celiac test is negative

1 Jun 2025 06:25 pm
redbird: closeup of me drinking tea, in a friend's kitchen (Default)
[personal profile] redbird
My GI doctor says the celiac test is negative. This is both unsurprising and a relief: the doctor ordered the test because of comorbidities, not because there were any signs of celiac, but celiac is common enough in people with collagenous colitis that it was worth checking.

I do still need to contact her office tomorrow and ask about that follow-up appointment.

Ship Sunday: Beelzebub/Gabriel

1 Jun 2025 09:01 pm
[syndicated profile] fanlore_tumblr_feed
A cardboard box with a ‘this way up’ label and ‘ineffable bureaucracy’ scribbled on it. A fly is flying around in front of it.ALT

A supreme archangel and a prince of Hell. Mortal enemies? Or two sides of the same coin? Today’s Ship Sunday is Beelzebub/Gabriel from Good Omens.

Also known as Ineffable Bureaucracy or Boxfly, after the first season of the TV series there was a small but devoted fandom for this pair, but that fandom expanded exponentially after they unexpectedly went canon in season two. Their dedicated fans have created fanart, fic, and a two volume zine!

Are you one of their fans? Come help us expand their Fanlore page by adding your favorite tropes and fanwork examples!

stonepicnicking_okapi: Sherlock Holmes (holmes)
[personal profile] stonepicnicking_okapi posting in [community profile] vocab_drabbles
Title: The Brougham Driver
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (ACD)
Length: 500
Rating: Gen
Character: Mycroft Holmes, original feline character
Prompt: 149: Alterity
Note: set in "The Final Problem"
Summary: Mycroft Holmes after dropping Watson off at the station.

Read more... )
trobadora: (Black-Cloaked Envoy)
[personal profile] trobadora posting in [community profile] sid_guardian
Guardian novel readalong


Welcome aboard for this week's chapters of our Guardian readalong!

Here are last week's chapters. You can find all previous discussions on the schedule post (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4), or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:
  • Chapter 7: Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei argue about their relationship; Zhu Hong defends Zhao Yunlan by blaming Shen Wei, and Zhao Yunlan again tries to let her down gently. He sends Zhu Hong and Daqing back to Dragon City, then heads towards the Great Seal, with the timely help of the extremely convenient water dragon pearl from Zhu Hong's uncle.
  • Chapter 8: Chu Shuzhi returns to Dragon City after a break, carries Guo Changcheng's bag, and learns what he does in his free time. The entire SID is shocked about Shen Wei being the Emissary. Meanwhile Zhao Yunlan reaches the Ancient Merit Tree, and sees memories from being Kunlun.
The corresponding part in the Chinese version on JJWXC/the fan translation are chapters 85-86.

Excerpts:

1) Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei have a romantic moment, no wait, a confrontation )

2) Zhu Hong's accusations )

3) Zhao Yunlan's self-assessment )

4) Chu Shuzhi's reaction )

5) An impudent god and an impudent gui )

Questions:

What is your favourite Weilan bit in this? Your favourite moment in general? Which SID character has the best moment? How do you like Zhao Yunlan's handling of Zhu Hong's feelings here? Do you think Guo Changcheng is doing the same kind of volunteering in the drama? Do you think Zhao Yunlan is being reckless?

(As usual, these are just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like!)

Our current schedule (a new one will go up soon; if you'd like to sign up to host a future post, please comment on the current schedule!)

PRIDE 1: Moreta/Nerilka

1 Jun 2025 03:14 pm
senmut: Ramoth and Mnementh's mating flight (Pern: Dragons Mating)
[personal profile] senmut
Last Fall (Future Promises) (545 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dragonriders of Pern
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Moreta/Nerilka [Dragonriders of Pern]
Characters: Moreta [Dragonriders of Pern], Nerilka [Dragonriders of Pern]
Additional Tags: Background Polyamory, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Pride
Summary:

Last Fall is over Ruatha, so Moreta brings the official word to the Lady who has slipped into her heart.



Last Fall (Future Promises)

Orlith back-winged delicately on the courtyard, followed by Hannath and Nabeth. Their draconic jubilation was shining in blue-green faceted eyes as all three riders started unbuckling their riding straps to get down and greet the Lady of the Hold and those that were waiting with supplies to aid the end of flight.

"Lord Alessan is still out with crews?" B'lerion asked.

"Of course!" Nerilka called back, before pushing klah into Moreta's hands, having reached her swiftly.

"I am pleased to report, Lady Nerilka," the Fort Weyrwoman began, "that the lands are clear, and this should be the final Fall of the Pass."

A ringing cheer went up from the drudges and other staff that had followed their beloved Lady out to tend the trio.

Nerilka's hands were still around Moreta's gloved ones. "We are grateful for the reassurance," she said warmly, looking up with adoration at the older woman. "And extend our invitation to come visit, once the Weyr is certain."

"I'll pass that on to all parties," she said, her own eyes locked on Nerilka's face. She could hear Oklina and B'lerion briefing Tuero on which areas might have injured crews coming back — far fewer than some Falls, by the egg! — even as she was looking forward to a true Rest Day spent here.

"Though I am sure K'lon will spend more time at Igen," Nerilka said with a smile. "We don't want to keep you; I know you usually tend the wounded with my sister over there."

"So we do, but the weyr-healer has been handling what is needed today; Orlith listens for me," Moreta promised, sipping the klah gratefully. "Sh'gall was handling personally informing your Holder at Ruatha River Hold; the clumping is always worse near rivers and seas."

The words were a necessary courtesy, but Sh'gall did not come to Ruatha if he had reason to be elsewhere, even if he had mellowed with Moreta choosing to let him Lead through the end of Pass. He was even more uncomfortable with her choices for companionship than with his blue and green mated pairs.

"I'll have your rooms aired soon," Nerilka said far more quietly as Moreta finished the klah. Orlith's croon still made Nerilka blush a little, even so many years after coming to the startling awareness that they suited one another.

"I'll pass word before I come; I have invitations from all the major and minor holds, some not even beholden to Fort!" Moreta's laughter was contagious, and Nerilka was so glad of that.

How far they all had come since their trials eight Turns prior.

"Save the best for last," Nerilka had the temerity to say, taking the mug back so Moreta could mount again.

"Duty, so pleasure can linger."

That heightened the blush, and Tuero bit his tongue as he joined her, so that he didn't tease her too hard.

It was known, in Ruatha's main hold, that the Weyrwoman visited often, and why, but not a breath was whispered elsewhere. This was theirs, much as it was their Lady's, to have the heroine of all Pern so tied to them.

In minutes, all three riders were strapped in, their dragons leaping for the Thread-cleared skies and winking out, their final duty to Pern done for this generation.

(no subject)

1 Jun 2025 04:04 pm
conuly: (Default)
[personal profile] conuly posting in [community profile] agonyaunt
Dear Care and Feeding,

My relationship with my much younger sister, “Charity,” has always been a volatile one. Recently, our grandmother passed away and Charity stole some jewelry that had been promised to me, likely when she last visited our grandmother’s place before she went into hospice. She claims not to know where it is, but a friend who works at a restaurant she frequents said she saw her come in wearing our grandmother’s necklace; Charity, of course, is saying she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. My 15-year-old daughter, “Zarra,” knows how upset I am about the whole thing and is just as angry. However, I didn’t expect that she would take matters into her own hands—and oh my god did she…

Last week, I learned through my mother that Charity broke up with her fiancé because she learned he was cheating on her and had fathered a child with another woman. When I told Zarra that her aunt had gotten a dose of karma, she replied, “Thanks to me.” I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach and asked her what she meant. Zarra explained that she had given her friend “Lisa’s” college-age brother money to purchase a burner phone for her. She then had Lisa call up Charity pretending to be a woman who was trying to track Charity’s fiancé down so she could sue him for child support. Zarra said Charity had been so furious that they could hear her screaming at Lisa through the phone from four feet away. She laughed and said she’d never expected the prank to actually work, but was glad it did.

I am truly at a loss as to what to do here. On the one hand, Zarra did a very devious thing and involved her friend and her friend’s brother in it. But on the other hand, if I’m being honest, it was extremely gratifying to see my bitch sister finally get a taste of her own medicine—she’s spent her life taking advantage of people and is an all-around shitty person. My husband thought the whole thing was brilliant. Should I punish Zarra and inform Lisa’s parents of their kids’ role in what my daughter did, or is this one of those things that cancels itself out?

—Secretly Pleased


Read more... )
conuly: (Default)
[personal profile] conuly posting in [community profile] agonyaunt
Link

1. Dear Care and Feeding,

Growing up, I had tons of friends and was always on the go and immersed in extracurricular activities. My 7-year-old daughter, “Maisy,” simply isn’t interested in people. She has exactly three friends and would rather spend her time reading and studying the birds, squirrels, bugs, and plants in our backyard. She doesn’t have much use for cartoons, like other kids; she would sooner watch science and nature documentaries. I had her tested, and she’s not on the spectrum, so that’s not what Maisy’s problem is. I feel like she’s missing out on so much by not being more sociable. How can I convince her that being the smartest person in the room won’t do her a bit of good if people don’t like her because she has no idea how to interact with other humans?

—Emotional Intelligence Matters Too


Read more... )

************


2. Dear Care and Feeding,

My 11-year-old son, “William,” has been interested in magic and illusions for about a year. For his last birthday, my husband and I got him a magic set. William had been greatly enjoying it until my moronic brother “Justin” said something disgusting to him that Justin insists was “just a joke.” After Easter, for which the entire family had gotten together, I came across William’s magic set in the garbage. I asked him why he’d thrown it away, and he said Justin had told him that all magicians are gay and that if he keeps doing magic, he will turn gay too. This upset him (unfortunately, the kids at his school have reached the phase where “gay” is used as an insult). I told him that what Uncle Justin said wasn’t true: People don’t “turn” LGBTQ+, they are born that way, and in any case, there is nothing wrong with being LGBTQ+. I then gave Justin a call.

My brother howled with laughter when I told him that William had thrown out his magic set and why. Justin claimed he’d said it, “just said it to mess with him.” I told him he needed to set the record straight with William, make it clear that he’d made it up, and confirm what I’d already told him about how being LGBTQ+ is not a bad thing. Justin claimed I was making too big a deal over it. He said William should take this as a lesson in learning not to believe everything people tell him. I told him that until he was ready to apologize and tell William the truth, we would be taking a break from seeing him, and I hung up. My parents think I’m in the wrong and that I’m making too much of “a harmless prank.” They are accusing me of causing problems in the family. I don’t think I am. My husband agrees with me and says he’ll support whatever I feel is right. Is this the best option, even if it gets me on the wrong side of my parents?

—Under No Illusions: My Brother Was Wrong


Read more... )
sholio: Text: "Age shall not weary her, nor custom stale her infinite squee" (Infinite Squee)
[personal profile] sholio
It is really interesting how my interest in visual media has spun up again over the last six months or so. It's not that I physically couldn't watch for a while, it's just that over the last couple of years, say since 2022 or so, I wasn't really interested. I would have said it was just because I was happy with the stories in my head and didn't need more stories, but I was also completely uninterested in watching vids and similar, and now suddenly that switch has flipped the other way and I'm back to finding them fun and fascinating to watch, even for source canons I barely know.

(For me and vids, I'd say song choice is *the* big driver of whether I'll watch a vid or not - I'll nope out in seconds if I don't like the song, but I'll watch one even for a source canon I've never seen if it's a song I like.)

Anyway, in a shocking twist, last night I finally got around to subscribing the things I need to subscribe to in order to get vidding source for Babylon 5.

I capture vid source like no one else I've ever met (though maybe people who do this just don't talk about it) - I screencapture from the video window playing on my computer screen. I can do it other ways, and in fact have done it a number of other ways (from ripping DVDs to ripping DRM'd MP4s - I did all my Agent Carter vids that way; it does look very crisp and beautiful - to simply using the *cough ahem* broadcast downloads back on the 2000s; a lot of people did that for vidding back in the SGA/White Collar era, although it meant dealing with watermarks on the video). But I keep coming back to capturing video from screen because it's just so easy. I can get exactly the clip I want and only the clip I want without any extra trimming work, it's easy to skip around, and it means not having to rip and store a kabillionty episodes for a long source canon.

This stopped working for a while because of software measures to prevent it, but I figured out a relatively easy workaround for vidding MASH (disabling graphics acceleration in Chrome) and now I'm doing that for B5 as well - I just need a relatively clean streaming source without commercials. I was genuinely really amazed at how crisp MASH turned out for the vids I made for Festivids. The obvious downside to screencapturing video is that the quality can suffer, and there's also the possibility of the playback stuttering - I used to have this happen occasionally when I tried to capture too much video at once on older computers (circa 2006 or so), where it would drop frames when I'd save it if it was too much for the memory buffer to handle. These days, modern computers can handle quite a lot of video at a time (I do it in Quicktime, I think it's saving directly to the hard drive as I go, whereas before it was definitely doing some kind of intermediate working-memory storage) ... buuuut capturing from streaming is limited by the streaming source, and those often stutter or glitch. It has been hard to get good video quality in B5, not really helped by the source itself being kind of potato-quality to begin with.

And as if that wasn't enough, Final Cut really struggles with the concept of 4:3 video that's not absolutely tiny. All of its large video presets are widescreen, but even forcing it to 4:3, it'll still make it widescreen in export - blah. The biggest that I can get it to make a 4:3 vid isn't very big. So it doesn't really matter that my source video isn't that high quality because it's potatoing it on export anyway! Final Cut, why are you like this.

THAT being said, the main reason I don't call myself a serious vidder is because I just sort of ... don't care? I'm not overly fussed about image quality and frame rate and codecs. I am DELIGHTED that it's no longer necessary to fuss around with codecs for the most part, now that everything seems to have standardized on MP4s and uploading to streaming sites. A ton of the vids I've downloaded and rewatch over and over are snagged from Youtube or are ancient WMVs from the era of making vids as small as possible for download, or are someone's first vidding efforts - and I *love* them. I appreciate crisp clean large video as much as the next person, but I mostly just want a fun viewing experience, and when I'm making vids, I simply like making them for myself and I'm happy if other people like them too. I'll work harder to get it looking nice if it's an actual gift for someone, but for the ones I make for myself ... eh. It's a lot like my approach to fanfic as a creator - I do care about craft to an extent, but mostly, I don't care if it's great, I just want to feel things.

(So the long and the short of it is that I'm making Babylon 5 vids now. Yay!)

WTF?

1 Jun 2025 02:19 pm
dreamshark: (Default)
[personal profile] dreamshark

Not just weird, but curiously specific. What happened in 2312 BC?

2 More Bingos

1 Jun 2025 01:28 pm
seleneheart: a book plate with the words 'ex libris' (Ex Libris)
[personal profile] seleneheart
The last couple of books I read gave me two more bingos. I'm currently reading books that will satisfy the two remaining squares with a theme, and then I'll just put whatever I read after that on the free space.

Check in Day 1!

1 Jun 2025 02:39 pm
omens: woman typing (writing)
[personal profile] omens posting in [community profile] writethisfanfic
Hello all, welcome to June!

Poll #33186 Writing!
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 2


Did you write today?

View Answers

Yes!
1 (50.0%)

No!
1 (50.0%)

I thought about it..
0 (0.0%)

I plan to!
0 (0.0%)



New month, new goals? Doing anything different this month?
full_metal_ox: A gold Chinese Metal Ox zodiac charm. (Default)
[personal profile] full_metal_ox posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Mo Dao Zu Shi, Chen Qing Ling
Pairings/Characters: F/F; Madam Jin/Yu Ziyuan; Madam Jin, Yu Ziyuan, Jiang Cheng
Rating: Teen and Up
Length: 600
Content Notes: adultery (mentioned), angst, arranged marriage, bereavement, generational trauma, heteronormativity, marriage politics, possible (unexpressed) adult-> minor pining
Creator Tags: 5+1 Things, Drabble Sequence, Zǐdiàn (Módào Zǔshī) - Freeform, Canonical Character Death, Socially Imposed Heterosexual Marriage, Background Relationships
Creator Links: (AO3): [archiveofourown.org profile] Zdenka
Theme: Female Relationships, Arranged Marriage, 5+1, Mutual Pining, Pining

Summary:

Five times Madam Jin saw Zidian on Yu Ziyuan's hand, and one time she saw it on her son's.

Notes:

Written for femslashfete for the prompt "artifact."


Reccer's Notes: Zdenka manages to cram so much into 600 words: an exquisitely painful soromance fulfillable only through generational proxy, imposed in turn—and the reader has the added pang of knowing what’s going to become of that couple.


Fanwork Links: Advance and Retreat, by [archiveofourown.org profile] Zdenka.

Happy Pride Month!

1 Jun 2025 08:14 pm
profiterole_reads: (Default)
[personal profile] profiterole_reads
Duck Prints Press, an indie publisher of queer books, has 3 bundles for Pride Month!

I've bought Pride Bundle 2025: General Imprint Short Stories via itch.io.

If you don't know itch.io yet:
- it lets you buy e-books without DRM
- it lets you tip the authors
- there are often bundles (organised by the authors and/or publishers) where you can buy plenty of books for a low price

Thinking about a new laptop

1 Jun 2025 11:58 am
dreamshark: (Default)
[personal profile] dreamshark
Current one is heading towards 6 years old: Lenovo X1 Carbon 14" / Windows 10. It still works fine, but Microsoft is dropping support for Win10 in the fall, so it's time to move up. I'm having a hard time finding what I want, which is pretty specific. 

I want a 14" model, very durable, excellent keyboard, touch screen, and as many USB ports as I can possibly get. I also want Windows 11 Pro, not the crippled "Home" version, but may have to buy that separately and upgrade. And no, my geeky friends, I have no interest in running Linux. I was all about the Linux when I worked in a networking lab, but it does not meet my needs at home. 

Connectivity is the hardest thing. It is increasingly difficult to find laptops with more than one USB-A port. I do not understand why people don't care about this. Although 95% of the time I use my laptop as if it were a desktop (connected to a hub with 2 monitors and a fancy keyboard) I seem to be constantly plugging and unplugging devices from the 2 USB ports I have. Webcam, DVD drive, RFID mouse, thumb drives, external backup drives, occasionally even an Ethernet dongle. And that's not even counting the keyboard and whatever else is connected to that steaming hot USB-C hub. 

Anybody have suggestions?  I won't really need it until October, but with the on/off tariff situation I might want to make a purchase before prices go through the roof. I don't think there are any laptops manufactured in the USA, and even if they are they are probably using mostly imported electronic components. 

So far, the ASUS Expertbook line looks promising.

(no subject)

1 Jun 2025 01:22 pm
seekingferret: Two warning signs one above the other. 1) Falling Rocks. 2) Falling Rocs. (Default)
[personal profile] seekingferret
My VidUKon premiere for the GPOY show. I've had this idea for years and given the prompt I couldn't help myself.

Its premise is Magneto explaining Jewish trauma to Kitty Pryde in the context of the muddle that is the X movies' Mutant Metaphor. Also Jews dance in this vid in spite of the fact that they don't dance in the X Movies. Nothing in the world could stop me from including Jews dancing in this vid.


The Sweet and the Bitter (8 words) by seekingferret
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: X-Men (Movieverse)
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Relationships: Erik Lehnsherr & Kitty Pryde
Characters: Erik Lehnsherr, Kitty Pryde
Additional Tags: Fanvids, Holocaust
Summary:

They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat: An intersectional tale from Erik to Kitty.




glitteryv: (Default)
[personal profile] glitteryv
So, June 1st is the start of FESTA, the two-week celebration that leads up to BTS' anniversary on June 13th. 2025 FESTA is gonna be SPECTACULAR NO MATTER WHAT because, by the time the anniversary date rolls around, SIX OUT OF THE 7 MEMBERS WILL HAVE DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳(🥳)*

*Yoongi is getting discharged a week later.

Thus, I'm dedicating most (if not all) of this month's posts to all things BTS. 😛

Jin recently dropped ECHO, his second solo album. The title song is "Don't Say You Love Me", a soft Pop song abt heartbreak. I'm not super into the MV (it's fine), but I've deffo kept an eye out for any live performances. (And will soon enjoy watching many of said live performances as he's going on a short AND, FOR SURE INTERESTING tour at the end of this month!!!!)


Here's a 2-for-1 video that's got two live singing performances of "Don't Say You Love Me" and "Loser!" (his duet with YENA).




One thing everyone gotta know abt Jin is that he's v. v. CHAOTIC. And, oftentimes, he'll come up with things on impulse. To with this video that shows him promoting his new album...by driving a duck boat on the Han river. It's quite lulzy from the start:

Apparently the real deal

1 Jun 2025 11:55 am
brithistorian: (Default)
[personal profile] brithistorian

When I designed Rumkick's "Drinking Every Day" as a song of the day, [personal profile] silveradept asked if they were actually punk or if they were a manufactured group made to appear punk. I happened upon a couple of Rumkicks interviews yesterday, (here and here), and it appears that they are indeed actual punks!

aurumcalendula: Bai Yunxi and Gu Jinyu (Shuang Tu)
[personal profile] aurumcalendula posting in [community profile] girlgay
Title: Can't Help Falling In Love
Fandom: 双兔 | Soul Sisters (2024)
Music: Can't Help Falling in Love by Kacey Musgraves
Summary: 'some things are meant to be'
Notes: Premiered at [community profile] vidukon_cardiff 2025!
Warnings: quick cuts and flashing lights

AO3 | bsky | DW | tumblr | YouTube
[syndicated profile] fanlore_tumblr_feed
A tablecloth filled with clouds bearing pride flags and six different cupcakes dressed in pride colors. Text reads “Monthly Editing Challenge '25”ALT

For 2025, Fanlore will be having monthly editing challenges! Each month you can earn a colorful new badge for completing the suggested editing task.

June’s editing challenge is: create or expand a page related to a canonically queer character.

Last month around 20 editors claimed badges. Would you like to join them? To learn more about how to participate in the monthly challenges, and how to claim your badges, please check out the challenge’s help page.

Arlathan eXchange

1 Jun 2025 12:25 pm
settiai: (Dragon Age -- offensive)
[personal profile] settiai
The Arlathan eXchange, a Dragon Age exchange focusing on elves, went live today. This year, I got not one but two lovely fics! 💕

First up is 152.41 is the Dewey Decimal for Love, a DA:TV fic featuring Bellara Lurate/Nonbinary Elf Aldwir. It's a Modern AU set in a university.

Then there's Mended Scars & Mended Hearts, which features Alistair/F!Surana/Leliana.
runpunkrun: combat boot, pizza, camo pants = punk  (punk rock girl)
[personal profile] runpunkrun posting in [community profile] fancake
Photograph with added text: Female Relationships, at Fancake. Four old Nepalese women sit together on a low brick wall, their feet dangling, most of them barefoot, their shoes kicked off below them. They're dressed in loose patterned fabrics in various shades of red and the mood is relaxed.
Our theme for June is female relationships!

That's any kind of relationship—platonic, romantic, professional, familial, adversarial—between characters who identify as female.

The tag for this round is: theme: female relationships

If you're just joining us, be sure to check out our policy on content notes. Content notes aren't required, but they're nice to include in your recs, especially if a fanwork has untagged content that readers may wish to know about in advance.

Rules! )

Posting Template! )

Promote this round! )

Chippenham folk Festival

1 Jun 2025 04:10 pm
watervole: (Default)
[personal profile] watervole

 Just back from several days a Chippenham Folk  Festival. Shattered, but had a good time.

Two days before the festival, the lady who was to be calling the maypole and doing the children's morris had to go into hospital (she should be fine, nothing too serious).  

So, I got asked to take it over at short notice.

Fortunately, the original musician was still able to make it, and proved to be the best person I've ever worked with for maypole. He never had to be asked to speed up or slow down, he automatically matched the best pace for the dancers and played a bar or two extra slowly when a small child needed to cross the dance set.

It was good, especially as having a lot of adults in the set allowed me to use a greater range of dances.

We did (my granddaughter and I) an entry for Southern Star Longsword in the annual Chippenham 'Stick and Bucket' competition.  As Southern Star was founded because of a Discworld convention, we had to enter...

Only having two dancers present did not deter us in the least.  We took spare swords and buckets and trained a scratch team.  One of the team had a mere 10 mins practice before the performance!

Here's the performance - Southern Star are 5 mins into the video, but you can watch all the teams entering.  

The man in the orangutan outfit is my husband, Richard.  That's his collection costume for fesivals - he's a Pratchett fan as well...

 

 

 

 

 

 

tehfanglyfish: saturn (Default)
[personal profile] tehfanglyfish posting in [community profile] sid_guardian

Hello Guardian Creators!

We’re so excited to to bring you the first prompts for Guardian Bonus Bingo 2025!

While the fest account is located on Tumblr, you don't have to be a Tumblr user to participate or to earn a badge at the end of the fest. (Filling one prompt per month over five months is what matters for earning the badge, not where you post your fills.)

Here are a few things to be aware of as we begin.

  • This is a low-stress fest. The point is to create fan works and have fun.
  • All modes of creation are accepted! This includes things like fic, art, podfic, meta, play lists, mood boards, rec lists, and more. If it's a new creation you made for the fest, more than likely it counts as a fill.
  • All ratings, all ships, rpf, Weilan derivatives, and even works based on other Priest novels are accepted. Please tag accordingly.
  • New! Three prompts per month instead of one. This is to give people more options. You only need to create for one prompt to earn a fill. (You are, however, welcome to complete or combine all of them if you’d like.)
  • Prompts are inspiration only – follow them as strictly or as loosely as you’d like
  • No min/max content requirements.
  • No works created using generative AI

June (B) Prompts:

Chase | Door Key | Respite

Remember that you only need to make a creation for ONE of these to earn a fill.

You have the entire month of June to complete your fill. We’ll also have a grace period at the end of the fest for any missed fills.

About/FAQ - Contains full fest info

AO3 Collection - You may also post in other places (Bluesky, Dreamwidth, etc.)

If you are on Tumblr and @ our Tumblr account, we’ll happily reblog your fill.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Have fun and happy creating!


Unplanned Downtime

1 Jun 2025 02:18 pm
squidgestatus: (Default)
[personal profile] squidgestatus
We had some issues overnight, which led to our database server failing.  Not sure why it didn't auto-recover like it should have and we will investigate.  Meanwhile, all services are back up (though SquidgeWorld is going through Sunday maintenance as I type this).  If after all services are back up you notice anything odd, please let us know.

 

The Bay: Going Away

1 Jun 2025 10:08 am
dewline: (canadian media)
[personal profile] dewline
The Bay was a retail fixture of my life. I didn't expect to outlive the company.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/hudsons-bay-8300-employees-june-1-1.7544639
james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


Five books new to me: 4 novels, 1 collection, 3.5 fantasies, 1 horror, 0.5 science fiction (The collection has both fantasy and SF). 1 is explicitly part of a series, 3 are not, and that question seems inapplicable to the collection.

Books Received, May 24 to May 30


Poll #33185 Books Received, May 24 to May 30
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 26


Which of these look interesting?

View Answers

Midnight on the Celestial by Julia Alexandra (March 2026)
6 (23.1%)

Fate’s Bane by C. L. Clark (September 2025)
5 (19.2%)

These Familiar Walls by C. J. Dotson (April 2026)
1 (3.8%)

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire (January 2026)
12 (46.2%)

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson (December 2025)
3 (11.5%)

Some other option (see comments)
0 (0.0%)

Cats!
21 (80.8%)

james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


Corporal Russell Gary wakes to discover that he is one of a handful of survivors of a biological attack on eastern America... and that there is no place in western America for survivors like Gary.

The Long Loud Silence By Wilson Tucker
spiralsheep: Sheep wearing an eyepatch (Default)
[personal profile] spiralsheep
- I accidentally googled kintsugi mouse and found the worst taxidermy shop I've had the misfortune to be tempted to click on.

- Living in Squares, Loving in Triangles is still the best possible title for a book about the Bloomsbury Group, although What Narcissism Means to Me remains my favourite title in any category.

- Devastating book review written in black ballpoint pen inside the front cover of a novel I saw in a charity shop: "I couldn't be bothered finishing this". Also stamped on the same page: "DISCARDED Telford & Wrekin Libraries".

- Nature is odd, but pretty: shell lerps.
feurioo: (tv: the atypical family)
[personal profile] feurioo posting in [community profile] tv_talk

Squid Game: Season 3 | Release: June 27

A failed rebellion, the death of a friend, and a secret betrayal. Picking up in the aftermath, the final season finds Gi Hun, Player 456, at his lowest point yet. But the Squid Game stops for no one, so Gi Hun will be forced to make some important choices in the face of overwhelming despair as he and the surviving players are thrust into deadlier games that test everyone’s resolve. Will Gi Hun make the right decisions, or will Frontman finally break his spirit?
Click for more K-dramas! )

2025.06.01

1 Jun 2025 06:07 am
lsanderson: (Default)
[personal profile] lsanderson
Bee-ware: truck carrying 250m honeybees overturns by US-Canada border
Washington state officials swarmed to scene to find 70,000lbs of hives and bees abuzz in a sticky situation
José Olivares
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/31/truck-bees-hives-overturns-washington

Why Trump is really going after Harvard
David Smith
in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/01/trump-harvard-authoritarianism-democracy

‘Empathy is a kind of strength’: Jacinda Ardern on kind leadership, public rage and life in Trump’s America
Young, progressive and relatable, the former prime minister of New Zealand tried to do politics differently. But six years into power, she dramatically resigned. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian’s editor-in-chief, she explains why
Katharine Viner
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/may/31/jacinda-ardern-kind-leadership-public-rage-life-trump-america

‘It’s thrilling’: almost three centuries of the Belfast News Letter go online
The surviving editions of the world’s oldest, continuously published English-language daily can now be accessed free
Michael Savage Media editor
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jun/01/worlds-oldest-daily-belfast-news-letter-go-digital

We decided to become a shoes-off house. It was more complicated than I thought
We are still in the beginning of our new shoeless lives, but already there is no turning back
Caroline Baum
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/01/shoes-off-or-on-we-decided-to-become-a-shoeless-house

Recent Canadian wildfires are record-breaking – and will threaten US air quality for days
Eric Holthaus
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/30/canada-wildfires-air-quality

‘Try to stay on your feet’: Cheese-rolling champion reveals secrets to his success
Chris Anderson, who has won Gloucestershire event 23 times, says newcomers need to be brave and devise a plan
Steven Morris
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/01/try-to-stay-on-your-feet-cheese-rolling-champion-reveals-secrets-to-his-success

This Mississippi town without a cinema inspired a hit - now it gets to see the film
Ana Faguy
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8nj2dm7keo

My latest Guardian fanworks

1 Jun 2025 01:31 pm
facethestrange: (zhubai: blush)
[personal profile] facethestrange posting in [community profile] sid_guardian
Yeah, it's been 3 days and 4 new works since my last post... :D There's one tiny SID ensemble ficlet, and everything else is Zhubai (2 fics, 1 art).

It's Not Whining, It's Poetry (68 words) by facethestrange
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018), 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Da Qing & Special Investigation Division | SID Ensemble (Guardian)
Characters: Da Qing (Guardian), Special Investigation Division | SID Ensemble (Guardian)
Additional Tags: Humor, Haiku, Background Relationships, (all of them), Special Investigation Division | SID Ensemble Shenanigans (Guardian), POV Da Qing (Guardian)
Summary: Da Qing is very, very bored at work. Bored enough to write haiku.

So Much More Delicious (446 words) by facethestrange
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
Additional Tags: Non-Explicit Sex, Established Relationship, Fluff, Banter, Tenderness
Summary: Bai Yu's embrace and his soft, sleepy voice are even warmer than the morning sunshine that fills the hotel room, and Zhu Yilong basks in them happily for a moment before replying. "Mhm. You were talking in your sleep."

You Melt Like Sugar (443 words) by facethestrange
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
Additional Tags: Implied/Referenced Sex, Established Relationship, Finger Sucking, Lollipops, Banter, Tenderness
Summary: "You and this lollipop— The things it did to me, Long-ge."

They're idly scrolling through fan comments, Long-ge's head on Bai Yu's chest, and a gif of young Shen Wei doing downright obscene things with the candy sends Bai Yu down the memory lane.

"You're the one to talk."

It's (Not) What It Looks Like by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
Additional Tags: Kissing, Fanart, Drawing
Series: Part 6 of Zhubai ~canon~ but with more kissing
Summary: This one still that looks like this. :) (Gif context.)
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
[personal profile] spikedluv
I hit the Pharmacy and the Bakery while I was downtown, then Stewart’s (for gas and milk) on the way home. I also stopped by the library to pick up more books (and spent some time later requesting more online). I did not get in a walk around the park, but I did take the dogs for a short walk when I got home. I hate having to carry an umbrella on my walks.

I did a load of laundry, a load in the dishwasher, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I also boiled the pasta to finish off the pasta salad, made cabbage salad for tomorrow, and baked chicken for the dogs’ meals. I grilled hamburgers for supper, to go with the pasta salad.

I watched some HGTV programs, finished the current Clare Fergusson mystery, visited with mom, and placed an online order for Pip.

Temps started out at 54.5(F) and reached 57.4. It rained most of the day and the wind picked up in the afternoon. Thankfully there was a lull in the rain so I could grill.


ETA: After we ate last night, Pip's buddy showed up with more BBQ chicken quarters! Pip was like, I didn't order them, I didn't ask him to get them!!! I've put the fear of BBQ chicken quarters into him, lol!
alias_sqbr: the symbol pi on a pretty background (Default)
[personal profile] alias_sqbr
A while ago I bought a copy of Steering the Craft by Ursula K Le Guin, "A revised and updated guide to the essentials of a writer’s craft" since people keep reccing it. I read through to the first exercise and then Got Stuck. But I am going to have another go now I've thought some more about what kinds of writing I actually like doing (eg fanfic), and try and keep notes as I go.
Read more... )

About me:

Parapsychological librarian and friendly neighborhood heretic.

Page Summary