Bits and pieces, catching up
Feb. 23rd, 2026 04:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mificI've been busy lately with several things on the go - doing HR art for the ICE OUT donations challenge, recording a long SGA podfic for the Podfic Big Bang (And Hope by Sihaya Black), and trying to fit in recording a couple of shorter ones for Romancing McShep and Romancing SGA, as well. Oof. Plus a lot of HR fic reading. I've accepted that it's impossible to keep up in any meaningful sense, and just surf along reading stuff I see reccd or authors I know I like a lot, and the few WIPs I'm following. Eventually I guess I'll catch up with numerous gems in the fandom that I missed in this avalanche of new fics, many of them extremely good.
In terms of reading very good authors, I had an exceptionally obsessive episode today where I started a story by one of my fave HR writers and couldn't read it. Because (unlike in ALL their other fics) they'd chosen to do all the Ilya POV narration in Ilya-speak, with most of the articles dropped. Russian doesn't have separate articles, I gather, because the distinction between "a ball" & "the ball" is done with word order - which is why in English, Russians often drop their articles. An example:
1. Девушка читает книгу. (The girl is reading a book)
2. Книгу читает девушка. (The girl is reading the book)
In both sentences, the meaning is nearly the same. However, in Sentence 2, the placement of “книгу” (book) at the beginning, before “девушка” (girl), highlights the importance of the book and implies a specific book.
The parts of the fic where it was Ilya's dialogue were fine because that portrays his actual speech, but the narrative (for me) is his thoughts (internal narration) in tight 3rd POV and there's NO WAY he'd be dropping "articles" in his thinking in Russian. It made him seem stupid, which he very much isn't, and I couldn't bear to read it. So I just now copied it into Word and betaed it, adding back in all the articles from his narrative POV parts. If you recognise the fic, hit me up in a DM and I'll share the edited version. It's a bloody good fic otherwise, 9000 words.
Life's been quiet apart from reccing, writing, arting and podficcing, and I'm looking forward to a dinner out with friends this Wednesday. Also enjoying sweet corn, and the start of the stone fruit season, with gorgeous nectarines. My garden is blowsy and straggly now, in late summer, and I need to take some time (ha!) to trim it back a bit. It's still warm here, about 22-24 degC highs, usually, and drier of late so I'm still watering the entire garden by hand every 3 days.
One bloody annoying thing that happened was that my credit card was hacked back at the end of January (picked up via notifications coming up on my phone from my banking app asking me to approve a bunch of things I hadn't bought). Luckily all smallish purchases (kids? An unambitious thief, anyway) and I think the bank will refund them. But that meant cancelling that card and them mailing me another (a process I last went through several months ago). And then the mailed card never arrived (presumed stolen from my letterbox) and I got another couple of false transactions on the new card that I hadn't even seen yet! So yet another card cancellation and this time I got it mailed to my bank. I was very glad that after the last debacle several months ago I'd arranged a second credit card via my other bank (I have accounts at 2 banks for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture).
Anyway, in terms of recs:
- I'm reading all Evilharlowe's HR works on AO3 - they really are a fantastic writer.
- Happened on a great short edit that sets Shane and Ilya's tuna melt hiatus to a Chappel Roan song (The Subway - amazing song) - heartrending edit, very well done, but man, I wish it were a full-sized fanvid.
- Bringing to your attention this workout video by Hudson Williams. Leg day and his skincare routine are really paying off! (CN for casual mentions of eating extreme diets or 'not eating' to make his body fit acting roles. Which is worrying but probably routine for actors.)
- there's a LOT of HR podfic by now and every day there are 1 or 2 new ones. It's a great way to revisit fics I read and loved while I do art. For example,cathexys podficced Magneticwave's Clear to a Hedgehog. This link gets you HR podfic on AO3.
Enough for now. Waving at you all - hope things are going as well as they can.! 💗
In terms of reading very good authors, I had an exceptionally obsessive episode today where I started a story by one of my fave HR writers and couldn't read it. Because (unlike in ALL their other fics) they'd chosen to do all the Ilya POV narration in Ilya-speak, with most of the articles dropped. Russian doesn't have separate articles, I gather, because the distinction between "a ball" & "the ball" is done with word order - which is why in English, Russians often drop their articles. An example:
1. Девушка читает книгу. (The girl is reading a book)
2. Книгу читает девушка. (The girl is reading the book)
In both sentences, the meaning is nearly the same. However, in Sentence 2, the placement of “книгу” (book) at the beginning, before “девушка” (girl), highlights the importance of the book and implies a specific book.
The parts of the fic where it was Ilya's dialogue were fine because that portrays his actual speech, but the narrative (for me) is his thoughts (internal narration) in tight 3rd POV and there's NO WAY he'd be dropping "articles" in his thinking in Russian. It made him seem stupid, which he very much isn't, and I couldn't bear to read it. So I just now copied it into Word and betaed it, adding back in all the articles from his narrative POV parts. If you recognise the fic, hit me up in a DM and I'll share the edited version. It's a bloody good fic otherwise, 9000 words.
Life's been quiet apart from reccing, writing, arting and podficcing, and I'm looking forward to a dinner out with friends this Wednesday. Also enjoying sweet corn, and the start of the stone fruit season, with gorgeous nectarines. My garden is blowsy and straggly now, in late summer, and I need to take some time (ha!) to trim it back a bit. It's still warm here, about 22-24 degC highs, usually, and drier of late so I'm still watering the entire garden by hand every 3 days.
One bloody annoying thing that happened was that my credit card was hacked back at the end of January (picked up via notifications coming up on my phone from my banking app asking me to approve a bunch of things I hadn't bought). Luckily all smallish purchases (kids? An unambitious thief, anyway) and I think the bank will refund them. But that meant cancelling that card and them mailing me another (a process I last went through several months ago). And then the mailed card never arrived (presumed stolen from my letterbox) and I got another couple of false transactions on the new card that I hadn't even seen yet! So yet another card cancellation and this time I got it mailed to my bank. I was very glad that after the last debacle several months ago I'd arranged a second credit card via my other bank (I have accounts at 2 banks for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture).
Anyway, in terms of recs:
- I'm reading all Evilharlowe's HR works on AO3 - they really are a fantastic writer.
- Happened on a great short edit that sets Shane and Ilya's tuna melt hiatus to a Chappel Roan song (The Subway - amazing song) - heartrending edit, very well done, but man, I wish it were a full-sized fanvid.
- Bringing to your attention this workout video by Hudson Williams. Leg day and his skincare routine are really paying off! (CN for casual mentions of eating extreme diets or 'not eating' to make his body fit acting roles. Which is worrying but probably routine for actors.)
- there's a LOT of HR podfic by now and every day there are 1 or 2 new ones. It's a great way to revisit fics I read and loved while I do art. For example,
cathexys podficced Magneticwave's Clear to a Hedgehog. This link gets you HR podfic on AO3.Enough for now. Waving at you all - hope things are going as well as they can.! 💗
Daily Happiness
Feb. 22nd, 2026 09:04 pmtorachan1. We had a very nice morning at Disneyland today. A little warm (I wore a sweatshirt when we got in and had to take it off about halfway through, so then I had to lug it around the rest of the time, which was annoying) and a little crowded, but we ate a lot of good food and had a good time.
2. Poor Tuxie looks like he got in a scuffle again. Yesterday he came to the door with one eye partially closed and the fur between his eye and ear on that side scraped up. He's looking better today (eye fully open) and unlike some times before where he disappeared for a few days to hunker down, he has been spending his time in our yard as usual, so hopefully he's doing okay. I do wish he wouldn't get in fights. :-/
3. Jasper is just hanging out.
2. Poor Tuxie looks like he got in a scuffle again. Yesterday he came to the door with one eye partially closed and the fur between his eye and ear on that side scraped up. He's looking better today (eye fully open) and unlike some times before where he disappeared for a few days to hunker down, he has been spending his time in our yard as usual, so hopefully he's doing okay. I do wish he wouldn't get in fights. :-/
3. Jasper is just hanging out.
Poem: "Embrace My Fate"
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:39 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the October 6, 2020 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from librarygeek. It also fills the "How do you want to do this?" square in my 10-1-20 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Not Quite Kansas.
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the more detailed warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes feeling lost, sorting through a lair acquired by combat, reference to past abuse, cursed artifacts, damned souls, worry, magical body modification, restraint for safety, awkward emotional discussions, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
librarygeek. It also fills the "How do you want to do this?" square in my 10-1-20 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Not Quite Kansas.Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the more detailed warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes feeling lost, sorting through a lair acquired by combat, reference to past abuse, cursed artifacts, damned souls, worry, magical body modification, restraint for safety, awkward emotional discussions, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds Order
Feb. 22nd, 2026 09:41 pmysabetwordsmithI picked out what I wanted from John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds. This catalog has the Safe Seed Pledge, meaning everything is non-GMO/toxin-free. My partner Doug further notes that they have the best, easiest ordering system of all the catalogs we use. Call up the Smart Order Form and when you key in the product number, the rest autofills, tells you if it's still in stock, and lists the price. \o/ Somegeek earned their coffee today!
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Recommendation: Pity and Terror - Slings & Arrows, Geoffrey/Darren and a production of Medea
Feb. 22nd, 2026 11:05 pmpetraPity and Terror (463 words) by RiaSaun
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Slings and Arrows, Medea - Fandom
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Geoffrey Tennant, Darren Nichols
Additional Tags: Humor, Drama
Summary:
This was inspired by one of the first fanworks I ever put on the AO3, back in my Slings & Arrows heyday. It has an excellent use of Darren Nichols' off-kilter genius.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Slings and Arrows, Medea - Fandom
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Geoffrey Tennant, Darren Nichols
Additional Tags: Humor, Drama
Summary:
Darren sells Geoffrey on a production. This is inspired by Petra's "Grace and a Cod-piece."
*This was inspired by one of the first fanworks I ever put on the AO3, back in my Slings & Arrows heyday. It has an excellent use of Darren Nichols' off-kilter genius.
2026 Disneyland Trip #10 (2/22/26)
Feb. 22nd, 2026 06:28 pmtorachanToday is Anaheim Ducks Day at DCA and I specifically made a reservation for today rather than Saturday (our usual), not because either of us care anything about hockey or the Ducks, but because last year we just happened to be there on that day and had an amazing burrito that they only serve on Ducks Day lol.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Falling.
Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:42 pmhannahThe travel ban's up. Schools are going back to remote learning. Nobody's going anywhere if they can help it. I'd figured this was coming, and it's nice that it's settling in. The snow's coming down steadily and I can faintly hear human voices - going from where the light's coming from, the people in the next building over are either hosting some friends or having a very loud party by themselves. Either way, it's warm human voices on a cold night.
Not a dark night, though. The clouds aren't letting that happen. It's one of the nicer parts of nighttime snow.
Not a dark night, though. The clouds aren't letting that happen. It's one of the nicer parts of nighttime snow.
Sunday Check-in
Feb. 22nd, 2026 06:34 pmmxcatmoonNot doing anything structured at the moment, just ala carte work. I still have some stuff to catch up on, like I haven't posted all my three-sentence fic that I wrote over here yet.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
i don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you
Feb. 22nd, 2026 07:30 pmmusesfoolI got up to watch the hockey this morning and despite Team USA pulling it off in OT, I do not accept that Bill Guerin was proved right in his choices. Eighty-five percent of the game was played in their defensive end and they only won because Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head. Maybe a little more scoring power on the team could have given them some breathing room. I am just saying. I'm happy for Hellebuyck and the Hughes brothers, and I got a little teary when they brought out the Gaudreau jersey and his kids, and I'm not gonna lie, watching Jon Cooper and Connor McDavid (along with Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, and Brad Marchand) lose was pleasing to me on a deep, personal level, but overall, I'd still have preferred the Finns or the Swedes take home the gold.
I then baked some oatmeal for breakfast for the week, and made macaroni salad for a few days of lunch, and then for dinner, I made angel hair as planned, though when I actually read the recipe, it was not anything new to me - it was what I always do for a super quick tomato sauce, except they were adding chile crisp to it, which I guess is the thing nowadays - every recipe I read has chile crisp in it, but I'm not really a chile crisp person. I have the heat tolerance (in terms of spiciness, though I also don't like my food super hot temperature-wise either) of the whitest baby you know.
Anyway! It is a super easy but delicious meal and if you don't mind waiting a few extra minutes, you can do it all in one pot. Boil your pasta - angel hair is best for this, imo - and reserve a cup of pasta water before you drain it. Return the pot to the stove over low heat and add in a nice glug of olive oil (2 tbsp if you need a measurement), and then add a whole can or tube of tomato paste to the oil (so between 4 and 6 oz). Stir it around and season it as you like - I used garlic and onion powder, oregano and red pepper flakes and salt, but if you want to get fancy, you could probably saute a diced shallot and some minced garlic in the oil for a minute or two before adding the tomato paste - for 2-3 minutes, until it's all hot and sizzling. If you are so inclined, add chile crisp to suit your taste. Then add the pasta back, and about half the reserved water and toss it until the pasta is coated. I only used 4 oz of angel hair, so if you have more, you might need more water. Then put it in bowls and sprinkle it with parmesan cheese. If you are in an even bigger rush, you can sizzle the tomato paste in a frying pan while the pasta cooks and then combine it all back in the pasta pot. The couple of minutes you save isn't worth having to wash an extra pot to me, but it might be to some people.
*
I then baked some oatmeal for breakfast for the week, and made macaroni salad for a few days of lunch, and then for dinner, I made angel hair as planned, though when I actually read the recipe, it was not anything new to me - it was what I always do for a super quick tomato sauce, except they were adding chile crisp to it, which I guess is the thing nowadays - every recipe I read has chile crisp in it, but I'm not really a chile crisp person. I have the heat tolerance (in terms of spiciness, though I also don't like my food super hot temperature-wise either) of the whitest baby you know.
Anyway! It is a super easy but delicious meal and if you don't mind waiting a few extra minutes, you can do it all in one pot. Boil your pasta - angel hair is best for this, imo - and reserve a cup of pasta water before you drain it. Return the pot to the stove over low heat and add in a nice glug of olive oil (2 tbsp if you need a measurement), and then add a whole can or tube of tomato paste to the oil (so between 4 and 6 oz). Stir it around and season it as you like - I used garlic and onion powder, oregano and red pepper flakes and salt, but if you want to get fancy, you could probably saute a diced shallot and some minced garlic in the oil for a minute or two before adding the tomato paste - for 2-3 minutes, until it's all hot and sizzling. If you are so inclined, add chile crisp to suit your taste. Then add the pasta back, and about half the reserved water and toss it until the pasta is coated. I only used 4 oz of angel hair, so if you have more, you might need more water. Then put it in bowls and sprinkle it with parmesan cheese. If you are in an even bigger rush, you can sizzle the tomato paste in a frying pan while the pasta cooks and then combine it all back in the pasta pot. The couple of minutes you save isn't worth having to wash an extra pot to me, but it might be to some people.
*
Poem: "The Spectrum of Your Being"
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:51 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the September 1, 2020 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from librarygeek. It also fills the "How do you want to do this?" square in my 9-1-20 card for the I Want Fries With That! Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Not Quite Kansas.
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the more detailed warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes feeling lost, a headless chicken running around, a fight with bit character fatalities, moderate injuries to a main character, messy medical details, an imprisoned demon, torture, binding magic, demonic healing, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
librarygeek. It also fills the "How do you want to do this?" square in my 9-1-20 card for the I Want Fries With That! Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Not Quite Kansas.Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the more detailed warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes feeling lost, a headless chicken running around, a fight with bit character fatalities, moderate injuries to a main character, messy medical details, an imprisoned demon, torture, binding magic, demonic healing, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
I guessed people would call out, and I was right
Feb. 22nd, 2026 06:27 pmconulyI didn’t guess that I’d be stuck with the roads closed until at least noon tomorrow.
Well, I’m getting paid every hour I’m here, at least.
Well, I’m getting paid every hour I’m here, at least.
Chapters 10-13
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:02 pmannavere posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
our_souls_are_made_ofApologies for the delay in our weekly chapter readalong, which will be hosted on Sunday going forward! Life got away from me for a moment, but as I am only on my second read of this novel, I greatly look forward to these discussions!
Catching up with the four chapters centered around Heathcliff's return and Isabella's ill-advised marriage. It's a short span of the novel, but a major turning point in many ways.
Catherine's marriage to Edgar. Could they have worked out without Heathcliff's return? Was the household genuinely happy? Was Catherine?
Heathcliff's return marks the beginning of his planned vengeance. How has this altered his dynamic with Catherine?
Poor Isabella! Through her eyes (another change of narrator!) we see the woeful deterioration of Hindley and Wuthering Heights. Through her eyes we see the nightmare of an abusive marriage, depicted with astonishing honesty. How does she change our perspectives on Heathcliff, Edgar and Catherine?
Catherine's illness. Did it start out an act, as Nelly believed, or was it genuine from the first? What exactly might be ailing her?
Nelly sees herself as the only sane member of the household. Was she right or wrong in her decisions to meddle? Do you sympathize with her reasoning?
Discuss!
Catching up with the four chapters centered around Heathcliff's return and Isabella's ill-advised marriage. It's a short span of the novel, but a major turning point in many ways.
Catherine's marriage to Edgar. Could they have worked out without Heathcliff's return? Was the household genuinely happy? Was Catherine?
Heathcliff's return marks the beginning of his planned vengeance. How has this altered his dynamic with Catherine?
Poor Isabella! Through her eyes (another change of narrator!) we see the woeful deterioration of Hindley and Wuthering Heights. Through her eyes we see the nightmare of an abusive marriage, depicted with astonishing honesty. How does she change our perspectives on Heathcliff, Edgar and Catherine?
Catherine's illness. Did it start out an act, as Nelly believed, or was it genuine from the first? What exactly might be ailing her?
Nelly sees herself as the only sane member of the household. Was she right or wrong in her decisions to meddle? Do you sympathize with her reasoning?
Discuss!
january booklog
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:39 pmwychwood( 1. Hogfather - Terry Pratchett ) Pratchett at his best balances the comedy with really meaningful moments, and this is definitely one of those.
( 2. The Book Eaters - Sunyi Dean ) Definitely not my jam.
( 3. Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us - Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman ) Very light, sometimes questionable, but packed full of fun anecdotes (and a surprisingly good examination-in-passing of how scientific research works).
( 4. Ocean - Colin Butfield and David Attenborough ) Not life-changing, but well worth a read.
( 5. Common Goal, 6. Role Model, and 7. The Long Game - Rachel Reid ) I wasn't keen on CG, but I liked the other two a lot - and I'm looking forward to the seventh book coming out later this year! More Ilya and Shane: give it to me.
( 8. The Fifth Form at St Dominic's - Talbot Baines Reed ) Worth a read! But it's not going to shoot up my list of favourite school stories.
( 9. Time to Shine - Rachel Reid ) Not brilliant, but sweet.
( 10. Identity - Nora Roberts ) Mostly you know what you're getting with Roberts! This was very heavy on the wealth porn, but despite all my mockery I did enjoy reading it.
( 11. Persuasion - Jane Austen ) A delightful story as always.
( 12. Strange Pictures - Uketsu ) Short, weird, and interestingly different.
( 13. The Snow Tiger - Desmond Bagley ) This has aged much better than I expected; I was genuinely gripped.
( 14. Swallowdale - Arthur Ransome ) These are just such good books.
( 15. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo ) Interesting to read the original after all the cultural osmosis, but actually I disagree with her quite a lot! I'm not sorry I read it, though.
( 16. Sassinak - Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon ) I did still quite enjoy this, but it was a distinct let-down from my much-better remembered version!
( 2. The Book Eaters - Sunyi Dean ) Definitely not my jam.
( 3. Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us - Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman ) Very light, sometimes questionable, but packed full of fun anecdotes (and a surprisingly good examination-in-passing of how scientific research works).
( 4. Ocean - Colin Butfield and David Attenborough ) Not life-changing, but well worth a read.
( 5. Common Goal, 6. Role Model, and 7. The Long Game - Rachel Reid ) I wasn't keen on CG, but I liked the other two a lot - and I'm looking forward to the seventh book coming out later this year! More Ilya and Shane: give it to me.
( 8. The Fifth Form at St Dominic's - Talbot Baines Reed ) Worth a read! But it's not going to shoot up my list of favourite school stories.
( 9. Time to Shine - Rachel Reid ) Not brilliant, but sweet.
( 10. Identity - Nora Roberts ) Mostly you know what you're getting with Roberts! This was very heavy on the wealth porn, but despite all my mockery I did enjoy reading it.
( 11. Persuasion - Jane Austen ) A delightful story as always.
( 12. Strange Pictures - Uketsu ) Short, weird, and interestingly different.
( 13. The Snow Tiger - Desmond Bagley ) This has aged much better than I expected; I was genuinely gripped.
( 14. Swallowdale - Arthur Ransome ) These are just such good books.
( 15. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo ) Interesting to read the original after all the cultural osmosis, but actually I disagree with her quite a lot! I'm not sorry I read it, though.
( 16. Sassinak - Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon ) I did still quite enjoy this, but it was a distinct let-down from my much-better remembered version!
vital functions
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:15 pmkaberettReading. Finished The Rose Field (Pullman)!!! I am Making Arrangements for it to Leave My House. ( Read more... )
ANYWAY. I finished it. It Is Done.Then read the first few pages of Dead Hand Rule (Gladstone; latest in the Craft Wars) before deciding that actually I need to reread at least the end of Wicked Problems in order to remember what's going on...
Writing. Progress continues both glacial and extant.
Listening. My relisten-while-actually-awake of the first chunk of The Hidden Almanac continues, slowly.
Playing. We have finished an Exploders run on Hard in Inkulinati. I am contemplating, given how smoothly that went, whether I want to have a try at Very Hard...
Cooking. It's not quite "this week's breakfast dal, and a loaf of bread", but it does sort of feel like it was. Partly because for reasons we did not get our usual box of veg on Monday last week, which meant that we were scrabbling around using up Shelf Things and the occasional Supermarket Discount Item...
NO WAIT, I also DID make buckwheat pancakes, and inspired by lnr combined Tinned Pear and Stem Ginger with Vanilla Essence and also Ground Cardamom to go in same. V good. Will repeat.
Eating. My mother acquired for us, as A Special Treat, a variety of Baked Goods from The Fancy Bakery In Eddington: my favourite is still the fig-and-?ricotta, but the blueberry-and-?ricotta is also very good, as is the fougasse. A was extremely pleased with the pain aux raisins. AND my mother made some excellent baba ganoush, eaten with said fougasse.
This week also feat. rainbow bagels (which we got to watch some of the manufacturing process for!) as well as misc other foodstuffs from Shalom Hot Beigels.
A has some coffee and butterscotch cake (leftovers from a test bake!) from Flour Arrangements; alas by the time I got my act together to actually collect Excess Test Cake the apple pie and lemon had both all gone...
Exploring. I got to spend a little time in the City of London Cemetery, which is currently ablaze with (among other things) purple crocuses; we also (on our second attempt) managed to go on A Snowdrop Walk Around Anglesey (with thanks to aldabra for reminding me that it is That Time Of Year still!). Snowdrops excellent. May or may not get around to sharing some photos. (Our first attempt at A Snowdrop Walk Around Anglesey Abbey wound up mutating into a poke around the back of Churchill and Astronomy to peer at bulbs and other plants misc, which was also very enjoyable even if I did once again fail to take A to see the Barbara Hepworth.)
Growing. ... I bought a bag of snowdrops In The Green at Anglesey, to go into the ground around the cherry tree at the allotment? The lemongrass seedlings haven't all died?
advice from camera nerds
Feb. 22nd, 2026 04:43 pmjadelennoxI take a lot of pictures of three classes of things:
- Cats: This pictures are good on any camera, including my agéd single-lens SE.
- Birds: These pics are shit on the aforementioned handheld phone.
- Moss and lichens and bugs: These pics are fine on the phone, but could be much better.
My real constraint is my hands and arms. I can't hold my arms above my head, I can't hold a phone still very long, the non-ergonomic controls and shape of a phone are shit, I realistically can't carry a tripod on a hike, and I can't bear weight on my shoulders or the back of my neck for any length of time. (I recognize that this collection of constraints means my pictures will never be great, and that's okay.)
So, questions:
- Are there any cameras that have particularly good ergonomics, are particularly light, or have a good reputation for accessibility?
- I believe I could get a remote shutter trigger & a remote focus, so I could prop the camera somewhere and get a good pic from a less painful angle; do you know how to choose a hand-friendly one? (Not finger-fiddly, easy to attach & detach, easy to click buttons.)
- On a modern camera, is it possible to get lenses good enough for bird pics that are not, you know, heavy? Last time I had an SLR I was taking pictures on film, so that tells you how out of date my knowledge is.
- What's the lightest tripod that works well for people with shit fine motor control and no finger strength? I can sort by weight on hiking sites, but hikers put up with a lot of fiddly controls that I can't handle.
(I'm only looking for advice from your experience or from the experience of people you trust. Please don't GoogleKagiGoPT it for me!)
Early Humans
Feb. 22nd, 2026 03:01 pmysabetwordsmithHomo erectus fossils in East Asia rewrite the timeline of human migration
A new analysis dates three Homo erectus skulls from central China to about 1.77 million years ago, making them the oldest securely dated hominin fossils in eastern Asia.
That older age shifts the arrival of early humans in the region back by roughly 600,000 years and compresses the timeline of how quickly our ancestors spread across Eurasia.
[---8<---]
The same layer holds stone tools and animal remains, tying the skulls to a specific moment nearly 1.8 million years ago rather than the younger dates long cited.
A new analysis dates three Homo erectus skulls from central China to about 1.77 million years ago, making them the oldest securely dated hominin fossils in eastern Asia.
That older age shifts the arrival of early humans in the region back by roughly 600,000 years and compresses the timeline of how quickly our ancestors spread across Eurasia.
[---8<---]
The same layer holds stone tools and animal remains, tying the skulls to a specific moment nearly 1.8 million years ago rather than the younger dates long cited.
Keep an eye on your inbox!
Feb. 22nd, 2026 03:54 pmfthmods posting in fandomtrumpshateWe have started posting auctions, which means that we have started sending emails with your auction link and the link to submit edits!
Please keep in mind:
- These WILL be coming from our new proton.me email address, so be sure to tell your email client not to send it to spam!
- We will be sending these emails throughout the week. If your friend got theirs and you haven't gotten yours, please be patient. We can only post a few hundred of the 1600 auctions per day.
- Your auctions may not all be posted on the same day. You'll get one email for each auction post - some email clients may put these in one thread together, so keep an eye out for that.
- You will not be notified when edits are made, you will have to check your post. If you still do not see your edits by Thursday evening, and it's been at least 8 hours since you filled out the form, email us to check.
Please remember that just because your post is up for your viewing, does NOT mean that browsing is open in general! Please don't send bidders to check things out until Friday, Feb 27!
The bones of houses show in the summertime
Feb. 22nd, 2026 03:13 pmsovayI spent much of yesterday running pre-blizzard errands, but the local state of the parking spots is the truest gauge of the meteorology about to go down.
I have not yet managed to get hold of her memoir, but I deeply appreciate being notified of the existence of E. M. Barraud, who identified herself with chalk-cut hill figures, candidly described her relationship status as "technically single, but 'married' in a permanent homosexual relationship with another woman," published under her assigned initials and was known in Little Eversden where she worked for the Women's Land Army as John. She gave her wartime responses for Mass-Observation as both a man and a woman: "People are people, not specifics of a gender." I had never even encountered her poetry.
I have not yet managed to get hold of her memoir, but I deeply appreciate being notified of the existence of E. M. Barraud, who identified herself with chalk-cut hill figures, candidly described her relationship status as "technically single, but 'married' in a permanent homosexual relationship with another woman," published under her assigned initials and was known in Little Eversden where she worked for the Women's Land Army as John. She gave her wartime responses for Mass-Observation as both a man and a woman: "People are people, not specifics of a gender." I had never even encountered her poetry.
Culinary
Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:16 pmoursinThis week's bread was a Standen loaf, strong brown/buckwheat flour, maple syrup, malt extract - but due to electric scale going weird and giving strange readings, the proportions got very odd and it turned out larger and a lot denser than usual, if still edible.
Friday night supper: Gujerati khichchari, with pinenuts.
Saturday breakfast rolls: adaptable soft roll recipe, 4:1 strong white/buckwheat flour, a touch of maple syrup, dried cranberries, turned out rather well.
Today's lunch: Scottish salmon tail fillets baked in foil with butter and lime slices; served with La Ratte potatoes boiled with salt and dill and tossed in butter, buttered spinach and baked San Marzano tomatoes.
For Sale: Nintendo Switch games + TTRPG books
Feb. 22nd, 2026 03:18 pmsettiaiMy debit card was compromised late last week, and I'm waiting for the bank to get all of the charges reversed. I've been able to cover my most urgent bills (the hotel and my storage unit), but I have a few others that are due that I'm still worried about paying. If I can come up with another $100 or so, it would make a huge difference while I wait for the bank to get everything taken care of.
So I'm going to try to sell a few things and hope for the best. 🤞🏻
First, I have a few Nintendo Switch games for sale:
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! (example on Amazon)
Spyro Reignited Trilogy (example on Amazon)
TemTem (example on Amazon)
And then a few TTRPGs that were Christmas presents so they're still in basically like new shape:
Candela Obscura Core Rulebook (example on Amazon)
Daggerheart Core Set (example on Amazon)
If you're not interested but know someone who might be, please point them my way. It would help a lot if I could manage to sell at least one or two things from this list.
For payment, I have CashApp ($Settiai), PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle (nancy.lynn.foster@gmail.com).
So I'm going to try to sell a few things and hope for the best. 🤞🏻
First, I have a few Nintendo Switch games for sale:
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! (example on Amazon)
Spyro Reignited Trilogy (example on Amazon)
TemTem (example on Amazon)
And then a few TTRPGs that were Christmas presents so they're still in basically like new shape:
Candela Obscura Core Rulebook (example on Amazon)
Daggerheart Core Set (example on Amazon)
If you're not interested but know someone who might be, please point them my way. It would help a lot if I could manage to sell at least one or two things from this list.
For payment, I have CashApp ($Settiai), PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle (nancy.lynn.foster@gmail.com).
[ SECRET POST #6988 ]
Feb. 22nd, 2026 03:02 pmcase posting in fandomsecrets⌈ Secret Post #6988 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.
( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 30 secrets from Secret Submission Post #998.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
Find a beta and offer to beta for round two!
Feb. 23rd, 2026 06:48 amcasemod posting in caseficexchangeIf you need a little help in fine-tuning your gift, this is the post to find the Watson to your Holmes (or the Holmes to your Watson—who wouldn't want to be Lucy Liu?)!
Those interested in providing support can pin their details to our metaphorical noticeboard. Support can include brainstorming, offering critique, canon-checking, fact-checking, tips on structure, language issues, looking for specialised knowledge of various kinds, sense checking that something makes sense, visual effects for comics, audio effects for podfic, and some casefic solving.
Participants and non-participants are welcome to volunteer to beta for the 2026 round.
I've provided an optional template to fill out below, which you're welcome to add and subtract details from:
If you're interested in contacting someone offering to beta, please do so at their contact methods to preserve anonymity. Please email gumshoeagency@gmail.com if you need to get in touch with me to ask any questions.
I stole the base of this fromfffx and yuletide ♥.
Those interested in providing support can pin their details to our metaphorical noticeboard. Support can include brainstorming, offering critique, canon-checking, fact-checking, tips on structure, language issues, looking for specialised knowledge of various kinds, sense checking that something makes sense, visual effects for comics, audio effects for podfic, and some casefic solving.
Participants and non-participants are welcome to volunteer to beta for the 2026 round.
Quick links: Tagset · AO3 app · Sign-up summary of requested fandoms
I've provided an optional template to fill out below, which you're welcome to add and subtract details from:
AO3 name:
Best contact method(s): Please only include details that you are happy to have public.
Fandoms:
Specific topics of expertise:
Mediums: We allow comics, fic, and podfic in this exchange, so please specify which medium(s) you're comfortable working with.
What can you beta?: This is a good opportunity to include content (smut, graphic violence, etc.), length (the minimum is 3k for fic, 10 panels for comics, and various lengths of time for podfic).
What will you not beta?:
Preferred file formats: Would you prefer to beta in Google docs or PDFs? How would you like audio files to be sent, if you have any preference?
Availability: This is a good place to mention if you're okay with being contacted five days out from the assignment deadline, your turnaround times, i.e. will it take you a week to review? Is it dependent on the size?
If you're interested in contacting someone offering to beta, please do so at their contact methods to preserve anonymity. Please email gumshoeagency@gmail.com if you need to get in touch with me to ask any questions.
I stole the base of this from
fffx and yuletide ♥.Pretty much the opposite of a scientific method, I suppose
Feb. 22nd, 2026 12:50 pmbrithistorianI was reading this morning's edition of Dan Rather's Substack newsletter, where he was writing about the song "Stand By Me". (Apparently he writes about a song or musician every Sunday.)
Anyway, he mentioned that "Stand By Me" was "numbered among the Recording Industry Association of America’s 25 Songs of the Century." This naturally got me curious: A ranked list of things? That's like catnip to me!
So I went to look for it. Turns out that there's no such things as the RIAA "25 Songs of the Century." What there is is the "Song of the Century" list, produced by the RIAA in conjunction with the NEA and Scholastic Inc. It's a list of 365 songs. So where did Rather get this idea of "25 Songs of the Century"? Because "Stand by Me" is #25 on the list, and the Wikipedia entry for "Songs of the Century" only includes the top 25 songs on the list. Apparently Rather (or, more likely, one of his research assistants) looked at the Wikipedia entry, didn't read the text carefully, and based on the table of songs assumed that it was a list of 25 songs.
If you read the text carefully, not only do you get the correct number of songs. You also start to question the RIAA's methodology for creating the list. According to the entry, "[h]undreds of voters, who included elected officials, people from the music industry and from the media, teachers, and students" were asked to select the songs. These voters were selected by the RIAA (and one is forced to ask "how many students does the RIAA know?"), and of the 1300 voters selected, only 200 responded. Seems kind of sloppy and haphazard.
Then, if you read the list, you see that the voters were rather sloppy and haphazard in their definition of a song: #7 on the list is the entire album of West Side Story, which is not "a song." Altogether there are 18 albums on the list: 11 Broadway shows, 6 jazz albums, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Obviously I don't have a copy of the instructions that the RIAA sent to the voters, but I think we can all agree that (with the exception of Thick as a Brick and possibly a few others) an album is not a song.
Also, just as an aside, I think 2001 (when this survey was conducted) was a bit premature to be choosing the most impactful songs of the 20th century.
All that being said, I think any other such list would be just as subject to being haphazard and subjective, and on skimming over the list I do think it would be an enjoyable and/or interesting list to listen to. Plus, unless you were born on February 29, you can figure out what day of the year you were born on and then look at the complete list and see what song your birthday corresponds to. (Mine is "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy.)
LOUD - Stargate Atlantis (PG)
Feb. 22nd, 2026 02:38 pmgoddess47 posting in romancingmcshep
Title: LOUD
Author:
goddess47Character(s): John Sheppard, Rodney McKay
Pairing(s): John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Rating: PG
Length: 100 words
Warnings: none
Notes:
For
mcsheplets prompt #137 - silenceFor
romancingmcshep 2026For Fluffbruary 2026 prompt day 22 - sound
Summary:
John decided they needed new mission equipment.
LOUD on AO3
Birdfeeding
Feb. 22nd, 2026 01:23 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and cold.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows plus one female and two male cardinals separately.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I planted 3 peonies 'Sorbet Mixed' under the apricot tree. The mix includes white, light pink, and dark pink. These cost $14.98, so about $5 a root. That's a great bargain for peonies, which average $20-30 each and catalogs and the high end is downright exorbitant. So if you want peonies, look for cheap ones at home or garden stores this time of year. Due to the unseasonal warmth, the ground here is unfrozen, so I was able to plant them immediately. \o/
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I labeled and mulched the new peonies.
I put out a fresh cake of peanut suet.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I started the process of trimming dead stems from the wildflower garden, which is going to take a while.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did more trimming in the wildflower garden. I discovered a little wildflower putting up leaves, probably echinacea, possibly penstemon or something else.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did more trimming in the wildflower garden.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- We hauled in the potting mix bags from last night.
I've seen a fox squirrel in the forest garden.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows plus one female and two male cardinals separately.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I planted 3 peonies 'Sorbet Mixed' under the apricot tree. The mix includes white, light pink, and dark pink. These cost $14.98, so about $5 a root. That's a great bargain for peonies, which average $20-30 each and catalogs and the high end is downright exorbitant. So if you want peonies, look for cheap ones at home or garden stores this time of year. Due to the unseasonal warmth, the ground here is unfrozen, so I was able to plant them immediately. \o/
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I labeled and mulched the new peonies.
I put out a fresh cake of peanut suet.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I started the process of trimming dead stems from the wildflower garden, which is going to take a while.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did more trimming in the wildflower garden. I discovered a little wildflower putting up leaves, probably echinacea, possibly penstemon or something else.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did more trimming in the wildflower garden.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- We hauled in the potting mix bags from last night.
I've seen a fox squirrel in the forest garden.
EDIT 2/22/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
Weekly proof of life: recent media | Spring Crunch Eve
Feb. 22nd, 2026 03:10 pmumadoshiReading: Last week I finished Stephanie Burgis' Wooing the Witch Queen (fun!) and read Heated Rivalry. I opted to just skip straight to the actual HR novel rather than first reading the Scott/Kip novel, which worked out fine, since I also had that context from the show. I enjoyed it a fair bit, but now I'm in the awkward position of wanting to see the next chunk for Shane and Ilya but no more urgently than after I finished watching season 1 of the show. The choices now are a) read the entire series (presumably doubling back to actually read book 1), b) skip ahead and read The Long Game, or c) hold off entirely and wait for season 2 of the show.
I also read a few more volumes each of Hikaru no Go and The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, but I'm still in rereading territory with both. (I think I've already read up to vol. 12 of Kurosagi, but for Hikaru, I think the odds are against me really realizing when I've hit new territory until I go to enter a volume in Goodreads and find it's not already on my Read list there.)
Watching:scruloose and I are caught up on both The Pitt and Frieren, and we finished Midnight Mass last weekend (a very solid, intense ending).
With my crunch time at work starting, it's not an ideal time for us to start a show that's a significant time commitment or that's going to leave me desperate to see a next episode when work is eating most or all of my evenings. It's possible this will result in me just showingscruloose Heated Rivalry, since it's apparently our key cultural export of the decade and all. *g* Only six episodes and I don't have to worry about being impatient to see what happens next or about being spoiled.
(I still don't feel actively fannish about HR at all, but am enjoying being adjacent to it and seeing all the fannish excitement and meta and such. I have saved many fic recs to my read-later list on A03, but have yet to actually read a single one [and may never, given how slowly I go through fic--there's still a steady stream of Guardian fic I haven't read that also goes on that list].)
Weathering/Working: We have what sounds like a significant nor'easter blizzard arriving at some point tomorrow, with heavy wet snow. Will this be where our luck fails for the season and we lose power for the first time? (I'm completely astonished that it hasn't happened yet. Probably it's not really because the generator and backup power are warding that off, like carrying an umbrella around...)
And of course the spring crunch is set to start tomorrow in the late afternoon, right around when the storm is likely to be in full swing. Will the weather have much impact? (Mainly, I guess, in terms of Those Who Speak all being able to make it there safely; I kinda hope that there's some kind of backup power in their actual building, but I don't know for sure one way or the other.)
I also read a few more volumes each of Hikaru no Go and The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, but I'm still in rereading territory with both. (I think I've already read up to vol. 12 of Kurosagi, but for Hikaru, I think the odds are against me really realizing when I've hit new territory until I go to enter a volume in Goodreads and find it's not already on my Read list there.)
Watching:
scruloose and I are caught up on both The Pitt and Frieren, and we finished Midnight Mass last weekend (a very solid, intense ending).With my crunch time at work starting, it's not an ideal time for us to start a show that's a significant time commitment or that's going to leave me desperate to see a next episode when work is eating most or all of my evenings. It's possible this will result in me just showing
scruloose Heated Rivalry, since it's apparently our key cultural export of the decade and all. *g* Only six episodes and I don't have to worry about being impatient to see what happens next or about being spoiled.(I still don't feel actively fannish about HR at all, but am enjoying being adjacent to it and seeing all the fannish excitement and meta and such. I have saved many fic recs to my read-later list on A03, but have yet to actually read a single one [and may never, given how slowly I go through fic--there's still a steady stream of Guardian fic I haven't read that also goes on that list].)
Weathering/Working: We have what sounds like a significant nor'easter blizzard arriving at some point tomorrow, with heavy wet snow. Will this be where our luck fails for the season and we lose power for the first time? (I'm completely astonished that it hasn't happened yet. Probably it's not really because the generator and backup power are warding that off, like carrying an umbrella around...)
And of course the spring crunch is set to start tomorrow in the late afternoon, right around when the storm is likely to be in full swing. Will the weather have much impact? (Mainly, I guess, in terms of Those Who Speak all being able to make it there safely; I kinda hope that there's some kind of backup power in their actual building, but I don't know for sure one way or the other.)
FIC: in the darkness with you (Guardian: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan) [Mature]
Feb. 22nd, 2026 07:47 pmtrobadoracandyheartsex author reveals have happened! And here's the fic I wrote for facethestrange:**
Title: in the darkness with you
Word count: 4,233
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV)
Pairing: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Mature
Content tags: Blind Zhao Yunlan, First time, Hand-Feeding, Finger-Sucking, Clothed Sex, Zhao Yunlan's oral fixation, Episode Related, Episode 21, Missing Scene, Blindness Arc
A/N: Many thanks to
china_shop for beta-reading.Summary:
Zhao Yunlan woke to the smell of citrus, sweet and strong in the air. Without fully turning his face out of the pillow, he slitted open a sleep-heavy eye - to complete, unchanged darkness. Reality came crashing down like a landslide. Right: still blind.
ONE DAY LEFT
Feb. 22nd, 2026 01:35 pmautobotscoutriella posting in purimgiftsHere we are, folks: there is only one days left until the deadline on February 23 (anywhere in the world)!
If you haven't posted all of your fics and art yet, now's a great time to check out our Posting Guide here or our Embed Guide here. For your mods' sanity, please don't wait until the last minute to post! We're available for last-minute tech support, but we do sleep sometimes.
If you're still not quite ready to post, please contact us ASAP! You have a few options:
The backup protocol. This option is for people who’re not sure whether they can complete their assignment, but who really really want to. A backup is a pinch hitter assigned ahead of time. If you complete your assignment, that’s great! If you don’t complete your assignment, you can call it off at the last minute - while your pinch hitter has had time to prepare. To request a backup, please email purim_gifts@yahoo.com.
Partial default. This option is for people who already know they can’t complete their assignment, but who want to post what they can complete. To request a partial default, please email purim_gifts@yahoo.com.
Full default. If you’re absolutely sure you can’t complete your assignment, this option is for you. You can activate it by emailing purim_gifts@yahoo.com, or by hitting the “Default” button at the AO3. Either way, you won’t be penalized for it; life happens, and we get that.
And if you’re not sure which of those options is right for you, please email purim_gifts@yahoo.com ASAP! Please don't leave it until the last minute; the earlier we know what's going on, the more options we have to help you.
If you haven't posted all of your fics and art yet, now's a great time to check out our Posting Guide here or our Embed Guide here. For your mods' sanity, please don't wait until the last minute to post! We're available for last-minute tech support, but we do sleep sometimes.
If you're still not quite ready to post, please contact us ASAP! You have a few options:
The backup protocol. This option is for people who’re not sure whether they can complete their assignment, but who really really want to. A backup is a pinch hitter assigned ahead of time. If you complete your assignment, that’s great! If you don’t complete your assignment, you can call it off at the last minute - while your pinch hitter has had time to prepare. To request a backup, please email purim_gifts@yahoo.com.
Partial default. This option is for people who already know they can’t complete their assignment, but who want to post what they can complete. To request a partial default, please email purim_gifts@yahoo.com.
Full default. If you’re absolutely sure you can’t complete your assignment, this option is for you. You can activate it by emailing purim_gifts@yahoo.com, or by hitting the “Default” button at the AO3. Either way, you won’t be penalized for it; life happens, and we get that.
And if you’re not sure which of those options is right for you, please email purim_gifts@yahoo.com ASAP! Please don't leave it until the last minute; the earlier we know what's going on, the more options we have to help you.
Intimacy [by sheafrotherdon, Jack/Robby]
Feb. 22nd, 2026 06:16 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
siriareads_feedIn which Jack can't get enough of the way that Robby smells.
Squidge Images - PLEASE READ!
Feb. 22nd, 2026 10:24 amsquidgestatusTwo very updates for Squidge Images.
The first update is we have opened up signup access for Squidge Images. Instead of having to leave us a ticket for an image hosting account, we have decided that it's been long enough, and the folks who were abusing image hosting have most likely moved on. So all that is done.
Second, and most important, Squidge Image Hosting will be down starting at 8am Pacific on Sunday, March 1st for an upgrade. Read that again. I say this because we will inevitably get 8,000 tickets asking us why image hosting is down, and when will it be back up again. Seriously. We've seen this with FenRecs.com posts - they are completely ignored and people will log tickets asking when it will be back (later this week, we hope!). This upgrade is important because will be transitioning from on-site hosting of images to remote hosting of images. Oh, and the upgrade should bring video support as well! So if you have videos you need hosting and, like us, hate Youtube, you'll be able to host your videos on Squidge Images.
Again, Squidge Image Hosting will be down starting at 8am Pacific time on Sunday, March 1st for an upgrade. We hope to be fully upgraded and back up within four hours, but we all know technology can be a giant pain sometimes.
Questions? Leave us a message here, or leave us a trouble ticket by clicking here.
The first update is we have opened up signup access for Squidge Images. Instead of having to leave us a ticket for an image hosting account, we have decided that it's been long enough, and the folks who were abusing image hosting have most likely moved on. So all that is done.
Second, and most important, Squidge Image Hosting will be down starting at 8am Pacific on Sunday, March 1st for an upgrade. Read that again. I say this because we will inevitably get 8,000 tickets asking us why image hosting is down, and when will it be back up again. Seriously. We've seen this with FenRecs.com posts - they are completely ignored and people will log tickets asking when it will be back (later this week, we hope!). This upgrade is important because will be transitioning from on-site hosting of images to remote hosting of images. Oh, and the upgrade should bring video support as well! So if you have videos you need hosting and, like us, hate Youtube, you'll be able to host your videos on Squidge Images.
Again, Squidge Image Hosting will be down starting at 8am Pacific time on Sunday, March 1st for an upgrade. We hope to be fully upgraded and back up within four hours, but we all know technology can be a giant pain sometimes.
Questions? Leave us a message here, or leave us a trouble ticket by clicking here.
Stargate SG-1 Drabble Holding On To Hope
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:56 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Holding On To Hope
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Daniel Jackson.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 380: Amnesty 38 at
drabble_zone, using Challenge 18: Hope.Spoilers/Setting: Thor’s Hammer.
Summary: For the first time since Sha’re was taken, Daniel has hope.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Stargate SG-1, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
FAKE Double Drabble: Phone Zombies
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:43 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Phone Zombies
Fandom: FAKE
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 490: Amnesty 49 at
drabble_zone, using Challenge 485: Accident.Setting: After the manga.
Summary: In Dee’s opinion, smartphones have turned people into idiots.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Double drabble.
( Phone Zombies... )
Double Drabble: Lessons In Weevil Hunting
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:34 pmbadly_knittedTitle: Lessons In Weevil Hunting
Author:
badly_knittedCharacters: Ianto, Jack, OCs.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 905: Tackle, at
torchwood100.Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Weevil hunting is an art.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
The Light Within Shadows - Mature AU Tale Inspired by Wuthering Heights
Feb. 22nd, 2026 09:24 amearthspirits posting in our_souls_are_made_of An Au tale that poses the question: What if Mr. Earnshaw had never found Heathcliff, and he'd grown up elsewhere, with a very different upbringing?
This one's dedicated to Ian McShane.
Fandom: Wuthering Heights (inspired by Emily Brontë's 1847 Novel and the 1967 BBC series).
Title: The Light Within Shadows
Characters: Heathcliff, Catherine Earnshaw, Ellen Dean, Hindley Earnshaw, Joseph + Original Characters
Relationship: Heathcliff / Catherine
Rating: Mature
Trigger Warnings: Angst, a little strong language, reference to past death and grieving, subtly implied past animal abuse. There are also references to gambling, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Chapters: 1/?
Word Count so far: 1,696
Summary: A mysterious young man arrives at Wuthering Heights, seeking work. Intrigued, Catherine Earnshaw feels drawn to the handsome stranger, who offers friendship - and perhaps, something more.
Link: archiveofourown.org/works/79804616/chapters/209428166
This one's dedicated to Ian McShane.
Fandom: Wuthering Heights (inspired by Emily Brontë's 1847 Novel and the 1967 BBC series).
Title: The Light Within Shadows
Characters: Heathcliff, Catherine Earnshaw, Ellen Dean, Hindley Earnshaw, Joseph + Original Characters
Relationship: Heathcliff / Catherine
Rating: Mature
Trigger Warnings: Angst, a little strong language, reference to past death and grieving, subtly implied past animal abuse. There are also references to gambling, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Chapters: 1/?
Word Count so far: 1,696
Summary: A mysterious young man arrives at Wuthering Heights, seeking work. Intrigued, Catherine Earnshaw feels drawn to the handsome stranger, who offers friendship - and perhaps, something more.
Notes:
- Heathcliff and Cathy in my story are based on the young Ian McShane and Angela Scoular, as they appeared in the 1967 BBC Wuthering Heights series. There's also hints of Ian from his 1966 film, Sky West and Crooked.
- Some spoilers from these three inspiration sources.
Link: archiveofourown.org/works/79804616/chapters/209428166
Rain Challenge: Hercule Poirot: Fanfic: Well, it is Raining!
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:25 pmsmallhobbit posting in fan_flashworksTitle: Well, it is Raining!
Fandom: Hercule Poirot
Rating: G
Length: 348 words
Summary: Hastings comes in very wet; Poirot does not approve.
Fandom: Hercule Poirot
Rating: G
Length: 348 words
Summary: Hastings comes in very wet; Poirot does not approve.
( But, ma fois... )
(no subject)
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:07 pmravenThere's a feeling, I hope, a unidentifiable but deeply uncomfortable burn, felt by white women, who don't know, but should know, how many private brown group chats are typing.
And as I don't want to take on a cringe middle-class racist white woman (at this point there's about five of them that I have at various times decided not to take on, all terribly right-on, right-thinking, probably-vegan feminist pro-Palestine queer white women), that is all I have to say about that.
And as I don't want to take on a cringe middle-class racist white woman (at this point there's about five of them that I have at various times decided not to take on, all terribly right-on, right-thinking, probably-vegan feminist pro-Palestine queer white women), that is all I have to say about that.
Items with Dates between Sunday, February 22nd and Saturday, March 1st
Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:14 amsquidgiepdx posting in whenisitdueHere are items with dates between Sunday, February 22nd and Saturday, March 1st, as well as items added recently that started this past week. Remember, you can comment here on new items that need to be added to the list.
Items starting since the last update & this coming week
Items ending this coming week
NOTE: Here are a few challenge communities that (can) have challenges that (usually) aren't part of the list:
Items starting since the last update & this coming week
| Open Date | Close Date | Community | Type of Challenge | Prompt/Information | Link |
| 02/22/2026 | 04/18/2026 | tardis_remix (DW) | Fanworks | Doctor Who: Signup and prompt fill period for Doctor Who and Related Fandoms Remix | click here for details |
| 02/23/2026 | 03/02/2026 | the_mane_event (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: Signup period for The Main Event, a gift exchange for all things hair-related. | click here for details |
| 02/26/2026 | 03/07/2026 | unsent_letters_exchange (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: Signup period for Unsent Letters - An Epistolary Exchange. | click here for details |
| 03/01/2026 | 03/31/2026 | marchmetamatterschallenge (DW) | Meta | Multifamdom: March is the time for backing up Meta entries to backup sites. | click here for details |
Items ending this coming week
| Open Date | Close Date | Community | Type of Challenge | Prompt/Information | Link |
| 02/15/2026 | 02/22/2026 | the_mane_event (DW) | Tagset Noms | Multifandom: Tagset nomination period for The Main Event, a gift exchange for all things hair-related. | click here for details |
| 02/18/2026 | 02/25/2026 | goreswap (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: Sign up period for Goreswap Exchange 2026 | click here for details |
| 02/18/2026 | 02/25/2026 | unsent_letters_exchange (DW) | Tagset Noms | Multifandom: Tagset nomination period for Unsent Letters - An Epistolary Exchange. | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | allbingo (DW) | Fanworks | February's theme is Valentines Fest Bingo | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | allbingo (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: Aromantic February Prompt List bingo fest | click here for details |
| 01/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | beagoldfish (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: A multimedia microbang with all types of media encouraged | click here for details |
| 12/10/2025 | 02/28/2026 | blackcestfest (Tumblr) | Fanworks | Prompt filling period for Harry Potter Blackcest Fest 2025 | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | bookclub_dw (DW) | Book Club | The book for February is Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Future | click here for details |
| 02/08/2026 | 02/28/2026 | dove_drabbles (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: February Prompt is "Chocolate's the best way to say 'I love you'"" | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | elasticella (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: Fresh Femslash Salad Bar is underway all of February | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | emotion100 (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: February Prompt is Desire | click here for details |
| 12/01/2025 | 02/28/2026 | falloutbang (Tumblr) | Fanworks | Author signup period for Fall Out Boy fandom's Big Bang | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | fancake (DW) | Recs | Multifandom: Round 183 - Inept in Love | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | likealighthouse (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: Fall Out Bou Femslash February Ficathon (based on Fall Out Boy titles, lyrics, etc.) | click here for details |
| 02/14/2026 | 02/28/2026 | romancingmcshep (DW) | Fanworks | Stargate Atlantis: Posting period for Romancing McShep | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | selfcest_fest (AO3) | Fanworks | Multifandom: SelfCest Fest runs all of February | click here for details |
| 02/14/2026 | 02/28/2026 | sga_saturday (DW) | Fanworks | Stargate Atlantis: Posting period for Romancing SGA Fest, a "Everything but McShep" romance fest | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | small_fandoms (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: The Frbuary 2026 Small Fandoms Drabblethon! | click here for details |
| 02/14/2026 | 02/28/2026 | stargatefests (DW) | Fanworks | Stargate SG-1: Posting period for Romancing SG-1 | click here for details |
| 02/02/2026 | 02/28/2026 | sweetandshort (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: February 10 out of 20 | click here for details |
| 02/15/2026 | 02/28/2026 | sweetandshort (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: February's challenge for Unique/Rare Words - The word is "petrichore" | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 | trope_of_the_month (DW) | Fanworks | Multifandom: Prompt for February is: Aliens Made Them Do It | click here for details |
| 02/01/2026 | 03/01/2026 | akurokubigbang (Tumblr) | Fanworks | AkuRoku: Signup period for the AkuRoku big bang | click here for details |
| 02/20/2026 | 03/01/2026 | fan_flashworks (DW) | Fanworks | Multifamdom: Challenge 507: Amnesty | click here for details |
NOTE: Here are a few challenge communities that (can) have challenges that (usually) aren't part of the list:
- Harry Potter fandom challenges can be found at PotterFests
- The Vocab Drabbles Community does weekly challenges
- The AU Challenge Community offers multiple AU challenges with no deadlines
- The Froday Flash Fiction Challenge has weekly & other challenges
- The Fic Promptly Community has daily prompts
- The MCU100 Community offers weekly drabble challenges for the MCU fandom
- The XMEN100 Community offers weekly drabble challenges for the X-Men fandom
- The 10TrueLoves Community offers multifandom character prompts
Sunshine on my window
Feb. 22nd, 2026 03:17 pmdolorosa_12I'm really tired, and don't feel in any way prepared for the upcoming working week, but I've been trying to mitigate that with a very lazy Sunday. I had grand plans to plant the first of the spring seeds and start germinating seedlings in the growhouse, I had plans to go out for a walk with Matthias (the weather today is gorgeous), but instead I've spent the whole day vegetating in my wing chair in the living room, watching the tail-end of the Winter Olympics from the corner of my eye, watching Olia Hercules cook borshch on a BBC cooking show, scrolling around on Dreamwidth, and so on.
Matthias and I saw Marty Supreme at the community cinema earlier this week, and we'll be heading out to see Hamnet tonight, so it's definitely been a film-heavy time by our standards. I'm anticipating a lot of cathartic crying tonight.
I've continued to make my way through mythology/fairytale/folktale retellings recommended by you on a previous post. This week it was Girl Meets Boy (Ali Smith), a slim little novella in conversation with Ovid's Metamorphoses, concerned with fluidity in gender, gender presentation, sexuality, and so on. It felt very, very, very of its time and place (the UK in the 2000s), but that's not to say that its specificity was a bad thing.
I also read The Swan's Daughter (Roshani Chokshi), a lush, surreal fairytale of a book in which the titular daughter (one of seven sisters born to a power-hungry wizard and his swanmaiden wife) finds herself caught up in a competition to win the hand of the kingdom's prince in marriage. Chokshi's previous books have been very melodramatic and earnest, and she's relished the opportunity here to shift the tone to something much more humorous and knowing, while still digging into her favourite big themes: the tension between love and vulnerability, genuine love requiring an embrace of uncertainty, and the interplay of love and monstrosity made literal.
It reminded me so much of one of my very favourite books — The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Patricia McKillip) — although the latter is portentous and serious where Chokshi is whimsical and humorous that I picked up the McKillip for yet another reread. I've written about it here before, so suffice it to say now that it remains an incredible book — sharp and perceptive, devastating and beautiful.
I'll leave you with this fantastic link to a Shrove Tuesday tradition in which contestants dressed in costumes race through central London while flipping pancakes in pans. It's as delightful as you might imagine.
Matthias and I saw Marty Supreme at the community cinema earlier this week, and we'll be heading out to see Hamnet tonight, so it's definitely been a film-heavy time by our standards. I'm anticipating a lot of cathartic crying tonight.
I've continued to make my way through mythology/fairytale/folktale retellings recommended by you on a previous post. This week it was Girl Meets Boy (Ali Smith), a slim little novella in conversation with Ovid's Metamorphoses, concerned with fluidity in gender, gender presentation, sexuality, and so on. It felt very, very, very of its time and place (the UK in the 2000s), but that's not to say that its specificity was a bad thing.
I also read The Swan's Daughter (Roshani Chokshi), a lush, surreal fairytale of a book in which the titular daughter (one of seven sisters born to a power-hungry wizard and his swanmaiden wife) finds herself caught up in a competition to win the hand of the kingdom's prince in marriage. Chokshi's previous books have been very melodramatic and earnest, and she's relished the opportunity here to shift the tone to something much more humorous and knowing, while still digging into her favourite big themes: the tension between love and vulnerability, genuine love requiring an embrace of uncertainty, and the interplay of love and monstrosity made literal.
It reminded me so much of one of my very favourite books — The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Patricia McKillip) — although the latter is portentous and serious where Chokshi is whimsical and humorous that I picked up the McKillip for yet another reread. I've written about it here before, so suffice it to say now that it remains an incredible book — sharp and perceptive, devastating and beautiful.
I'll leave you with this fantastic link to a Shrove Tuesday tradition in which contestants dressed in costumes race through central London while flipping pancakes in pans. It's as delightful as you might imagine.
(no subject)
Feb. 18th, 2026 10:32 amconulySo, you got my opinion on Heated Rivalry, but I gotta say, I will never not read fanfics structured like ongoing internet sagas.
Also, gotta love the one dude, BostonSportsBro69, who posts in both /r/relationship_advice and /r/hockey going around in /r/hockey saying "Uh, no, it's just normal sportsbro rival stuff, you're all reading way too much into this"when because he absolutely knows better. (I don't think he's supposed to be one of Ilya's teammates, just a fan.)
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( Links )
Also, gotta love the one dude, BostonSportsBro69, who posts in both /r/relationship_advice and /r/hockey going around in /r/hockey saying "Uh, no, it's just normal sportsbro rival stuff, you're all reading way too much into this"
( Links )
