Recent Reading: Cuckoo
Apr. 27th, 2026 21:46![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rocky41_7 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
booksWrapped up yet another horror novel last night, Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Cuckoo. This book is about a group of kids in 1995 who are sent to a conversion camp, experience The Horrors, and then reunite many years later to have another crack at taking The Horrors down.
First, I have to say the decision to set a horror novel in a conversion camp is kind of galaxy-brained, because it is a place that by design is traumatizing and horrifying. This book will make your skin crawl and your eyes tear up well before the monster enters the scene. There are seven protagonists and they come from all walks of life—gay kids, trans kids, kids from Christian families, kids from Jewish families, white kids, Asian kids, Latino kids, fat kids, mentally ill kids—but they all come from families who were willing to stuff them, sobbing and kicking and begging, into the back of a van and ship them off with a bunch of strangers to be “cured.”
And then there’s the monsters.
Generally I’m not a fan of “body snatcher” kind of horror stories, in the same way I’m not a fan of conspiracy theory stories, but I think it largely works here, because this is what the families want isn’t it? For their problem child to go away for a while and come back a new person, without all those icky traits mom and dad didn’t want. For the teens, watching the queer kids around them succumb to “curing” would feel like a kind of body-snatching—who are you and what have you done with the queer person I knew?
The book is also very gross, and I mean that not pejoratively, but factually. If you have a low tolerance for grossness, this one may not be for you. The monster and its ilk are nasty galore (see minor complaint below) and Felker-Martin does not pull punches about the grossness of human existence, particularly as an angry, horny, repressed teenager in a desperate situation. The characters here puke, piss, make out in public bathrooms, masturbate amidst their sleeping peers, eat pussy during menstruation, and are generally grody in the way teenagers are grody. I think grounding the book in these bodily realities works well given the nature of the horror, which is incredibly personal and physical.
I liked the teens themselves and I felt like they represented a decent spread of attitudes and behaviors from people in circumstances both similar and diverse. They exhibit many of the kinds of irritating and off-putting behaviors you’d expect from a group of young people who’ve already learned they must hide their true selves or be punished for it.
There were a couple of things that didn’t totally land for me though. First, I think the descriptions of the monster(s) are overdone sometimes. Not because it grossed me out too much but because yes okay, we get it, the thing is nasty, it’s ugly, it smells bad, it’s inchoate; can we move on? Also, I never felt like I had a real idea of what the thing(s) looked like, despite all the descriptions.
Second, the book jacket description makes it sound like the majority of the book will be the teens as adults, returning to the horrors they faced when they were young, but two thirds or more of the book is the actual events of the conversion camp. It makes the final third in their adulthood feel somewhat rushed.
However, on the whole, I liked this book and I’d be open to reading more from Felker-Martin. There are so many moments here where you want to hug these kids and take them somewhere safe, and I enjoyed the book’s balance of the power of love with the grim reality of the cost of life.
Eye appointment
Apr. 27th, 2026 22:18silver_chipmunkI got to bed around 2:00 last night. I attempted to get up at 10:00 but turned off the alarm and went back to sleep until 12:00.
Then I got up, had breakfast and coffee, and. seeing that it was quite late by the time, hurried through a shower and dressing, and made it out of the house by 2:00.
Since the stupid Queens bus revision of last year, I can't just take the 28 to the eye doctor. I had to walk up to the 12 at Northern and Parsons and take that. So I did, getting off at Francis Lewis.
I got a somewhat disquieting phone call, from Middle Brother's group home, that there had been an anonymous phone call claiming that staff at his home were doing unprofessional things on the job. The person who called said Middle Brother was fine, which I knew from talking to him last night, and the accusations were being investigated. So we'll see what happens.
I got to the eye doctor just in time for being 15 minutes early for my 3:00 appointment. Then I had to wait til almost 3:30, but what can you do.
So they examined my eyes and tested my vision, and everything looks good. Apparently at some point I have to get the new lens cleaned, but not yet. I go back in November.
I took the 12 back to Parsons and walked home, going a block out of my way to stop at J's Confections for bubble tea.
By then it was almost 5:00, so I just puttered around. I did some paperwork signing which came in the mail about Middle Brother. I got a subscription to a magazine, Enchanted Living, for the Kid for her birthday. By accident the shipping address got made out to me instead of her, so I emailed the magazine and asked them to rectify that. To my delight they emailed back almost immediately and said they would.
Then I played solitaire on my phone in the bedroom til 6:30, and then Teamed the FWiB at 7:00. We talked til 8:30.
After that I got dinner, and went to the bedroom again. The FWiB sent me a link to Hardware Wars, the Star Wars parody, which I had seen before, but watched again. I'm glad I did; I had forgotten how good it was.
At pet feeding time I came out and fed the pets. Oreo barfed up a hairball which I cleaned up and then started here. And that was the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Made it to the doctor on time.
3. My eyes are doing fine.
4. Bubble tea.
5. Lovely weather.
6. The magazine problem is hopefully straightened out.
Then I got up, had breakfast and coffee, and. seeing that it was quite late by the time, hurried through a shower and dressing, and made it out of the house by 2:00.
Since the stupid Queens bus revision of last year, I can't just take the 28 to the eye doctor. I had to walk up to the 12 at Northern and Parsons and take that. So I did, getting off at Francis Lewis.
I got a somewhat disquieting phone call, from Middle Brother's group home, that there had been an anonymous phone call claiming that staff at his home were doing unprofessional things on the job. The person who called said Middle Brother was fine, which I knew from talking to him last night, and the accusations were being investigated. So we'll see what happens.
I got to the eye doctor just in time for being 15 minutes early for my 3:00 appointment. Then I had to wait til almost 3:30, but what can you do.
So they examined my eyes and tested my vision, and everything looks good. Apparently at some point I have to get the new lens cleaned, but not yet. I go back in November.
I took the 12 back to Parsons and walked home, going a block out of my way to stop at J's Confections for bubble tea.
By then it was almost 5:00, so I just puttered around. I did some paperwork signing which came in the mail about Middle Brother. I got a subscription to a magazine, Enchanted Living, for the Kid for her birthday. By accident the shipping address got made out to me instead of her, so I emailed the magazine and asked them to rectify that. To my delight they emailed back almost immediately and said they would.
Then I played solitaire on my phone in the bedroom til 6:30, and then Teamed the FWiB at 7:00. We talked til 8:30.
After that I got dinner, and went to the bedroom again. The FWiB sent me a link to Hardware Wars, the Star Wars parody, which I had seen before, but watched again. I'm glad I did; I had forgotten how good it was.
At pet feeding time I came out and fed the pets. Oreo barfed up a hairball which I cleaned up and then started here. And that was the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Made it to the doctor on time.
3. My eyes are doing fine.
4. Bubble tea.
5. Lovely weather.
6. The magazine problem is hopefully straightened out.
gaming diary
Apr. 28th, 2026 05:16gina_lollobrigidameanwhile, the sudden gaming remission continues. we’re levelling up our skills (real life), communication, map knowledge and role distribution in Killing Floor 1. it’s a really engaging process. we’re tackling Hard mode.
No More Room In Hell, although quite hardcore, is also a very meme-worthy game. awesome maps with an incredibly gloomy atmosphere and hilarious situations.
we’ve started Peak. unexpectedly hardcore; we can’t get past the second stage (out of four, i think). it’s fun and interesting, but I really didn’t expect it to be this difficult.
in between, i played through The Callisto Protocol. "we’ve got Dead Space at home" kind; it’s more sci-fi action than survival horror, though there are moments of that too. i wouldn’t say it’s the best game, but it’s adequately made. decent mechanics, and it’s not boring to play. it’s a great buy at a discount.
started Warhammer 40,000: Darktide and have played for 14 hours so far; i bought it on a massive discount a while back. i haven’t played it much yet, of course, but i already have a lot of mixed feelings about it. i’ve never been particularly into the Warhammer universe, but i’ve always liked the visuals. the design of the whole world, the maps, the details – it’s just top-notch. makes you want to stop in the middle of the map and examine everything in detail.
i already like it more than Vermintide I/II, although those are brilliant too. however, the game has a lot of issues, some of which may not be entirely its fault. the first and worst thing for me is the connection to the servers (Amazon, of course). it doesn’t connect very well with my usual VPN settings. it’s rubbish without a VPN too, but after about 10 attempts, it usually connects. there are loads of complaints about it on internet. i can't put the blame on them here though. still, overall I don’t like this shift from Vermintide’s host-guest system to a live service model; it always ends badly.
optimisation is average to bad, but my graphics card is below average, so I’ll let that slide too. as for monetisation and the repetitive endgame that everyone’s complaining about – i can’t say anything yet, I haven’t got that far. the game has huge potential (for me personally), but I’m afraid it won’t be realised due to serven connection stability issues and my 40 FPS. i’ll definitely finish the campaign, though; i’m currently on mission 12 i think.
No More Room In Hell, although quite hardcore, is also a very meme-worthy game. awesome maps with an incredibly gloomy atmosphere and hilarious situations.
we’ve started Peak. unexpectedly hardcore; we can’t get past the second stage (out of four, i think). it’s fun and interesting, but I really didn’t expect it to be this difficult.
in between, i played through The Callisto Protocol. "we’ve got Dead Space at home" kind; it’s more sci-fi action than survival horror, though there are moments of that too. i wouldn’t say it’s the best game, but it’s adequately made. decent mechanics, and it’s not boring to play. it’s a great buy at a discount.
started Warhammer 40,000: Darktide and have played for 14 hours so far; i bought it on a massive discount a while back. i haven’t played it much yet, of course, but i already have a lot of mixed feelings about it. i’ve never been particularly into the Warhammer universe, but i’ve always liked the visuals. the design of the whole world, the maps, the details – it’s just top-notch. makes you want to stop in the middle of the map and examine everything in detail.
i already like it more than Vermintide I/II, although those are brilliant too. however, the game has a lot of issues, some of which may not be entirely its fault. the first and worst thing for me is the connection to the servers (Amazon, of course). it doesn’t connect very well with my usual VPN settings. it’s rubbish without a VPN too, but after about 10 attempts, it usually connects. there are loads of complaints about it on internet. i can't put the blame on them here though. still, overall I don’t like this shift from Vermintide’s host-guest system to a live service model; it always ends badly.
optimisation is average to bad, but my graphics card is below average, so I’ll let that slide too. as for monetisation and the repetitive endgame that everyone’s complaining about – i can’t say anything yet, I haven’t got that far. the game has huge potential (for me personally), but I’m afraid it won’t be realised due to serven connection stability issues and my 40 FPS. i’ll definitely finish the campaign, though; i’m currently on mission 12 i think.
it's been storming a lot recently...
Apr. 27th, 2026 20:38batiferrite posting in common_natureBut at least the lilacs and violets are happy!
I've also been preparing to start a garden for the first time, pretty excited about it! I've got some fence container-things set up in my backyard, filled with fresh potting soil and some seeds ready. I've been talking to a coworker about it; apparently, tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans are good starter plants that basically grow themselves. I also have a pack of red strawberry popcorn that I bought on a whim a year or so ago that I'm hoping will still be viable.
 |  |
There was also a double rainbow a while ago. :3
I've also been preparing to start a garden for the first time, pretty excited about it! I've got some fence container-things set up in my backyard, filled with fresh potting soil and some seeds ready. I've been talking to a coworker about it; apparently, tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans are good starter plants that basically grow themselves. I also have a pack of red strawberry popcorn that I bought on a whim a year or so ago that I'm hoping will still be viable.
UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS - Nell' Ora Blu (2024)
Apr. 28th, 2026 04:31gina_lollobrigidasomehow i completely missed the 2024 album by one of my favourite bands, UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS. it’s an ambitious and experimental (for them) album that bears almost no resemblance to their previous work. it’s not doom metal or stoner rock; it’s more like prog rock in the vein of Pink Floyd. vibrant visual cinematic music, as if from 1970s Italy – that is, giallo (the more laid-back Goblin in Argento’s films), crime films, horror (Fulci!) and spaghetti westerns. a soundtrack to a non-existent film. incredibly atmospheric, one of their best albums, alongside their previous work, even though it’s completely different.
Monday Word: Ansible
Apr. 27th, 2026 18:12stonepicnicking_okapi posting in 1word1dayansible [an-suh-buhl]
noun
(in science fiction) a device for instantaneous communication, or other purposes, across cosmic distances
examples
1. I could show them the ansible, but it didn’t make a very convincing Alien Artifact, being so incomprehensible to fit in with hoax as well as with reality. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
2. "What is an anisble, Shevek?"
"An idea." He smiled without much humor. "It will be a device that will permit communication without any time interval between two points in space." The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
origin
Shortening of answerable; coined by Ursula K. Le Guin in her novel Rocannon's World (1966)
noun
(in science fiction) a device for instantaneous communication, or other purposes, across cosmic distances
examples
1. I could show them the ansible, but it didn’t make a very convincing Alien Artifact, being so incomprehensible to fit in with hoax as well as with reality. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
2. "What is an anisble, Shevek?"
"An idea." He smiled without much humor. "It will be a device that will permit communication without any time interval between two points in space." The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
origin
Shortening of answerable; coined by Ursula K. Le Guin in her novel Rocannon's World (1966)
Warm Heart #22 [The Fulcrum]
Apr. 27th, 2026 15:10paradoxcase posting in rainbowficName: A Failed Matchmaker
Story: The Fulcrum
Colors: Warm Heart #22: Sorry
Styles and Supplies: None
Word Count: 530
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Setsiana, Liselye
In-Universe Date: 1912.5.4.6
Summary: Setsiana runs into Liselye.
Note: Sorry, I might need to leave off here for a bit. I wanted to get this posted, because this is the last post I need for the February-May challenge, but I'm in the middle of moving now, so I probably won't have much time for writing in the next couple weeks.
( A Failed Matchmaker )
Story: The Fulcrum
Colors: Warm Heart #22: Sorry
Styles and Supplies: None
Word Count: 530
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Setsiana, Liselye
In-Universe Date: 1912.5.4.6
Summary: Setsiana runs into Liselye.
Note: Sorry, I might need to leave off here for a bit. I wanted to get this posted, because this is the last post I need for the February-May challenge, but I'm in the middle of moving now, so I probably won't have much time for writing in the next couple weeks.
( A Failed Matchmaker )
Eragon: Chapter Twenty-Eight: Thieves in the Castle (Part II)
Apr. 27th, 2026 21:47pangolin20 posting in i_read_whatChapter Twenty-Eight (Part I) | Table of Contents | Chapter Twenty-Nine (Part I)
Fumurti: A good day, everyone, and welcome back to Eragon! Last time, Eragon, Brom, and Jeod managed to get into the castle and copy the records concerning Seithr oil, due to very lax security. For the reader post:
( The book delivers something satisfying and engaging, at last! )
The Amazing Digital Circus
Apr. 27th, 2026 06:40frithDreamwidth Shockwave Flash embed #117. I'm the only creature on Dreamwidth who uses a Flash embed for YT videos. Each embedded Flash video gets a site-specific ID number. Flash is the only way I know to get embedded YouTube videos to play without Javascript or Cookies. It's "legacy" code for both YouTube and Dreamwidth that allows old scripts from The Early Days to continue to work. YouTube does not give you Flash code anymore, I MacGyver in the YouTube ID string from the URL to make it work.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwAPLk_sQ3w
That's episode one of eight. I think there is only one more episode to go before this series is complete. The Amazing Digital Circus is from the Australian animation studio "Glitch" and is well worth watching. It's about a bunch of people trapped in a virtual environment as whimsical avatars subjected to a gameshow host type entity. They have no way to get out and no memories of how they got there or what their names are. Each episode is about 25 minutes long.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwAPLk_sQ3w
That's episode one of eight. I think there is only one more episode to go before this series is complete. The Amazing Digital Circus is from the Australian animation studio "Glitch" and is well worth watching. It's about a bunch of people trapped in a virtual environment as whimsical avatars subjected to a gameshow host type entity. They have no way to get out and no memories of how they got there or what their names are. Each episode is about 25 minutes long.
Shopping
Apr. 27th, 2026 01:02silver_chipmunkStayed up last night til 3:00, first reading the new Bujold Pentric and Desdemona novella, then playing solitaire and getting a snack. The novella is lovely.
Then I slept until 12:00 today. Got a text frommashfanficchick that ze wasn't going to a ball game today. Got up and put in a Shipt order cause I used up the last of my milk for breakfast. Then while I was waiting I had coffee and read my internet sites.
The Shipt order came quite quickly, faster than predicted, and after it came I took a shower and dressed, and calledmashfanficchick. We agreed on plans, and I headed out.
Took the 44 bus. It was a beautiful day. We watched the bitter end to the Mets game (they lost 3 to 1) on TV and then headed out shopping.
First we went to Trader Joe's. WE got some food for snacks there and sat on a park bench and ate them. Then we went to Stop and Ship, and did a lot of shopping there.
It was getting late by then and I called Middle Brother from the bus back. He went to a park, and to McDonalds for an Oreo McFlurry.
Back atmashfanficchick's, I Teamed the FWiB and we had a very fun three way conversation. Then we had dinner. Shrimp coctail and a large green salad, very healthy.
Finally we had dessert, berries and whipped cream, and then I Ubered home.
Fed the pets, and started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Shipt got here early.
3. Beautiful weather.
4. Good food.
5. Middle Brother is doing well.
6. Tulips and flowering trees.
Then I slept until 12:00 today. Got a text from
mashfanficchick that ze wasn't going to a ball game today. Got up and put in a Shipt order cause I used up the last of my milk for breakfast. Then while I was waiting I had coffee and read my internet sites. The Shipt order came quite quickly, faster than predicted, and after it came I took a shower and dressed, and called
mashfanficchick. We agreed on plans, and I headed out.Took the 44 bus. It was a beautiful day. We watched the bitter end to the Mets game (they lost 3 to 1) on TV and then headed out shopping.
First we went to Trader Joe's. WE got some food for snacks there and sat on a park bench and ate them. Then we went to Stop and Ship, and did a lot of shopping there.
It was getting late by then and I called Middle Brother from the bus back. He went to a park, and to McDonalds for an Oreo McFlurry.
Back at
mashfanficchick's, I Teamed the FWiB and we had a very fun three way conversation. Then we had dinner. Shrimp coctail and a large green salad, very healthy.Finally we had dessert, berries and whipped cream, and then I Ubered home.
Fed the pets, and started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Shipt got here early.
3. Beautiful weather.
4. Good food.
5. Middle Brother is doing well.
6. Tulips and flowering trees.
Catholic church question, early 1700s
Apr. 26th, 2026 13:06dinogrrl posting in little_detailsI'm (still) writing a fantasy story set in early 18th century Venice, and there's several scenes of the main character and her family attending Mass or otherwise being inside their church. It's not a big cathedral, more like a well-attended neighborhood church.
My question is probably very stupid but where the heck do the men put their hats while attending Mass or whatever else they're in there for? Do they just like, put their hats beside themselves on their seats? Or just hold onto them on their laps or some other way? Or would your average 18th century Catholic church have a sort of coat room or somesuch? My google-fu is failing in finding a church layout from that time period or text explanation, though I did find a good article about priests wearing wigs...
My question is probably very stupid but where the heck do the men put their hats while attending Mass or whatever else they're in there for? Do they just like, put their hats beside themselves on their seats? Or just hold onto them on their laps or some other way? Or would your average 18th century Catholic church have a sort of coat room or somesuch? My google-fu is failing in finding a church layout from that time period or text explanation, though I did find a good article about priests wearing wigs...
A Shaggy Dog Story
Apr. 26th, 2026 07:53frith
Best news fluff piece of the week: On Monday April 13th in Regina, Alberta, "Missy" the husky skipped out on a vet appointment to walk herself to a "doggy daycare" where she hooks up with her "boyfriend" "Shaggy" on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This boyfriend may look like a shag carpet that washed in with the tide, but between the animal attraction, Missy's owner pussyfooting around the nature of this friendship and "shag" as his name, I'm suspecting that "Shaggy" is a 'boyfriend with benefits'.
The moral of the story is, when the shag calls, all vets are off.
Farewell? - challenge #77
Apr. 26th, 2026 17:45mific posting in drawesomeTitle: Farewell? on AO3
Artist:mific
Rating: Teen - NSFW (bare breasts)
Fandom: Minoan culture
Characters/Pairings: Minoan woman
Notes: Made in Procreate for #77, the Windows and Openings challenge, and as a memorial and tribute to Ny (minoanmiss).
Artist:
mificRating: Teen - NSFW (bare breasts)
Fandom: Minoan culture
Characters/Pairings: Minoan woman
Notes: Made in Procreate for #77, the Windows and Openings challenge, and as a memorial and tribute to Ny (
minoanmiss).
Sunday Word: Purlieu
Apr. 26th, 2026 13:17sallymn posting in 1word1daypurlieu [pur-loo, purl-yoo]
noun:
1 a place where one may range at large; confines or bounds.
2 a person's haunt or resort.
3 an outlying district or region, as of a town or city.
4 a piece of land on the edge of a forest, originally land that, after having been included in a royal forest, was restored to private ownership, though still subject, in some respects, to the operation of the forest laws.
Examples:
I walk my new purlieu, the boundaries of our new patch, which overlaps the old in a Venn diagram of localism. With my centre shifted, local farms are revealed from fresh angles. (Nicola Chester, Country diary: The strange familiarity of moving a mile away, The Guardian, November 2025)
Once the purlieu of Montpellier’s well-heeled bourgeoisie, these days the Promenade du Peyrou, a park and tree-lined esplanade on the eastern edge of the city, is the stomping ground of tourists and Instagrammers. (The Heritage of Montpellier: Top 5 Things To See and Do, Framce Today, February 2019)
Added to that, they are often in the purlieu of financially stricken Councils who whenever the word 'arts' comes up, are inundated with letters to the Editor saying money being considered to be spent on that would be better expended on hospitals and schools. (Valerie Lillington, The Vicar of Dibley | Noarlunga Theatre Co, Australian Stage, June 2018)
This favourite purlieu of London has larger books than mine devoted to its history. Through the mists of the past is dimly seen a homestead clearing in the great Middlesex forest, that became a manor of Westminster Abbey and a hunting-ground of our kings; then, by-and-by, a resort of Londoners when they could stroll out safely across the open fields of St Pancras and Marylebone. (G B Stuart, A road-book to old Chelsea)
But such betrayals never escaped him when, in one of his inimitable disguises, he penetrated to the purlieu of Whitechapel, to the dens of Limehouse. (Sax Rohmer, The Golden Scorpion)
Origin:
Middle English purlewe land severed from an English royal forest by perambulation, from Anglo-French puralé perambulation, from puraler to travel through, measure, from pur- thoroughly + aler to go (Merriam-Webster)
Rainy day
Apr. 25th, 2026 22:55silver_chipmunkWoke up at 8:30 and didn't bother going back to sleep since my alarm was set for 9:00. Had breakfast and coffee, then showered and dressed. Got to my Al-anon meeting early for a change.
The meeting was good but a weird thing happened. I wore my pink Bronx Zoo baseball cap, and it disappeared, I went to the bathroom at the end of the meeting, when I came out it was not anywhere. Someone must have taken it... who and why? Hopefully it turns up next week.
Anyway, no one went to the diner again today. I got a ride home from L, we had some nice talk on the way there. I was early enough to the Starsky and Hutch chat that I managed to see the whole episode of The Snitch.
We played some Starsky and Hutch themed games afterward, and then chatted for several hours, until just before 7:00.
The FWiB and I tried to Team then but had technical difficulties, I think on his end for a change, that wee only resolved after almost a half hour of attempting it. As a result we only talked for an hour and 15 minutes, an then got off.
Then I had dinner, and then went into the bedroom. I calledmashfanficchick and we talked for quite awhile. Zer game ze was going to today was rained out, and ze doesn't yet know if the replacement ticket is good for tomorrow or not. If not, we'll probably get together.
Then I downloaded the new Lois McMaster Bujold Penric and Desdemona novella on my Nook. And I texted the Kid about seeing Steve and Amy on Thursday, and also about the shooting at the White House Corespondents dinner tonight. No response.
Then it was time to feed the pets, and start here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. My meetings and the people there.
3. Ride from L.
4. The Starsky and Hutch fandom.
5. New Bujold novella.
6. My pets.
The meeting was good but a weird thing happened. I wore my pink Bronx Zoo baseball cap, and it disappeared, I went to the bathroom at the end of the meeting, when I came out it was not anywhere. Someone must have taken it... who and why? Hopefully it turns up next week.
Anyway, no one went to the diner again today. I got a ride home from L, we had some nice talk on the way there. I was early enough to the Starsky and Hutch chat that I managed to see the whole episode of The Snitch.
We played some Starsky and Hutch themed games afterward, and then chatted for several hours, until just before 7:00.
The FWiB and I tried to Team then but had technical difficulties, I think on his end for a change, that wee only resolved after almost a half hour of attempting it. As a result we only talked for an hour and 15 minutes, an then got off.
Then I had dinner, and then went into the bedroom. I called
mashfanficchick and we talked for quite awhile. Zer game ze was going to today was rained out, and ze doesn't yet know if the replacement ticket is good for tomorrow or not. If not, we'll probably get together.Then I downloaded the new Lois McMaster Bujold Penric and Desdemona novella on my Nook. And I texted the Kid about seeing Steve and Amy on Thursday, and also about the shooting at the White House Corespondents dinner tonight. No response.
Then it was time to feed the pets, and start here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. My meetings and the people there.
3. Ride from L.
4. The Starsky and Hutch fandom.
5. New Bujold novella.
6. My pets.
Just Create - Pattern Edition
Apr. 25th, 2026 14:07silvercat17 posting in justcreateThree Weeks for Dreamwidth is starting. Could somebody link to the official stuff?
What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count!
Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky.
Azul #8 [Starfall]
Apr. 25th, 2026 20:37thisbluespirit posting in rainbowficName: Promises Kept
Story: Starfall
Colors: Azul #8 (Oath)
Supplies and Styles: Silhouette
Word Count: 1035
Rating: PG
Warnings: Discussion of arranged marriage.
Notes: Portcallan, 1313; Viyony Eseray, Imoren Fioris. Follows on directly after Picnic in Ruins.
Summary: Viyony's betrothed is finally here.
( Promises Kept )
Story: Starfall
Colors: Azul #8 (Oath)
Supplies and Styles: Silhouette
Word Count: 1035
Rating: PG
Warnings: Discussion of arranged marriage.
Notes: Portcallan, 1313; Viyony Eseray, Imoren Fioris. Follows on directly after Picnic in Ruins.
Summary: Viyony's betrothed is finally here.
( Promises Kept )
Castle of Deception - Chapter Four and Interlude the Second
Apr. 25th, 2026 14:34kalinara posting in i_read_whatSo last time, the "castle of deception" lived up to its name as we got a peek into a conspiracy. We also learned that teenaged Kevin's very adolescent feelings of persecution actually do have a basis because the villains are legitimately fucking with him.
( Villains are like that. )
( Villains are like that. )
1984 Library Research and Tech
Apr. 25th, 2026 12:58carodee posting in little_detailsSadly, my experience with libraries at that time was just wandering the stacks and taking out interesting books. I vaguely remember using a microfiche once, for example, and all I remember is you have to turn the knob the opposite direction of what you're viewing. Research is a foreign land to me.
The googling I've done tells me that this year was smack dab in the middle of converting to computer use from old style card catalogues, etc. but no information on how a person goes about doing research. I would love to have a helpful librarian character too.
This is for an exchange fic so I'm putting the rest under a cut. Please don't click if you requested a canon set in the 80s in a current exchange. Thank you. ( Read more... )
Any help in how this would work or a website that has this research finding information would be very appreciated.
Edited to Add: Thanks for the suggestions so far but I actually need to have my character do some research beyond phone books for the story to work. What I'm getting is libraries might still? be using card catalogues rather than early computers but how would magazines and trade journals be listed in the card catalogue so that a specific company could be researched? Thank you for any suggestions. They do spark my imagination for adding to the scene.
ETA2: Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I have what I need now. This community is a great resource.
The googling I've done tells me that this year was smack dab in the middle of converting to computer use from old style card catalogues, etc. but no information on how a person goes about doing research. I would love to have a helpful librarian character too.
This is for an exchange fic so I'm putting the rest under a cut. Please don't click if you requested a canon set in the 80s in a current exchange. Thank you. ( Read more... )
Any help in how this would work or a website that has this research finding information would be very appreciated.
Edited to Add: Thanks for the suggestions so far but I actually need to have my character do some research beyond phone books for the story to work. What I'm getting is libraries might still? be using card catalogues rather than early computers but how would magazines and trade journals be listed in the card catalogue so that a specific company could be researched? Thank you for any suggestions. They do spark my imagination for adding to the scene.
ETA2: Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I have what I need now. This community is a great resource.
* Everything Goes On plays in the distance *
Apr. 25th, 2026 10:15springsodasNot willing to talk about this too much at a length, but there's something I have been thinking a lot about recently. I still enjoy a lot of things adjacent to fandom—I like drawing fanart, I like writing fanfic, I like making OCs, and I do indulge in the occasional AU every now and again. I also enjoy talking to people about my favorite shows, comics, and video games—not only is it a great way to meet friends with similar interests, but it's fun to come up with theories and "what if" scenarios together because, sometimes, there was something we really wanted to see out of the story, but then it didn't deliver for some reason. In that regard, I enjoy the fanbases that spring up around the media I enjoy.
But a wise Youtube comment I once read made the distinction between fanbase and fandom, where fanbase broadly refers to all the fans of a given franchise—the casual enjoyers, the fanartists, the fic writers, the cosplayers, the collectors, the convention-goers, the people who make video essays, and those whose community participation is exclusively through discussion. Fandom is a whole different matter and I'm not sure how to explain it without accidentally making the whole thing out to be spaces full of nothing but crazy people. (Which, to be fair, a lot of ridiculous shit has gone down both in real life and online because people got too... invested in their favorite franchises.Kōhei Horikoshi being sent death threats for not making BakuDeku canon at the end of MHA is neither the first nor the last time fans have threatened bodily harm to creators over shipping.)
I think the best way to put it is that I am finally starting to grow out of fandom, and I don't mean that in the sense I've gotten too old for it. It's more that I am finally starting to open my eyes to a lot of the gripes and criticisms of fannish communities, ones that I used to turn a blind eye to because I thought people were just being judgemental, but now realize aren't entirely unfounded. I won't name any of the specifics because, again, I don't want to paint these communities in a purely negative light, but at this point? I get it. I get why so many people choose to steer clear of fandoms. While there are plenty of nice people who participate in those communities (I know because I'm friends with them), there are also a lot of people who make them absolutely insufferable spaces to be in and all it takes is a few rotten apples to ruin the entire barrel.
It's a little bittersweet because when I think about why I got into fandom, it was the community aspect. I was one of the "weird" kids growing up who struggled to make many friends and since my family generally isn't into the same stuff I am, fandoms were the only places where I was able to talk to people about the things I enjoyed and find the social acceptance I couldn't get in real life. But it was also a form of escapism and, ultimately, a distraction from my issues in real life. I'd even argue it was actually holding me back from making any real progress in my life. I mean if there's so much security and comfort to be found here, why leave and face reality? (Said as if I don't constantly experience anxiety and fear that exactly one poorly-worded post that goes against the popular take is all it'll take to get me blocked, bullied, and kicked out of the community.)
The irony is that, again, I like talking to people who enjoy the same things I do. I like making things based on whatever franchise is the current hyperfixation. And I like sharing those things with others. If we're looking at things purely from that perspective, I'm happy to refer to myself as being a part of a fanbase, whichever one that may be. But my viewpoints on fandom have shifted a lot in the last few years and I just don't look at those communities the same way I used to back when I was in my teens and early/mid twenties. More importantly, now that I've been involved in the streaming gig for about a month, I'm starting to look towards video editing and posting to Youtube, both to help advertise my Twitch channel and to explore other avenues of creativity, so I just have other things to focus on now.
I'm still not entirely sure what this means for the future—I'm still in charge of one or two fannish communities and I don't see myself stepping down from the admin role despite being less inclined to actively participate in them—but there is a part of me that's kind of glad to finally no longer be tying myself to a culture I have, admittedly, become increasingly frustrated with. I just wish there wasn't this sense of isolation knowing it's for viewpoints that I don't think anyone I know really shares.
But a wise Youtube comment I once read made the distinction between fanbase and fandom, where fanbase broadly refers to all the fans of a given franchise—the casual enjoyers, the fanartists, the fic writers, the cosplayers, the collectors, the convention-goers, the people who make video essays, and those whose community participation is exclusively through discussion. Fandom is a whole different matter and I'm not sure how to explain it without accidentally making the whole thing out to be spaces full of nothing but crazy people. (Which, to be fair, a lot of ridiculous shit has gone down both in real life and online because people got too... invested in their favorite franchises.
I think the best way to put it is that I am finally starting to grow out of fandom, and I don't mean that in the sense I've gotten too old for it. It's more that I am finally starting to open my eyes to a lot of the gripes and criticisms of fannish communities, ones that I used to turn a blind eye to because I thought people were just being judgemental, but now realize aren't entirely unfounded. I won't name any of the specifics because, again, I don't want to paint these communities in a purely negative light, but at this point? I get it. I get why so many people choose to steer clear of fandoms. While there are plenty of nice people who participate in those communities (I know because I'm friends with them), there are also a lot of people who make them absolutely insufferable spaces to be in and all it takes is a few rotten apples to ruin the entire barrel.
It's a little bittersweet because when I think about why I got into fandom, it was the community aspect. I was one of the "weird" kids growing up who struggled to make many friends and since my family generally isn't into the same stuff I am, fandoms were the only places where I was able to talk to people about the things I enjoyed and find the social acceptance I couldn't get in real life. But it was also a form of escapism and, ultimately, a distraction from my issues in real life. I'd even argue it was actually holding me back from making any real progress in my life. I mean if there's so much security and comfort to be found here, why leave and face reality? (Said as if I don't constantly experience anxiety and fear that exactly one poorly-worded post that goes against the popular take is all it'll take to get me blocked, bullied, and kicked out of the community.)
The irony is that, again, I like talking to people who enjoy the same things I do. I like making things based on whatever franchise is the current hyperfixation. And I like sharing those things with others. If we're looking at things purely from that perspective, I'm happy to refer to myself as being a part of a fanbase, whichever one that may be. But my viewpoints on fandom have shifted a lot in the last few years and I just don't look at those communities the same way I used to back when I was in my teens and early/mid twenties. More importantly, now that I've been involved in the streaming gig for about a month, I'm starting to look towards video editing and posting to Youtube, both to help advertise my Twitch channel and to explore other avenues of creativity, so I just have other things to focus on now.
I'm still not entirely sure what this means for the future—I'm still in charge of one or two fannish communities and I don't see myself stepping down from the admin role despite being less inclined to actively participate in them—but there is a part of me that's kind of glad to finally no longer be tying myself to a culture I have, admittedly, become increasingly frustrated with. I just wish there wasn't this sense of isolation knowing it's for viewpoints that I don't think anyone I know really shares.
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth
Apr. 25th, 2026 09:08frith
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth starts now, whoop whoop! I don't guarantee nuthin' but I'll give posting everyday for three weeks a shot. ^_^ It'll be a little easier to find fresh pictures to post now that the plants are waking up and waving their sex organs at the bees, butterflies and anything else that can be bribed to bump and grind past their pistils and stamens. Mother Nature will try anything.
Friday Phrase: Spit the dummy
Apr. 24th, 2026 06:47Durlston Meadows
Apr. 25th, 2026 13:40puddleshark
A walk up through the nature reserve at Durlston to see the cowslips in flower, listen to the skylarks singing above the meadows by the sea.
( Read more... )
Catchup post
Apr. 24th, 2026 23:14silver_chipmunkI didn't post yesterday, highly unusual for me, so here's the catch up post for that and today.
Yesterday I got up at 10:00 and didn't have breakfast or coffee, or my morning meds. Because I was going in for my DEXA bone density scan, and you can't have anything with large amounts of calcium for 24 hours before. So no milk for my cereal, no creamer for my coffee (debatable, that probably didn't have enough to count but I didn't want to risk it) and no calcium supplement or multivitamin with calcium, so I skipped all my meds.
Then I took a shower and dressed in loose clothes with no metal. I also packed for spending the night withmashfanficchick. And then at 12:15 I called for an Uber and went.
The nasty shock came when the clerk told me that I wasn't eligible for insurance for my DEXA until October. The options were cancel and come back in October, or risk insurance not covering it, in which case I would have to appeal the decision, and maybe pay for it. I should have called the doctor and asked if I could postpone it or not. Instead, I said go ahead.
So I had the DEXA. It didn't take to long, and wasn't too grueling. Then afterward I walked up to Dunkin' Donuts and got the $6 Meal Deal and a Boston cream donut, and then I took the subway tomashfanficchick's.
We spent the day watching Will Trent, and the episode of 911: Nashville that ze hadn't seen. Will Trent was... heavy.
Then I Teamed the FWiB, and we ordered Chinese food, rib tips and fried rice, and egg drop soup, for dinner.
At 8:30 as usual I called Middle Brother. He had gone to Sunken Meadow again, and gotten ice cream at Ralph's, so he was happy.
Thenmashfanficchick and I started talking about our coming, often postponed, Amsterdam trip. Fingers crossed it works out this time. We're thinking of October.
Eventually it got late and I simply forgot I hadn't posted. I was going to ask to borrow zer new laptop, but I simply forgot.
So, I went to bed, and slept pretty well. Got up at 9:00 and had a therapy session, then had coffee, showered and dressed.
Then I headed out to breakfast and bagel Boulevard and from there to R's father's funeral. The church was easy to get to, but I was a couple of minutes late, and they must have started right on time, cause they were having a hymn when I got there. I slipped in and sat at the back.
The service, a full Catholic mass, was interesting, and very moving. There were other people I knew there, but sitting off to the side, not near me.
After they took the coffin out and we all filed out behind I managed to get to the other people I knew. The deceased was a veteran so they did the whole flag and taps ceremony out in front of the church, which made me cry a little remembering when they did that at the crematorium for my father.
After everything was over I took the bus home, fed Oreo, and killed time til I had to leave for the DMV to get my picture retaken for my enhanced ID.
I took the 25 bus, the first one passed without stopping which was aggravating. Then I got on the next one and there was a street psycho onboard who was playing loud reggae music and yelling about Jamaica. Finally he wanted to get off before a stop and the bus driver let him, I assume to get rid of him.
I got off at my stop and walked quickly to DMV. The whole thing took me almost an hour and was awful. First they took my picture and I had to wait til I was called to counter 1. Then he decided that my retaken picture was still not good enough and sent me back to that counter She took my picture twice more before she got one that satisfied her,
Then I went back to counter 1 and discovered that I didn't have enough ID. I didn't bring my passport or social security card, and just had the contents of my wallet. We got to 5 points and they need 6. I was reduced to tears at the fear I'd have to go home and come back again later. But he confered with his supervisor and they agreed to accept what I had, so that was good.
Then he had trouble processing me. Had to get two other clerks to help. Eventually they got me done and I could leave. I should get the new ID in about two weeks. I hope.
So I took the 25 bus back, but decided to go to the Busy Bee coffee shop again instead of going home. I got a lavender cream latte, and plugged my phone in to charge,
I got texts from cousin Steve. He and Amy are coming on Thursday and will pick me up and we'll do brunch/lunch. So I'm looking forward to that.
Then it was time to go to my Al-anon meeting in the Bronx. As usual I took the 25 to the 50, and this time it went smoothly. I had my pizza before the meeting as usual.
The meeting was very good, a newcomer brought pastries and I ate two which I shouldn't have.
C gave me a ride to the bus stop, but I had to wait quite a long time for the bus . Finally it got there and I got to Linden and 31 and found there was 14 minutes til a 25. So I got an Uber instead.
While I was waiting, Herschel Facebook messaged me. We talked awhile on the way home. He's fine.
Teamed the FWiB when I got here but it was late and he was sleepy so we didn't talk as long as usual.
Then I fed the pets and started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. I got the DEXA.
3.mashfanficchick.
4. They approved my application for the ID despite only 5 points.
5. The Busy Bee.
6. My meetings and the people there.
Edited to add: Forgot that also yesterday, John sent me two pictures of Dad fro his reported days, which I sent to the Kid. Coincidentally she called me just as I sent them to her and we had a nice talk.
Yesterday I got up at 10:00 and didn't have breakfast or coffee, or my morning meds. Because I was going in for my DEXA bone density scan, and you can't have anything with large amounts of calcium for 24 hours before. So no milk for my cereal, no creamer for my coffee (debatable, that probably didn't have enough to count but I didn't want to risk it) and no calcium supplement or multivitamin with calcium, so I skipped all my meds.
Then I took a shower and dressed in loose clothes with no metal. I also packed for spending the night with
mashfanficchick. And then at 12:15 I called for an Uber and went.The nasty shock came when the clerk told me that I wasn't eligible for insurance for my DEXA until October. The options were cancel and come back in October, or risk insurance not covering it, in which case I would have to appeal the decision, and maybe pay for it. I should have called the doctor and asked if I could postpone it or not. Instead, I said go ahead.
So I had the DEXA. It didn't take to long, and wasn't too grueling. Then afterward I walked up to Dunkin' Donuts and got the $6 Meal Deal and a Boston cream donut, and then I took the subway to
mashfanficchick's. We spent the day watching Will Trent, and the episode of 911: Nashville that ze hadn't seen. Will Trent was... heavy.
Then I Teamed the FWiB, and we ordered Chinese food, rib tips and fried rice, and egg drop soup, for dinner.
At 8:30 as usual I called Middle Brother. He had gone to Sunken Meadow again, and gotten ice cream at Ralph's, so he was happy.
Then
mashfanficchick and I started talking about our coming, often postponed, Amsterdam trip. Fingers crossed it works out this time. We're thinking of October.Eventually it got late and I simply forgot I hadn't posted. I was going to ask to borrow zer new laptop, but I simply forgot.
So, I went to bed, and slept pretty well. Got up at 9:00 and had a therapy session, then had coffee, showered and dressed.
Then I headed out to breakfast and bagel Boulevard and from there to R's father's funeral. The church was easy to get to, but I was a couple of minutes late, and they must have started right on time, cause they were having a hymn when I got there. I slipped in and sat at the back.
The service, a full Catholic mass, was interesting, and very moving. There were other people I knew there, but sitting off to the side, not near me.
After they took the coffin out and we all filed out behind I managed to get to the other people I knew. The deceased was a veteran so they did the whole flag and taps ceremony out in front of the church, which made me cry a little remembering when they did that at the crematorium for my father.
After everything was over I took the bus home, fed Oreo, and killed time til I had to leave for the DMV to get my picture retaken for my enhanced ID.
I took the 25 bus, the first one passed without stopping which was aggravating. Then I got on the next one and there was a street psycho onboard who was playing loud reggae music and yelling about Jamaica. Finally he wanted to get off before a stop and the bus driver let him, I assume to get rid of him.
I got off at my stop and walked quickly to DMV. The whole thing took me almost an hour and was awful. First they took my picture and I had to wait til I was called to counter 1. Then he decided that my retaken picture was still not good enough and sent me back to that counter She took my picture twice more before she got one that satisfied her,
Then I went back to counter 1 and discovered that I didn't have enough ID. I didn't bring my passport or social security card, and just had the contents of my wallet. We got to 5 points and they need 6. I was reduced to tears at the fear I'd have to go home and come back again later. But he confered with his supervisor and they agreed to accept what I had, so that was good.
Then he had trouble processing me. Had to get two other clerks to help. Eventually they got me done and I could leave. I should get the new ID in about two weeks. I hope.
So I took the 25 bus back, but decided to go to the Busy Bee coffee shop again instead of going home. I got a lavender cream latte, and plugged my phone in to charge,
I got texts from cousin Steve. He and Amy are coming on Thursday and will pick me up and we'll do brunch/lunch. So I'm looking forward to that.
Then it was time to go to my Al-anon meeting in the Bronx. As usual I took the 25 to the 50, and this time it went smoothly. I had my pizza before the meeting as usual.
The meeting was very good, a newcomer brought pastries and I ate two which I shouldn't have.
C gave me a ride to the bus stop, but I had to wait quite a long time for the bus . Finally it got there and I got to Linden and 31 and found there was 14 minutes til a 25. So I got an Uber instead.
While I was waiting, Herschel Facebook messaged me. We talked awhile on the way home. He's fine.
Teamed the FWiB when I got here but it was late and he was sleepy so we didn't talk as long as usual.
Then I fed the pets and started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. I got the DEXA.
3.
mashfanficchick.4. They approved my application for the ID despite only 5 points.
5. The Busy Bee.
6. My meetings and the people there.
Edited to add: Forgot that also yesterday, John sent me two pictures of Dad fro his reported days, which I sent to the Kid. Coincidentally she called me just as I sent them to her and we had a nice talk.
Today's birds
Apr. 24th, 2026 19:25steorra posting in common_natureToday I made two short trips to a local stream and saw quite a few different kind of birds, partly with the help of binoculars:
- Great blue heron wading in the stream
- Hawk (red-tailed?)
- Green-winged teals
- Black-capped chickadees
- American robins
- A reddish finch (house finch?)
- A hummingbird too far away to identify and too quick for me to binocular
- A little yellow-and-black bird, probably a goldfinch but it was gone before I got a good look at it.
- A tiny bird that I suspect was a golden-crowned kinglet because I think I saw a splash of yellow on its crown but again I didn't get a good look before it was gone.
- Some brown sparrow-y birds that I couldn't identify
- Plus the city birds I see all the time without going anywhere: pigeons, crows, starlings, gulls (glaucous-winged?)
I also saw some red admiral butterflies and I think I caught a glimpse of a scampering mouse-sized mammal but it got into cover too quickly for me to really see (probably just a mouse).
Friday word: Chivvy
Apr. 24th, 2026 19:27med_cat posting in 1word1dayChivvy [CHIV-ee]
(v.)
- To tell (someone) repeatedly to do something; to nag or harass.
From “chevy” (to chase) used as a hunting cry, from “chevy chase” (a running pursuit) probably from the "Ballad of Chevy Chase," a popular song describing a hunting party on the borderland that turned into a battle between the English and the Scots — 1918
Used in a sentence:
“She chivvies her long-suffering husband with unrelenting insistence to remove the trash, clean the garage, and mow the lawn, such that he lives in perpetual dread of her summons.”
(from The Grandiloquent Word of the Day FB page)
I, of course, immediately thought of this example:
"During my school-days I had been intimately associated with a lad named Percy Phelps, who was of much the same age as myself, though he was two classes ahead of me. He was a very brilliant boy, and carried away every prize which the school had to offer, finished his exploits by winning a scholarship which sent him on to continue his triumphant career at Cambridge.
He was, I remember, extremely well connected, and even when we were all little boys together we knew that his mother’s brother was Lord Holdhurst, the great conservative politician. This gaudy relationship did him little good at school.
On the contrary, it seemed rather a piquant thing to us to chevy him about the playground and hit him over the shins with a wicket."
(poor Percy, I know...)
(Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Naval Treaty")
(v.)
- To tell (someone) repeatedly to do something; to nag or harass.
From “chevy” (to chase) used as a hunting cry, from “chevy chase” (a running pursuit) probably from the "Ballad of Chevy Chase," a popular song describing a hunting party on the borderland that turned into a battle between the English and the Scots — 1918
Used in a sentence:
“She chivvies her long-suffering husband with unrelenting insistence to remove the trash, clean the garage, and mow the lawn, such that he lives in perpetual dread of her summons.”
(from The Grandiloquent Word of the Day FB page)
I, of course, immediately thought of this example:
"During my school-days I had been intimately associated with a lad named Percy Phelps, who was of much the same age as myself, though he was two classes ahead of me. He was a very brilliant boy, and carried away every prize which the school had to offer, finished his exploits by winning a scholarship which sent him on to continue his triumphant career at Cambridge.
He was, I remember, extremely well connected, and even when we were all little boys together we knew that his mother’s brother was Lord Holdhurst, the great conservative politician. This gaudy relationship did him little good at school.
On the contrary, it seemed rather a piquant thing to us to chevy him about the playground and hit him over the shins with a wicket."
(poor Percy, I know...)
(Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Naval Treaty")
The madness
Apr. 24th, 2026 20:16soemandThis year, I’ve shifted away from the initial hype and started treating LLMs as functional tools for overhead and technical tasks. The results have been a notable shift in both my personal budget and my project workflows.
On the administrative side, the models helped me shave $100 off my monthly utilities by facilitating $50 reductions for both my phone and internet plans. It also helped me successfully reduce my property assessment, further lowering my fixed costs. Beyond simple savings, the AI streamlined my home maintenance budgeting by generating realistic quotes for upcoming repairs. In the garage, I’ve used it to draft a no-weld sailboat trailer design that utilizes an existing cradle. While I'm still validating the design, it’s already tracking to be $2,000–$4,000 cheaper than retail alternatives.
The utility extended into my more technical hobbies and professional work as well. I implemented ECSS for shortwave listening based on AI suggestions, which has provided much better performance for weak signals. At work, it even identified a specific assembly code bug and provided a viable recommendation for the fix. Using these models as a specialized sounding board has led to a measurable increase in productivity and significant cost avoidance.
On the administrative side, the models helped me shave $100 off my monthly utilities by facilitating $50 reductions for both my phone and internet plans. It also helped me successfully reduce my property assessment, further lowering my fixed costs. Beyond simple savings, the AI streamlined my home maintenance budgeting by generating realistic quotes for upcoming repairs. In the garage, I’ve used it to draft a no-weld sailboat trailer design that utilizes an existing cradle. While I'm still validating the design, it’s already tracking to be $2,000–$4,000 cheaper than retail alternatives.
The utility extended into my more technical hobbies and professional work as well. I implemented ECSS for shortwave listening based on AI suggestions, which has provided much better performance for weak signals. At work, it even identified a specific assembly code bug and provided a viable recommendation for the fix. Using these models as a specialized sounding board has led to a measurable increase in productivity and significant cost avoidance.
Oh Venus
Apr. 23rd, 2026 20:31yourlibrarian posting in common_nature
Looked out at the sky the other night and the moon was not that bright. Despite what appears in the photo below, we could see the entire ball of the Moon. It was just that the slice was brighter.
What was also very noticeable was Venus. After a number of attempts I was finally able to get a non wavery shot of it in close-up.
( Read more... )
Friday Five - high school college decade
Apr. 24th, 2026 13:45mercurygrinOh, good. One about how old I am.
1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college?
Graduated in '95 from high school. Graduated '99 college.
2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style?
I actually liked a lot of the fashion from the late 90s like the boho and grunge and goth stuff. I am probably the only person who liked low slung jeans but it was because I cant stand clothing being tight on my belly or stomach. And flares make my short legs look long.
I didn't like all the butterflies and tube tops. Those can stay gone.
3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis?
I listened to industrial, goth, Celtic folk, and anime soundtracks in high school. I still listen to all of that, maybe not regularly.
4. What hairstyle/hair color did/do you wear during high school/college?
People used to call me "Darlene" from Roseanne, or Eddie Vedder if they were assholes. Which might give a good visual of what my hair (and style) looked like.
5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college?
Considering I was not a cool kid nor social at all, I am not totally sure. I think people used to "cruise the ave" on Friday nights, driving slowly up and down Nevada Avenue, the busy downtown street that my high school was on. I heard a lot of the popular rich kids were doing cocaine. And I think I heard that the theater and choir kids were having orgies. *shrug*
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Apr. 24th, 2026 08:12rizzy_rosie8 posting in poetryAutobiographical
Did u hear about the Rose that grew from a crack
in the concrete
Proving nature's laws wrong it learned 2 walk
without having feet
Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams
It learned 2 breathe fresh air
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
When no one else even cared!
- Tupac Shakur
Did u hear about the Rose that grew from a crack
in the concrete
Proving nature's laws wrong it learned 2 walk
without having feet
Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams
It learned 2 breathe fresh air
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
When no one else even cared!
- Tupac Shakur
The Friday Five for 24 April 2026
Apr. 23rd, 2026 13:23anais_pf posting in thefridayfiveThese questions were written by nondenomifan.
1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college?
2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style?
3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis?
4. What hairstyle/hair color did/do you wear during high school/college?
5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
nondenomifan.1. What decade did you attend/are you attending high school or college?
2. What clothing fashion from that time are you glad/do you wish went out of style?
3. Do you still listen to the music from your high school/college years on a regular basis?
4. What hairstyle/hair color did/do you wear during high school/college?
5. What was/is "the cool thing to do" while in high school/college?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
The Birders
Apr. 23rd, 2026 14:42puddleshark
I thought I might make the most of the easterly wind and the dry weather to walk out through the reedbeds to Swineham, and back across the damp riverside meadows.
( An unexpected obstacle on the path )
Queens Botanical Garden
Apr. 22nd, 2026 23:03silver_chipmunkToday I got up at 10:00 and had breakfast and coffee, and thought about what I should do today. I decided to have the trip I couldn't on Monday, and go to the Queens Botanical Gardens. So I showered and dressed and set out.
It was a sort of grey, overcast day, I would have preferred sunny, but it wasn't too cold. The gardens are beautiful now, lots of tulips, blossoming trees of various types, and the lilacs are starting to bloom.
I saw lots of squirrels, robins, a blue jay, a pair of mallard ducks, a school of goldfish, and two cats, presumably from the houses across the street from the gardens.
I walked through most of the gardens and then went to the gift shop where I bought granola bars, and an "advice from a hummingbird" tee shirt. I figure I'll wear it up at the cottage because of the hummingbirds.
Then I finished a the last bits I hadn't walked through, and headed home.
I had great bad luck with the buses, but finally I got a 44, only to be told when we got to Kissena Blvd that the next stop would be the last before the Bronx! The driver said it was a "school bus", I have no idea what that means.
Anyway, I got off there and walked to Roosevelt Ave, where there is a small place I had noticed that sells Chinese buns and similar stuff. I got a fried pork bun for $4 which was juicy and delicious. That was lunch.
I got another 44 bus home, it was about 4:00, and I went and lay down and puttered on my phone til just before 6:00. Then I went out to the living room and calledmashfanficchick to ask zer if ze minds if I stay overnight tomorrow.
Ze said OK so I will be doing that because on Friday I'm going to the funeral of the father of R from my Saturday meeting. She came to Oldest Brother's cremation so it's only right. And the funeral is twice as long a trip from my place as it is frommashfanficchick's. Plus we can stay up later if I don't have to worry about going home, so it's win/win.
Anyway, it had been arranged our D&D game was going to start a half an hour late. So I Teamed the FWiB and we were able to talk til 830 as usual.
Then we played the game, which was more fighting bugbears and rescuing prisoners. It went the usual two hours despite starting late, so we ended almost 10:30. Then I fed the pets and made my own dinner.
And then I started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. The Botanical Gardens.
3. Tasty pork bun.
4.mashfanficchick
5. My gaming group.
6. Bed soon.
It was a sort of grey, overcast day, I would have preferred sunny, but it wasn't too cold. The gardens are beautiful now, lots of tulips, blossoming trees of various types, and the lilacs are starting to bloom.
I saw lots of squirrels, robins, a blue jay, a pair of mallard ducks, a school of goldfish, and two cats, presumably from the houses across the street from the gardens.
I walked through most of the gardens and then went to the gift shop where I bought granola bars, and an "advice from a hummingbird" tee shirt. I figure I'll wear it up at the cottage because of the hummingbirds.
Then I finished a the last bits I hadn't walked through, and headed home.
I had great bad luck with the buses, but finally I got a 44, only to be told when we got to Kissena Blvd that the next stop would be the last before the Bronx! The driver said it was a "school bus", I have no idea what that means.
Anyway, I got off there and walked to Roosevelt Ave, where there is a small place I had noticed that sells Chinese buns and similar stuff. I got a fried pork bun for $4 which was juicy and delicious. That was lunch.
I got another 44 bus home, it was about 4:00, and I went and lay down and puttered on my phone til just before 6:00. Then I went out to the living room and called
mashfanficchick to ask zer if ze minds if I stay overnight tomorrow. Ze said OK so I will be doing that because on Friday I'm going to the funeral of the father of R from my Saturday meeting. She came to Oldest Brother's cremation so it's only right. And the funeral is twice as long a trip from my place as it is from
mashfanficchick's. Plus we can stay up later if I don't have to worry about going home, so it's win/win.Anyway, it had been arranged our D&D game was going to start a half an hour late. So I Teamed the FWiB and we were able to talk til 830 as usual.
Then we played the game, which was more fighting bugbears and rescuing prisoners. It went the usual two hours despite starting late, so we ended almost 10:30. Then I fed the pets and made my own dinner.
And then I started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. The Botanical Gardens.
3. Tasty pork bun.
4.
mashfanficchick5. My gaming group.
6. Bed soon.
April Check In
Apr. 22nd, 2026 11:27yourlibrarian posting in everykindofcraft
How have things been going crafts-wise? Anything to share?
What sort of storage or tools do you find particularly useful for your work? Has your use of these evolved or do you still use the same items you started out with?
The Secret Garden, April
Apr. 22nd, 2026 15:31puddleshark
Weird weather. April is supposed to be changeable. All the weather - rain, hail, sunshine & rainbows - in the space of an hour. We're not supposed to have a high pressure system stuck overhead, no rain in prospect for the next week. And we're not supposed to have gale force winds blowing from the east. Proper gales are supposed to come in from the south-west, off the Atlantic, accompanied by lashing rain.
I thought it would be sheltered behind the high brick walls of the Secret Garden, but it wasn't - the flowers were all bobbing about madly, which made macro photography something of a challenge.
( Blurred flowers... )
Paradise (season 2, 2026)
Apr. 22nd, 2026 15:03gina_lollobrigida
Paradise (season 2, 2026). 8 episodes, each around 50 minutes long. it’s impossible to describe the plot of the second season without spoilers; the poster is probably a spoiler by itself.
i thought that after the major revelations in the first season, the series wouldn’t be able to maintain the same standard, but i was wrong. the second season managed to be even better than the first in every possible respect. it’s very emotionally charged; I didn’t expect the fourth episode to end like that.
the plot took a completely unexpected turn. a couple of strange and seemingly unnecessary scenes in the second season took on a deeper meaning towards the end.
and the finale is brilliant. so far, the best show of 2026 in terms of entertainment!
Tuesday word: Futz
Apr. 21st, 2026 21:23simplyn2deep posting in 1word1dayTuesday, April 21, 2026
Futz (verb, noun, verb phrase)
futz [fuhts]
verb (used without object)
1. to pass time in idleness (usually followed by around ).
noun
2. a fool; simpleton.
verb phrase
3. futz (around) with to handle or deal with, especially idly, reluctantly, or as a time-consuming task: I spent all day futzing with those file folders.
Origin: First recorded in 1905–10; apparently a euphemism for fuck;
Example Sentences
If you didn’t want to futz with the word blockchain but did want Bitcoin exposure, you could buy MicroStrategy stock.
From Slate • Feb. 3, 2026
More important: AI gives you easier access to settings, so you don’t have to futz with menus.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026
You can futz with the bread, you can gild the cheese, but if the core is bland or watery or vaguely funereal, the whole enterprise collapses.
From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025
It was incredibly hot to wear silicone, so there wasn’t as much time to futz around.
From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2023
I’m so ambivalent about dieting and my body, but I’m also happy to futz with my double chin.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2020
Futz (verb, noun, verb phrase)
futz [fuhts]
verb (used without object)
1. to pass time in idleness (usually followed by around ).
noun
2. a fool; simpleton.
verb phrase
3. futz (around) with to handle or deal with, especially idly, reluctantly, or as a time-consuming task: I spent all day futzing with those file folders.
Origin: First recorded in 1905–10; apparently a euphemism for fuck;
Example Sentences
If you didn’t want to futz with the word blockchain but did want Bitcoin exposure, you could buy MicroStrategy stock.
From Slate • Feb. 3, 2026
More important: AI gives you easier access to settings, so you don’t have to futz with menus.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026
You can futz with the bread, you can gild the cheese, but if the core is bland or watery or vaguely funereal, the whole enterprise collapses.
From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025
It was incredibly hot to wear silicone, so there wasn’t as much time to futz around.
From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2023
I’m so ambivalent about dieting and my body, but I’m also happy to futz with my double chin.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2020
Retiree meeting
Apr. 21st, 2026 22:18silver_chipmunkI slept really badly last night but I managed to get up by almost 9:00, and have breakfast and coffee, and shower and dress, and head to my union's retiree association meeting.
It was very easy to get to, just the bus to Flushing and the 7 train from there. Then a few blocks walk. I thought I was going to be late, but I got there just on time. And the meeting started late anyway.
There was a breakfast, pastries and bagels and fruit. I had a mini muffin and a croissant, and coffee. The meeting was pretty interesting, they talked about benefits and programs available to us. some I may use later.
Lunch was served at the end, sandwiches, and I had tuna.
Then I went back home. I lay down and was going to have a nap but I got into a long, somewhat heated discussion, or argument, with the Kid by text. I think we resolved it though, and ended on cheerful terms.
At 6:30 I came back out and puttered on the computer til it was time to Team the FWiB at 7:00. We talked until it was time for me to have my Al-anon meeting by Zoom.
The meeting was pretty good. M and S were both there plus some other people dropped in.
After the meeting I had a snack, then went to the bedroom again and played solitaire, and also checked my repeat delivery of turtle food from Petco. I am low, and the next order doesn't come for a month. I just can't seem to get it right.
Anyway, at pet feeding time I fed the pets, and started here.
And that was the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. My union.
3. The Kid.
4. My meetings and the people there.
5. My pets.
6. Bed soon.
It was very easy to get to, just the bus to Flushing and the 7 train from there. Then a few blocks walk. I thought I was going to be late, but I got there just on time. And the meeting started late anyway.
There was a breakfast, pastries and bagels and fruit. I had a mini muffin and a croissant, and coffee. The meeting was pretty interesting, they talked about benefits and programs available to us. some I may use later.
Lunch was served at the end, sandwiches, and I had tuna.
Then I went back home. I lay down and was going to have a nap but I got into a long, somewhat heated discussion, or argument, with the Kid by text. I think we resolved it though, and ended on cheerful terms.
At 6:30 I came back out and puttered on the computer til it was time to Team the FWiB at 7:00. We talked until it was time for me to have my Al-anon meeting by Zoom.
The meeting was pretty good. M and S were both there plus some other people dropped in.
After the meeting I had a snack, then went to the bedroom again and played solitaire, and also checked my repeat delivery of turtle food from Petco. I am low, and the next order doesn't come for a month. I just can't seem to get it right.
Anyway, at pet feeding time I fed the pets, and started here.
And that was the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. My union.
3. The Kid.
4. My meetings and the people there.
5. My pets.
6. Bed soon.
Seriously wishing I could delete my Tumblr and Bluesky...
Apr. 21st, 2026 11:24springsodasA few problems, though
Might go ahead and get some advice from my friends about it. I just... I'm tired.
- Since I just got started streaming, I really need to be on at least a couple of large/medium-sized platforms to help promote my stuff. (Especially since I'm still not really posting to Youtube at this point.)
- Deleting my accounts would mean losing all of my posts on both platforms
- On Tumblr, this would also result in me losing most of my sideblogs, one of which is a massive archive of my old TMNT posts that includes a whole bunch of 2003 concept art I uploaded
- If I ever decided to come back, I would have to block everyone currently on my blocklists again
- I need to be able to help my fellow moderators run the blog for our server over on Tumblr
Might go ahead and get some advice from my friends about it. I just... I'm tired.
(no subject)
Apr. 20th, 2026 23:34autobotscoutriellaUpsides of having cuddly cats after years of having cats that hate affection: omg, you want to sit in my lap and snuggle? This is so CUTE, of course I'll put down the video game and cuddle you
Downsides of having cuddly cats after years of having cats that hate affection: no, I can't hold you right now, I'm cooking. no, I said I'm COOKING YOU CAN'T COME UP HERE RIGHT NOW LEAVE THE BAG OF RICE ALONE -
(I'm getting so good at catching cats with one arm.)
Downsides of having cuddly cats after years of having cats that hate affection: no, I can't hold you right now, I'm cooking. no, I said I'm COOKING YOU CAN'T COME UP HERE RIGHT NOW LEAVE THE BAG OF RICE ALONE -
(I'm getting so good at catching cats with one arm.)
A nice quiet day
Apr. 20th, 2026 22:17silver_chipmunkI got up at 12:00, and have finally caught up on the sleep I missed when Marja was here. Had breakfast and coffee, and puttered around online for awhile.
Eventually I decided I should do something today, so I decided on the Queens Botanical Gardens. I showered, and washed my hair, and got dressed.
I started walking to the bus, when it suddenly hit me... It's Monday, isn't the Botanical Garden cosed on Monday? So I checked, using my phone, and sure enough, closed til 8:00 am Tuesday. Grumble.
But I had banking to do in Flushing, and I decided to get my face waxed, which it needed, so I went to the bus stop anyway. Took the 20 in, took care of my banking (I had a $50 bill I wanted to deposit and then withdraw in smaller denominations), and then went and got my face waxed.
I think she did a better job than any other time I've gone, and it cost me a bit more too. But so it goes.
I came home and decided I still wanted to do something. So I collected the book I'm reading, The King's Peace, and went to The Busy Bee coffee shop. I had an egg sandwich, very good, and a lavender cream latte. Then I sat an read for about 45 minutes. They close at 6:00 and it was just before closing time when I left.
Came home and puttered online. Actually got a little it of writing done, and then it was time to Team the FWiB.
We talked for close to an hour and a half, and then got off.mashfanficchick called, and we had a brief conversation to plan upcoming days.
Then I went into the bedroom and played solitaire. I also called the Kid, of course she didn't answer. It really is starting to annoy me. Anyway I texted her to please call.
Fed the pets at pet feeding time. Then I took a picture of the doctor's order for my DEXA scan on Thursday and sent it to the lab.mashfanficchick called again. I'm still waiting for the Kid to call.
And that's the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Caught up on sleep.
3. Got my face waxed.
4, The Busy Bee.
5. Good books.
6.mashfanficchick
Eventually I decided I should do something today, so I decided on the Queens Botanical Gardens. I showered, and washed my hair, and got dressed.
I started walking to the bus, when it suddenly hit me... It's Monday, isn't the Botanical Garden cosed on Monday? So I checked, using my phone, and sure enough, closed til 8:00 am Tuesday. Grumble.
But I had banking to do in Flushing, and I decided to get my face waxed, which it needed, so I went to the bus stop anyway. Took the 20 in, took care of my banking (I had a $50 bill I wanted to deposit and then withdraw in smaller denominations), and then went and got my face waxed.
I think she did a better job than any other time I've gone, and it cost me a bit more too. But so it goes.
I came home and decided I still wanted to do something. So I collected the book I'm reading, The King's Peace, and went to The Busy Bee coffee shop. I had an egg sandwich, very good, and a lavender cream latte. Then I sat an read for about 45 minutes. They close at 6:00 and it was just before closing time when I left.
Came home and puttered online. Actually got a little it of writing done, and then it was time to Team the FWiB.
We talked for close to an hour and a half, and then got off.
mashfanficchick called, and we had a brief conversation to plan upcoming days.Then I went into the bedroom and played solitaire. I also called the Kid, of course she didn't answer. It really is starting to annoy me. Anyway I texted her to please call.
Fed the pets at pet feeding time. Then I took a picture of the doctor's order for my DEXA scan on Thursday and sent it to the lab.
mashfanficchick called again. I'm still waiting for the Kid to call.And that's the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Caught up on sleep.
3. Got my face waxed.
4, The Busy Bee.
5. Good books.
6.
mashfanficchick