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ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-02-16 04:48 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-02-16 04:48 pm
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ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-02-16 04:10 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-02-16 04:10 pmEntry tags:
Half-Price Sale in Not Quite Kansas
This week, the poetry of Not Quite Kansas is on sale for half price from Monday, February 16 through Sunday, February 22. This series is dark fantasy with angels and demons. It features themes of spirituality, cosmology, coming of age, identity, family of choice, friendship, and magic. Sale prices range from $89 to $146.50, so hopefully there will be something for everyone.
Prices on open epics are locked at the time of opening; however, if anyone wants to donate to open epics and buy poetry, spending $100 will get you the quarter-price rate on the new poems, regardless of the rate on the open epic(s) you support. There are no open epics at present, so you may open one if you wish.
We are repeating the special discount for purchases of $100 or more, in which you get poetry at 25% of its original price instead of 50%. (Note that this increases the amount of poetry you get, rather than reducing the amount of money spent; the point is to get this stuff off of my desk. Yes, I can afford it.) That size of donation also makes you a k-fan which comes with some other perks, like a year-end collection of a poetic series. If several folks want to bundle their orders to make the $100 threshold and have one person send it all, that's okay; you'll get the discount and I'll list all your names as donors, but you'll have to decide amongst you who gets the k-fan credit. If you host a pool, please close it the day before the sale closes, so you have time to collect funds and turn them in on time.
Some of the poems are in sequence of related action, so in places there are prerequisites before a poem can be published. They can be sponsored at any time, just might have to wait for publication until something else gets posted first. Those are marked accordingly. I have also made lists of poems which unlock sequels, and poems which have prerequisites.
Linkback perk: The following poems have verses left to reveal. Boost the signal for this half-price sale and tell me which poem you want to extend.
"Delight in Another,"
"A Sense of Weather Changes,"
"Ouroboros Insects,"
"The Loving Embrace of Night,"
"Generations of Cooks Past,"
"Homefree and Clear, "
"One Bite at a Time,"
"Stars and Diamonds,"
"Mishpocha,"
"Changing Your Nature,"
"Besa."
( Read more... )
Prices on open epics are locked at the time of opening; however, if anyone wants to donate to open epics and buy poetry, spending $100 will get you the quarter-price rate on the new poems, regardless of the rate on the open epic(s) you support. There are no open epics at present, so you may open one if you wish.
We are repeating the special discount for purchases of $100 or more, in which you get poetry at 25% of its original price instead of 50%. (Note that this increases the amount of poetry you get, rather than reducing the amount of money spent; the point is to get this stuff off of my desk. Yes, I can afford it.) That size of donation also makes you a k-fan which comes with some other perks, like a year-end collection of a poetic series. If several folks want to bundle their orders to make the $100 threshold and have one person send it all, that's okay; you'll get the discount and I'll list all your names as donors, but you'll have to decide amongst you who gets the k-fan credit. If you host a pool, please close it the day before the sale closes, so you have time to collect funds and turn them in on time.
Some of the poems are in sequence of related action, so in places there are prerequisites before a poem can be published. They can be sponsored at any time, just might have to wait for publication until something else gets posted first. Those are marked accordingly. I have also made lists of poems which unlock sequels, and poems which have prerequisites.
Linkback perk: The following poems have verses left to reveal. Boost the signal for this half-price sale and tell me which poem you want to extend.
"Delight in Another,"
"A Sense of Weather Changes,"
"Ouroboros Insects,"
"The Loving Embrace of Night,"
"Generations of Cooks Past,"
"Homefree and Clear, "
"One Bite at a Time,"
"Stars and Diamonds,"
"Mishpocha,"
"Changing Your Nature,"
"Besa."
( Read more... )
gwynnega (gwynnega) wrote2026-02-16 01:33 pm
gwynnega) wrote2026-02-16 01:33 pmEntry tags:
Rhysling long list nomination
I'm delighted to announce that my poem "the jacarandas are unimpressed by your show of force" is nominated for the 2026 Rhysling Award long list!
lydamorehouse (lydamorehouse) wrote2026-02-16 02:45 pm
lydamorehouse) wrote2026-02-16 02:45 pmEntry tags:
Sick Days aka Forced Rest and Recovery During the Revolution
Image: a gorgeous lino cut of a much larger than is accurate loon attempting to drown a bald eagle in what I must assume is a Minnesota lake. She is pushing the eagle down with one webbed foot. The art is entitled "el pueblo unido" (the people united)
jiawen pointed out that "jamas sera vencide" is actually the rest of the phrase "will never be defeated." I feel dumb. I have literally shouted this in the street, so I should have known. The artist did sign this at least, though I can not read their signature. But, if you repost this, just be sure to include the signature.I've been knocked out of the revolution by a head cold.
I tested, it is not COVID, but even so I don't want to infect the good people at the Food Communists so I have stayed home from the resistance. In fact, I have been face down since Friday. So much phlem; so disgusting. I can not wait to get over this. Sadly, too, this cold is the WORST Valentine's Day gift I have given my wife in our 40+ years together. Do. Not. Like.
Instead, I spent part of today catching up on some correspondence.
I am still struggling how to explain everything that's going to my Japanese pen pal because things here are sort of mundanely exceptional. Her last letter ended with the line, "I heard an ICE agent shot and killed a woman, I heard she was one of the members of the movement to get ICE out of town."
True, but we all are, Eiko. We all are. Like, in a way that is almost unimaginable.
I can't even answer the question "what did you do today, Lyda?" normally any more. What did I do? I spent a couple of minutes sewing some hearts onto my high-vis vest. I got the idea from the other mom/protector at my school bus stop patrol. The buses we are guarding are full of largely elementary age kids and, you know, their lives are scary enough right now. Also, the corner that I've been assigned is next to a business where workers regularly wear reflective vests, so it makes us stand apart. I had already sketched "Legal Observer" onto the back of mine, but I decided the hearts are actually a lovely addition. Makes it clearer why we are there.
I answered a Discord video call from the mutual aid folks who are doing laundry for people too afraid to use public laundry spaces or go to the laundromat. I signed up to be a driver and they have been going through the painstaking task of following up on the OVER SIX HUNDRED volunteers and vetting them all to make sure that they are real humans and are actually sincere in their desire to help. This is doublely important right now because ICE is weaponizing our kindness against us. After all, a bunch of plain-clothed shithead ICE agents pretended to have car trouble in order to lure a literal Good Samaritan out of their house in order to abducted them. These fucking fuckers. Also, their "worst of the worst" narrative kind of collapses when you are luring out helpers. Like, yeah, I'm sure there are some hardened criminals who would help you jump your car, but it's not a good look. It's right up there with kidnapping children to use for bait.
Then, fueled by my rage after having read about that, I spent some time trying to decide if I was well enough to go to the AFL/CIO MN protest at Stewart Park today. I decided not and then lay around coughing and miserable, regretting my choice in Signal code-name. Like this was my chance, y'all! Did I pick some deep Marvel cut? Or an obscure anime reference like the otaku I am? No. No, my code-name is really kind of dorky, even if I did choose it for a reason that makes sense for the people who met me in Real Life (tm). Ah well. We can't all be Mouse or Spider-Man.
And this all sounds so crazy without context.
It's going to be a weird letter, y'all.
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Post Deadline Pinch Hits: 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12-15, 22, 24-29
Navigation: Rules and Info Post | 2025 Collection | Mod Contact: TavinaFanfiction@gmail.com
Pinch hits are assignments in search of a creator! We currently have 16 pinch hits due on February 22nd, 2026 at 10pm EST.
Pinch hits must meet the assignment minimums (see minimums under “assignments” on the Rules and Info Post.)
In order to pick up a pinch hit either email the modmail or comment on this post (all comments on this post are screened) with:
- The number and or username of the pinch hit you would like to pick up
- Your ao3 username
- An email where I can reach you
greghousesgf (greghousesgf) wrote2026-02-16 12:36 pm
greghousesgf) wrote2026-02-16 12:36 pm(no subject)
Last night a couple of my friends came over and brought me an awesome late birthday present. I now have a giant cardboard stand up Hugh Laurie in my living room, then we went out to this cool art nouveau wine bar in my neighborhood and I bought them a bottle of Rioja that we split.
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scalziwhatever_feed) wrote2026-02-16 08:09 pm
scalziwhatever_feed) wrote2026-02-16 08:09 pmA Lovely Valentine’s Day Dinner At Dozo
If you caught my last two posts over Dozo, Dayton’s premier underground sushi dining experience, then you already know how much I love it. What better way to celebrate the day of love than with Dozo’s special Valentine’s Day 7-course omakase style chef’s menu that offers off-menu selections and limited, intimate seating at the bar so you can watch the chefs work their magic? And trust me, it is indeed magic.
Not only was I extremely excited about the curated sushi menu and brand new sake pairing to go alongside it, but Tender Mercy (the bar that houses Dozo) posted their Valentine’s Day cocktail line-up a few days ago, and it looked incredible, as well.
Long story short, I knew my tastebuds were in for a real treat.
I booked the 8:30pm slot on their first day of offering this menu, which was Tuesday. Getting a later start to dinner than usual only made me that much hungrier for what was to come.
I got to Tender Mercy about twenty minutes early, so I just had a seat at their bar and perused the special cocktail menu:
I love this dessert cocktail menu because whatever your poison is, they’ve got it. A gin drink, a vodka cocktail, even tequila and bourbon. And, of course, a mocktail. They all sounded so delicious but also very rich, and I didn’t want to spoil my appetite with something on the heavier side (like that cheesecake foam, YUM) so I actually opted for the Pillow Princess and asked the bartender to put his spirit of choice in it. He said he recommended Hennessey Cognac (I’m pretty sure it was Hennessy Very Special but I’m just guessing from the brief look I got at the bottle).
I can’t say I’ve had Cognac all that much, but the sweet, almost vanilla-like flavor of the Hennessy worked super well in it.
I’m glad I went with the bartender’s recommendation, he’s truly a pro and has never steered me wrong before so I trust his judgement a hundred percent.
After a few minutes, it was time to get seated in Dozo. There were only six of us total at the bar, a group of three on my right and a couple on my left. Our menu was tucked into our envelope shaped napkin and I briefly surveyed what was going to be served.
Truly the most eye-catching dish was the wasabi ice cream. Listen, I trust Dozo, but man, did that sound absolutely bonkers. I held strong in my faith, though.
Per usual, I went with the sake pairing, because when else do I get to try so many different expertly curated sakes? Plus, the chef said he tried each of the sake pairings and highly recommended it.
Up first was a spicy salmon onigiri:
I wasn’t sure how spicy the salmon would actually end up being, so I had my water on standby. After getting through the warm, soft, perfectly seasoned rice, I was met with a generously portioned salmon filling that wasn’t at all too spicy! This onigiri was hands down the best one I’ve ever had, though I will admit my experience is rather limited in that department. Of course, it’s not everyday I have an onigiri, but this one definitely takes the cake.
For the sake pairing I was served Amabuki’s “I Love Sushi” Junmai. Obviously, this is a fantastic name for a sake. It says all you need to know about it right in the name, plain and simple. Jokes aside, this was a perfectly fine sake. With a dry, crisp flavor, it didn’t really stand out to me much but paired well with the umami flavor of the onigiri.
Off to a great start (I expected no less), the second course was looking mighty fine:
From left to right, we have hamachi (yellowtail), hirame (flounder), and skipjack tuna. The hamachi’s wasabi sauce packed a ton of great wasabi flavor without painfully clearing my sinuses. It had just the right amount of strength, a very balanced piece. The flounder was exceptionally tender with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The skipjack has always been a tried and true classic in my previous Dozo experiences, and today’s serving of it was no different. All around a total winner of a course, with tender, umami packed pieces.
To accompany this course, I was served Takatenjin “Soul of the Sensei,” which is a Junmai Daiginjo. This sake is made with Yamadanishiki, which is considered to be the king of sake rice. “Soul of the Sensei” was created as a tribute to revered sake brewer Hase Toji. Much like the first sake we were served, it was crisp with a slight dryness, pairing well with the fresh fish and savory flavors. It had just a touch of melon.
Up next was this smaller course with a piece of chu toro and a piece of smoked hotate:
Both pieces looked stunning and fresh. The chef explained that chu toro is the fatty belly meat of the tuna, which is a more prized and delicious cut, a real treat. Indeed, it was very buttery and had a rich mouthfeel. I didn’t know what hotate was, but it turns out it’s a scallop, and I think they mentioned something about hotate scallops come from a specific region in Japan, but I might be misremembering. Anyways, I love scallops, but I’ve definitely never had one that’s been smoked before. It was fun to watch the chef smoke all of the pieces before dishing them out.
Oh my goodness this piece was incredible. It had a luscious texture and complex, beautifully smokiness that didn’t detract from the flavor of the scallop. It was a masterfully smoked piece of high quality, fresh scallop. Remarkable piece! Great course all around.
Instead of sake for this course, we were served a shot of Suntory Whiskey. but I have no idea which type specifically. Maybe the Toki? But also very well could’ve been the Hibiki Harmony because the shot was definitely a dark, ambery color. I wish I had a palate for whiskey, especially premium Japanese whiskey that the kitchen so generously gifted upon each guest, but truthfully it was a tough couple of sips for me. Like fire in my throat, that shit put some damn hair on my chest. Super grateful for the lovely whiskey, but sheesh it definitely burned. The chefs actually took the shot with us, how fun!
Fear not, there was some lovely mushroom and yuzu ramen on the way to ease the pain:
This ramen is actually vegetarian, made with umami-packed mushrooms and bright yuzu citrus. The green onions and drops of chili oil drizzled on top added a fantastic balance of flavors for a well-rounded, hearty, warm bowl of delicious ramen that was good to the last drop. I wish they had ramen more often, it was so great to sip on some warm broth while it was below freezing outside. I absolutely loved the stoneware bowl it was served in, I would love to have something like that in my own kitchen.
For the sake, this one was truly special. Hana Makgeolli “MAQ8 Silkysonic.” Look how CUTE these cans are! These adorable single-serve cans contain a fun, slightly bubbly, just-a-touch-sweet sake that was a great addition to the night’s line-up. It’s a bit lower alcohol content than some other sakes at 8%, making it so you can enjoy more than one can of this bubbly goodness if you so desired.
I was definitely pretty full by this point, but I powered on for this next course consisting of some torched sake, unagi, and suzuki.
It was a little confusing with the first piece of fish in this lineup being called sake, since I assumed sake was just the drink we all know and love, but sake is actually also salmon. It was fun to watch the chefs use a blowtorch to torch the salmon, as any course involving fire is a great course. The salmon had a sauce on top that I hate to say I can’t remember what exactly it was. I know, I had one job! I should’ve taken better notes, but there was so much going on between being served the sake and explained the specifics of that plus the chefs explaining the whole course, plus the couple next to me conversing with me (we had lovely conversations). It was a lot, okay! Sauce aside, the salmon was excellent and beautifully torched.
For the unagi, I actually love eel, so I knew this piece was about to be bomb. With the sweet, thick glaze on top and fresh slice of jalapeno, this piece was loaded with deliciousness. I was worried the jalapeno slice would bring too much heat to the dish for me, but it was perfect and not hot at all, just had great flavor.
The final piece, suzuki, is Japanese sea bass. There is a small pickled red onion sliver on top, it is not a worm, to be clear. Apparently the Japanese sea bass is known by different names depending on how mature the fish is, suzuki being the most grown stage of the fish. This piece was very simply dressed and the tender fish spoke for itself.
The sake for this course was Tentaka’s “Hawk in the Heavens” Tokubetsu Junmai. Much like with the food of this course, I should have taken better notes, because I don’t remember this sake at all. I don’t remember what it tasted like, my thoughts on it, nothing. I didn’t even remember the name until I looked at the menu again. I am so sorry, it is truly only because it was the sixth course and I had just taken a shot and was busy talking! Forgive me and we shall move on.
For our last savory course, it was two pieces of the chef’s choice:
The chefs said in honor of it being Valentine’s Day, they wanted to give us a bit more of a lux piece, and opted for wagyu and torched toro. Sending off the savory courses with wagyu was truly a delight, it really provided the turf in “surf and turf.” Every time I’ve had wagyu from Dozo it’s been so tender and rich, the fat just melting in my mouth. It’s also a fun novelty since I don’t really have wagyu anywhere else.
Finally, it was time for dessert. I couldn’t wait to try the wasabi ice cream:
I would’ve never imagined that wasabi ice cream could be even remotely edible, let alone enjoyable, but oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. How was this so good?! The creaminess contrasting with the crunchy wasabi peas, the perfect amount of sweetness mixing with the distinct flavor of the wasabi, LORD! It was incredibly, bizarrely delicious. The wasabi didn’t have that sinus-clearing bite to it, yet retained its unmistakable palate. What a treat.
For the final sake, I was served Kiuchi Brewery’s “Awashizuki” Sparkling Sake. I was particularly excited for this one because I love sparkling sakes, they are undoubtedly my favorite category of sake. Anything with bubbles is just better! I will say that the Awashizuki seemed to be much more lowkey on the bubbles than some other sparkling sakes I’ve had before. The bubbles were a bit more sparse and toned down, but it was still lightly carbonated enough that you could tell it wasn’t still. It was sweeter and more refreshing than the others in the evening’s lineup, which makes sense since it was the dessert course pairing. I really liked this one!
All in all, I had yet another fantastic experience at Dozo, and I absolutely loved their Valentine’s Day lineup. The limited seating at the bar made it feel all the more exclusive and special, and every course was totally delish. I got to try lots of new sakes and have really nice chats with the people next to me, and really just had a great evening all around.
The ticket for this event was $95, after an added 18% gratuity and taxes, it was more like $125. The sake pairing was $50 and I also tipped the waitress that was pouring the pairings and telling me about them. It was definitely a bit of a splurge event but hey, it was for V-Day! Gotta treat yourself. And I’m so glad I did!
Which piece of fish looks the most enticing to you? Or perhaps the ramen is more your speed? Have you tried any of the sakes from the lineup? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day!
-AMS
oursin (oursin) wrote2026-02-16 07:53 pm
oursin) wrote2026-02-16 07:53 pmEntry tags:
Rounding up a few things on history and heritage
Charity secures 1000 acres for Wales’ largest rewilding project:
The charity’s approach will include introducing hardy cattle and Welsh mountain ponies to the land, with ancient breeds of pigs to follow. Their grazing and roaming will support habitat restoration.
Peatland rewetting and natural water retention across the site over the next five to ten years means the project will contribute to increased biodiversity, cleaner water, healthier soils, improved carbon storage and reduced flood risk for downstream farmland.
It is hoped these actions will create conditions to boost various species, with the potential for red squirrels, pine martens, polecats, curlews and hen harriers to return.
The charity also aims for much of the work to be carried out by local tradespeople. Community participation will also help uncover and share stories of those who lived and worked across the site’s 55 historic stone landmarks, from Bronze Age cairns to traditional upland buildings.
***
Not sure if this can at all be mapped onto Cranford (based on Knutsford): Knutsford's Booths Hall granted special building status:
The house was built in 1745 for Peter Legh after he married heiress, Anne Wade.
The building was extended in 1845 by his grandson, Peter and remodelled in 1858 into an Italianate style by Edward Habershon for John Legh, a nephew of Mr Legh.
In 1917, the Legh family auctioned the hall and estate.
....
Historic England says it was listed for ‘demonstrating fine craftsmanship in the brickwork and stone detailing’ of each phase.
Special features include the unusual and well-preserved first floor conservatory with a curved glass roof.
The good survival of interior features and decoration from all three building phases using high quality materials and a high degree of craftsmanship.
***
Another kind of heritage: Green’s Dictionary of Slang: Five hundred years of the vulgar tongue, including the invaluable Timelines of Slang.
***
Smutwalk: Mapping Nineteenth-Century Obscenity - though actually, not all of the physical places are still there. Still. I think one might manage a tribute to Pornographers of Ye Olde Tymes stroll.
***
Queer love and friendship: 1920s Fitzroy Square:
In 1927, Bobby and his queer working-class friends gathered in his Fitzroy Square flat. Though surveillance documents, we can learn about these vibrant gatherings, the people involved and the passionate, intimate letters that survive. These records offer a rare insight into queer lives of the time.
***
How Not To Do Heritage, we feel (guy has quite rightly been getting crapped on on social media): History professor finds huge Iron Age hoard: 'The collection will be auctioned at Noonans in Mayfair on 4 March as part of a coins and historical medals, external sale.'. Observe the guy's creepy smirk in the photo.
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-02-16 01:54 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-02-16 01:54 pmEntry tags:
Birdfeeding
Today is partly sunny and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows, a starling, a male cardinal, a male house finch, and a fox squirrel. There are probably other house finches mixed in with the sparrows. The fox squirrel was eating from the hopper feeder at first, then went up the tree to forage among the branches -- I think it was eating the buds off the twigs.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I put out a fresh cake of peanut suet and a corncob.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows, a starling, a male cardinal, a male house finch, and a fox squirrel. There are probably other house finches mixed in with the sparrows. The fox squirrel was eating from the hopper feeder at first, then went up the tree to forage among the branches -- I think it was eating the buds off the twigs.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I put out a fresh cake of peanut suet and a corncob.
EDIT 2/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
Dinosaur Comics! (dinosaur_comics_feed) wrote2026-02-16 12:00 am
dinosaur_comics_feed) wrote2026-02-16 12:00 amyou're not the boss of me! oh, wait, you are? nevermind, my bad, my bad
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February 16th, 2026: Today I'm at FAN EXPO VANCOUVER! Hopefully I will see YOU there too?? – Ryan | ||
蝶になって (bluapapilio) wrote2026-02-16 01:48 pm
bluapapilio) wrote2026-02-16 01:48 pm
Entry tags:
Anime Check-in:🦇Babanba Banban Vampire S1E10
[Previous]
Episode 10: Sakamoto ranked 3rd amongst vampire hunters, I'm so curious who 1 and 2 are.
So Sakamoto survived the attack (after realizing he doesn't want just anyone to suck his blood lol).
What was that weird symbol Ranmaru made with his hand to Rihito. 😂 And I love how both Aoi and Rihito were blushing at Ranmaru draping himself over Rihito.
Nice moment between Kaoru and Franken.
Eh, so the blond is named Nagayoshi and he's Ranmaru's brother?? Does Nagayoshi dye his hair, can vampires?
So Nagayoshi died and changed first after telling Ranmaru to run but Ranmaru got caught anyway.
Vampires age when they don't drink good blood?
Nagayoshi is mad because Ranmaru killed Nobunaga/didn't turn him into a vampire. WTF is he wearing under his clothes? Giving me Fifth Element vibes.
Ranmaru: "I didn't want to turn him into an ugly monster like us."
Oh, so it was Nagayoshi who killed Ryouma.
It's too bad the manga isn't licensed and only up to chapter 6 is translated, I keep wanting to go see what the latest chapters are like. There are 12 volumes.
I was going to try and finish this entry with the rest of the episodes but a lot happened in 10 and it won't all fit for sure;;
duckprintspress (duckprintspress) wrote2026-02-16 02:32 pm
duckprintspress) wrote2026-02-16 02:32 pmEntry tags:
Introducing the Indie Press Webring!
A year ago, I proposed putting together a webring of indie presses, as part of an effort to old-school-ify navigating indie publishers for folks interested in learning more about us. I’m thrilled to share that now, with the invaluable help of Zachary from Lunaseeker Press, the webring is live!
The Indie Press Webring connects independent publishing houses! We celebrate indie publishers championing diverse voices and subjects, experimental formats, and bold literary visions.
If you’re looking for indie presses doing new, innovative things, give us a look-see. We’re small now – only four Presses at the moment – but we’re looking to grow and add folks, and we’re hoping to be a great resource for indie publishers and readers alike. You can check out our members here.
Interested in joining the webring? Learn how by visiting our webpage and filling out our interest check form!
ExtraPenguin (extrapenguin) wrote2026-02-16 08:27 pm
extrapenguin) wrote2026-02-16 08:27 pmEntry tags:
Monday Music Meme
Space Swap assignments are out, and that means I return to the music meme! In keeping with the recent music theme, have a song that came out this year! In 2026! And a good thing too, because it's the only possible answer to this week's question:
a song that proves that you have good taste
Synthwailer - Iron Arch
This one's on Bandcamp! The band itself describes it as:
And yeah, that tracks! It's symphonic metal, trance, electronic, industrial, and 100% amazing. It's so great I immediately bought it (despite the fact I generally only buy albums on Bandcamp), and then vidded it, thus listening to it 198374938 times on repeat, and I still want to listen to it on repeat! I love this.
a song you discovered this month
a song that makes you smile
a song that makes you cry
a song that you know all the lyrics of
a song that proves that you have good taste
a song title that is in all lowercase
a song title that is in all uppercase
an underrated song
a song that has three words
a song from your childhood
a song that reminds you of summertime
a song that you feel nostalgic to
the first song that plays on shuffle
a song that someone showed you
a song from a movie soundtrack
a song from a television soundtrack
a song about being 17
a song that reminds you of somebody
a song to drive to
a song with a number in the title
a song that you listen to at 3am in the morning
a song with a long title
a song with a color in the title
a song that gets stuck in your head
a song in a different language
a song that helps you fall asleep at night
a song that describes how you feel right now
a song that you used to hate but love today
a song that you downloaded
a song that you want to share
a song that proves that you have good taste
Synthwailer - Iron Arch
This one's on Bandcamp! The band itself describes it as:
Inspired by early-2000s trance melodies, industrial metal, and Middle Eastern tonal colors, the song tells the tale of a world trapped in eternal twilight — where the sun itself is chained above a black citadel, stolen as a symbol of power. As the march continues, the voice of the hollow sun awakens those who once served the machine, turning obedience into defiance.
And yeah, that tracks! It's symphonic metal, trance, electronic, industrial, and 100% amazing. It's so great I immediately bought it (despite the fact I generally only buy albums on Bandcamp), and then vidded it, thus listening to it 198374938 times on repeat, and I still want to listen to it on repeat! I love this.
prompts under the cut
a song you discovered this month
a song that makes you smile
a song that makes you cry
a song that you know all the lyrics of
a song that proves that you have good taste
a song title that is in all lowercase
a song title that is in all uppercase
an underrated song
a song that has three words
a song from your childhood
a song that reminds you of summertime
a song that you feel nostalgic to
the first song that plays on shuffle
a song that someone showed you
a song from a movie soundtrack
a song from a television soundtrack
a song about being 17
a song that reminds you of somebody
a song to drive to
a song with a number in the title
a song that you listen to at 3am in the morning
a song with a long title
a song with a color in the title
a song that gets stuck in your head
a song in a different language
a song that helps you fall asleep at night
a song that describes how you feel right now
a song that you used to hate but love today
a song that you downloaded
a song that you want to share
Trismegistus (lebateleur) wrote2026-02-16 09:23 am
lebateleur) wrote2026-02-16 09:23 amEntry tags:
Monday Media - February 16
A good mix of activities over the last seven days.
Games: Boardgame group has resumed, with the added bonus of two ridiculously cute and rambunctious new kittens. We played Everdell. And I mean played. ( We spent four hours on this 80 minute game. ) This is funny to remember now but it was even moreso to us at the time, when we were already slap happy from being up in the middle of the night, after a long gaming session, after a long week.
Music: We saw Nine Inch Nails, a phenomenal show and perhaps my favorite of the three times I've seen NIN live (the first with A Perfect Circle opening; the second their "final" show at Summer Sonic in Osaka). The GC, by contrast, had never seen them before and if you only had to see one of those shows, I think this was the one.( Read more... ) So yeah, freaking amazing show. I wish I could watch it all over again.
Monday's house session had seven people—the biggest attendance since I've started playing with this group, and a commensurately big sound. The number of players also meant each individual called fewer sets but we played a bigger range of sets, and at different tempos, than the norm, which was both challenging and fun. And I'm going to adopt a few of those sets for my own calls in future sessions.
Podcasts/Articles: No podcasts. I did read a couple of longform articles: Apocalypse No: How almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong and The Privileged Life and Tragic Death of an 11-Year-Old Tipperary Girl.
Roleplaying: Nothing.
Television: We finished the final episode of Max Headroom season 2, and with it, the entirety of Max Headroom itself. ( Read more... ) All that said, Max Headroom is still one of the shows that was before its time, and cancelled before its time, and setting aside the few dud episodes it still absolutely holds up.
Video Games: Nothing this week, what with the concert + standing post-work activities + peace monkpocalypse during my commute.
これで以上です。
Games: Boardgame group has resumed, with the added bonus of two ridiculously cute and rambunctious new kittens. We played Everdell. And I mean played. ( We spent four hours on this 80 minute game. ) This is funny to remember now but it was even moreso to us at the time, when we were already slap happy from being up in the middle of the night, after a long gaming session, after a long week.
Music: We saw Nine Inch Nails, a phenomenal show and perhaps my favorite of the three times I've seen NIN live (the first with A Perfect Circle opening; the second their "final" show at Summer Sonic in Osaka). The GC, by contrast, had never seen them before and if you only had to see one of those shows, I think this was the one.( Read more... ) So yeah, freaking amazing show. I wish I could watch it all over again.
Monday's house session had seven people—the biggest attendance since I've started playing with this group, and a commensurately big sound. The number of players also meant each individual called fewer sets but we played a bigger range of sets, and at different tempos, than the norm, which was both challenging and fun. And I'm going to adopt a few of those sets for my own calls in future sessions.
Podcasts/Articles: No podcasts. I did read a couple of longform articles: Apocalypse No: How almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong and The Privileged Life and Tragic Death of an 11-Year-Old Tipperary Girl.
Roleplaying: Nothing.
Television: We finished the final episode of Max Headroom season 2, and with it, the entirety of Max Headroom itself. ( Read more... ) All that said, Max Headroom is still one of the shows that was before its time, and cancelled before its time, and setting aside the few dud episodes it still absolutely holds up.
Video Games: Nothing this week, what with the concert + standing post-work activities + peace monkpocalypse during my commute.
これで以上です。
opal trelore (used_songs) wrote2026-02-16 01:36 pm
used_songs) wrote2026-02-16 01:36 pm(no subject)
I spent almost $2000 on plumbing repair today.
the cosmolinguist (cosmolinguist) wrote2026-02-16 07:27 pm
cosmolinguist) wrote2026-02-16 07:27 pmEntry tags:
Wanderlust
For work-related reasons, I can get a free round trip on any TransPennine Express train.
I'd basically be working on the outbound journey but could come back any time I want, doesn't have to be the same day or anything.
I was excited at having an excuse to go back to York, until I remembered that TPE trains go to Scotland as well... I could go to Edinburgh or Glasgow!
I've got I think four days' vacation I have to use up in March, as well...
It's much longer since I've been to Glasgow, but Edinburgh is closer to where I have friends.
It'd probably mean going on my own though, and that isn't my best thing. But a few days away from Normal Life does sound really nice...
I've got all of next week off work except the Wednesday, which I'll be spending in Chester. It did occur to me that it'd be fun to see how cheap a midweek Premier Inn or whatever would be, and hang out for a few days around the work trip...
I love my house and my people but I like to do different things too.
james_davis_nicoll (james_davis_nicoll) wrote2026-02-16 02:07 pm
james_davis_nicoll) wrote2026-02-16 02:07 pmEntry tags:
Bundle of Holding: Downcrawl-Skycrawl
Downcrawl and Skycrawl, twin toolkits from designer Aaron A. Reed that help you create spontaneous tabletop roleplaying adventures in the Deep, Deep Down and the Azure Etern.
Bundle of Holding: Downcrawl-Skycrawl