fanvid recs - due South
May. 11th, 2026 07:08 amSome more recs! For due South this time:
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by
alasen (2003)
Pavlov's Bell by
butterfly (2006)
Out Here and In The Mirror by
heresluck (2006 & 2007)
Northwest Passage by
yunista (2007)
Dear Fellow Traveller by
absinthe_spoons (2015)
All the Way Home by
trelkez (2016)
(ETA: Now with the correct links)
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by
Pavlov's Bell by
Out Here and In The Mirror by
Northwest Passage by
Dear Fellow Traveller by
All the Way Home by
(ETA: Now with the correct links)
(no subject)
May. 11th, 2026 11:45 amOne week after our epic drive to charge my car battery, it's flat again, even with the trickle charger installed. I got up early to take it down to the mechanic for its Warrant of Fitness, and nope. (So they came and collected it.)
Update: Apparently a new battery will hold its charge better, so. That. Plus they're going to replace the broken latch on the boot (AKA trunk), which will mean I'll actually be able to access it for things like groceries. Luxury! (Assuming I ever drive again, who even knows at this point.) Anyway.
At this stage it feels like my car is higher maintenance than anything else in my life except for my body. ;-p
Update: Apparently a new battery will hold its charge better, so. That. Plus they're going to replace the broken latch on the boot (AKA trunk), which will mean I'll actually be able to access it for things like groceries. Luxury! (Assuming I ever drive again, who even knows at this point.) Anyway.
At this stage it feels like my car is higher maintenance than anything else in my life except for my body. ;-p
For all Mankind 5.08 and The Testaments 1.07
May. 10th, 2026 01:27 pmMeanwhile in tv land.
For All Mankind 5.08:
( Spoilers do not want to bounce back from Saturn… )
The Testaments 1.07:
( Spoilers are not supposed to be a spy but a sponge… )
For All Mankind 5.08:
( Spoilers do not want to bounce back from Saturn… )
The Testaments 1.07:
( Spoilers are not supposed to be a spy but a sponge… )
not yet stitching
May. 9th, 2026 10:00 pmToday I went pattern-hunting. I could proooobably resume making the cabled cardigan whose sleeves I've put on hold, but ... what if I could make something similarly warm and cozy that'd be easier to modify and a bit easier on my hands (mid-making)? Cables, but twisted less densely.
Pattern inspo for the hunt was a top-down cabled cardigan faved by a Rav contact, with a raglan yoke: Banul Gongju's Aran Shawl Collar Cardigan. (Baneul?---Princess Needle? Anyway.)
( some links )
I mean, perhaps I'd like to knit more than one cardigan? Capsa has been bound off and washed. Once it dries, I'll know whether my modifications have sufficed.
Pattern inspo for the hunt was a top-down cabled cardigan faved by a Rav contact, with a raglan yoke: Banul Gongju's Aran Shawl Collar Cardigan. (Baneul?---Princess Needle? Anyway.)
( some links )
I mean, perhaps I'd like to knit more than one cardigan? Capsa has been bound off and washed. Once it dries, I'll know whether my modifications have sufficed.
Prompt: Unclean Realm
May. 8th, 2026 06:27 pmThis week's prompt is: Unclean Realm.
You have until midnight your time on Friday, May 15, to answer this prompt. Please post your fills of the prompt as separate entries to the community (i.e. not replies to this entry), tagged with the prompt tag. You may post multiple standalone drabbles per entry in addition to drabble sequences and series.
As a reminder, this community has no official presence elsewhere. You are encouraged to share the prompt on social media, if you so desire. It may take me a bit to create the AO3 collection, so please be patient.
Also, I'm going to go ahead and drop a link to the prompt suggestions post here. New suggestions are always, always welcome.
You have until midnight your time on Friday, May 15, to answer this prompt. Please post your fills of the prompt as separate entries to the community (i.e. not replies to this entry), tagged with the prompt tag. You may post multiple standalone drabbles per entry in addition to drabble sequences and series.
As a reminder, this community has no official presence elsewhere. You are encouraged to share the prompt on social media, if you so desire. It may take me a bit to create the AO3 collection, so please be patient.
Also, I'm going to go ahead and drop a link to the prompt suggestions post here. New suggestions are always, always welcome.
Language question
May. 9th, 2026 09:49 amI was telling my sister how the Chinese for "New Zealander" is:
新 = Chinese for "new"
西兰 = transliteration of "Zealand"
人 = Chinese for "person"
She pointed out the same is true in French:
Nouvelle = French for "new"
Zéland = transliteration
-aise = suffix for "person from"
In Korean, the "New" part of "New Zealander" is included in the transliteration, and the "er" becomes "인" (person from): 뉴질랜드인
This is all especially entertaining since our "Zealand" is an anglicisation of "Zeeland", which itself, according to wikipedia, 'consists of a number of islands and peninsulas (hence its name, meaning "Sealand")'. Transliterations of transliterations of transliterations!
Anyway, now I'm curious about "New Zealander" in other languages. If you speak another language, how much of the term is translated and how much transliterated?
新 = Chinese for "new"
西兰 = transliteration of "Zealand"
人 = Chinese for "person"
She pointed out the same is true in French:
Nouvelle = French for "new"
Zéland = transliteration
-aise = suffix for "person from"
In Korean, the "New" part of "New Zealander" is included in the transliteration, and the "er" becomes "인" (person from): 뉴질랜드인
This is all especially entertaining since our "Zealand" is an anglicisation of "Zeeland", which itself, according to wikipedia, 'consists of a number of islands and peninsulas (hence its name, meaning "Sealand")'. Transliterations of transliterations of transliterations!
Anyway, now I'm curious about "New Zealander" in other languages. If you speak another language, how much of the term is translated and how much transliterated?
Meme
May. 9th, 2026 09:04 amVia
maevedarcy. I changed it a little to suit myself, so maybe take the code from over there. Answers are not deeply considered, and are open to review.
The Characters: Superlatives
Rules: Choose one piece of media (book, tv show, movie, video game, whatever), then answer the questions.
I choose... Guardian
The questions:
Most likely to be unemployed: Sang Zan (if the SID didn't exist) or Da Qing
Most likely to do drugs at work: Wang Zheng
Most likely to get caught breaking the law: I'd say Lin Jing, except that he didn't get caught sneaking around for ages; Changcheng wouldn't break the law (except under orders); Zhao Yunlan, Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing, Wang Zheng and Sang Zan wouldn't get caught; Shen Wei kind of is the law. By process of elimination, that leaves Zhu Hong, but I'm not super convinced.
Most likely to do crime and escape unscathed: Da Qing, especially if the crime involved food, or Chu Shuzhi
Most likely to commit arson: Ye Huo (cheaty answer); Zhu Hong with the power of her fierce glare
Most likely to get scammed: Guo Changcheng
Most likely to lose their cool in an emergency: Guo Changcheng
Most likely to have a threesome: three-way tie between Lin Jing, Wang Zheng, and pre-Shen Wei Zhao Yunlan (but not with each other)
Most likely to sleep with their ex: Wang Zheng
Most likely to forget someone's name during sex: pre-Shen Wei Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to lie to their friends about something they did: three-way tie between Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing, Shen Wei
Most likely to have a one-night stand: It's easier to list those who wouldn't: Shen Wei, Guo Changcheng, Da Qing
Most likely to get caught having sex in public: Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to marry someone they just met: contemporary Zhao Yunlan, YOHE Shen Wei
Most likely to fake their own death: Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to forget the name of a person they hooked up with: pre-Shen Wei Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to make a sex tape: Lin Jing (for science!)
Most likely to join the Mile-High Club: Zhao Yunlan or Lin Jing
Most likely to bring up astrology to explain literally everything: Wang Zheng
Most likely to have a crush on three people at the same time: Lin Jing
Most likely to win at trivia: Lin Jing
Most likely to know zero memes: Shen Wei
Most likely to start a band just for the aesthetic: Zhu Hong
Most likely to flirt their way out of trouble: Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to end up in a news headline: any and all of them
Most likely to open a PowerPoint presentation about why they deserve the last slice of pizza: Lin Jing (I was going to say Da Qing, but he would consider the ppt beneath him, and just take the pizza as his right.)
The Characters: Superlatives
Rules: Choose one piece of media (book, tv show, movie, video game, whatever), then answer the questions.
I choose... Guardian
The questions:
Most likely to be unemployed: Sang Zan (if the SID didn't exist) or Da Qing
Most likely to do drugs at work: Wang Zheng
Most likely to get caught breaking the law: I'd say Lin Jing, except that he didn't get caught sneaking around for ages; Changcheng wouldn't break the law (except under orders); Zhao Yunlan, Chu Shuzhi, Da Qing, Wang Zheng and Sang Zan wouldn't get caught; Shen Wei kind of is the law. By process of elimination, that leaves Zhu Hong, but I'm not super convinced.
Most likely to do crime and escape unscathed: Da Qing, especially if the crime involved food, or Chu Shuzhi
Most likely to commit arson: Ye Huo (cheaty answer); Zhu Hong with the power of her fierce glare
Most likely to get scammed: Guo Changcheng
Most likely to lose their cool in an emergency: Guo Changcheng
Most likely to have a threesome: three-way tie between Lin Jing, Wang Zheng, and pre-Shen Wei Zhao Yunlan (but not with each other)
Most likely to sleep with their ex: Wang Zheng
Most likely to forget someone's name during sex: pre-Shen Wei Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to lie to their friends about something they did: three-way tie between Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing, Shen Wei
Most likely to have a one-night stand: It's easier to list those who wouldn't: Shen Wei, Guo Changcheng, Da Qing
Most likely to get caught having sex in public: Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to marry someone they just met: contemporary Zhao Yunlan, YOHE Shen Wei
Most likely to fake their own death: Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to forget the name of a person they hooked up with: pre-Shen Wei Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to make a sex tape: Lin Jing (for science!)
Most likely to join the Mile-High Club: Zhao Yunlan or Lin Jing
Most likely to bring up astrology to explain literally everything: Wang Zheng
Most likely to have a crush on three people at the same time: Lin Jing
Most likely to win at trivia: Lin Jing
Most likely to know zero memes: Shen Wei
Most likely to start a band just for the aesthetic: Zhu Hong
Most likely to flirt their way out of trouble: Zhao Yunlan
Most likely to end up in a news headline: any and all of them
Most likely to open a PowerPoint presentation about why they deserve the last slice of pizza: Lin Jing (I was going to say Da Qing, but he would consider the ppt beneath him, and just take the pizza as his right.)
Building 903, by Lois Lowry (DNF)
May. 7th, 2026 12:17 pmAn advance copy of a new book by Lois Lowry, author of The Giver and other classics. It is unfortunately basically the bad version of The Giver. In fact what it mostly reminded me of was
telophase's YA dystopia generator, which produces gems like Tweak: Sickness has been banned and the government controls shopping and Whimper: Cats have been banned and the government controls dancing the hustle. In the case of Building 903, books have been banned and the government controls popsicles. Yes, really.
In a future America ruled by a 200 year old dictator, books (ALL books), fiction, art, music, storytelling, playgrounds, live pets (robot pets are OK), free elections, religion, tattoos, matches and other fire-making tools, congregating in groups, iconoclastic clothing, travel, and eating meat or fish are banned. Old people, marriage, and popsicles are controlled by the government. Yes, really.
She leaned over, pushed the button that dispensed a frozen snack, and made a face when she saw it was green; she liked the orange ones better. But she peeled the covering from the green one and licked at it. I bet anything, Tessa thought, I could get Dad to invent a selector button so they wouldn't come out at random; I could choose orange. Or red: the red ones aren't bad. Then, though, the green ones would pile up, and it would be wasteful, I suppose, because no one would ever eat them.
To be fair, I'm just assuming the frozen snacks are popsicles. For all I know she's licking a piece of frozen broccoli.
Tessa's father and twin brother are supergeniuses. Tessa and her mother are just average. I did not care for this. Anyway, Tessa's brother vanishes and the book goes on and on and ON with nothing much happening. I skipped to the end.
( Read more... )
In a future America ruled by a 200 year old dictator, books (ALL books), fiction, art, music, storytelling, playgrounds, live pets (robot pets are OK), free elections, religion, tattoos, matches and other fire-making tools, congregating in groups, iconoclastic clothing, travel, and eating meat or fish are banned. Old people, marriage, and popsicles are controlled by the government. Yes, really.
She leaned over, pushed the button that dispensed a frozen snack, and made a face when she saw it was green; she liked the orange ones better. But she peeled the covering from the green one and licked at it. I bet anything, Tessa thought, I could get Dad to invent a selector button so they wouldn't come out at random; I could choose orange. Or red: the red ones aren't bad. Then, though, the green ones would pile up, and it would be wasteful, I suppose, because no one would ever eat them.
To be fair, I'm just assuming the frozen snacks are popsicles. For all I know she's licking a piece of frozen broccoli.
Tessa's father and twin brother are supergeniuses. Tessa and her mother are just average. I did not care for this. Anyway, Tessa's brother vanishes and the book goes on and on and ON with nothing much happening. I skipped to the end.
( Read more... )
Experiments in Baking
May. 6th, 2026 07:50 pmI made chicken and dumplings in the slow cooker today, because it was a bleak rainy day so it seemed appropriate. The recipe itself is very basic (chicken, cream of chicken soup, an onion, butter, chicken broth, and some spices), and I cheat and use canned biscuits for the dumplings because I'm lazy.
The issue was that I had a few biscuits left over, because I needed about 10oz but Aldi only has them in 16oz packages. So I decided to experiment and attempt to make something sweet for dessert with the leftover biscuit dough, and I think it turned out pretty well.

I cut the biscuits into quarters, brushed them with some oil, popped them in the air fryer for eight minutes, dipped them in melted butter, dropped them in a bag with some cinnamon sugar, and shook it up. Then for the dip I just mixed together some powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla.
They turned out surprisingly tasty for something that I threw together in a few minutes.
The issue was that I had a few biscuits left over, because I needed about 10oz but Aldi only has them in 16oz packages. So I decided to experiment and attempt to make something sweet for dessert with the leftover biscuit dough, and I think it turned out pretty well.

I cut the biscuits into quarters, brushed them with some oil, popped them in the air fryer for eight minutes, dipped them in melted butter, dropped them in a bag with some cinnamon sugar, and shook it up. Then for the dip I just mixed together some powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla.
They turned out surprisingly tasty for something that I threw together in a few minutes.
(no subject)
May. 6th, 2026 12:42 pmI so hope Jeannelle M. Ferreira's A Remarkable Rake will be published one day! It and Rose Lerner's The Girl in the Cellar are the historical romances I'm most looking forward to reading!
Batman; MCU: If It's A Highway by there_must_be_a_lock
May. 6th, 2026 04:20 pmFandom: Batman - All Media Types, Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pairings/Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes/Jason Todd
Rating: Explicit
Length: 77,145 words
Creator Links:
there_must_be_a_lock
Theme: journey & travel, crossovers/fusions, crossover pairings, slow burn, angst with a happy ending
Summary: Bucky’s been running for a week when the supposedly-untraceable burner phone he stole from a Hydra warehouse starts ringing. He’s in a gas station bathroom off a remote highway close to the Croatian border, getting ready to bleach his hair; the ringtone bounces shrilly off the bare tiles and makes his jaw clench tight.
[Or: the one where Bucky is hired to train Jason, and he ends up learning a thing or two himself.]
Reccer's Notes: One of the best DC/MCU crossover fics I've ever read. I love how the fic explores Jason's and Bucky's perspectives on love, sex, romance, intimacy, trauma, and relationships <3
Content Notes: discussion of past suicidal thoughts, discussion of past underage sex work, allusions to past torture and present canon-typical violence
Fanwork Links: If It's A Highway
Pairings/Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes/Jason Todd
Rating: Explicit
Length: 77,145 words
Creator Links:
Theme: journey & travel, crossovers/fusions, crossover pairings, slow burn, angst with a happy ending
Summary: Bucky’s been running for a week when the supposedly-untraceable burner phone he stole from a Hydra warehouse starts ringing. He’s in a gas station bathroom off a remote highway close to the Croatian border, getting ready to bleach his hair; the ringtone bounces shrilly off the bare tiles and makes his jaw clench tight.
[Or: the one where Bucky is hired to train Jason, and he ends up learning a thing or two himself.]
Reccer's Notes: One of the best DC/MCU crossover fics I've ever read. I love how the fic explores Jason's and Bucky's perspectives on love, sex, romance, intimacy, trauma, and relationships <3
Content Notes: discussion of past suicidal thoughts, discussion of past underage sex work, allusions to past torture and present canon-typical violence
Fanwork Links: If It's A Highway
