banana chocolate chip cake
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Check-In Post - Feb 23rd 2026
Feb. 23rd, 2026 07:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knitted posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
get_knittedHello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.
Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?
There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.
This Week's Question: What is your favourite thing to make?
If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.
I now declare this Check-In OPEN!
Bundle of Holding: Mists of Akuma
Feb. 23rd, 2026 02:10 pmjames_davis_nicoll
A bundle for Mists of Akuma, the tabletop roleplaying campaign setting of Eastern fantasy noir steampunk from Storm Bunny Studios for Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition.
Bundle of Holding: Mists of Akuma
(no subject)
Feb. 23rd, 2026 10:43 amgreghousesgfWell, I got the phone bill taken care of, the lady who worked for the phone company was very nice and helpful. I still have to get ahold of the phone company and give them the new numbers when I get my new credit card, and DSL too but my DSL bill isn't due for about a week and a half so I'm not worried about that.
I AM worried about this asshole who works in my apt bldg. I reported a theft (not my credit card) to him and he said he reported it and he didn't. I'm getting real tired of this fucker.
Also I had to do laundry and I only had enough on my card to wash it and not dry it because I have to use my credit card to put more $$ on it. If I could run into one of my neighbors I'm on friendly terms with they might be able to help me out but they seem to be out.
I AM worried about this asshole who works in my apt bldg. I reported a theft (not my credit card) to him and he said he reported it and he didn't. I'm getting real tired of this fucker.
Also I had to do laundry and I only had enough on my card to wash it and not dry it because I have to use my credit card to put more $$ on it. If I could run into one of my neighbors I'm on friendly terms with they might be able to help me out but they seem to be out.
That educational privilege meme thing
Feb. 23rd, 2026 06:16 pmoursinAnd I'm not at all sure it's culture-neutral, hmmmm?
Okay, I had parents who had books in the house and read to me and once I could read took me to the local library to get tickets for the children's department.
No children's museums that I recall but visiting the rather dull local one attached to the public library, and visits to local sites of historical interest.
My primary school was not, I think, particularly distinguished - suspect that the year there were a whole four of us passed the 11+ was Memorable - but there were some good teachers.
I don't know how one calibrates into all this my mother knowing the teacher of Infants 1 and asking her about whether I could go to school once I had turned 5 (having an autumn birthday) and her saying, oh, send her along, on account of my mother thinking I was entirely ready.
And then the Head saying I should do the 11+ technically a year early - (which was not a given, people did get kept back)
Going to a fairly academically-intense girls' grammar school, where I did get the odd spot of class-hassle, I realise in retrospect (including from horrid Mrs B of the really weird ideas about sex), where I was marked out as university material and my parents exhorted to keep me on the sixth form -
Which they were entirely happy to do.
So yes, I was I suppose supported on my academic journey. But some of that was external factors, like the existence of that extinct phoenix, full student grants.
The Fantastic Journey: Blame Where It's Due [Amnesty 49, using Challenge 73: Laying The Blame]
Feb. 23rd, 2026 05:54 pmbadly_knitted posting in drabble_zoneTitle: Blame Where It's Due
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Fred, Willaway, Varian, Liana, Scott, Alpha.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 490: Amnesty 49, using Challenge 73: Laying The Blame.
Setting: Children of the Gods.
Summary: So far, Fred isn’t impressed with their newest travelling companion.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Fantastic Journey, or the characters. They belong to their creators.
A/N: Triple drabble.
Blame Where It's Due
Birdfeeding
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:38 amysabetwordsmithToday is partly cloudy and cold.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
.
Vending February 28: The Indie Book and Comic Expo at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls!
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:56 amduckprintspress
The last day of February, Saturday the 28th, come find us and 50+ other upstate New York authors, comic makers, indie publishers, and more at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls! This awesome event is organized by Black Walnut Books and Beldame Books. You can shop the local small businesses in the building, and find all of us at our tables throughout the hallways. It’s gonna be a great time.
(and I promise I’m not gonna get sick this time if I can possibly help it. 
)
Snow shows no sign of stopping
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:45 amconulyAnd I am trapped at work!
I mean, the buses are running, but nobody else is coming in, and it’s not a job you can just shut down for the day.
I mean, the buses are running, but nobody else is coming in, and it’s not a job you can just shut down for the day.
three Cat Sebastian books
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:14 amaurumcalendulaAfter Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian:
( Read more... )
Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian:
( Read more... )
You So Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian:
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian:
( Read more... )
You So Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian:
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
They Walked Me
Feb. 23rd, 2026 08:00 amcanyonwalkerThey walked me.
After I submitted notice of resignation from my job on Friday morning, today (Monday) I had a 7:30am meeting with HR. It was scheduled over the weekend. "They're probably going to walk me," I figured. There are few other reasons why HR would plan the meeting on the weekend and schedule it first-thing Monday morning.
Indeed my Slack access was revoked at 7:25am, confirming what was about to happen.
At 7:30 I joined the videoconference call. "I'll get right to it," the HR coordinator said. "To ensure a smooth transition we're decided to make today your last day."
"Are you firing me?" I challenged.
The HR person beat around the bush a bit, so I offered the term I think she was looking for: "You're offering me payment-in-lieu from now until my proposed March 5 resignation date? I'll have full pay and benefits until then?"
She confirmed that (as I expected) and re-stated that this is just standard company policy.
"No it's not," I challenged. "It's standard company policy for when a person is fired. I'll note specifically that when our Chief Revenue Officer announced his resignation a few months ago, he continue to work— and have executive responsibilities— until his chosen departure date."
The HR person just stared at me blankly. I didn't expect much else. She's a clerk given a message to deliver.
Then there's also the "To ensure a smooth transition" bullshit....
Ensuring a smooth transition is what I aimed to do by giving two weeks' notice. That would be bare-minimum time to hand over things I've been working on to my replacement. Instead the company has chosen to have me drop everything on the floor as I'm escorted out the proverbial door.
Within 30 seconds after we ended the meeting I was forcibly logged out of my company laptop and my account was disabled.
Buh-bye, you stupid, dishonest clowns!
After I submitted notice of resignation from my job on Friday morning, today (Monday) I had a 7:30am meeting with HR. It was scheduled over the weekend. "They're probably going to walk me," I figured. There are few other reasons why HR would plan the meeting on the weekend and schedule it first-thing Monday morning.
Indeed my Slack access was revoked at 7:25am, confirming what was about to happen.
At 7:30 I joined the videoconference call. "I'll get right to it," the HR coordinator said. "To ensure a smooth transition we're decided to make today your last day."
"Are you firing me?" I challenged.
The HR person beat around the bush a bit, so I offered the term I think she was looking for: "You're offering me payment-in-lieu from now until my proposed March 5 resignation date? I'll have full pay and benefits until then?"
She confirmed that (as I expected) and re-stated that this is just standard company policy.
"No it's not," I challenged. "It's standard company policy for when a person is fired. I'll note specifically that when our Chief Revenue Officer announced his resignation a few months ago, he continue to work— and have executive responsibilities— until his chosen departure date."
The HR person just stared at me blankly. I didn't expect much else. She's a clerk given a message to deliver.
Then there's also the "To ensure a smooth transition" bullshit....
Ensuring a smooth transition is what I aimed to do by giving two weeks' notice. That would be bare-minimum time to hand over things I've been working on to my replacement. Instead the company has chosen to have me drop everything on the floor as I'm escorted out the proverbial door.
Within 30 seconds after we ended the meeting I was forcibly logged out of my company laptop and my account was disabled.
Buh-bye, you stupid, dishonest clowns!
Daily life
Feb. 23rd, 2026 10:45 ammelaganI just spent 10 minutes looking for a screw.
It was a tiny thing and the only one I had that fit an electric outlet plate. Yes. That kind of screw.
I had it taped to the plastic outlet plate. Taped to it so I wouldn't lose it.
While rummaging in my toolbox for pliers for...(that's another story), I came across the bare, naked, screwless plate. I did eventually find the screw, and this time plate and screw are in a ziplock bag.
Huh. I wonder if that has anything to do with the explicit- definitely got screwed - fic I just posted? Balance in the universe and all that.
As long as no minor is reading over your shoulder, you can read it here.
It was a tiny thing and the only one I had that fit an electric outlet plate. Yes. That kind of screw.
I had it taped to the plastic outlet plate. Taped to it so I wouldn't lose it.
While rummaging in my toolbox for pliers for...(that's another story), I came across the bare, naked, screwless plate. I did eventually find the screw, and this time plate and screw are in a ziplock bag.
Huh. I wonder if that has anything to do with the explicit- definitely got screwed - fic I just posted? Balance in the universe and all that.
As long as no minor is reading over your shoulder, you can read it here.
Call the Midwife S15E01 got the history irritatingly wrong (spoiler under cut)
Feb. 23rd, 2026 07:56 ambrightknightieI watch Masterpiece on PBS Passport streaming these days, not over the airwaves, but I still watch on Sunday nights, wrapping up the weekend as I have since at least Downton Abbey. Last night, I watched the finale of season 6 of All Creatures Great and Small (set at the first Christmas after WWII), which was a solid and satisfying, if busy, episode, and also the premiere of season 15 of Call the Midwife (set in 1971), which was also busy, but neither solid nor satisfying.
(On broadcast, Call the Midwife won't premiere until March 22 in North America. Come, support PBS and watch a month early!)
I love historical fiction, but I do need it to get the history mostly right. We all make mistakes sometimes! It's so easy to fall for an urban legend historical fallacy! But. This show has an entire staff, any of whom could have used even just Wikipedia at any point to spot-check this particular item and learn that it's not only false, but a deliberate slander/sarcasm against what the episode was trying ineptly to celebrate and ended up trivializing. Not every historical fiction show can be The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles for citations, but I remember when Doctor Quinn: Medicine Woman would sometimes end on a screen with a simple text paragraph about the real history of whatever the episode was depicting. Movies depicting real historical people do that regularly. And some novels. Maybe all historical fiction should try that, just to prompt someone to double-check.
Call the Midwife was so exceedingly excellent in its earliest days, when it was still directly based on the memoirs of the real Jennifer Worth. The farther it gets from that -- now in season 15! -- the more often it trips. ( Spoilers for what this episode messed up )
(On broadcast, Call the Midwife won't premiere until March 22 in North America. Come, support PBS and watch a month early!)
I love historical fiction, but I do need it to get the history mostly right. We all make mistakes sometimes! It's so easy to fall for an urban legend historical fallacy! But. This show has an entire staff, any of whom could have used even just Wikipedia at any point to spot-check this particular item and learn that it's not only false, but a deliberate slander/sarcasm against what the episode was trying ineptly to celebrate and ended up trivializing. Not every historical fiction show can be The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles for citations, but I remember when Doctor Quinn: Medicine Woman would sometimes end on a screen with a simple text paragraph about the real history of whatever the episode was depicting. Movies depicting real historical people do that regularly. And some novels. Maybe all historical fiction should try that, just to prompt someone to double-check.
Call the Midwife was so exceedingly excellent in its earliest days, when it was still directly based on the memoirs of the real Jennifer Worth. The farther it gets from that -- now in season 15! -- the more often it trips. ( Spoilers for what this episode messed up )
A Brief Survey of Canadian Political Thrillers
Feb. 23rd, 2026 10:02 amjames_davis_nicoll
You may be surprised to learn that "Canadian thriller" is not an oxymoron.
A Brief Survey of Canadian Political Thrillers
I am not naked right now
Feb. 23rd, 2026 09:30 amlauradi7dwI have seen a few posts based on a prompt with some questions. The last question is something about what's the last time you spent most of the day naked. Is that something people actually want to know about their followers? My immediate thought was of Diane Arbus's photos of folks at nudist camps in the mid 1960s. The one that stands out in my mind is someone sitting on a leatherette sofa. I don't object to nudity but I do object personally to the icky feeling against one's skin of that kind of surface (still true if you're wearing shorts or a bathing suit or whatever - you don't have to be naked). The weather doesn't matter. Hanging around naked all day sounds uncomfortable to me, not fun. So I'm not naked now, but I'm not wearing as many clothes as usual. We are in the midst of a possible blizzard (apparently you can't declare it a definite blizzard until after the fact, because you need at least three hours of a certain measured level of sustained winds). The snow is denser/heavier this time than some of the fluff (even deep fluff) from earlier this winter, meaning tree limbs and wires are at risk. Since it was predicted that many people would lose power, there have been lists of preparations (charging things, etc.). One of them was to turn your heat up so that if you lose power it would take longer to get to a really cold feeling interior. I keep the house at 55 F because of guilt about wastefulness and carbon emissions. This requires wearing layers while I'm hanging around the house. I turned the thermostat up by 10 degrees late last night, to what I gather is normal baseline for some people. I'm lucky (so far) with the electricity so I'm about to turn the thermostat back down. In the meantime, I am wearing just a t shirt on top (not two or three more layers), and when I rowed this morning I was uncomfortably sweaty. I have become acclimated to my indoor climate. I feel overheated in a lot of public places, but I don't spend as much time there, I guess. By contrast, the ringing room at Old North is cooler than my house during the winter. My hands still get stiff and dry in the winter, though.
mountweazel
Feb. 23rd, 2026 07:44 amprettygoodwordmountweazel or Mountweazel (MOUNT-wee-zuhl) - n., a deliberately fictitious entry in an encyclopedia or academic work, generally identifiable as false, planted among the genuine entries to catch other publishers in the act of copying content.
A form of copyright trap. TIL the German word for this is a nihilartikel, now sometimes also used in English. Coined in 2005 by Henry Alford in The New Yorker from an fictitious entry in the 1975 edition of the New Columbia Encyclopedia for one Lillian Virginia Mountweazel, a supposed photographer who died on assignment while covering an explosion for the equally fictitious Combustibles magazine.
---L.
A form of copyright trap. TIL the German word for this is a nihilartikel, now sometimes also used in English. Coined in 2005 by Henry Alford in The New Yorker from an fictitious entry in the 1975 edition of the New Columbia Encyclopedia for one Lillian Virginia Mountweazel, a supposed photographer who died on assignment while covering an explosion for the equally fictitious Combustibles magazine.
---L.
Old Friends: The Professionals: Fanfiction: Watching
Feb. 23rd, 2026 02:13 pmlucy_roman posting in fan_flashworksTitle: Watching
Author:lucy_roman
Rating: Mature
Summary: Bodie is watching Doyle flirt with another man
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Word Count: 1,101
( Watching )
Author:
lucy_romanRating: Mature
Summary: Bodie is watching Doyle flirt with another man
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Word Count: 1,101
( Watching )
Updates to “No Fandom” Additional Tags, February 2026
Feb. 23rd, 2026 01:02 pmotw_news_feedAO3 Tag Wranglers continue to test processes for wrangling canonical additional tags (tags that appear in the auto-complete) which don’t belong to any particular fandom (also known as “No Fandom” tags). This post overviews some of these upcoming changes.
In this round of updates, we continued to adjust existing canonical “No Fandom” tags to add or remove new subtag and metatag relationships. We also continued to streamline creating new canonical tags, prioritizing more straightforward updates which would have less discussion compared to renaming current canonical tags or creating new canonical tags which touch on more complex topics. This method also reviews new tags on a regular basis, so check back on AO3 News for periodic “No Fandom” tag announcements.
None of these updates change the tags users have added to works. If a user-created tag is considered to have the same meaning as a new canonical, it will be made a synonym of one of these newly created canonical tags, and works with that user-created tag will appear when the canonical tag is selected.
In short, these changes only affect which tags appear in AO3’s auto-complete and filters. You can and should continue to tag your works however you prefer.
New Canonicals
The following concepts have been made new canonical tags:
- Accidental Sibling Acquisition
- Balls & Galas
- Banquets & Feasts
- Charity Balls & Galas
- Royal Balls & Galas
- Balls | Testicles
- Hyper Balls | Testicles
- Large Balls | Testicles
- Bonding Over Trauma
- Characters Being Bad at Feelings
- Everyone is Bad at Feelings
- Characters Whimpering
- Chase and Capture Kink
- Child Trafficking
- Sex Trafficking
- Claws
- Female Characters Orgasming
- Generational Trauma
- Head Pats
- Hiding an Illness
- Hiding Injuries
- Intrusive Thoughts
- Long One Shot
- Past Bullying
- Simp Characters
- Subtitles Available
- Tentacle Bondage
- Thigh Riding
Subtag/Metatag Revisions
Additionally, we continued to adjust existing canonical tags to add or remove new subtag and metatag relationships, which help users find related content and filter in/out content as they browse works on AO3.
- Alternate Universe – Post-Apocalypse is now a subtag of Post-Apocalypse
- Post-Zombie Apocalypse is now a subtag of Post-Apocalypse
- Babies is now a subtag of Children
- Survival Horror is now a subtag of Horror
- Radio has been removed as a subtag from Technology
In Conclusion
While some of these tags may be tags and concepts you’re intimately familiar with, others may be concepts you’ve never heard of before. Fortunately, our fellow OTW volunteers at Fanlore may be able to help! As you may have seen in the comments sections of previous posts, Fanlore is a fantastic resource for learning more about these common fandom concepts, and about the history and lore of fandom in general. For the curious, here’s a quick look at a few articles about concepts related to this month’s new canonical tags:
While we won’t be announcing every change we make to No Fandom canonical tags, you can expect similar updates in the future about tags we believe will most affect users. If you’re interested in the changes we’ll be making, you can continue to check AO3 News or follow us on Bluesky @wranglers.archiveofourown.org or Tumblr @ao3org for future announcements.
You can also read previous updates on “No Fandom” tags as well as other wrangling updates, linked below:
- Past “No Fandom” Additional Tags Updates and 5 Things Said by Wrangling Volunteers
- Past Fandom-Specific and “No Fandom” Tag Wrangling Change Posts
For more information about AO3’s tag system, check out our Tags FAQ.
In addition to providing technical help, AO3 Support also handles requests related to how tags are sorted and connected. If you have questions about specific tags, which were first used over a month ago and are unrelated to any of the new canonical tags listed above, please contact Support instead of leaving a comment on this post.
Please keep in mind that discussions about what tags to canonize and what format they should take are ongoing. As a result, not all related concepts will be canonized at the same time. This does not mean that related or similar concepts will not be canonized in the future or that we have chosen to canonize one specific concept in lieu of another, simply that we likely either haven’t gotten to that related concept yet or that it needs further discussion and will take a bit longer for us to canonize it as a result. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Lastly, we’re still working on implementing changes and connecting relevant user-created tags to these new canonicals, so it’ll be some time before these updates are complete. If you have questions about specific tags which should be connected to these new canonicals, please refrain from contacting Support about them until at least three months from now to give us adequate time to do so.
The Organization for Transformative Works is the non-profit parent organization of multiple projects including Archive of Our Own, Fanlore, Open Doors, OTW Legal Advocacy, and Transformative Works and Cultures. We are a fan-run, donor-supported organization staffed by volunteers. Find out more about us on our website.
even gay love can end. even the absolutely most gayest of loves can end :(
Feb. 20th, 2026 12:00 amdinosaur_comics_feed| archive - contact - sexy exciting merchandise - search - about |
| ← previous | February 20th, 2026 | next |
February 20th, 2026: Thanks everyone who came out to Vancouver Fan Expo! I had a ton of fun and really enjoyed all the chats!! – Ryan | ||
the good faucets
Feb. 23rd, 2026 03:04 pmcimoreneOne of the many things we learned by doing them wrong when initially renovating this house when we bought it was that you can't just go to the hardware store and buy an affordable faucet for a sink.
I mean, you can, but you shouldn't. There are cheap, crappy faucets at these stores!
What you should do is buy the reliable, standard, plumber-recommended workhorse brand of faucets, even if they cost a lot more.
So we have three faucets in our house, and two of them are ones we picked out at a hardware store and have given trouble from day one, and one is one that the plumber brought with him, and is a standard model of the standard brand that is in all the apartments around here.
The crappy kitchen faucet finally, after being a headache for the last six years, reached the end of its usable lifespan a couple of days ago when I turned it on and there was a loud KACHUNK! noise and then the two little plastic screen-thingies that were apparently just GLUED in the opening shot out into the sink. They were broken and impossible to put back. Since then the faucet has just had a big round open end like a garden hose (lol), and when you turn it on the water shoots out and sprays across whatever you're wearing unless you very carefully turn it on only a little tiny bit.
We have learned our lesson and are going to buy the same brand that's in our downstairs bathroom sink this time. We are not 100% sure if we can install it ourselves, in spite of having watched people installing sinks so many times in videos. I guess I need to watch a few more of those and then if we give up we can always call a handyman (we hope to avoid this because we don't like calling people).
I mean, you can, but you shouldn't. There are cheap, crappy faucets at these stores!
What you should do is buy the reliable, standard, plumber-recommended workhorse brand of faucets, even if they cost a lot more.
So we have three faucets in our house, and two of them are ones we picked out at a hardware store and have given trouble from day one, and one is one that the plumber brought with him, and is a standard model of the standard brand that is in all the apartments around here.
The crappy kitchen faucet finally, after being a headache for the last six years, reached the end of its usable lifespan a couple of days ago when I turned it on and there was a loud KACHUNK! noise and then the two little plastic screen-thingies that were apparently just GLUED in the opening shot out into the sink. They were broken and impossible to put back. Since then the faucet has just had a big round open end like a garden hose (lol), and when you turn it on the water shoots out and sprays across whatever you're wearing unless you very carefully turn it on only a little tiny bit.
We have learned our lesson and are going to buy the same brand that's in our downstairs bathroom sink this time. We are not 100% sure if we can install it ourselves, in spite of having watched people installing sinks so many times in videos. I guess I need to watch a few more of those and then if we give up we can always call a handyman (we hope to avoid this because we don't like calling people).
Paint Challenge: S.W.A.T.: Fan Fiction: Happy Family
Feb. 23rd, 2026 07:57 amdarkjediqueen posting in fan_flashworksTitle: Happy Family
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: No Warnings Apply
Fandom: S.W.A.T.
Relationships: Donovan Rocker/Molly Hicks
Tags: Established Relationship, Fluff
Summary: Watching Donny with their daughter tells her that the twins will be loved by Donny just as much.
Word Count: 1,486
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: No Warnings Apply
Fandom: S.W.A.T.
Relationships: Donovan Rocker/Molly Hicks
Tags: Established Relationship, Fluff
Summary: Watching Donny with their daughter tells her that the twins will be loved by Donny just as much.
Word Count: 1,486
( Story )
Springing
Feb. 22nd, 2026 11:50 amcosmolinguistToday is a good day because I came downstairs to find that the house was warm enough that the heating hadn't needed to kick in, which is so much more comfortable for me.
First thing I noticed when I went outside yesterday was that it smelled like a rainy spring day instead of a rainy winter day.
I am so ready for fresh air and open windows.
Solitary Challenge: The Fantastic Journey: Fanfic: Alone And Lonely
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:11 ambadly_knitted posting in fan_flashworksTitle: Alone And Lonely
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Jonathan Willaway.
Rating: PG
Setting: Beyond the Mountain.
Summary: Jonathan Willaway has never been particularly sociable, but being alone doesn’t suit him either.
Word Count: 300
Content Notes: Nada.
Written For: Challenge 501: Amnesty 83, using Challenge 30: Solitary.
Disclaimer: I don’t own The Fantastic Journey, or the characters. They belong to their creators.
A/N: Triple drabble.
Drabblethon: A Good Laugh: The Fantastic Journey
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:08 ambadly_knitted posting in small_fandomsTitle: A Good Laugh
Fandom: The Fantastic Journey
Summary: Sil-El gives the travellers something to laugh at.
( A Good Laugh... )
The Zon is up to more nonsense + romantasy authors resisting
Feb. 23rd, 2026 02:09 pmadoreI posted here about Amazon behaving oddly with my KDP account. I have since got wind of more information about Amazon and some recent choices it's been making.
Firstly, I subscribe to the I Heart SapphFic newsletter. They spotlight sapphic fiction and queer authors, and keep the lights on through user donations, author ads, but mostly Amazon Affiliate links. Well, turns out that Amazon has recently taken to removing queer books and books they guess are steamy from their Affiliate Program.
Amazon has also "suppressed their findability" as I found out via a newsletter from Lissette Marshall, a romantasy author. Lissette and several other romantasy authors made a charity anthology to fight book bans (the proceeds go to PEN America) in response to these changes at the Zon and other tech giants. The anthology, Romantasy Rebels, was banned twice by the Zon, and the second time, they terminated the KDP account of the author uploading it.
Reading that and imagining myself in Vela's shoes, I feel indescribable. Anger, terror, and I don't know the words for what else. Vela Roth is in Kindle Unlimited, and she's a full-time romantasy author, which means her entire livelihood was on Amazon. And Amazon just deleted it all, just like that. I'm so relieved that the bookish community was able to help her and that her books and livelihood are reinstated now. Quoting Lissette again:
So, yeah. That's what's going on. I feel better about having to unpublish Bloodhunt Academy now, because it was a queer book and Amazon is clearly not a home for it.
As for Romantasy Rebels, it's being sold wide (so it's on all the major ebook retailers, not just Amazon) and will be available until the end of the month. Proceeds will go to PEN America. There's also a charity auction organised by romantasy authors, called The Books They Can't Burn, and its proceeds will also go to PEN America. The charity auction has a variety of items that one can bid on, including ebook omnibuses, signed special editions, Zoom chats with authors, etc. I even saw a fight scene consult with a martial artist, how fun. It looks like several people are bidding on everything so I'm glad it's going well!
Firstly, I subscribe to the I Heart SapphFic newsletter. They spotlight sapphic fiction and queer authors, and keep the lights on through user donations, author ads, but mostly Amazon Affiliate links. Well, turns out that Amazon has recently taken to removing queer books and books they guess are steamy from their Affiliate Program.
Amazon has also "suppressed their findability" as I found out via a newsletter from Lissette Marshall, a romantasy author. Lissette and several other romantasy authors made a charity anthology to fight book bans (the proceeds go to PEN America) in response to these changes at the Zon and other tech giants. The anthology, Romantasy Rebels, was banned twice by the Zon, and the second time, they terminated the KDP account of the author uploading it.
Not only was Romantasy Rebels unavailable a second time, but my good friend Vela Roth, who had volunteered to host the anthology on her account, lost her entire livelihood between one moment and the next.
Between you and me -- I don't think I've ever been so angry in my life.
The upside is that, as always, the bookish community stands up for each other! Thanks to friends with helpful connections, from Amazon reps to legal advice, we've managed to reverse the (unfounded) decision on their end and get Vela's books and our anthology back 🔥 (But my goodness, it was a long, long 24 hours that I hope to never experience again.)
Reading that and imagining myself in Vela's shoes, I feel indescribable. Anger, terror, and I don't know the words for what else. Vela Roth is in Kindle Unlimited, and she's a full-time romantasy author, which means her entire livelihood was on Amazon. And Amazon just deleted it all, just like that. I'm so relieved that the bookish community was able to help her and that her books and livelihood are reinstated now. Quoting Lissette again:
Amazon fuckery took down our charity anthology twice, and almost ended a wonderful author's career in the process. In addition to all else, the experience has been a frightening reminder of just how dependent indie authors are on a very small number of tech companies who don't particularly like spice, or marginalised people, or, you know, democracy.
So, yeah. That's what's going on. I feel better about having to unpublish Bloodhunt Academy now, because it was a queer book and Amazon is clearly not a home for it.
As for Romantasy Rebels, it's being sold wide (so it's on all the major ebook retailers, not just Amazon) and will be available until the end of the month. Proceeds will go to PEN America. There's also a charity auction organised by romantasy authors, called The Books They Can't Burn, and its proceeds will also go to PEN America. The charity auction has a variety of items that one can bid on, including ebook omnibuses, signed special editions, Zoom chats with authors, etc. I even saw a fight scene consult with a martial artist, how fun. It looks like several people are bidding on everything so I'm glad it's going well!
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries: 23 February 2026 (Lenten Devotional)
Feb. 23rd, 2026 03:37 amsparowePERSONAL
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Now it happened that as [Jesus] was praying alone, the disciples were with Him. And He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And He strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9:18-22)
I wonder what it was like for the disciples, invited into such a personal area of Jesus’ own life. I mean, it says that Jesus was praying alone—and yet, it also says, “the disciples were with Him.” And they would have heard every word He said, all the concerns on His heart—because in that time and place, people almost always prayed aloud. It must have been like being invited into Jesus’ heart.
Clearly Jesus had some very important things to talk with His Father about. His mission to save us from sin and death would have been at the top of the list. No wonder Peter was able to identify Jesus as “the Christ of God!” Though he doesn’t seem to have understood that Jesus was planning to suffer, die, and rise from the dead in order to carry out His work. Listening to Him pray, and living with Him daily, wasn’t enough for Peter to understand. Not yet. But we understand—because Jesus did these things for us, too.
WE PRAY: Thank You for loving me, dear Lord. Amen.
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
The Horror
Feb. 23rd, 2026 07:24 ampoliphilo I dreamed our garden was full of junk- and we were clearing it away and burning it so the children from the school next door could come in and work and play.
Now there's symbolism you don't have to work too hard to understand.
I gather the police are treating Prince Andrew's former home- Royal Lodge- as a crime scene, taking up floorboards and thrusting remote control cameras into areas that are hard of access.
And attention is shifting from Little St James to the Zorro ranch. There are reports of bodies being buried there.
Early trawls through the files concentrated on mentions of the current president. He had had his people redact and redact again but even so he was all over them- and the evidence was damning. Now attention is focused on other names and other oddities. What exactly is this obsession the Epstein class had with food- and cheap food at that? Do "pizza", "grape soda" and "jerky" mean what we are coming to think they mean?
How do you talk about any of this? Words like "horror" are shopworn. I find myself veering aside into euphemism and even humour. Perhaps the best mode is the straightforward reporting of fact.
Now there's symbolism you don't have to work too hard to understand.
I gather the police are treating Prince Andrew's former home- Royal Lodge- as a crime scene, taking up floorboards and thrusting remote control cameras into areas that are hard of access.
And attention is shifting from Little St James to the Zorro ranch. There are reports of bodies being buried there.
Early trawls through the files concentrated on mentions of the current president. He had had his people redact and redact again but even so he was all over them- and the evidence was damning. Now attention is focused on other names and other oddities. What exactly is this obsession the Epstein class had with food- and cheap food at that? Do "pizza", "grape soda" and "jerky" mean what we are coming to think they mean?
How do you talk about any of this? Words like "horror" are shopworn. I find myself veering aside into euphemism and even humour. Perhaps the best mode is the straightforward reporting of fact.
Monday Update 2-23-26
Feb. 23rd, 2026 12:37 amysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds"
Poem: "Embrace My Fate"
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds Order
Poem: "The Spectrum of Your Being"
Early Humans
Birdfeeding
Vocabulary: Bricolage
Today's Adventures
Science
Birdfeeding
Meteor Shower Calendar
Philosophical Questions: Life
Edible Landscaping Order
Meme
Photos: House Yard
Water
Birdfeeding
Books
Follow Friday 2-20-26: Active Communities on Dreamwidth Winter 2025-2026 A-I
Energy
Birdfeeding
Community Thursdays
Photos: Flowerbeds
Books
Birdfeeding
Hard Things
Safety has 49 comments. Food has 53 comments. Wildlife has 39 comments. Food has 67 comments. Robotics has 146 comments.
Last week's half-price sale in Not Quite Kansas went well. All sponsored poems have been posted, so you can find those via the title links on the sale page.
The 2026 Rose and Bay Awards are now open for excellence in crowdfunding. It's time to vote for your favorite projects!
The award period for eligible activities spans January 1-December 31, 2025.
The nomination period spans January 1-January 31, 2026.
The voting period spans February 1-February 28, 2026.
These are the handlers for the 2026 award season:
"The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds" belongs to Not Quite Kansas and needs $34.50 to be complete. Raymond and Gideon get attacked on the way home from research.
The weather has been variable here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large flock of sparrows, several starlings, one male and two female house finches, one female and two male cardinals, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel. I flushed the great horned owl from the ritual meadow when I went out there. A skein of geese flew overhead, going north. Currently blooming: crocuses.
Poem: "The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds"
Poem: "Embrace My Fate"
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds Order
Poem: "The Spectrum of Your Being"
Early Humans
Birdfeeding
Vocabulary: Bricolage
Today's Adventures
Science
Birdfeeding
Meteor Shower Calendar
Philosophical Questions: Life
Edible Landscaping Order
Meme
Photos: House Yard
Water
Birdfeeding
Books
Follow Friday 2-20-26: Active Communities on Dreamwidth Winter 2025-2026 A-I
Energy
Birdfeeding
Community Thursdays
Photos: Flowerbeds
Books
Birdfeeding
Hard Things
Safety has 49 comments. Food has 53 comments. Wildlife has 39 comments. Food has 67 comments. Robotics has 146 comments.
Last week's half-price sale in Not Quite Kansas went well. All sponsored poems have been posted, so you can find those via the title links on the sale page.
The 2026 Rose and Bay Awards are now open for excellence in crowdfunding. It's time to vote for your favorite projects!
The award period for eligible activities spans January 1-December 31, 2025.
The nomination period spans January 1-January 31, 2026.
The voting period spans February 1-February 28, 2026.
These are the handlers for the 2026 award season:
Art:
Fiction:
Poetry:
Webcomic:
Other Project:
Patron:
"The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds" belongs to Not Quite Kansas and needs $34.50 to be complete. Raymond and Gideon get attacked on the way home from research.
The weather has been variable here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large flock of sparrows, several starlings, one male and two female house finches, one female and two male cardinals, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel. I flushed the great horned owl from the ritual meadow when I went out there. A skein of geese flew overhead, going north. Currently blooming: crocuses.
