Crack, Thwack, Smack, Sea Otters've Got the Knack!
Jan. 30th, 2026 11:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
daily_otter_feedVia Oregon Zoo, which writes:
It's a clam clamboree!
Sea otters like Juno and Sushi use rocks as tools to crack open shellfish and eat the meat inside. Otterly clever!
I was gonna change the world, oh, I was a fearless girl.
Jan. 30th, 2026 05:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beansideIt's finally Friday! I am so glad to see this weekend go fuck it self. Not that it's been a bad week. Just busy and occasionally stressful. But it's all good. It's Friday and should be relatively quiet.
The PET scanner is down again at our one site. It's kind of a mess. That's like 10 cancer patients per day that we have to find another way for. It's a lot. Mostly they're handling it outside of us, but sometimes we catch a stray call, and those are never fun. For those counting, this is the second time it's been down in a month.
I busted my ass at work yesterday. There were a TON of openings and people to slot in them. Three cardiac MRIs, four cardiac CTs, and a slew of MRIs. I got them all filled, though. I was a goddamn superstar. By the end of it, my brain hurt. Some of it involved playing tetris. Like "On this day and this day we have half an hour openings. I have someone who needs a full hour. Lets see if this patient would want to come in a little bit earlier." Or hey, I need a cardiac MRI in Bethesda for a STAT patient. I also have two openings in Columbia for cardiac MRIs. So, looking for patients who went to Bethesda, but would be closer to Columbia. But, right now they're only accepting certain diagnosis, and I needed to make sure we had insurance that we could get authorization in time. Basically, I was looking for a goddamn unicorn of a patient. I found 2, and can give my STAT patient their choice.
I was really tired and brain dead when I finished, but I also really enjoy it. It appeals to the side of my brain with excellent spacial relations and the one that always liked the "If-then" kind of tests.
Today, I'll probably be making more Tetris moves, plus my counterpart is out so I'll be getting all the emails.
Afterwards, we have a game, which was moved from last night due to headaches. (not mine for once--I had one, but I was okay to play. But 3 others had migraines. The game is a Monster of the Week game that was delayed from NYE due to the cold of doom. It's about a bunch of monster hunters being called in to protect the Gävlebocken. They will quickly find that things are not what they're expecting and may face tough choices. I'm looking forward to it.
I'm still pissed that this cold wiped out one my heaviest weekends of games. Stupid thing. It's almost gone now, thankfully.
One cool thing! Jess and I looked at the cast of the Rocky Horror on Broadway in NYC and decided that we had to go. We're going at the end of the run, on 6/20 with a friend. I am very excited about my Broadway forays. I need to add things to my countdown app, so that I'll be able to see how close it is and get excited. Seriously, the cast looks fucking amazing.
Tomorrow, we have nothing planned, which is nice. Maybe we'll go out and get lunch or something. Mostly, I plan to be a lump, though. Unless I decide to cook. We'll see. We have a game on Sunday, but it's at 5:30, so I'd have time to play during the day.
This literally made me lol. Long and short of it is that ghost played the Kia Center in Orlando and the next night, the Orlando Magic got just decimeated in their next game. Immediatly some yahoo on the internet begins blaming Ghost for cursing his team with their Satanic powers. It was great. Sadly, not satire, but the internet's reaction is hilarous.
Okay, time for me to maybe take a bath and get ready for work. Everyone have a stellar Friday!
The PET scanner is down again at our one site. It's kind of a mess. That's like 10 cancer patients per day that we have to find another way for. It's a lot. Mostly they're handling it outside of us, but sometimes we catch a stray call, and those are never fun. For those counting, this is the second time it's been down in a month.
I busted my ass at work yesterday. There were a TON of openings and people to slot in them. Three cardiac MRIs, four cardiac CTs, and a slew of MRIs. I got them all filled, though. I was a goddamn superstar. By the end of it, my brain hurt. Some of it involved playing tetris. Like "On this day and this day we have half an hour openings. I have someone who needs a full hour. Lets see if this patient would want to come in a little bit earlier." Or hey, I need a cardiac MRI in Bethesda for a STAT patient. I also have two openings in Columbia for cardiac MRIs. So, looking for patients who went to Bethesda, but would be closer to Columbia. But, right now they're only accepting certain diagnosis, and I needed to make sure we had insurance that we could get authorization in time. Basically, I was looking for a goddamn unicorn of a patient. I found 2, and can give my STAT patient their choice.
I was really tired and brain dead when I finished, but I also really enjoy it. It appeals to the side of my brain with excellent spacial relations and the one that always liked the "If-then" kind of tests.
Today, I'll probably be making more Tetris moves, plus my counterpart is out so I'll be getting all the emails.
Afterwards, we have a game, which was moved from last night due to headaches. (not mine for once--I had one, but I was okay to play. But 3 others had migraines. The game is a Monster of the Week game that was delayed from NYE due to the cold of doom. It's about a bunch of monster hunters being called in to protect the Gävlebocken. They will quickly find that things are not what they're expecting and may face tough choices. I'm looking forward to it.
I'm still pissed that this cold wiped out one my heaviest weekends of games. Stupid thing. It's almost gone now, thankfully.
One cool thing! Jess and I looked at the cast of the Rocky Horror on Broadway in NYC and decided that we had to go. We're going at the end of the run, on 6/20 with a friend. I am very excited about my Broadway forays. I need to add things to my countdown app, so that I'll be able to see how close it is and get excited. Seriously, the cast looks fucking amazing.
Tomorrow, we have nothing planned, which is nice. Maybe we'll go out and get lunch or something. Mostly, I plan to be a lump, though. Unless I decide to cook. We'll see. We have a game on Sunday, but it's at 5:30, so I'd have time to play during the day.
This literally made me lol. Long and short of it is that ghost played the Kia Center in Orlando and the next night, the Orlando Magic got just decimeated in their next game. Immediatly some yahoo on the internet begins blaming Ghost for cursing his team with their Satanic powers. It was great. Sadly, not satire, but the internet's reaction is hilarous.
Okay, time for me to maybe take a bath and get ready for work. Everyone have a stellar Friday!
The Professionals, Fanfiction
Jan. 30th, 2026 10:36 amlucy_roman posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
beagoldfishTitle: Bodie's Problem
Fandom: The Professionals
Rating: Teen and up
Word Count: 200
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Summary: Bodie and Doyle's hotel room only has one bed and Bodie isn't happy
( Read here )
Fandom: The Professionals
Rating: Teen and up
Word Count: 200
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Summary: Bodie and Doyle's hotel room only has one bed and Bodie isn't happy
( Read here )
The Final Snowflake!
Jan. 30th, 2026 11:37 amhindsightseeingChallenge #15
How Did the Fandom Snowflake Challenge Go?
About as well as expected, really. It definitely kick-started me into keeping up with Dreamwidth and centring my thoughts on posting, which was just what I wanted -- even when I opted out of a challenge (which naturally happened more and more towards the end) I'd still carve out some time on odd-numbered days to wait for the question and feel it out, which is very useful when you're trying to rebuild a routine.
I only participated in about four of the challenges -- five if you include this one! -- but as I may have mentioned at the start, I've never actually managed all of them, so... again, as expected.
This year's challenges were a little different from what I recall from previous years, so I really enjoyed seeing what would come up. I'm kind of kicking myself for freezing up and failing to think of something to list for the Top Ten especially, as I love making those kinds of lists... but I guess the beauty of open-ended challenges means I can go back and do that in mid-April or July or November, whenever the impulse takes me.
All in all, I got what I wanted: a kick up the backside to start posting again and build a routine around being here, checking in, reading other people's posts, etc. As ever, a joyful experience!
How Did the Fandom Snowflake Challenge Go?
About as well as expected, really. It definitely kick-started me into keeping up with Dreamwidth and centring my thoughts on posting, which was just what I wanted -- even when I opted out of a challenge (which naturally happened more and more towards the end) I'd still carve out some time on odd-numbered days to wait for the question and feel it out, which is very useful when you're trying to rebuild a routine.
I only participated in about four of the challenges -- five if you include this one! -- but as I may have mentioned at the start, I've never actually managed all of them, so... again, as expected.
This year's challenges were a little different from what I recall from previous years, so I really enjoyed seeing what would come up. I'm kind of kicking myself for freezing up and failing to think of something to list for the Top Ten especially, as I love making those kinds of lists... but I guess the beauty of open-ended challenges means I can go back and do that in mid-April or July or November, whenever the impulse takes me.
All in all, I got what I wanted: a kick up the backside to start posting again and build a routine around being here, checking in, reading other people's posts, etc. As ever, a joyful experience!
Fanfic, Podfic, and art catch-up
Jan. 30th, 2026 10:50 pmmificA small catch-up with works I've posted to AO3 recently and not mentioned in other posts. There are three seasonal exchanges I take part in each year, so it's been a productive time for me. I also feel much less blocked in terms of writing fic, with Heated Rivalry getting me fannishly excited again, and my other fandoms have been benefiting.
Things I wrote, podficced, or arted in Procreate:
due South seekrit santa:
Roommates (Fraser/Ray Vecchio & Ray Kowalski, Dief)
Stargate Atlantis secret santa:
The Ancient Texts (Gen, Ronon & John)
Bribery (Jack O'Neill Gen, background John/Rodney - a mod treat)
SGA Discord Server annual fic exchange:
A Good Walk, Spoiled (Team, John/Rodney, Action/adventure)
and It Takes a Village (Gen, Radek & Biro)
and in the Leftover Treats category of the exchange:
A New Lease of Life (older John/Rodney, Explicit)
and The Way To a Man's Heart (Ronon/Rodney, Teen)
In podfic, just the one:
Christmas At Dukes Denver by Persiflager for ITPE (Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. Harriet/Peter)
My fanart's still all Heated Rivalry - unsurprising, with such inspiring material!
Ya Tebya Lyublyu (I Love You) for thedrawesome romance prompt (Shane/Ilya)
Shane's Emotional Support Crotch (2 chapters/works so far, maybe planning more) (Shane/Ilya, NSFW)
Touch Yourself (Shane)
And of course I've enrolled for way too many Big Bangs etc, in HR. One is ICE OUT a tumblr-based HR fanworks auction to raise funds to support those combating ICE. Sign ups as a creator are almost closed, and the bidding starts in a couple of days.
Things I wrote, podficced, or arted in Procreate:
due South seekrit santa:
Roommates (Fraser/Ray Vecchio & Ray Kowalski, Dief)
Stargate Atlantis secret santa:
The Ancient Texts (Gen, Ronon & John)
Bribery (Jack O'Neill Gen, background John/Rodney - a mod treat)
SGA Discord Server annual fic exchange:
A Good Walk, Spoiled (Team, John/Rodney, Action/adventure)
and It Takes a Village (Gen, Radek & Biro)
and in the Leftover Treats category of the exchange:
A New Lease of Life (older John/Rodney, Explicit)
and The Way To a Man's Heart (Ronon/Rodney, Teen)
In podfic, just the one:
Christmas At Dukes Denver by Persiflager for ITPE (Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. Harriet/Peter)
My fanart's still all Heated Rivalry - unsurprising, with such inspiring material!
Ya Tebya Lyublyu (I Love You) for the
drawesome romance prompt (Shane/Ilya)Shane's Emotional Support Crotch (2 chapters/works so far, maybe planning more) (Shane/Ilya, NSFW)
Touch Yourself (Shane)
And of course I've enrolled for way too many Big Bangs etc, in HR. One is ICE OUT a tumblr-based HR fanworks auction to raise funds to support those combating ICE. Sign ups as a creator are almost closed, and the bidding starts in a couple of days.
snowflake 2k26 #14-15
Jan. 30th, 2026 09:26 amqueenslayerbee
Challenge #14
In your own space, create a promo and/or rec list for someone new to a fandom. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it and include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
I compiled recs for a few of my fandoms for challenge #4, but I wanted to do something slightly different.
My main fandom right now is, and has been for a while, DC comics. The world of DC is vast and pretty much everyone knows one corner or another within it, but a lot of people find comics specifically hard to get into. So I thought I'd make a list of some runs or story arcs I enjoyed!
These aren't comprehensive, or a How To Get Into Comics primer. I'm not an expert, and I have read more of certain group of characters (Bats) than others, even if I want to expand. Here I've mostly tried to make a lists of comics you can read on their own without getting too turned around.
- I keep recommending Wonder Woman: Historia, but it's for good reason. It has only three issues (there were supposed to be more, and there might be at some point, but as it is, the story stands on its own). It tells the story of the Amazons, how they came to be, how Hippolyta became their queen, and how Themyscira was born. It does a lot of interesting thing with the concept of narratives (who they serve, how they're twisted), with a solid feminist stance that often feels missing from Wonder Woman comics, especially recent ones.
- The above rec stands on its own, as I said, but I personally think my experience was enhanced by reading Wonder Woman (1987) #1, another Amazons-origin story that clearly inspired. And although I hesitate to recommend ongoing stories, and I don't trust that the universe this one is set in won't become its own mess sooner rather than later lol, Absolute Wonder Woman is pretty good and feels like it's in conversation with Historia. If you like the miniseries, you might want to check it out.
- Another Wonder Woman comic I'd recommend, since I'm here, it's Wonder Woman: The Once And Future Story by Trina Robbins. It's a one-shot that deals with domestic violence, and it's very 80s at times, but solid, and impactful.
- Webtoons are a very accessible way to get into comics, and maybe I should've started with these xDD. A lot of people know Wayne Family Adventures, but it's not my favourite, and in recent years it's abandoned their vignette structure in favour of year-long plots in a way I feel does it no favours. The ones I REALLY liked were Zatanna & The Ripper and Vixen: NYC. They have a plot tying them together but they're complete, and they are about less-known characters and include some secondary ones that really shine. In the first one, Zatanna is thrown into the 19th century and has to fight the mysterious, famous serial killer, and in the second one, Mari moves to NYC for college and discovers a lot about her heritage and her powers. The first one includes Constantine, and the second one has Anissa Pierce and Grace Choi as supporting cast (they might sound familiar if you watched Black Lightning), as well as Beast Boy, for example.
- Far Sector (#1-12) by N.K. Jemisin is another good rec. I feel I know just the basics of Green Lantern lore, but this comic works at being self-explanatory, putting us in a new world and showing us its specific rules. It does some interesting things with its sci-fi setting and with its lead character, who I hope I read more about sooner rather than later. Sojourner "Jo" Mullein, the lead, is the Green Lantern in the Absolute universe, as far as I know, but I have my misgivings about that 'verse outside of Wonder Woman and I haven't jumped into it.
- Greg Rucka is one of the most solid comic authors out there, and one that's easier to recommend than my other faves because it feels like SOME of his work is more approachable/self-explanatory lol. There are a lot of things I could rec but for this purpose, I'll go with Gotham Central. It's longer than the recs above (40 issues), and sometimes it touches on events surrounding it at the time, but I think it can be read on its own because the whole point of it is that Batman is in the background, a looming thread or suspicious ally, and not a central figure. It focuses on the police force, with all it entails, but it's good writing and it has some amazing story arcs, especially for Renee Montoya.
- Oracle: Year One (in Batman Chronicles #5). If you never read a Bat-related story other than this one in your life, that'd be fine by me lol. This should be longer than one (1) story, not even full-length, in an anthology series, but alas, DC is DC. Still. An absolute must-read, with Barbara coming out of the other end of the Joker's attack. As we all know what happens in The Killing Joke (and that barely focuses on Barbara, lbr), it's unnecessary to revisit it in order to read OY1.
- Barda by Ngozi Ukazu. It's a YA comic, auto-conclusive. I have not read much (yet) about New Gods, Apokolips and so on, and yet that never detracted from it. It feels like a good way to dip your toe into that side of the comics, which sometimes feels intimidating, and it has a very moving storyline featuring both love and resistance, with a couple that has caught my eye before due to how they seem to defying the usual gender roles.
- Green Lantern/Green Arrow (#1-7). This is the "Hard Traveling Heroes" arc some people might've heard about, where the two characters embark on a road trip across the USA and deal with The Issues plaguing it at the time. It is VERY 70s, in many ways, but I appreciate its candor and its gumption. It includes the introduction of John Stewart, which would be pretty fucking revolutionary today (as comics now are very defanged about racial issues in particular, IMO), and Roy Harper's addiction backstory.
- Devin Grayson is one of my favourite comic authors, but I'm bad at sussing out how accessible she is, as her stories are deeply entrenched in What I Know Best lol. I feel like her Gotham Knights series might be a better fit for this list, but I haven't read it as a run, instead picking specific issues that crossed with one story arc or another. So I will instead recommend her Catwoman run, which stands on its own and indulges in my favourite version of the character --not the more heroic one, but the weirdo misanthrope thief with commitment issues who thrived when challenged LOL. The specific issues you'd have to read are from Catwoman (1993), #54-71. She also wrote the Annual #4 (before issue #54) and #1000000 (before #63), but those are separate from that run and its plots. One thing I really appreciate from this run is how largely absent Batman is from it, allowing Selina to develop outside of that romance.
- Black Lightning: Year One. Only six-issues long, it show us the origins of Jefferson Pierce. It's a light, enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it on its own (+ it has a good portrayal of Talia al Ghul absent in most other comics of its time, which I appreciate!). But I admit I have an agenda when I recommend it... it's because I think it'll make the next installment on the list more understandable for beginners xDD
- The Other History of the DC Universe. This 5-issues mini-series is not a really good fit on this list, but it's one of the best and bravest comics written in this decade and I must recommend it because of it. It expands on important events in the main continuity of comics, specifically those of the post-crisis era (1987-2011), aka my preferred continuity. But with a big difference: it centers the perspective of heroes of colour, giving them voices (and quite critical at that!) and portraying them as complex, full people, with their own shades of grey. It makes a lot of people uncomfortable for it, and for how it doesn't shy away from criticising fan-favourite white heroes, but that's precisely why I love it: it's not trying to appease people or to flatten events and characterisation. The first issue is narrated by Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning, and the last issue by Anissa Pierce, his lesbian daughter. #4 is about Renee Montoya. As you see, some of the previous rec will make you more familiar with them, but I only know the other characters (Mal and Karen in #2, and Tatsu in #3) more superficially and I still found those issues impactful, so YMMV.
- And because I am who I am, I must close this list recommending something about Jason Todd. One day I will make a list featuring ALL the Jason comics I think are worth reading, in the order I'd personally think best, full of asterisks and amendments. But for now, I'll settle for what I think ought to be the first thing one should read about him: Batman #408-411. AKA, his origin story in the post-crisis continuity. Everything else ought to come after that. And it's a good starting point not only for him, but for the Batman mythos at large, as it sets the tone for that new continuity and gives us information about backstories/where the characters are at now.
Challenge #15
How Did the Fandom Snowflake Challenge Go? Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it.
Well, the part of me that struggles to be Organised, something that doesn't come easily LOL, is a bit miffed that this year I didn't manage to post every entry on its "correct" date xD, but I'm trying not to listen to that part! I did complete the challenge, and I got to talk to a lot of people and add new friends thanks to it. I'm not asking for anything more. Hopefully, even if it won't be as active after the challenge, I'll still find those things in DW!
Gaming
Jan. 30th, 2026 02:55 amysabetwordsmithRoll for resistance: How a fantasy game defended the commons
In 2023, the world’s most popular role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), faced a rebellion. This wasn’t brought on by imaginary goblins or dragons, but by its players.
( Read more... )
In 2023, the world’s most popular role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), faced a rebellion. This wasn’t brought on by imaginary goblins or dragons, but by its players.
( Read more... )
Dear Casefic Writer!
Jan. 30th, 2026 08:50 amdaegaer( Saiyuki )
( Saiyuki Gaiden )
( Saiyuki Ibun )
( Weiß Kreuz )
( Weiß: Side B )
( Crossover Fandom )
( DNWs )
due South: Twenty Cents a Page by dance_across
Jan. 30th, 2026 09:25 pmmific posting in fancakeFandom: due South
Characters/Pairings: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Teen & up
Length: 1782
Content Notes: No AO3 warnings apply
Creator Links: dance_across on AO3
Themes: Crack treated seriously, Friendship, Humor, Pining, Post-canon
Summary: Ray and Fraser discover that someone's been writing stories about them. Slashy, slashy stories.
Reccer's Notes: This is set after canon, during Ray and Fraser's quest. They've become minor celebrities in the wake of the big submarine/terrorists drama and when they briefly hit an outpost of civilization (a motel with internet), Ray checks his email and finds Frannie's sent him a link to a fanfic someone's written, called "Snowfall in Summer". Hilarity then ensues as they decide to read it together, and it leads to Ray making a big decision. The cracky premise is the existence of fanfic about them, and as far as possible, dance_across shows us how that might actually pan out. In a romantic way, of course, with a hopeful ending! It's a lot of fun.
Fanwork Links: Twenty Cents a Page
Characters/Pairings: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Rating: Teen & up
Length: 1782
Content Notes: No AO3 warnings apply
Creator Links: dance_across on AO3
Themes: Crack treated seriously, Friendship, Humor, Pining, Post-canon
Summary: Ray and Fraser discover that someone's been writing stories about them. Slashy, slashy stories.
Reccer's Notes: This is set after canon, during Ray and Fraser's quest. They've become minor celebrities in the wake of the big submarine/terrorists drama and when they briefly hit an outpost of civilization (a motel with internet), Ray checks his email and finds Frannie's sent him a link to a fanfic someone's written, called "Snowfall in Summer". Hilarity then ensues as they decide to read it together, and it leads to Ray making a big decision. The cracky premise is the existence of fanfic about them, and as far as possible, dance_across shows us how that might actually pan out. In a romantic way, of course, with a hopeful ending! It's a lot of fun.
Fanwork Links: Twenty Cents a Page
Just One Thing (30 January 2026)
Jan. 30th, 2026 08:38 amnanila 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!
Hockey Magazine Portraits by judestlispenard (SFW)
Jan. 30th, 2026 09:04 pmmific posting in fanart_recsFandom: Heated Rivalry
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
Content Notes/Warnings: none
Medium: digital art
Artist on DW/LJ: n/a
Artist Website/Gallery: judestlispenard on tumblr
Why this piece is awesome: A gorgeous double portrait on the cover of an imaginary hockey magazine - really good likenesses, and they got Ilya's eye colour right! (none of this "his piercing blue eyes" crap). Beautiful work, and a cute snippet of their dialogue below.
Link: Hockey Magazine Portraits, backup link here
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov
Content Notes/Warnings: none
Medium: digital art
Artist on DW/LJ: n/a
Artist Website/Gallery: judestlispenard on tumblr
Why this piece is awesome: A gorgeous double portrait on the cover of an imaginary hockey magazine - really good likenesses, and they got Ilya's eye colour right! (none of this "his piercing blue eyes" crap). Beautiful work, and a cute snippet of their dialogue below.
Link: Hockey Magazine Portraits, backup link here
Further adventures in the history of Middle-earth
Jan. 30th, 2026 07:51 amfabiadrakeAlthough I feel as if I post legendarium material on tumblr too often (much of it is fascinating!), I think perhaps my next read will be The Fall of Númenor.
I wonder if a Tolkien journal would accept an essay along the lines of “this is what I think this minor character is up to elsewhere”?
I wonder if a Tolkien journal would accept an essay along the lines of “this is what I think this minor character is up to elsewhere”?
All the ghosts, some old, some new
Jan. 30th, 2026 01:48 amsovayHistory, what do you mean that Folkways Records was founded by the son of Sholem Asch who, as one last trick after the scandals of Jewish lesbians and Christian novels, wrote a version of the Nativity recorded for his son's record label by Pete Seeger? What kind of concatenation is that to drop on an unsuspecting person? And is there a reason no artist is credited with the pen-and-ink illustrations depicting the story in 1963 even as the prose sticks to its historical setting, which are maddening me with their sketch-expressive familiarity, although perhaps only because my grandmother had that kind of loose, scribbly, ink-washed line? Ben Shahn at least had the decency to sign his album art. The Claibornes' "Listen, Mr. Bilbo" could have had the luck to lose its relevance since 1946. History, the other kind of convergence was more fun. Listen while I tell you that the foreigners you hate are the very same people made America great.
Poetry Fishbowl Report for January 6, 2026
Jan. 30th, 2026 01:18 amysabetwordsmithThis month's theme was "Short Forms." I wrote from 1:15 PM to 4 AM, so about 12 hours 45 minutes, allowing for lunch and supper breaks. I wrote 12 poems on Tuesday plus 15 later in the week.
Participation was down slightly, with 13 comments on LiveJournal and another 25 on Dreamwidth. A total of 9 people sent prompts. There were no new prompters.
Read Some Poetry!
The following poems from the January 6, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl have been posted:
"Beneath the Sea"
"Cakes and Ale"
"Decreases"
"Done to Perfection"
"Fight Less, Cuddle More"
Haiku for Natural Monuments of Japan
"Hemma Bäst"
"lacquerware poet"
"A Fountain of Energy" (Polychrome Heroics: Rutledge, October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl)
Buy some poetry!
If you plan to sponsor some poetry but haven't made up your mind yet, see the unsold poetry list from January 6. That includes the title, length, price, and the original thumbnail description for the poems still available.
This month's donors include:janetmiles, fuzzyred, and Anthony Barrette. All sponsored poems from this fishbowl have been posted. There are 2 tallies toward a bonus fishbowl.
The Poetry Fishbowl has a landing page.
Participation was down slightly, with 13 comments on LiveJournal and another 25 on Dreamwidth. A total of 9 people sent prompts. There were no new prompters.
Read Some Poetry!
The following poems from the January 6, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl have been posted:
"Beneath the Sea"
"Cakes and Ale"
"Decreases"
"Done to Perfection"
"Fight Less, Cuddle More"
Haiku for Natural Monuments of Japan
"Hemma Bäst"
"lacquerware poet"
"A Fountain of Energy" (Polychrome Heroics: Rutledge, October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl)
Buy some poetry!
If you plan to sponsor some poetry but haven't made up your mind yet, see the unsold poetry list from January 6. That includes the title, length, price, and the original thumbnail description for the poems still available.
This month's donors include:
janetmiles, fuzzyred, and Anthony Barrette. All sponsored poems from this fishbowl have been posted. There are 2 tallies toward a bonus fishbowl.The Poetry Fishbowl has a landing page.
Follow Friday 1-30-26
Jan. 30th, 2026 01:13 amysabetwordsmith posting in followfridayGot any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).
Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".