(no subject)

May. 7th, 2026 12:26 pm
greghousesgf: (Boingboing)
[personal profile] greghousesgf
here's a meme:

What's the last:

Movie I watched: Project Hail Mary
Series I watched: I saw two eps of Boardwalk Empire earlier this morning
Book I finished: a book about John Lennon I got in Texas
Book I bought: A Bad Bad Place
Book I received as a gift: The New Yorker Fiction collection
Food I ate: a bagel
Meal I cooked: leftover Mexican style chicken for dinner last night
Drink I had: Prince of Wales tea
Song I listened to: Wake Up by Arcade Fire
Album I listened to: Madness' greatest hits album
Playlist I listened to: this playlist burned for me by my friend Larry that the Arcade Fire song was on
Concert I went to: Oakland Gay men's chorus concert last month
Game I played: Do puzzle books count as games? If they do then the Ultimate Alphabet Book by Mike Wilks
Person I talked to: my friend Dave
Person I texted: my friend David (not the same guy, I know a lot of Daves and Davids)

Wildlife

May. 7th, 2026 01:33 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Why are scorpion stings so painful? Metal stingers!

In the scorpion stingers, the researchers found zinc at the tip of the needle-like structure. But many of the scorpions had a sharp transition to manganese below this point.

Meanwhile, in the outer part of the pincers, called the tarsus, the researchers found zinc. In addition, some scorpion pincers also contained iron. Interestingly, the metal only reinforced the cutting edge of the pincer. That’s the side of the tarsus that endures the most stress from struggling prey.



Well no, it's the venom that makes a sting painful. The metal is there for structural support and armor-piercing capacity. Many scorpions hunt primarily chitinous prey and need a way to defeat that armor. It's also why some larger scorpions can sting through heavy cloth or even leather. O_O

Anyhow, this has terrific potential for speculative fiction and speculative evolution.  So don't tease people who design species with metallic components, because there is hard science behind how some extant wildlife uses metal.

Birdfeeding

May. 7th, 2026 01:32 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is partly sunny, breezy, and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches plus a fox squirrel.

I put out water for the birds.

I set out a few potted plants to get some sun.

More white peonies are blooming, along with deep pink ones under the apricot tree.

EDIT 5/7/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.










.

Low Tech

May. 7th, 2026 11:28 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This Alberta Startup Sells No-Tech Tractors for Half Price

Ursa Ag, a small Canadian manufacturer, is assembling tractors powered by 12-valve Cummins engines — the same mechanically injected workhorses that powered combines and pickup trucks decades ago — and selling them for roughly half the price of comparable machines from established brands. The 150-horsepower model starts at $129,900 CAD, about $95,000 USD. The range-topping 260-hp version runs $199,900 CAD, around $146,000.

Read more... )

Trailer: Star City

May. 7th, 2026 12:28 pm
jo: (Default)
[personal profile] jo in [community profile] tv_talk
Apple TV+'s For All Mankind spin-off, Star City, premieres on May 29. 

From the blurb: Star City is a propulsive paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race — when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humankind forward.




Community Recs Post!

May. 7th, 2026 11:37 am
glitteryv: (Default)
[personal profile] glitteryv in [community profile] recthething
Every Thursday, we have a community post, just like this one, where you can drop a rec or five in the comments.

This works great if you only have one rec and don't want to make a whole post for it, or if you don't have a DW account, or if you're shy. ;)

(But don't forget: you can deffo make posts of your own seven days a week. ;D!)

So what cool fancrafts/fics/fanvids/fanart/other kinds of fanworks/podfics have we discovered this week? Drop it in the comments below. Anon comment is enabled.

BTW, AI fanworks are not eligible for reccing at recthething. If you aware that a fanwork is AI-generated, please do not rec it here.
[syndicated profile] languagelog_feed

Posted by Victor Mair

Taipei City Council forms Taiwanese Language Revitalization Caucus

Civic groups call for wider everyday use of Taiwanese

Keoni Everington, Taiwan News (5/6/26)

(in Mandarin)

statistics show that in 2020, 66.4% of people primarily used Mandarin, while 31.7% used Taiwanese as their main language, CNA reported. However, 54.3% reported using Taiwanese as a secondary language, indicating that many people have some ability in the language but lack an environment in which to use it.

AntC observes:

The caucus is looking to the mechanisms of the Development of National Languages Act — whose purpose I understand to be to defend threatened/minority languages, especially the indigenous Austronesian ones.

I'd say you can hear Taiwanese being used for everyday purposes; but perhaps less so in Taipei City or amongst youngsters.

 

Selected readings

La Seduction

May. 7th, 2026 08:25 am
lemonlips43: luv (Default)
[personal profile] lemonlips43 in [community profile] fictional_fans
Title: La seduction
Author: Lemonlips43
Fandom: Pokemon-The original series
Rating: Teen
Characters/Pairings: Gary/Ash
Genres: Romance,Humor and angst
Word count: 745 (the first chapter)
Summary:Ash finds himself in love with Misty and decides to ask Gary for lessons on how to win over girls. Gary surprisingly accepts, but are Gary's intentions truly pure? And does Ash really love misty as much as he says?
Aditional tags-Jealousy,Compulsory Heterosexuality,Kantou-chihou | Kanto Region (Pokemon) 

I wrote this fanfic i was thinking about writing it a long time now i finally got courage and will to write it!

READ ON AO3   
READ ON MY JOURNAL

magician’s rage by calebauer (SFW)

May. 7th, 2026 05:56 am
kingstoken: (Vintage Mermaid)
[personal profile] kingstoken in [community profile] fanart_recs
Fandom: Merlin
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Merlin
Content Notes/Warnings: N/A
Medium: Digital
Artist Website/Gallery: tumblr 
Why this piece is awesome: Stunning piece of Merlin done in reds and oranges, that express the feeling and a history of Merlin.
Link: magician’s rage

Just One Thing (07 May 2026)

May. 7th, 2026 08:06 am
nanila: me (Default)
[personal profile] nanila in [community profile] awesomeers
It'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!

Community Thursdays

May. 7th, 2026 12:32 am
ysabetwordsmith: A blue sheep holding a quill dreams of Dreamwidth (Dreamsheep)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...


* Posted "Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Repairing" in [community profile] renew_repair_refashion.

* Commented on "Just One Thing" in [community profile] awesomeers.

* Commented on "May Day Full Flower Moon" in [community profile] common_nature.
ysabetwordsmith: Text -- three weeks for dreamwidth, in pink (three weeks for dreamwidth)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This year during Three Weeks for Dreamwidth, I'm writing about reading as a way of becoming an expert in a given subject. Read Part 1: Introduction to Becoming an Expert, Part 2: Architecture, Part 3: Dance, Part 4: Music, Part 5: Painting, Part 6: Poetry, Part 7: Sculpture, Part 8: Conflict Resolution, Part 9: Cooking, Part 10: Coping Skills, Part 11: Gardening, Part 12: Relationship Skills.


Three Weeks for Dreamwidth Part 13: Repairing

Repairing comprises a huge range of skills for maintaining and fixing tools, toys, and anything else that needs care. Most folks think of this regarding big machines like cars, but it used to be the case that small things were designed for repair too, like sewing machines or mixers. Nowadays, much is meant to be disposable, which wastes resources. Repairs may be divided into large equipment, small equipment, toys, and clothes among other categories. Different cultures have different things to repair and methods they like to use. Some of these are distinctive, like Japanese kintsugi (repairing pottery with golden seams) or boro (repairing clothes, often reinforced with sashiko stitches). Here on Dreamwidth, [community profile] renew_repair_refashion is low traffic, but posting is open to all members so feel free to pitch in. Also check out related communites such as [community profile] awesomeers, [community profile] crafty, [community profile] everykindofcraft, [community profile] get_knitted, [community profile] goals_on_dw, [community profile] green_living, [community profile] sewing101, [community profile] sewing,


Three Weeks for Dreamwidth April 25-May 15

Read more... )

Drama rec: Sharp Downpour

May. 7th, 2026 12:40 am
aurumcalendula: Shen Man tending to Jiang Li's injuries (patching up injuries)
[personal profile] aurumcalendula in [community profile] baihe_media
I think Sharp Downpour (暴锋雨) might be relevant to folks' interests.

Read more... )

Read-in-Progress Wednesday

May. 7th, 2026 11:16 am
geraineon: (Default)
[personal profile] geraineon in [community profile] cnovels
This is your weekly read-in-progress post~

For spoilers:

<details><summary>insert summary</summary>Your spoilers goes here</details>

<b>Highlight for spoilers!*</b><span style="background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #FFFFFF">Your spoilers goes here.</span>*

Daily Happiness

May. 6th, 2026 07:43 pm
torachan: karkat from homestuck looking bored (karkat bored)
[personal profile] torachan
1. They opened an Ikea near us! Previously the closest ones were about twenty miles away, but this one is more like five. We need to get another shelf for in the garage (Carla's album collection has grown beyond the shelf its been sharing with my puzzles), so we're going to go check it out this weekend.

2. Yesterday at work I heard a song playing and shazammed it and found out that Damiano David of Manneskin has a solo career, so when I got home I gave his album a listen and it's really good! The song I heard at work was Zombie Lady and I think it might be my favorite off the album but there are a lot of other great tracks, too.



3. Jasper being a brave boy at the vet on Monday.

Write Every Day: Day 6

May. 6th, 2026 04:48 pm
sanguinity: (writing - semicolon)
[personal profile] sanguinity
Intro/FAQ


My check-in: I added 2k to the new fic since last we spoke! Apparently now that the groundbreaking ceremony is over, I decided to bring in a backhoe.


Day 6: [personal profile] china_shop, [personal profile] sanguinity

Day 5: [personal profile] acorn_squash, [personal profile] carenejeans, [personal profile] china_shop, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] dswdiane, [personal profile] luzula, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] the_siobhan, [personal profile] trobadora, [personal profile] ysilme

Day 4: [personal profile] acorn_squash, [personal profile] badly_knitted, [personal profile] carenejeans, [personal profile] china_shop, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] dswdiane, [personal profile] glinda, [personal profile] goddess47, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] sylvanwitch, [personal profile] trobadora, [personal profile] ysilme

More days )


When you check in, please use the most recent post and say what day(s) you’re checking in for. Remember you can drop in or out at any time, and let me know if I missed anyone!

dentist: crown

May. 6th, 2026 06:30 pm
redbird: closeup of me drinking tea, in a friend's kitchen (Default)
[personal profile] redbird
I went to the dentist this afternoon, and they did some uncomfortable things as part of creating a new/replacement crown for one of my teeth (which had cavities under the old crown). I currently have a temporary crown, and will be getting the permanent replacement in three weeks; it will be ready sooner, but that's the next available appointment.

I was pleased to see that my Lyft driver, the dentist, and the dental assistant were all masked when I first saw them. I told the driver it was nice to see other people masking, and I tipped extra because of it.

When I checked in, the receptionist told me there would be a $750 copay. I told her that I had been told that the crown was fully covered, and asked her to check. A few minutes later, she confirmed that I wouldn't have to pay anything. I do not understand dental insurance, including this dental insurance, which is an add-on to my Medicare Advantage plan; I would have paid the $750 if I had to, but I'm glad I don't.

I'd been planning to stop and visit some lilac bushes on the way home, but it was raining, which made that less appealing, so I didn't. I did stop at Lizzy's on the way home, and now have a total of five unlabeled pints of ice cream: three today, because a broken freezer meant I had to get the clerk to hand-scoop the ice cream, plus the two from Tosci's. However, I have blank sticky adhesive labels, which should make this easy.

some good things

May. 6th, 2026 11:00 pm
kaberett: Trans symbol with Swiss Army knife tools at other positions around the central circle. (Default)
[personal profile] kaberett

One: I have spent much of the day indulging the desire to Quietly Hyperfocus On Game and it has been a very relaxing autism to have.

Two: I have finished the questionable Ryvita we... somehow... came into possession of (I apparently object to things that are not salt & vinegar extruded potato twirls containing potassium chloride) and can now merrily go back to overpriced high protein crackers until such time as I get around to buying vital wheat gluten with which to make my own.

Three: two loaves of bread (because I strained a Lot of whey off the most recent batch of yoghurt), which are a slightly silly set of shapes but also extremely aesthetic. I am very much looking forward to extravagant breakfast featuring avocado and also scrambled egg. (New oven needs less time to do them than old one; new oven also would ideally get them rotated halfway through baking if I want them done evenly. I am trying to work out what the best way to freeze the second loaf is...)

Four: Adam brought me home British strawberries from the supermarket, all with their petals still attached.

Five: new Murderbot purchased. (When I will get around to reading it is another question, but the possibility exists!)

Profile

anghraine: vader extending his lightsaber; text: and now for the airing of grievances! (Default)
Anghraine

May 2026

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