(no subject)
Dec. 18th, 2025 06:06 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
astronomypicofday_feed
Stars are forming in the Soul of the Queen of
astronomypicofday_feed
Advent Calendar, Day 17
Dec. 18th, 2025 01:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bunnyhuggerToday's door is on the skinny trunk of a tree in the background.
Me: I don't think it'll be a bird because there's nowhere for it to perch. It has to be something climbing the trunk.
Austin: I think this time I will say rac– wait, no, a bear cub.
Me: A bear cub, really?
Austin: We've had an adult bear, so why not a cub?
Me: So while the bear is hibernating, the baby bear is running around in the woods?!
Austin: It could be some other mother bear's baby.
Me: Well S. [Facebook friend] pointed out that statistically, since it's been a squirrel so often we should be guessing squirrels. I'm going to say it's a squirrel. [defiantly] Yeah, I'm doing it. Squirrel.
( Read more... )
Me: I don't think it'll be a bird because there's nowhere for it to perch. It has to be something climbing the trunk.
Austin: I think this time I will say rac– wait, no, a bear cub.
Me: A bear cub, really?
Austin: We've had an adult bear, so why not a cub?
Me: So while the bear is hibernating, the baby bear is running around in the woods?!
Austin: It could be some other mother bear's baby.
Me: Well S. [Facebook friend] pointed out that statistically, since it's been a squirrel so often we should be guessing squirrels. I'm going to say it's a squirrel. [defiantly] Yeah, I'm doing it. Squirrel.
( Read more... )
Boats run aground in Vancouver's False Creek after overnight windstorm
Dec. 17th, 2025 09:35 pmcbc_topnews_feed
A number of boats ran aground in Vancouver's False Creek early Wednesday morning amid a windstorm, and it's led to calls for governments to step up and deal with the problem of derelict boats along the water body.
Who wins, a team of Canadians who played in Canada or Americans who played in America?
Dec. 18th, 2025 02:08 amdowngoesbrown_feedThere’s a concept in international best-on-best hockey that some causal fans may not be completely familiar with, mainly because I made it up just now: The double player.
It’s a player who’s represents his country both internationally and in the NHL. A double Canadian is a Canadian player who plays on a Canadian NHL team. A double American is an American player who plays on an American NHL team.
Jack Eichel is a double American. Matthew Tkachuk became one when he forced his way out from Calgary to Florida. Connor McDavid is a double Canadian, at least for now. Mitch Marner was, but not anymore. And Mario Lemieux, as great as he was, never earned the double distinction. So far, neither has Auston Matthews, Sidney Crosby or Cale Makar. But Quinn Hughes just did, a few days ago.
Cool. So who wins, a team of Double Canadians or Double Americans?
>> Read the full post at The Athletic
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Signup Post: Arts and Crafts Challenges in 2026
Dec. 17th, 2025 08:31 pmysabetwordsmith posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
goals_on_dwThere are all kinds of craft challenges and goals that people like to do. Some are individual, others are group events. Some are all year, others shorter. Some have speculative fiction themes, others are ordinary. They span a great many different arts and crafts including but not limited to crochet, drawing, knitting, painting, quilting, sewing, and woodworking. Here are some for your inspiration. On Dreamwidth, see communities for Art and Crafts. Note that get_knitted makes regular checkin posts for your craft projects.
You can pick whichever challenge(s) you want to set as a goal in 2026 and reply with a comment. Below the list of challenges is a short form for listing which you have chosen. Make a post in your blog like "I signed up for the Arts and Crafts challenge ingoals_on_dw" -- or list the specific challenge if you're doing an official one somewhere else instead of a personal one here. Then make a tag for it like "Arts and Crafts Challenge" and put that on the post; it should stick that way. Check your Interests page to see if you have Art, Crafts, Crochet, Painting, etc. listed there, which helps people find you. You don't have to sign up to participate, it just helps spread the word and attract more readers.
See also the Fannish 50 challenge, which simply aims to post fifty entries on any topic in fandom. If you want to crochet the crew of the Enterprise, sew a complete capsule wardrobe inspired by hobbits, or carve a replica of Hogwarts, go for it. Either writing about or posting pictures of your progress will count. You can even double-count anything that applies to two or more goals, e.g. stashbusting, crochet, and Fannish 50.
Do you know of any other arts and crafts challenges in 2026? Share a link so they can be added to the list of options.
( Read more... )
get_knitted makes regular checkin posts for your craft projects.You can pick whichever challenge(s) you want to set as a goal in 2026 and reply with a comment. Below the list of challenges is a short form for listing which you have chosen. Make a post in your blog like "I signed up for the Arts and Crafts challenge in
goals_on_dw" -- or list the specific challenge if you're doing an official one somewhere else instead of a personal one here. Then make a tag for it like "Arts and Crafts Challenge" and put that on the post; it should stick that way. Check your Interests page to see if you have Art, Crafts, Crochet, Painting, etc. listed there, which helps people find you. You don't have to sign up to participate, it just helps spread the word and attract more readers.See also the Fannish 50 challenge, which simply aims to post fifty entries on any topic in fandom. If you want to crochet the crew of the Enterprise, sew a complete capsule wardrobe inspired by hobbits, or carve a replica of Hogwarts, go for it. Either writing about or posting pictures of your progress will count. You can even double-count anything that applies to two or more goals, e.g. stashbusting, crochet, and Fannish 50.
Do you know of any other arts and crafts challenges in 2026? Share a link so they can be added to the list of options.
( Read more... )
jaunty
Dec. 18th, 2025 12:00 ammerriamwebster_feedMerriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 18, 2025 is:
jaunty • \JAWN-tee\ • adjective
Something described as jaunty is lively in manner or appearance. Jaunty can also describe something, such as an article of clothing, that suggests a lively and confident quality.
// The server whistled a jaunty tune as she wiped the tables and set out fresh flowers in preparation for the day’s diners.
Examples:
“He stood at the front of the room and announced that we would begin with a quiz, which we all failed because the quiz was over material that we were supposed to have covered during the last class. When he handed the quizzes back to us after the break, he did so in a frenetic, almost jaunty way, running up and down the aisles and announcing our grades—‘Zero, zero, zero’—loudly before tossing the quizzes down in front of us ...” — Lori Ostlund, Are You Happy?: Stories, 2025
Did you know?
Does throwing on a jaunty hat make someone appear more genteel? Maybe, but something more definitive links the words: both jaunty and genteel come from the French word gentil, meaning “of aristocratic birth.” Genteel was borrowed first to describe things associated with aristocratic people. Jaunty joined the language just a few years later in the mid-17th century as a synonym of stylish and also as a synonym for genteel. While genteel has maintained its associations of propriety and high social class, jaunty has traipsed into less stuffy territory as a descriptor of tunes and hats and other things that suggest lively confidence.
TNG/DS9 crossover
Dec. 17th, 2025 09:38 pmfayanoraI just had the most interesting idea: a Star Trek alternate timeline fanfic story where Lt. Cmdr. Data decides to join Worf on Deep Space 9, for the experience of it. Honestly, I would read or watch an entire series about that timeline, it would be fascinating.
(no subject)
Dec. 18th, 2025 12:07 amskygiantsEverything I've previously read by M.T. Anderson emotionally devastated me, so I despite the fact that Nicked was billed as a comedy I went in bravely prepared to be emotionally devastated once again.
This did not happen .... although M.T. Anderson cannot stop himself from wielding a sharp knife on occasion, it it turns out the book is indeed mostly a comedy .....
Nicked is based on a Real Historical Medieval Heist: the city of Bari is plague-ridden, and due to various political pressures the City's powers have decided that the way to resolve this is to steal the bones of St. Nicholas from their home in Myra and bring them to Bari to heal the sick, revive the tourism trade, and generally boost the city's fortunes. The central figures on this quest are Nicephorus, a very nice young monk who had the dubious fortune of receiving a dream about St. Nicholas that might possibly serve as some sort of justification for this endeavor, and Tyun, a professional relic hunter (or con artist? Who Could Say) who is not at really very nice at all but is Very Charismatic And Sexy, which is A Problem for Nicephorus.
The two books that Nicked kept reminding me of, as I read it, were Pratchett's Small Gods and Tolmie's All the Horses of Iceland. Both of those books are slightly better books than this, but as both of them are indeed exceptionally good books I don't think it takes too much away from Nicked to say that it's not quite on their level: it's still really very fun! And, unlike in those other somewhat better books, the unlikely companions do indeed get to make out!
I did end it, unsurprisingly, desperately wanting to know more about the sources on which it was based to know what we do know about this Real Historical Medieval Heist, but it turns out they are mostly not translated into English. Foiled again!
This did not happen .... although M.T. Anderson cannot stop himself from wielding a sharp knife on occasion, it it turns out the book is indeed mostly a comedy .....
Nicked is based on a Real Historical Medieval Heist: the city of Bari is plague-ridden, and due to various political pressures the City's powers have decided that the way to resolve this is to steal the bones of St. Nicholas from their home in Myra and bring them to Bari to heal the sick, revive the tourism trade, and generally boost the city's fortunes. The central figures on this quest are Nicephorus, a very nice young monk who had the dubious fortune of receiving a dream about St. Nicholas that might possibly serve as some sort of justification for this endeavor, and Tyun, a professional relic hunter (or con artist? Who Could Say) who is not at really very nice at all but is Very Charismatic And Sexy, which is A Problem for Nicephorus.
The two books that Nicked kept reminding me of, as I read it, were Pratchett's Small Gods and Tolmie's All the Horses of Iceland. Both of those books are slightly better books than this, but as both of them are indeed exceptionally good books I don't think it takes too much away from Nicked to say that it's not quite on their level: it's still really very fun! And, unlike in those other somewhat better books, the unlikely companions do indeed get to make out!
I did end it, unsurprisingly, desperately wanting to know more about the sources on which it was based to know what we do know about this Real Historical Medieval Heist, but it turns out they are mostly not translated into English. Foiled again!
новости культурной столицы
Dec. 18th, 2025 10:04 amypqстало интересно: вот жеж 90% спама было "проголосуй за Челябинск!" - и тишина. так и чо в итоге-то?
погуглил. показания расходятся.
4 days ago: Национальный центр «Россия»
Челябинск стал обладателем звания «Культурная столица — 2027». Торжественная церемония присвоения звания состоялась 14 декабря в ...
3 days ago: Магнитогорский Металл
Челябинск – культурная столица-2027! ... Вчера в Москве подвели итоги конкурса городов. ... Город занял второе место по итогам народного голосования ...
ничо не понял... второе место занял, но стал «Культурной столицей — 2027»?
полез читать.
Город занял второе место по итогам народного голосования, нас сильно обогнал Новосибирск. Восемь городов вышли в финал, но экспертное жюри, которое учитывает программу, потенциал, инфраструктуру города, отдало Челябинску первое место.
а что вы хотели от "народного голосования"?! чуровское наследие...
голосуй - не голосуй, все равно получишь ... нужный результат.
интересно, какая версия представлена Новосибирску?
погуглил. показания расходятся.
4 days ago: Национальный центр «Россия»
Челябинск стал обладателем звания «Культурная столица — 2027». Торжественная церемония присвоения звания состоялась 14 декабря в ...
3 days ago: Магнитогорский Металл
Челябинск – культурная столица-2027! ... Вчера в Москве подвели итоги конкурса городов. ... Город занял второе место по итогам народного голосования ...
ничо не понял... второе место занял, но стал «Культурной столицей — 2027»?
полез читать.
Город занял второе место по итогам народного голосования, нас сильно обогнал Новосибирск. Восемь городов вышли в финал, но экспертное жюри, которое учитывает программу, потенциал, инфраструктуру города, отдало Челябинску первое место.
а что вы хотели от "народного голосования"?! чуровское наследие...
голосуй - не голосуй, все равно получишь ... нужный результат.
интересно, какая версия представлена Новосибирску?
a few recent highlights
Dec. 17th, 2025 10:43 pmedenfallingDrive-by life update:
1. I have properly moved into my new apartment, by which I mean I am now sleeping and eating here. My books are still in my aunt's garage, and my plants are still in my parents' basement (right up against a south-facing patio door; they're fine, don't worry), but I have acquired a new sofa as well as an over-the-toilet storage rack, a kitchen storage/counter unit, a folding step-stool, and assorted hardware supplies. I still need a few more things, but overall it's shaping up nicely.
2. I have settled in at work, and I think it's going fairly well. Credentialing is a pain but I have been figuring out where information is stored and tidying up a bunch of old and/or duplicate files and folders, as well as making spreadsheets to keep track of data and projects.
3. This morning I had my 6-month follow-up for my uterine fibroid embolization, which basically meant I had a pelvic ultrasound so the tech and a doctor could look at my innards and make sure nothing seemed problematic. I am pleased to report that the fibroid in question (the one that pressed against my bladder) has shrunk from 4.9cm to 3.5cm. I mean, I'd already experienced a significant reduction in phantom urinary urges by two weeks after the June surgery, but it's nice to have hard numbers to back up my experience.
4. I got my Yuletide fic posted last night, so not quite right up against the deadline, but I am still moderately annoyed at myself for procrastinating. Ah well. There's always next year.
1. I have properly moved into my new apartment, by which I mean I am now sleeping and eating here. My books are still in my aunt's garage, and my plants are still in my parents' basement (right up against a south-facing patio door; they're fine, don't worry), but I have acquired a new sofa as well as an over-the-toilet storage rack, a kitchen storage/counter unit, a folding step-stool, and assorted hardware supplies. I still need a few more things, but overall it's shaping up nicely.
2. I have settled in at work, and I think it's going fairly well. Credentialing is a pain but I have been figuring out where information is stored and tidying up a bunch of old and/or duplicate files and folders, as well as making spreadsheets to keep track of data and projects.
3. This morning I had my 6-month follow-up for my uterine fibroid embolization, which basically meant I had a pelvic ultrasound so the tech and a doctor could look at my innards and make sure nothing seemed problematic. I am pleased to report that the fibroid in question (the one that pressed against my bladder) has shrunk from 4.9cm to 3.5cm. I mean, I'd already experienced a significant reduction in phantom urinary urges by two weeks after the June surgery, but it's nice to have hard numbers to back up my experience.
4. I got my Yuletide fic posted last night, so not quite right up against the deadline, but I am still moderately annoyed at myself for procrastinating. Ah well. There's always next year.
Australian prime minister vows to toughen hate speech laws in wake of Jewish holiday attack
Dec. 17th, 2025 10:56 pmcbc_topnews_feed
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday promised a crackdown on hate speech in the wake of the attack on a Jewish holiday event at Sydney's Bondi Beach, which left 15 dead.
(no subject)
Dec. 17th, 2025 07:54 pmcali4nickationThe racist brain isn't actually smaller, it's just further
away because it doesn't want to get stabbed.
"So there's this rumor floating around rightwing Twitter that a particular Arab student at Brown is the perpetrator in the recent mass shooting. I'm not going to name him (because he may not be the shooter), but I did look him up online and did an actual LOL when I read that he's working on a research project entitled, 'Botanical Reparations: Psychoactive Plants and Indigenous People.'away because it doesn't want to get stabbed.
The student commented about the research: 'This research allows me to continue investigating questions of indigeneity, injustice and inclusion which I’m highly moved by.'"
Декрет совета народных комиссаров о закрытии и реорганизации некоторых высших учебных заведений был бы очень кстати.
Another U.S. strike on alleged drug boat leaves 4 dead in eastern Pacific, military says
Dec. 17th, 2025 09:47 pmcbc_topnews_feed
The U.S. military said Wednesday that it attacked a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four people, on the same day the House rejected efforts to limit U.S. President Donald Trump's power to use military force against drug cartels.
(no subject)
Dec. 17th, 2025 10:55 pmsorcyressToday was alright! Work was actually pretty great, which is nice --it is satisfying to have a ~good day~ at the workplace every once in a while (and slightly surprising to occur in this, the last full week of the year).
Not the last week, mind. I have a day and a half of work next week. It's not great!
But yeah, classes 1 and 4 went well-as-expected, class 2 was just fine, despite my co-teacher having meetings literally every class 2 this week, my circle idea went really really well (well enough that I forwarded it off to the circles team and assistant principal to be all ~hey look at this~), I spent class 3 prep hanging in the break room with three other math teachers I like...all good things!
It was the annual "professional development the week before break" PD, which is never very serious. It could be a better meeting: they could give us a longer time to just....hang out and eat cookies and chat with coworkers. But we did a cute little "family feud" style game, which was fun ("what excuse do students give for cutting class? survey says....."), and I won one of the raffle gift baskets for the scholarship fund. It is...uh, the third time in like....four years that I have gotten one of these. I am only putting in $20 worth of tickets, which I feel is a very reasonable and normal donation to the scholarship fund! I am just very lucky!!!
In actuality, the real trick is that my policy is to look at the ~13 baskets, say "no booze, no gift cards (boring!)" and that both focuses my tickets marvelously, and means I'm not going for the "high value" items. Look, I can't help it that all my coworkers like booze and amazon, I will be over here squeeing over my backstage pass to the school play and several chocolate bars and little leather handmade notebook and set of keen gel pens! It's still not as sweet as the year I got homemade cookies every month for the rest of the year, but it's pretty good.
After, I managed to make it to the holiday show rehearsal, which means that I've made it to one rehearsal this year, which might be more than last year. I got to see all the dances we're doing, and throw my name a couple places in the script. Just have to figure out what to wear or whatever (bonus points for something I can rush home and not change before darting off to the train).
After, I spent a bunch of time rifling through email and YouTube to try and put together a bookmarks collection of all the holiday shows I've been in (every year I've taught, including 2020, when we did a socially distanced one over zoom). Eventually copies, and home again home again, where my Getting Things Done kinda ran out in favour of playing video games.
But I did help get the dishwasher emptied and a bit of kitchen task, and I ran my last load of laundry --I haven't put any of it away yet, but it's clean at least. I did a bunch of closing and organizing tabs, and a very little bit of other like, electronic organization. Not, like, dealing with emails or anything (don't be ridiculous) but at least some brain management.
Now I'm upstairs to write my words and listen to music and do some Chrimbo-present-pre-planning. It is....uh....the holiday is quite soon actually, and if I'm going to contribute to my family's usual wretched excess, I should get on that. I wonder if it's too late to just use the heifer international catalog I got sent to buy everyone goats...
~Sor
MOOP!
Not the last week, mind. I have a day and a half of work next week. It's not great!
But yeah, classes 1 and 4 went well-as-expected, class 2 was just fine, despite my co-teacher having meetings literally every class 2 this week, my circle idea went really really well (well enough that I forwarded it off to the circles team and assistant principal to be all ~hey look at this~), I spent class 3 prep hanging in the break room with three other math teachers I like...all good things!
It was the annual "professional development the week before break" PD, which is never very serious. It could be a better meeting: they could give us a longer time to just....hang out and eat cookies and chat with coworkers. But we did a cute little "family feud" style game, which was fun ("what excuse do students give for cutting class? survey says....."), and I won one of the raffle gift baskets for the scholarship fund. It is...uh, the third time in like....four years that I have gotten one of these. I am only putting in $20 worth of tickets, which I feel is a very reasonable and normal donation to the scholarship fund! I am just very lucky!!!
In actuality, the real trick is that my policy is to look at the ~13 baskets, say "no booze, no gift cards (boring!)" and that both focuses my tickets marvelously, and means I'm not going for the "high value" items. Look, I can't help it that all my coworkers like booze and amazon, I will be over here squeeing over my backstage pass to the school play and several chocolate bars and little leather handmade notebook and set of keen gel pens! It's still not as sweet as the year I got homemade cookies every month for the rest of the year, but it's pretty good.
After, I managed to make it to the holiday show rehearsal, which means that I've made it to one rehearsal this year, which might be more than last year. I got to see all the dances we're doing, and throw my name a couple places in the script. Just have to figure out what to wear or whatever (bonus points for something I can rush home and not change before darting off to the train).
After, I spent a bunch of time rifling through email and YouTube to try and put together a bookmarks collection of all the holiday shows I've been in (every year I've taught, including 2020, when we did a socially distanced one over zoom). Eventually copies, and home again home again, where my Getting Things Done kinda ran out in favour of playing video games.
But I did help get the dishwasher emptied and a bit of kitchen task, and I ran my last load of laundry --I haven't put any of it away yet, but it's clean at least. I did a bunch of closing and organizing tabs, and a very little bit of other like, electronic organization. Not, like, dealing with emails or anything (don't be ridiculous) but at least some brain management.
Now I'm upstairs to write my words and listen to music and do some Chrimbo-present-pre-planning. It is....uh....the holiday is quite soon actually, and if I'm going to contribute to my family's usual wretched excess, I should get on that. I wonder if it's too late to just use the heifer international catalog I got sent to buy everyone goats...
~Sor
MOOP!
Dept. of Memes
Dec. 17th, 2025 09:01 pmkaffy_rMusic Meme, Day 15
I've been surviving very cold Chicago; I've been adulting, doing the Green Card renewal (which the CIS folks just sent me two letters stating my case is "in process," huzzah) and getting my Rexulti program application for 2026 ready for delivery to my delightfully old-fashioned shrink and The Amazing Nicki, and spending more time than I should cooking and baking rather than reading. But it's time to put all that behind me and return to my music meme, at least until I can think of interesting things in my brain that others might like to hear about. Therefore, I bring you -
A song from a movie soundtrack:
I've read The Lord of the Rings trilogy more times than I can remember. I also watched the three movies, both theatrical and extended release, dozens of times in total, in theaters, and at home. I love both the books and, with caveats, the movies.
I believe that the ending of The Return of the King, the third movie, is as close to perfect as it could possibly be. A major reason is the song written by Annie Lennox and Fran Walsh, with music by Lennox and Howard Shore. The words, which take from one of Gandalf's comments to Pippin before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and speak of Elves being called home to the Undying Lands, get me every time.
This could have been the song I chose as one that makes me cry, but it's for that strange mix of grief, awe, and yearning that is somehow transmuted into joy. And of course Annie Lennox's voice is the wind that fills the sails as the ships leave the Grey Havens.
Here is a link to Day 14 and to Day 13; should you desire, you can see what I yammered on about in earlier meme iterations.
.
I've been surviving very cold Chicago; I've been adulting, doing the Green Card renewal (which the CIS folks just sent me two letters stating my case is "in process," huzzah) and getting my Rexulti program application for 2026 ready for delivery to my delightfully old-fashioned shrink and The Amazing Nicki, and spending more time than I should cooking and baking rather than reading. But it's time to put all that behind me and return to my music meme, at least until I can think of interesting things in my brain that others might like to hear about. Therefore, I bring you -
A song from a movie soundtrack:
I've read The Lord of the Rings trilogy more times than I can remember. I also watched the three movies, both theatrical and extended release, dozens of times in total, in theaters, and at home. I love both the books and, with caveats, the movies.
I believe that the ending of The Return of the King, the third movie, is as close to perfect as it could possibly be. A major reason is the song written by Annie Lennox and Fran Walsh, with music by Lennox and Howard Shore. The words, which take from one of Gandalf's comments to Pippin before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and speak of Elves being called home to the Undying Lands, get me every time.
This could have been the song I chose as one that makes me cry, but it's for that strange mix of grief, awe, and yearning that is somehow transmuted into joy. And of course Annie Lennox's voice is the wind that fills the sails as the ships leave the Grey Havens.
Here is a link to Day 14 and to Day 13; should you desire, you can see what I yammered on about in earlier meme iterations.
.
8am and it already feels hot
Dec. 18th, 2025 09:29 amtielanIDK. I did go outside, checked the chickens food (bother, just realised I didn't check their water).
Temps are supposed to be 30+ today and the next few days, alas, before cooling down on Christmas Day. By which we mean "mid-20s".
CRIPES. It's a week to Christmas.
My mother wants us to go over on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. *sigh* I just don't want to do "Christmas Day", and then "Christmas Day But With The Stepbro's Family".
I don't seem to have gotten COVID - still testing clear, just feeling generally tired.
--
It's six hours later and it's crazy hot out there.
Temps are supposed to be 30+ today and the next few days, alas, before cooling down on Christmas Day. By which we mean "mid-20s".
CRIPES. It's a week to Christmas.
My mother wants us to go over on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. *sigh* I just don't want to do "Christmas Day", and then "Christmas Day But With The Stepbro's Family".
I don't seem to have gotten COVID - still testing clear, just feeling generally tired.
--
It's six hours later and it's crazy hot out there.
Cloud Carpets
Dec. 17th, 2025 09:23 pmyourlibrarian posting in common_nature
Last week while taking out the trash, I noticed that the clouds were low in the sky and really thick and ropey, like a plush carpet. Hurried home to grab the camera as sunset was coming soon and I wanted to be sure I caught the look.
( Read more... )
Wherein I talk myself into a new xover ship apparently
Dec. 18th, 2025 02:47 ambeccaelizabethI have read a bunch of crossovers in a row now
that were just
intro outro.
Everyone meets, gets introduced, hits a bunch of stuff, goes away again.
And the hitting tends to take like a paragraph?
I feel like the hook to a crossover needs to be a bit more than just
look they all hit things real good
even with a common theme like magic or angels or demons.
The story of two or more people meeting needs to be something like
what need do these people fill for each other?
and 'need to hit things real good' doesn't really cover it when they are in hit things real good shows.
It's just a bit frustrating when I can see how each would offer a perspective that could get the other unjammed at some points in their canon
but they are just
gonna hit a demo about it.
And don't get me wrong, there are many ways to write hitting a demon about it that are *also* about confronting your emotions and getting a character arc unjammed, it's just not always what happen.
Like, say Sara Lance meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Key things to talk about: Did We Come Back Wrong? Bloodlust and the fashionable blonde! The Burden Of Command (that you didn't ask for but look at these guys when you don't do it). Ex Boyfriends with a whole angsty vigilante thing going on, possibly dying to save the world edition. Sapphic crushes and how much the crime parts don't make the crush go away. Or, sapphic crushes, and how much Sara hasn't met Ava yet. Give Buffy a holiday, Sara's good for it.
That's so many themes! You could pick one theme and get so many words out of it!
... I just read a fic that only had them fight and decided Sara would epic lose to Slayer strength, as if she doesn't fight superpowered beings for a living.
At least have them fight and do the thing where they each have a signature move that ends with a knife at Buffy's throat and a stake to Sara's torso, Sara would be into that. Buffy would be into that. Throwing each other around would work for both of them, the story should know this.
Or pick one of the more superpowered eras of Sara Lance and have Buffy mistake her for the source of the threat and they have to clear up the misunderstanding through angsty mutual personal revelations and then have sex about it.
... I did not start typing this with some kind of Sara/Buffy agenda but now I'm talking myself into it.
It's just like you can do a crossover to be all Look at these two great tastes that taste great together
but then like
if it do click there will be so many more things to do with it.
Time travelling demons! Say there's a demon nobody can figure out how to defeat and they have to Bill and Ted it by going back to the demon's Ascension and, like, rescuing the food crowd or smashing the box of pointy food or something, removing a key part of Ascension so when they get back they know the pure demon is actually vulnerable. A reason to go over the mythology of both shows.
But! Legends is the resolving things with a sing along or the power of Beebo show. Like sure in season one they fixed things by blowing stuff up and a spot of murder, but things evolved from there. So how would the Legends react to Buffy's general Slay Them All theme after the seasons where they met a bunch of supernatural beings and it was clearly Hell organising the capture and torture of them?
So many ways to smush the shows together and have new story fall out.
But if you don't need to smush the shows to get that exact same story, I shall end the page kind of vaguely sad, and apparently full of plot bunnies.
that were just
intro outro.
Everyone meets, gets introduced, hits a bunch of stuff, goes away again.
And the hitting tends to take like a paragraph?
I feel like the hook to a crossover needs to be a bit more than just
look they all hit things real good
even with a common theme like magic or angels or demons.
The story of two or more people meeting needs to be something like
what need do these people fill for each other?
and 'need to hit things real good' doesn't really cover it when they are in hit things real good shows.
It's just a bit frustrating when I can see how each would offer a perspective that could get the other unjammed at some points in their canon
but they are just
gonna hit a demo about it.
And don't get me wrong, there are many ways to write hitting a demon about it that are *also* about confronting your emotions and getting a character arc unjammed, it's just not always what happen.
Like, say Sara Lance meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Key things to talk about: Did We Come Back Wrong? Bloodlust and the fashionable blonde! The Burden Of Command (that you didn't ask for but look at these guys when you don't do it). Ex Boyfriends with a whole angsty vigilante thing going on, possibly dying to save the world edition. Sapphic crushes and how much the crime parts don't make the crush go away. Or, sapphic crushes, and how much Sara hasn't met Ava yet. Give Buffy a holiday, Sara's good for it.
That's so many themes! You could pick one theme and get so many words out of it!
... I just read a fic that only had them fight and decided Sara would epic lose to Slayer strength, as if she doesn't fight superpowered beings for a living.
At least have them fight and do the thing where they each have a signature move that ends with a knife at Buffy's throat and a stake to Sara's torso, Sara would be into that. Buffy would be into that. Throwing each other around would work for both of them, the story should know this.
Or pick one of the more superpowered eras of Sara Lance and have Buffy mistake her for the source of the threat and they have to clear up the misunderstanding through angsty mutual personal revelations and then have sex about it.
... I did not start typing this with some kind of Sara/Buffy agenda but now I'm talking myself into it.
It's just like you can do a crossover to be all Look at these two great tastes that taste great together
but then like
if it do click there will be so many more things to do with it.
Time travelling demons! Say there's a demon nobody can figure out how to defeat and they have to Bill and Ted it by going back to the demon's Ascension and, like, rescuing the food crowd or smashing the box of pointy food or something, removing a key part of Ascension so when they get back they know the pure demon is actually vulnerable. A reason to go over the mythology of both shows.
But! Legends is the resolving things with a sing along or the power of Beebo show. Like sure in season one they fixed things by blowing stuff up and a spot of murder, but things evolved from there. So how would the Legends react to Buffy's general Slay Them All theme after the seasons where they met a bunch of supernatural beings and it was clearly Hell organising the capture and torture of them?
So many ways to smush the shows together and have new story fall out.
But if you don't need to smush the shows to get that exact same story, I shall end the page kind of vaguely sad, and apparently full of plot bunnies.
Thursday - Chocolate Covered Anything
Dec. 18th, 2025 01:06 amToday's theme is Chocolate Covered Anything. It’s just one of the many little silly holidays in December. Anything is as broad and exciting as you can imagine. What do YOU want to put chocolate on?
Just a few rules:
No more than five prompts in a row.
No more than three prompts in the same fandom.
Use the character's full names and the fandom's full name
No spoilers in prompts for a month after airing, or use the spoiler cut option found here.
If your fill contains spoilers, warn and leave plenty of space, or use the above-mentioned spoiler cut.
If your story has possible triggers, please warn for them in the subject line!
Prompts should be formatted as follows: [Use the character's full names and fandom's full name]
Fandom, Character +/ Character, Prompt
Some examples to get the ball rolling...
+ any, any, chocolate covered pretzels are the best
+ Hazbin Hotel, Angel Dust/Husk, we’re both too furry to be chocolate covered so options?
+Prodigal Son, Gil Arroyo/Jessica Whitly, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne
+ The Amazing Digital Circus, any, one of them ends up covered in chocolate
+ The Owl House, any, one (or more) of the Boiling Isles crew discovers chocolate covered goodies
We are now using AO3 to bookmark filled prompts. If you fill a prompt and post it to AO3 please add it to the Bite Sized Bits of Fic from 2025 collection. See further notes on this new option here.
Not feeling any of today’s prompts? You can use LJ’s advanced search options to limit keyword results to only comments in this community.
While the use of LJ's advanced search options is available, bookmarking the links of prompts you like might work better for searching in the future.
If you are viewing this post on our Dreamwidth site, please know that fills posted here will not show up as comments on our LiveJournal site but you are still more than welcome to participate.
If you have a Dreamwidth account and would feel more comfortable participating there, please feel free to do so…and spread the word!
tag= chocolate covered anything