Night Watch (Discworld, volume 29/City Watch, volume 6) by Terry Pratchett
May. 25th, 2025 09:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
A time-displaced cop struggles to protect history and the glorious revolution from a time-displaced psychopath, as well as from the cop's own better nature.
Night Watch (Discworld, volume 29/City Watch, volume 6) by Terry Pratchett
multifandom icons.
May. 25th, 2025 04:28 pmwickedgame posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
iconsFandoms: Cobra Kai, DOC - Nelle Tue Mani, Elite, I Will Turn Back This Time, Loki, Love Victor, The White Lotus, Unforgotten Night, XO, Kitty
rest HERE @mundodefieras
rest HERE @
mundodefieras Meet Bunny's Brand New Bestie
May. 25th, 2025 12:39 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
dailybunny_feed
Happy Bunday! Thanks, Lisa and bunnies Mochi and Maisie! Lisa writes, “This sweet girl was rescued by Friends of Unwanted Rabbits (FUR). After the kind volunteers got her spayed and up to a healthy weight, she became available for adoption. Mochi went and met her and gave us two paws up to take her home! She is an amazing little girl. We are working on the bonding process now. So far so good. Stay tuned.”
Maze of twisty little scales all alike
May. 25th, 2025 08:20 pmleecetheartist posting in drawesomeTitle: Quick twisty merperson
Artist: leecetheartist
leecetheartistRating: G
Fandom: N/A
Characters/Pairings: n/a
Characters/Pairings: n/a
Summary: Just a merperson with a really long twisty tail
Content Notes: Another super busy day, so just a quick one with the Robert Oster signature Barossa in a LAMY.
The Day in Spikedluv (Saturday, May 24)
May. 25th, 2025 08:11 amspikedluvI hit the Pharmacy and the Bakery while I was downtown yesterday, then the library on the way home. (For the second day in a row I forgot to hit the bank drive-thru. *head desk*)
I did two loads of laundry and changed kitty litter. I made Gus's potatoes to go with a surprise delivery of BBQ chicken quarters.
I had supper planned, but Pip’s friend dropped off BBQ chicken quarters. It was a surprise to both of us, though it shouldn’t have been to Pip because he’s the one who made the arrangements for his friend to pick them up. *head desk* On top of which, we were already planning to get BBQ chicken on Monday for Memorial Day (the school sells it as a fundraiser), which I guess we won’t be doing now. We got six quarters, though Pip delivered two of them to his parents. Still, we’re not gonna need more BBQ chicken.
For fun stuff I watched the current ep of Murderbot and a couple of HGTV programs, and did some reading (both fanfic and in a published book). I also managed to write ~800 words of fic! It’s been so long. It felt wonderful. I also took a nap. Seriously, this weather is killing me.
Temps started out at 46.7(F) and reached 63.3. It rained on and off all day, but the sun actually made an appearance! It was one of those days where you had a bit of sun, then more rain, then sun, then rain . . .
For my own reference, I still have a slight 'bruise' pain from the adjustment, but I now also have fun 'muscle pull' pain in an adjacent area. Not a surprise if I was walking differently to compensate.
I did two loads of laundry and changed kitty litter. I made Gus's potatoes to go with a surprise delivery of BBQ chicken quarters.
I had supper planned, but Pip’s friend dropped off BBQ chicken quarters. It was a surprise to both of us, though it shouldn’t have been to Pip because he’s the one who made the arrangements for his friend to pick them up. *head desk* On top of which, we were already planning to get BBQ chicken on Monday for Memorial Day (the school sells it as a fundraiser), which I guess we won’t be doing now. We got six quarters, though Pip delivered two of them to his parents. Still, we’re not gonna need more BBQ chicken.
For fun stuff I watched the current ep of Murderbot and a couple of HGTV programs, and did some reading (both fanfic and in a published book). I also managed to write ~800 words of fic! It’s been so long. It felt wonderful. I also took a nap. Seriously, this weather is killing me.
Temps started out at 46.7(F) and reached 63.3. It rained on and off all day, but the sun actually made an appearance! It was one of those days where you had a bit of sun, then more rain, then sun, then rain . . .
For my own reference, I still have a slight 'bruise' pain from the adjustment, but I now also have fun 'muscle pull' pain in an adjacent area. Not a surprise if I was walking differently to compensate.
Just one thing: 25 May 2025
May. 25th, 2025 06:48 amjazzyjj posting in awesomeersIt's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
ST:AOS Fic: Antigen
May. 25th, 2025 12:44 pmkat_lair***
Title: Antigen
Author:kat_lair
Fandom: Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies)
Pairing: James T. Kirk & Leonard "Bones" McCoy, James T. Kirk/Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Tags: Anti-sex pollen, Gen or Pre-Slash, Touch Aversion, Touch-Starved
Rating: T
Word count: 2,111
Summary: Jim was familiar with all the evolutionary, physiological, psychological, cultural reasons why humans needed touch. Group and individual variation obviously existed, but as a species the requirement for connection went DNA-deep and the impacts of being deprived of it were well-documented and happening right in front of his eyes, right in his own body too.
Author notes: Picked some spring themed prompts to get me out of a writing slump. This was for the prompt 'pollen'. Unbetaed so if you spot a typo or mistake you should tell me.
Antigen on AO3
( Antigen )
***
Title: Antigen
Author:
kat_lair Fandom: Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies)
Pairing: James T. Kirk & Leonard "Bones" McCoy, James T. Kirk/Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Tags: Anti-sex pollen, Gen or Pre-Slash, Touch Aversion, Touch-Starved
Rating: T
Word count: 2,111
Summary: Jim was familiar with all the evolutionary, physiological, psychological, cultural reasons why humans needed touch. Group and individual variation obviously existed, but as a species the requirement for connection went DNA-deep and the impacts of being deprived of it were well-documented and happening right in front of his eyes, right in his own body too.
Author notes: Picked some spring themed prompts to get me out of a writing slump. This was for the prompt 'pollen'. Unbetaed so if you spot a typo or mistake you should tell me.
Antigen on AO3
( Antigen )
***
Soulmates
May. 25th, 2025 06:17 ampostingmemes posting in bakerstreet
soulmate meme ;
▸ post your character ◂
▸ you're now in a universe where destined soul mates exist! ◂
▸ rng for the type of au and for the ~situation~ ◂
▸ tag around ♥ ◂
type of au;
1. tats, your character has a tattoo of the first words the love of their life will say to them
2. familiars, your character has an animal tattoo representing their soul mate on them
3. glow, the first time your character sees their soul mate, their chests glow!
4. world in color, life is literally black and white, until you see your soul mate for the first time
5. choose your own, i'm definitely missing a milly because i'm lazy, pick your own
situation;
1. first meeting, you've never met this person before.
2. childhood mates, you've always known this person -- but on one particular birthday, everything changes.
3. together, you've been in a relationship for awhile now! happily wed or not, you decide.
4. not together, you've known you're soul mates for a long time, and yet have avoided a relationship.
5. choose your own, self explanatory c:
Thirst Trap
May. 25th, 2025 06:15 amshiftyeyed posting in bakerstreet How To Play - Oh no, someone just posted this picture/video/etc. of your character and it's HOT HOT HOT! Damn you, mysterious leaker! Or maybe they posted it themselves because they're a shameless thot, IDK their life. At any rate: sexy/appealing pic, now shared with Bakerstreet at large. Do that in your toplevel. - This public venue means that everyone can comment, of course. And we know folks have opinions around here! So, are the crowds thirsty...or bloodthirsty? |
LeVar Burton Was Not Wrong 🌈📚
May. 25th, 2025 06:57 amrynlingFam, be careful with your time online.
https://greenjudy.tumblr.com/post/771760180357742592/weird-cultural-shift-detected
If reading longform, offline, makes you feel bored or anxious, be gentle and patient with yourself. Start with stories you remember well, reliable sources of well-being. But please know you will need to put some backbone into it in the long run.
I think we are going to need to rebuild our ability to think, to process experience. This will be an unsupported activity. In fact, most of the really powerful cultural forces are making it very hard for us to notice, feel, perceive, or think clearly.
( Read more... )
My post-pandemic experiences in higher education have led me to believe that a lot of us are, in a very real way, at the point of Long Covid where being able to read a book from cover to cover has become a distinct and useful cognitive skill that can almost visibly put you a head above your peers in terms of performance. Literally: reading makes you smarter.
Anyway, I want to shout out to all the writers who are still using their own human minds to create books worth reading. I love you.
https://greenjudy.tumblr.com/post/771760180357742592/weird-cultural-shift-detected
If reading longform, offline, makes you feel bored or anxious, be gentle and patient with yourself. Start with stories you remember well, reliable sources of well-being. But please know you will need to put some backbone into it in the long run.
I think we are going to need to rebuild our ability to think, to process experience. This will be an unsupported activity. In fact, most of the really powerful cultural forces are making it very hard for us to notice, feel, perceive, or think clearly.
( Read more... )
My post-pandemic experiences in higher education have led me to believe that a lot of us are, in a very real way, at the point of Long Covid where being able to read a book from cover to cover has become a distinct and useful cognitive skill that can almost visibly put you a head above your peers in terms of performance. Literally: reading makes you smarter.
Anyway, I want to shout out to all the writers who are still using their own human minds to create books worth reading. I love you.
Sunday Word: Legerdemain
May. 25th, 2025 05:16 pmsallymn posting in 1word1daylegerdemain [lej-er-duh-meyn]
noun:
1 sleight of hand
2 a display of skill or adroitness
Examples:
In Open Eye's itsy-bitsy performing space, Sass has constructed a set filled with tricks and gimmicks: old-fashioned bulletin boards animate themselves, objects move on their own, characters appear from and disappear to unexpected places. Some of the legerdemain is how'd-they-do-that pieces of stage magic, while other bits are visual distraction. (Dominic P Papatola , Theater review: These 'Red Shoes' can't be tied with a bow. And that's a good thing , Twin Cities, March 2017)
Poirot reacts to all this legerdemain with a disbelieving scowl, even when he can't fully explain the hair-raising tricks his eyes and ears are playing on him. (Justin Chang, Review: With 'A Haunting in Venice,' Kenneth Branagh's Agatha Christie series hits its stride , Los Angeles Times, September 2023)
The magician on stage is all-powerful to the mesmerised audience, pulling the rabbit out of his hat, sawing pretty ladies in half, making members in the audience disappear and a host of other tricks in his legerdemain (Ravi Shankar, Why poll Houdini Prashant Kishor isn't a neta, The New Indian Express, February 2022)
Every little while he would bend down and take hold of the edge of the blanket with the extreme tips of his fingertips, as if to show there was no deception - chattering away all the while - but always, just as I was expecting to see a wonder feat of legerdemain, he would let go the blanket and rise to explain further. (Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad)
He already sang as nobody on this earth had ever sung before; he practised ventriloquism and gave displays of legerdemain so extraordinary that the caravans returning to Asia talked about it during the whole length of their journey. (Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera)
(click to enlarge)
Origin:
early 15c, 'conjuring tricks, sleight of hand,' from Old French léger de main 'quick of hand,' literally 'light of hand.' Léger 'light' in weight (Old French legier, 12c) is from Latin levis 'light' (from PIE root legwh- 'not heavy, having little weight'). Main 'hand' is from Latin manus (from PIE root man- 'hand'). (Online Etymology Dictionary)
In Middle French, folks who were clever enough to fool others with fast-fingered illusions were described as leger de main, literally 'light of hand'. English speakers condensed that phrase into a noun when they borrowed it in the 15th century and began using it as an alternative to the older sleight of hand. (That term for dexterity or skill in using one's hands makes use of sleight, an old word from Middle English that derives from an Old Norse word meaning 'sly.') In modern times, a feat of legerdemain can even be accomplished without using your hands, as in, for example, 'an impressive bit of financial legerdemain.' (Merriam-Webster)
Sunday Morning
May. 25th, 2025 06:12 ammalinaldaroseI finally remembered to change the batteries in my thermometer's receiver unit! It's 41° this morning and it's supposed to get up to 60°. The forecast says that we might actually see some sun today...but there's still a chance of rain this afternoon, because of course there is. The long range forecast looks to be more of the same as far out as it goes: cloudy, rainy, cool. Maybe I should just dig into my winter clothes and get some long-sleeved shirts back out. And a couple of the sweatshirts that I packed away.
Yesterday was wet all day, as expected. I had thought I would go back out after I got home from my grocery run, after other stores opened, but my desire to be out of my house drained away with one single grocery run. I did do a bit of housework yesterday. Laundry and dishes, of course, but I also vacuumed -- as I said to the Paladin in our daily chat, it had been about a month since the last time. (I never claimed to be a good housekeeper.) I noticed that the filter gauge-thingy was indicating that the filter needed to be cleaned, so after I emptied the canister, I tried to get it open so I could rinse the filter...and I absolutely could not get it open. It's just supposed to twist off...though now that I think on it, I'm pretty sure that my last vacuum (which was the same basic model) had a latch and that part of the canister lifted off. In any case, I decided that if I can't get the damned thing open for basic maintenance then it's no good to me. So now I'm looking to upgrade. Not in a huge hurry about it, though; it'll be okay for light use for a bit. I am a bit pissed, though, as I bought that model specifically out of brand loyalty.
I am reminded of Scotty in Star Trek III: The more they change the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.
Otherwise, I spent a lot of time online either reading fic or watching videos on YouTube. Except for the hour and a half or so in the afternoon that I took a nap with cats. I like taking a nap and having a snoozling cat tucked up under my chin. It's very pleasant.
It will be so much less pleasant in July. Unless this summer continues on like this, of course. Anyone know if a volcano has erupted anywhere recently?
I watched the Doctor Who serial "Time and the Rani" last evening. I was surprised to realize that I had seen it before. (Props to Kate O'Mara for her spot-on impersonation of Bonnie Langford.) I wasn't thrilled that it was four episodes long, but it does explain how Einstein became familiar with the Doctor and the TARDIS. (Well. Not explain really, but give a reason for that Eleven minisode with Einstein in it. Aaaaand never mind. Scurried off to YouTube to watch it and it was written by a bunch of school kids who very likely hadn't seen Time and the Rani.
Anyway, that was in preparation for watching last night's episode of current Doctor Who, which...was rather confusing to start. ( Read more... )
Today...I have no plans. We'll just see how it goes. Well, no. I lie. I do plan to listen to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me later this morning, but that's not for a few hours yet.
Yesterday was wet all day, as expected. I had thought I would go back out after I got home from my grocery run, after other stores opened, but my desire to be out of my house drained away with one single grocery run. I did do a bit of housework yesterday. Laundry and dishes, of course, but I also vacuumed -- as I said to the Paladin in our daily chat, it had been about a month since the last time. (I never claimed to be a good housekeeper.) I noticed that the filter gauge-thingy was indicating that the filter needed to be cleaned, so after I emptied the canister, I tried to get it open so I could rinse the filter...and I absolutely could not get it open. It's just supposed to twist off...though now that I think on it, I'm pretty sure that my last vacuum (which was the same basic model) had a latch and that part of the canister lifted off. In any case, I decided that if I can't get the damned thing open for basic maintenance then it's no good to me. So now I'm looking to upgrade. Not in a huge hurry about it, though; it'll be okay for light use for a bit. I am a bit pissed, though, as I bought that model specifically out of brand loyalty.
I am reminded of Scotty in Star Trek III: The more they change the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.
Otherwise, I spent a lot of time online either reading fic or watching videos on YouTube. Except for the hour and a half or so in the afternoon that I took a nap with cats. I like taking a nap and having a snoozling cat tucked up under my chin. It's very pleasant.
It will be so much less pleasant in July. Unless this summer continues on like this, of course. Anyone know if a volcano has erupted anywhere recently?
I watched the Doctor Who serial "Time and the Rani" last evening. I was surprised to realize that I had seen it before. (Props to Kate O'Mara for her spot-on impersonation of Bonnie Langford.) I wasn't thrilled that it was four episodes long, but it does explain how Einstein became familiar with the Doctor and the TARDIS. (Well. Not explain really, but give a reason for that Eleven minisode with Einstein in it. Aaaaand never mind. Scurried off to YouTube to watch it and it was written by a bunch of school kids who very likely hadn't seen Time and the Rani.
Anyway, that was in preparation for watching last night's episode of current Doctor Who, which...was rather confusing to start. ( Read more... )
Today...I have no plans. We'll just see how it goes. Well, no. I lie. I do plan to listen to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me later this morning, but that's not for a few hours yet.
(no subject)
May. 25th, 2025 11:09 amlolastarthe trend of manifestation and law of attraction magic makes me sick and not cos i dont believe in it but because its secular and the only thing people want from it is personal gain. its equivalent to worshipping evil forces and its dangerous. simultaneously and fortunately both christianity and islam is on the rise, and could teach these people about benevolence.
Doctor Who ? 07
May. 25th, 2025 10:41 amselenakBefore I get to this week's episode: is an interview with Juno Dawson, who wrote last week's episode. In it, she makes a comment about the Doctor and the Spoiler which I found interesting in term's of this week's episode: ( which is spoilery. )
Now, on to The Wish World. Basically, classic pre finale set up episode, making things as desperate as possible, though this time the horror is of a very different type compared to other RTD pre finale episodes.
( Spoilers live in a Tory Utopia )
Now, on to The Wish World. Basically, classic pre finale set up episode, making things as desperate as possible, though this time the horror is of a very different type compared to other RTD pre finale episodes.
( Spoilers live in a Tory Utopia )
Babylon 5 fic: Gift
May. 25th, 2025 12:08 amsholioCurrently traveling, but I finished a thing!
I got a prompt on Tumblr earlier this month for a roleswap AU with Londo & G'Kar. I wrote a short ficlet for it a few days ago, then was promptly seized by the urge to write the entire story that goes with it.
Gift on AO3 (2,953 words, Babylon 5, gen)
Mid season four. Narns deliver a gift to G'Kar. He does not appreciate it in the slightest.
(A roleswap AU of sorts, set around the same general time frame as "No Surrender, No Retreat" in canon, in which reconciliation occurs from a completely different and even more fraught direction.)
( 3000-ish words of chains and reluctant h/c )
I got a prompt on Tumblr earlier this month for a roleswap AU with Londo & G'Kar. I wrote a short ficlet for it a few days ago, then was promptly seized by the urge to write the entire story that goes with it.
Gift on AO3 (2,953 words, Babylon 5, gen)
Mid season four. Narns deliver a gift to G'Kar. He does not appreciate it in the slightest.
(A roleswap AU of sorts, set around the same general time frame as "No Surrender, No Retreat" in canon, in which reconciliation occurs from a completely different and even more fraught direction.)
( 3000-ish words of chains and reluctant h/c )
And Did You Once See Shelley Plain?
May. 25th, 2025 08:18 ampoliphilo My late father-in-law worked for a businesss that made and sold plastic containers. One day two long-haired weirdos showed up and made enquiries about buying containers to hold their band's equipment. "Band had a funny name," he told co-workers afterwards. "Queen- or something like that."
He'd only been talking to Freddie Mercury and Brian May- and he hadn't had a clue.
This week something similar happened to me. An old chap wanted to scope out the Meeting House prior to hiring it for some sort of Spiritualist event. I showed him round. Nice old chap, cockney accent, used to be a copper, talked about his multiple heart bypasses, said he had an online presence.
Yesterday I looked him up- and found myself watching a film that London Weekend Television had made about him in 2001. OK, the world of Spiritualism is smaller than that of Rock 'n' Roll but within that world Keith Charles, the psychic detective, is a pretty big name....
He'd only been talking to Freddie Mercury and Brian May- and he hadn't had a clue.
This week something similar happened to me. An old chap wanted to scope out the Meeting House prior to hiring it for some sort of Spiritualist event. I showed him round. Nice old chap, cockney accent, used to be a copper, talked about his multiple heart bypasses, said he had an online presence.
Yesterday I looked him up- and found myself watching a film that London Weekend Television had made about him in 2001. OK, the world of Spiritualism is smaller than that of Rock 'n' Roll but within that world Keith Charles, the psychic detective, is a pretty big name....
Daily Happiness
May. 24th, 2025 11:45 pmtorachan1. Since we were planning to go to Disneyland later in the day rather than first thing, we were able to go to the farmers market this morning beforehand.
2. We had a really lovely time at Disneyland today. Saw some rare characters and a couple parades, but the best thing of all was the adorable tiny ducklings (so many of them!).
3. Tuxie!
2. We had a really lovely time at Disneyland today. Saw some rare characters and a couple parades, but the best thing of all was the adorable tiny ducklings (so many of them!).
3. Tuxie!