(no subject)
May. 27th, 2025 04:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
within a few minutes of playing I realised Why Not is that the base game is horribly repetitive and limited, there are so many expansions, I assume they all cost a money, but I can't see how it would improve the basics of play.
I do not like the new game.
I therefore have no explanation whatsoever for why it is now approximately six hours later.
I critically failed my will save *several times*. I have eaten. Twice. And I was still only on game three, because it turns out losing is almost impossible since you just start again from your beginnings and winning is merely very hard.
I do not. like. this game.
but my day disappeared anyway.
i should stick to wrath of the righteous, at least that has story and progress and so forth.
A fan
May. 26th, 2025 06:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I need a desk fan for the room I work in. V is kind enough to use their skills in online shopping for me, and ordered one the other day to arrive today.
So this afternoon they said "Oh, Erik, I think your fan is on the way," and I presume they got a text about it or whatever.
But a visiting friend heard this, no context, and said she thought they meant, like, an admirer of mine.
It'd be so funny if someone came around just because they liked me.
Meanwhile, I'm so unbelievably tempted to write "A fan of Erik" on the fan. It's in a room full of sharpies. I could so easily do this.
Further Adventures In Being A Fannish Old
May. 26th, 2025 11:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The one that's really amusing me is that I've had a whole bunch of comments in recent months with people having, like, screamy emotional reactions and then adding "/pos." at the end. Folks, I am embarrassed how long it took me to figure out what the heck that "/pos" meant. "Positive!" It stands for "positive!" It's like those parenthetical emotional markers they'll use, like saying something teasingly and then adding "(affectionate)" to make sure it's not interpreted as actually mean. Which is a practice I quite like. But "pos?" Dude, I was wracking my brains over that one! For ages, the only answer I could hit on was... Well, look, back in my day -- and how much do I hate that I find myself saying things like that now? -- back in my day, "POS" did in fact have a meaning. And so I found myself repeatedly thinking, "It's OK, I got that you were having an appropriate emotional reaction to the fic and not actually yelling at me! You don't have to call yourself a piece of shit for it!" LOOOOOOL. I think in my mind, I was harking back to the period when all the youngsters kept calling themselves "trash" for being into whatever they were into. Which is probably already ancient history to The Kids Today, I guess, and good riddance to it, too, although I guess now they just describe themselves as "cringe," which isn't much better. Although, to be clear, it's the concept I object to there, not the language. Own your enthusiasms, guys!
Seriously, I have no desire to do that thing where old grumps complain about these dang youngsters and their ignorant gobbledygook. Because that is cringe, frankly. It was stupid and annoying when people did it at my generation -- "So, bad means good now? Oooh, everything is 'awesome' huh? You're overcome with awe all the time, huh? And why can't you, like, kids, like, talk without, like, saying like, like, all the time?" Gimme a break. Or gag me with a spoon, even. Nah, this is all just language doing what language does, but I'm finding the disconnect hilarious. And that's coming from someone who, thanks to the internet, probably understands more about youth culture now than I did when I was a youth, since I pretty much just spent all my teenage years holed up in my room reading books rather than actually talking to people my own age. And now, well, I'm still mostly holed up in my room reading books, but I'm also reading stuff on the internet, and I can see other people of various ages talking all around me. And also sometimes commenting on my fics telling me that I've eaten and they've damaged their drywall. Positively. Which, hey, I'll take it.
The Keepmer
May. 27th, 2025 02:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Artist:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Rating: Teen
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters/Pairings: The Keeper (Wraith queen)
Content Notes: Part of a cracky series for Mermay, where I shoehorn "mer" into various characters' names. This was inspired by Panisdead's story Ascension World: A Place for Children where the nasty possibility of aquatic Wraith is raised. So here's an AU version of the Keeper - the Wraith queen from Rising.
Summary: The last thing any diver wants to find is a Wraith Queen lurking in the kelp.
Mission Impossible
May. 26th, 2025 09:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The MI movies have also strayed far from their original concept. MI was more about tricks and traps and heists than action. There were scenes in which a couple bad guys would enter a room to talk to another set of bad guys. They exchanged information and the first set of bad guys would leave. Then the room was suddenly revealed to be a fake set, and the other bad guys were disguised. It was a ruse to get the information! Stuff like that. There was only one such scene in this movie, and it barely qualified: Ethan tricks some bad guys with a fake tooth. The rest of it is action, action, action.
I noticed that every single bit of the action scenes follows a pattern. 1) Ethan has to do something (open a door, flip a switch, eat his breakfast). 2) Some obstacle presents itself and prevents him (the door is stuck, the switch doesn't work, the toaster is shorted out). 3) Ethan tries to force the original plan to work (yank on the door, hit the power switch, shove the bread down again). 4) This doesn't work. 5) Ethan devises a workaround (taking the door off its hinges, pulling the switch apart and repairing it, buying a new toaster). 6) This solution works, but it sends us back to 1), where Ethan is trying to do something. Repeat until the audience is ready to throttle the director in frustration.
Deep sea stuff, especially deep sea stuff involving large objects like submarines, shipwrecks, and whales, freaks me badly, so a good quarter of the movie had me filtering the movie through my fingers. Darwin is severely acrophobic, so another quarter of the movie had =him= filtering the movie through his fingers.
Since this was a Part II, the screenwriters cleverly fill in backstory from Part I, but don't stop there. Endless references to the previous movies sneak in, including a minor character from the very first movie who plays a major role in this one. I imagine he was startled to get a phone call from a casting director who said, "Remember that role you played 30 years ago? Great! Are you free?"
The movie is worth seeing if you want to empty your mind for a while and follow the story of someone who's having a way worse day than you are. It's not worth seeing twice, though.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
( all comments back here )
What are your thoughts on these eps? And the bonus book?
The Day in Spikedluv (Sunday, May 25)
May. 26th, 2025 08:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
We finished off the BBQ chicken quarters for lunch and I did pork chops in the oven for supper.
I finally watched the current ep of The Last of Us (just in time for the next ep to air tonight) and some HGTV programs, did some more reading, and held my daily telephone conversation with my mom.
I noticed yesterday (but thought it was a one-off) and again today that I’ve been having ‘sour burps’, as I did with the Ozempic. This is the first time I’ve noticed any digestive issues with the Trulicity. I hope it doesn’t continue.
Temps started out at 48.7(F) and reached 65.4. There was a teensy bit of sun, but also a breeze, so it was chilly outside. I’m going to have to mow the lawn tomorrow, and I really hope that it feels warmer otherwise I’m going to need a scarf and gloves in addition to my sweatshirt.
Looking for Soulmates.
May. 26th, 2025 12:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
My journal contains life stories, reflections shaped by the war, a bit of the past, a bit of the sea, a bit of silence.
Sometimes there are photos, sometimes just words.
If honesty, attentiveness, and depth resonate with you — maybe we'll connect
Is there an interesting story behind your username?
- My username reflects who I am in real life — a bit reserved, thoughtful, and always observing quietly.
Location and language(s):
- English, Ukrainian.
Age range (e.g. 20s, 30s, etc.):
- Age doesn’t matter — I value meaningful connection and people with depth.
List a few things you think it's important new friends know about you right away:
- I’m looking for kindred spirits — people who find meaning in words and emotion, and who might be interested in reading honest thoughts from someone who's seen both peace and war.
You mostly write about:
- Moments from my life, especially during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
My journal reflects my thoughts, feelings, and memories — of being a mariner, a traveler, and someone deeply affected by this time. I try to write with honesty and emotional clarity.
Posts are bilingual (English and Ukrainian), often paired with my own photographs that match the mood or setting.
Is your journal mostly public, locked, or a mix of public and locked?
It’s open. I have nothing to hide.
Your posting frequency (e.g. daily, every few days, weekly, etc.):
- It varies — sometimes daily, sometimes when I find the time or feel the need to share.
Does your journal frequently include any of the following: memes, linkspams, gifs, photos, videos, etc?
- I mostly post my own photography — taken across different years and places.
Do you unfriend people who don't comment much, even if you know they are reading you regularly?
- No — I value silent readers too. I understand that not everyone feels like commenting all the time.
What is your approach when it comes to commenting on other journals?
- If something resonates, I’ll say something. I don’t force myself — I prefer sincere interaction.
When you friend someone, but things don't really click, do you unfriend them without warning, or do you send them a note first? How do you prefer to be unfriended in similar circumstances?
- I respect both ways. If it doesn't feel right — no hard feelings, with or without explanation.
Friending memes often ask people to list their favourite TV shows, movies, books, etc., but more often than not, those aren't things people actually write about in their journal. Do you have any favourite TV shows, movies, books, etc., that you DO often write about -- not necessarily in a fandom sort of way, just in general?
- I occasionally reflect on films or books that have emotionally moved me — like Pearl Harbor, My Name is Khan, or anything deeply human. I rarely write as a fan — more as someone who was touched.
Any final thoughts you'd like to share with potential new friends?
-If you value sincerity and emotion, if you’re looking to read thoughts that aren’t polished but real — you’re welcome in my journal.

Sailfin Guy
May. 26th, 2025 02:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Characters/Pairings: n/a

I blame John Scalzi, Marv Wolfman and George Perez for this:
May. 25th, 2025 10:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Red sky in the morning, superheroes' warning.
Comics fans will either know or quickly learn why Wolfman and Perez are named here.
Scalzi? Here's why.
https://bsky.app/profile/scalzi.com/post/3lpzynapmmc2q
Links List (ChatGPT, Misogyny Slop Ecosystem, Fun Stuff)
May. 25th, 2025 03:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Jason Sanford: Genre Grapevine’s Deep Dive into the Use of ChatGPT by Seattle Worldcon.
Though, honestly, if the rest of the volunteers quit, and the ConCom wasn't responsive to the cries for help from the last two people, I might have done crime too. I'm still perplexed by the Hugos team quitting, as it seems like a disproportionate reaction from people not prone to melodrama, but we'll probably never know.
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books: Philadephia Inquirer and Chicago Sun-Times Publish Summer Reading List of Nonexistent Books.
Good look at how that happened, followed by a long rant about the state of the media landscape, especially in regards to US Politics.
A lot of people have been covering this shitshow, which probably shouldn't fairly be in the LLM trashfire situation, but fells spiritually akin to it, so I'm putting it here. Savy also links to A Million Lives Recovery, which boosts all the authors, artists and vendors screwed over by this nonsense. It looks like mostly romantasy, but there's a variety in there.
Misogyny Slop Ecosystem: ( Cutting five links for discussion of violence against women and non-binary people )
At Least Somewhat Good Stuff:
The Breach: Inside the campaign that upended CanLit’s ties to Scotiabank and Israeli arms.
Nice example of activism getting stuff done.
The Tyee: A Fresh Opportunity to Get Elections Right.
I really want this to happen.
I just like getting to see her being happy.
I got rickrolled the other day, and YouTube recced this charming interview.
Meta!
vital functions
May. 25th, 2025 11:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Reading. ( Bridget Collins, Feather (lalaietha), Jenny Lawson )
Listening. More Hidden Almanac, including First Appearance of Pastor Drom; slightly grumpy with myself for dozing through a chunk of it (to a greater extent than I realised; I did get snippets, but missed more than was apparent at the time) and am steeling myself to relisten.
Cooking. More from East: aubergine katsu curry with pickled radish (meh on my part, but A liked it), roasted carrots and cabbage with gochujang (meh on A's part, but I liked it enough to nibble at it between meals even though I'm unlikely to make it again), asparagus and mangetout with chilli peanut crumb (not actually worth spending in-season asparagus on outside the Cook Everything In This Book project, but pleasing given that context).
Eating. WILD ASPARAGUS is I think the most exciting thing I have eaten this week.
I have been Disappointed by Wagamama. Much less disappointingly, I have been plied with blueberries and yoghurt. Finished the hazel-bay-rye-and-rhubarb cake; have made some progress on the birthday cake I got sent home with.
Exploring. I am currently Away From Home. There are postbox toppers. One of them is Many Round Hedgehogs; another is Sea Creatures including Mollusc. I am sort of curious about who else I might spot in the area.
Making & mending.
Growing. ... I did not get cucumbers started. I did get some more squash into the ground (well, raised beds), and planted out a bunch of tomatoes, and at least two kinds of pea are now flowering, and I will be mildly resentful if I get home and discover all the strawberries have been eaten.
Did I mention that my established rocket remains established? I was a little concerned that I'd buried it under too much manure, and then it showed up in the next bed over.
Observing. BABY WOODPECKER.