on Bready or Not: Biscoff #Brownies! Mild & beautiful brownies w/ a cookie butter swirl. http://t.co/1r6XVhXoIF pic.twitter.com/e4WgLgRqe1

— Beth Cato (@BethCato) February 11, 2015

Kelly:

Let our drones help you organize your tea collection.

Mel’s Recommendation:

 

Food/Beverages: Adagio Teas (adagio.com)

* Adagio is a wonderful online tea seller that allows tea nerds to create their own blends in addition to their regular blends.

* One really cool thing about this is that really awesome people have created tea blends based on their fandom of choice! Examples include Firefly (of course), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Penny Dreadful, Doctor Who. There are even ones based on game characters from Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Assassin’s Creed. There are even ones based on BOOKS, such as Harry Potter.

* My favorite tea is based on a book series by Ann Leckie (Ancillary Justice) called VahnItr. It’s wonderful.

* Also, here’s a great gift idea: They offer Fandom Samplers in small tins with custom artwork on the lids. They are super affordable and would make a great gift for yourself or someone else. Here’s a Firefly one that I treated myself to.

 

Ashley’s Recommendation:

Follow Ashley at @atypical_Ashley on twitter!

App: WorkFlowy (workflowy.com)

* An organizational app that enables you to unload your brain’s ideas into an intuitive & structured notepad made to be easy, flexible, and searchable.

* Make task/idea lists that you can easily track/update

* Mark as completed – removes from your list, but maintain ability to view all completed tasks/ideas with a click of a button

* Full text search. Tags. Mentions. Etc. What more could you want?

* Free for the first 250 thoughts(bullets)/month -or- pay $4.99/month (or $49/year) for unlimited thoughts!

* Automatic backup to Dropbox (paid only)

* It’s available through the web, and on iOS and Android.

* If you’re in the market for a deceptively simple productivity tool, check this one out!

 

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Gadget: Parrot Mini Drone Rolling Spider

* It’s a DRONE!

* Comes with wheels and can roll UP THE WALL! Really!

* Has about an 8 min battery life and is completely controlled via your smartphone over bluetooth.

* It doesn’t have video but does take pictures and is for indoor/outdoor use.

* Super stable and you can do fancy tricks with the press of a button.

 

Social Media Recommendations:

 

Mel: @GailSimone:

I am hoping to upset some Typhoid enthusiasts next!

— GAIL SIMONE (@GailSimone) February 6, 2015

 

Ashley: @lifehacker:

You can save a dish that’s become too spicy by adding ...

Kelly brings some steampunk, and Alicia joins us to make some cool music related recommendations.And Mel manages to slip in a little knitting!

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Audiobook: Clockwork Angels by Kevin J Anderson and read by Neil Peart

* This story is based on the Rush album of the same name.

* The Links! Goodreads, Audible, Amazon (The Watchmaker’s Edition pictured above)

* A Steampunk story about a young man who decides to change his fate. There are Clockwork Angels, Watchmaker’s, Anarchists, and Carnivals. And don’t forget the Airships.

 

Alicia’s Recommendation

Digital Music: They Might Be Giant’s Dial-A-Song

* Dial-A-Song started out as a phone number that when called, played back songs and messages from TMBG to they’re faithful listeners. It’s now a website. Click on the Link above to experience the awesome for yourself.

* There’s a new song every Tuesday.

Vinyl Records: Here are a few places that Alicia appreciates for their love for Vinyl!

* Vinyl Me, Please: a record club that’s very active. Catch them over on twitter too @VinylMePlease!

* Waiting Room Records: Alicia’s local record store, where she even had her engagement photos done!  Check them out! @WaitingRoomRec

 

And then Kelly HAD to mention one of his favorite Alice Cooper album inner sleeves (spoiler… they get trounced by a gorilla)…

 

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

 Website: Craftsy: Learn crafty type things online at your own pace

* They offer classes on numerous topics: knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, drawing, photography, woodworking, gardening (BONSAI!), quilting, and jewelry.

* They offer HD quality video with knowledgeable instructors. There are numerous built in options to take notes, and even ask the instructor questions.

* It’s really a pretty cool way to learn a new hobby. Most classes run from $9.99 to $24.99.

 

Social Recommendations:

Kelly: @HUBBLE_space: Awesome pics from the Hubble Telescope

We then fall into a discussion of Sherlock……  Because Sherlock is awesome!

And a special announcement:

Better Call Saul starts Feb 8 and 9. We will be doing a live recap the show 15 minutes after each episode airs. So stay tuned for links to ‘A Saul and Battery&...