Expectations

Mar. 21st, 2026 10:26 pm
thatzeta: (curious)
[personal profile] thatzeta
Over the years, I've witnessed plenty of fallout following game releases, caused by overhype and fans overblowing their expectations. The most infamous examples, of course, being No Man's Sky and to a degree Cyberpunk 2077 (but that one was also really buggy on some hardware, I got away lucky). And then there's also Kingdom Hearts 3 (which also suffered from having been announced way too early).

Personally, I've stopped paying too much attention to games before their release. I loosely keep track of them (like release dates for example) and maybe watching one or two trailers. But I won't go into deep dives to try and overanalyse every screenshot and every trailer prior to release. It just sets up too many expectations that might potentially be disappointed. If I don't know too much about the game, I can still be pleasantly surprised.

Case in point: Redfall. Right after release, I streamed it through the Gamespass, but I was forced to play with ping-delay on controller and with German language setting, so I eventually dropped it. Now the game got really awful reviews and it's still considered to be kinda bad. But I properly bought it on Steam this week and started playing it and honestly, it's fine. It has a nice visual vibe and the gameplay is okay, too. It might have also suffered the case of being too overhyped (as an Arkane studios game) as well as some behind-the-scenes nonsense to result in the fallout.

I'm having a good time though so... that's all that matters to me.

Fossils

Mar. 21st, 2026 02:39 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This crocodile ran like a greyhound across prehistoric Britain 200 million years ago

A newly discovered Triassic reptile from the UK looked more like a racing greyhound than a crocodile, built for speed on land. With long legs and a lightweight body, it hunted small animals in a dry, upland environment millions of years ago. Scientists identified it as a new species after spotting key differences in its fossils. It’s also a tribute to an inspiring teacher who helped spark a future scientist’s curiosity
.


Peculiar Obligations has several such species called galloping crocodiles, hoofed crocodiles, or hoofers.

Birdfeeding

Mar. 21st, 2026 02:10 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is sunny and hot.

I fed the birds. I've seen a small mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/21/26 -- I put topsoil in the four large pots that sit on the ground along the north side of the picnic table.

I also put the indoor flats of tree sprouts and squash sprouts outside to get some sun and air.

It is so hot outside as to limit my activity. In mid-March. This annoys me.

EDIT 3/21/26 -- I put topsoil in the four large pots that sit on the ground along the south side of the picnic table. There is just a little left now.

It's 81°F now. :/

EDIT 3/21/26 -- I spread the last of the topsoil in other pots around the new picnic table.

It's 82°F now. Fuck climate change.

EDIT 3/21/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen two mourning doves in the forest garden.

EDIT 3/21/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

FAKE Double Drabble: Suite Dreams

Mar. 21st, 2026 06:16 pm
badly_knitted: (BSP 5 - Dee & Ryo)
[personal profile] badly_knitted
 


Title: Suite Dreams
Fandom: FAKE
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Like Like Love.
Summary: Before Ryo moves in, Dee wants to get a new living room suite.
Written Using: The prompt ‘Suite’.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
A/N: Double drabble.
 
 


Doctor Who Drabble: Twilight Time

Mar. 21st, 2026 06:05 pm
badly_knitted: (Eleven & TARDIS)
[personal profile] badly_knitted
 


Title: Twilight Time
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: William Pratt, Eleventh Doctor.
Rating: G
Written For: Challenge 1010: ‘Crepuscular’ at 
[community profile] dw100.
Spoilers: Nada. Crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Summary: Writing poetry is difficult, but William is always willing to accept help.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters.
 
 


Double Drabble: Vicious Creature

Mar. 21st, 2026 05:56 pm
badly_knitted: (Owen - Meh)
[personal profile] badly_knitted
 


Title: Vicious Creature
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: Owen, Ianto.
Rating: PG
Written For: Challenge 909: Dog, at 
[community profile] torchwood100.
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: This time the Rift has delivered an animal Owen can’t handle.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
A/N: Double drabble.
 


 

Moment of Silence: Nicholas Brendon

Mar. 21st, 2026 11:59 am
ysabetwordsmith: (moment of silence)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Actor Nicholas Brendon has passed away. He is most famous for playing Xander on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but also appeared on Criminal Minds and Private Practice.


Carry on the Work

5 Ways How To Steal The Show As The Comedic Relief In A Drama

Acting -- how to articles from wikiHow

Acting in Horror Films: Why You Need It And How to Pull It Off

Drabble_weekly Challenge 493 - Torn

Mar. 21st, 2026 08:19 pm
m_findlow: (Date)
[personal profile] m_findlow
Title: Torn
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 200 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 493 - A stitch in time at [community profile] drabble_zone
Summary: Ianto knows the value of a pre-emptive repair job. A double drabble.

Read more... )
prixmium: (low res cat - fuck)
[personal profile] prixmium
I have been very lazy about posting here and regretful about it. I have been posting a little more often on tumblr, because the UI has been good to upload pictures of various things I did in the real world. I plan to eventually cross-post here, but it will take me a little time.

With tumblr's recent tomfoolery last week, it makes me aware that I do really want to be more active on this site and maybe to dust off trying to use pillowfort at least as a backup. I also am enchanted by the idea of having my own little webpage that is a bit more than my carrd, but I am not sure which platform I want to use. I did have a neocities account, but I feel like it's a little above my ability to envision what I want. I do know very basic stuff about HTML and CSS such that I can at least search my way through W3 School or whatever and figure out how to edit stuff, but I am not a designer without a base underneath. I have a carrd premium account because it's so cheap, but I'm not sure if it's too limited.

Thursday was the Closing Ceremony for my first full school year at the school where I currently teach. I'm proud of myself and my kids, and it's a bit bittersweet. Of course, it is a bit strange given that I will see a lot of them again in about three weeks. I have most days off between now and April 1, but I do have training on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

I've been mostly lying in bed too much today and eating, but I have spent a few little bursts of 15-20 minutes tidying things yesterday and today, so that has been good. I have an appointment to go get my hair worked on tomorrow, but I'm still a little nervous and less sure of what I want than some previous efforts.

Last year, after my participation in Dragon Age Big Bang, I kind of stopped writing much for a long time. I spent so much time trying to get it to work and be solid, despite stress and life transitions, and then it never really got any readership except for my challenge assigned beta and artist, and it was a real kick to morale. I knew it was a rare pair, so I didn't need a lot of interaction, but it just felt like it wasn't actually for anyone, such that I kind of stopped thinking about it at all afterward and got a sort of sour taste in my mouth.

I'm participating in DABB again, but I am doing something much more safe and less ambitious, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't largely because I've remained in the community for this whole time, and they're a good group of people to hang around.

I am working on my Death Note fic, but I slowed down for about a week and a half due to end of term documentation pressures, headaches, and general malaise, but any mental malaise was mostly secondary, temporary, hormonal.

I played the recent limited event on Genshin Impact that had a lot of Mondstadt early content nostalgia, plus some character development, and I really enjoyed doing that. I also have, frankly, so many years of content to cover in Genshin that I honestly worry sometimes if I will somehow end up not finishing it before End of Service at whatever undefined point in the future, though I imagine they won't have any reason to do that until a few years after the story is completely finished, which is coming but not immediately. Star Rail is newer but still kind of daunting. Less so, though.

So, in general, I feel no particular compulsion to ever get into new video games.

However.

Recently, something alarming happened. I shared this post with a friend. I was under the impression that maybe Leon, in this context, was a Dead by Daylight specific character, but I was very vaguely familiar with Leon Kennedy from internet osmosis and being shown this video a long time ago:



My friend confirmed that Leon DBD was a guest character but was, in fact, Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil). My friend is a cishet guy, but he does like Leon a lot and is delighted by how the internet won't stop thirsting for him. Conversations indulging that apparently he had more of an interest in Resident Evil than I ever knew about have infected me with a blorbo-in-law infection, so I am at least vaguely considering laying RE2 and RE4 remake eventually for Leon. The thing I bought today on the Steam sale is a bundle of the two earlier remake games, so I may or may not install RE3 and play it too if I get into it. I'm a little worried that it'll be too hard or fussy for me to play, since I'm not a very skilled gamer, but I am... compelled.

I also have just been picking through the AO3 tag.

And finally, I went to see Wicked: For Good in the theater yesterday since it is finally in Japanese theaters.

I enjoyed it a lot and cried during the titular song a fair bit. I actually am surprised at how there were things about the story I didn't actually know without having seen it performed even though I knew the original Broadway soundtrack since my teens by being a teen sometimes-theater / lefty / queer kid.

tw: mention of eating disorders -- I know that during the press tour I would see all these pictures of Ariana and Cynthia and saw a lot of concern about how thin they both are and how this felt kind of like a weird symptom of American conservative and fascist leanings in the zeitgeist. I still don't know what to say about that. However, I will say that after actually watching it that one of the new, original songs for the movie, "No Place Like Home" felt pleasantly political, especially when listening back after the movie without the dialogue and context dispersed in.



Also, I am usually an Elphaba type even though I like the character relationships a lot. I get most excited when Elphaba is the lead in any scene for the character, the vibe, and the fact that her vocal part is easier for me to follow, but I feel like Ariana really surprised me with how well she did in this particular scene. It's haunting me.



Though it is, I admit, the tiniest bit unlike I anticipated / But I couldn't be happier, simply couldn't be happier / Well, not simply, 'cause getting your dreams / It's strange, but it seems a little, well... complicated / There's a kind of a sort of cost / There's a couple of things get lost / There are bridges you cross / You didn't know you crossed until you crossed / And if that joy, that thrill / Doesn't thrill like you think it will / Still, with this perfect finale / The cheers and the bally-hoo / Who wouldn't be happier? / So, I couldn't be happier / Because happy is what happens / When all your dreams come true

Kills me.

I also adore how Fiyero obviously cares about Glinda to the point that "of course he would marry her if it makes her happy" even though he's miserable without their third and really just wants both of them to run away and go find their missing girlfriend. Thropple canon in my heart.

I also watched the first episode of Frieren yesterday. Best friend asked me to. I really liked it.

I wish there were more energy and hours in the day for my various enthusiasms.

Philosophical Questions: Marriage

Mar. 21st, 2026 12:30 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

Does marriage as an institution need to be updated or is it fine how it is?

Read more... )

MV fic: Daydreaming of Paradise

Mar. 20th, 2026 11:54 pm
mxcatmoon: Sonny Rico hug (MV 06)
[personal profile] mxcatmoon
Written for the prompt, Daydreaming, at [community profile] fandomweekly 
Title: Daydreaming of Paradise
Fandom: Miami Vice (TV)
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Word Count: 676
Summary: When the daily grind of being a Miami Vice cop gets to be too much, Sonny escapes in his mind. Sometimes, though, the mind can be a tricky thing when one is half asleep…
Notes: Fluff, just pure (slightly spicy) fluff. And I was lucky enough to have been a repeat visitor to the location mentioned in this fic, back in the 1980s. It was paradise.

Daydreaming of Paradise )

Follow Friday 3-20-26: Magic

Mar. 20th, 2026 09:16 pm
ysabetwordsmith: A blue sheep holding a quill dreams of Dreamwidth (Dreamsheep)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today's theme is Magic.

Read more... )

Worldbuilding Ex 2026

Mar. 20th, 2026 09:24 pm
desertvixen: (Default)
[personal profile] desertvixen
Under consruction

Friday Five

Mar. 20th, 2026 05:36 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
These questions come from [community profile] thefridayfive.

Read more... )
midnight_heavenly_bodies: (jon001)
[personal profile] midnight_heavenly_bodies
[Cross-posted to Pillowfort.]

I've been a Culture Club fan for over 22 years. I was 13 years old when my uncle handed me a CD and my entire understanding of what music could be changed forever. I never recovered. I didn't want to.

In those 22 years, I've become something of an unofficial historian -- maintaining a website, building an archive of magazine clippings and rare photographs, and spending more hours than I can count piecing together the full and complicated truth of this band. And the one thing I've learned above everything else is this:

Most people don't know the half of it.

They know Karma Chameleon. They know the makeup. They might know about the drugs. But the real story of Culture Club -- the love, the heartbreak, the survival, the people who held it all together behind the scenes -- that story deserves to be told properly.

So let me tell it.

Read more... )

Busy Week

Mar. 20th, 2026 11:38 pm
thatzeta: (tired doggo)
[personal profile] thatzeta

Some weeks are somehow busier than others, even though technically, not much happens and work isn't really "more", either. This week is one such week. It feels like I have no spare time to focus on anything, even though I have plenty of time. I got up daily around 8 am, I started all my shifts late (2pm and later, leaving 1:30pm and later) and I even got home early, thanks to my new eScooter (not relying on the bus anymore, yay!). And yet... somehow it's always suddenly 12pm and I need to get ready for work or it's 11pm and I need to get ready for bed. 

Like it's sort of all passing me by while I'm not really actively participating or doing anything? Maybe it's cycle related, or maybe it's just a sign of me being tired (from my usual sleep issues). 

I don't really now how to address it either, because I'm unsure what the actual cause is. I just hope it stops soon and I can be more... "in the moment" again.

(no subject)

Mar. 20th, 2026 03:23 pm
southernmedicine: (chair)
[personal profile] southernmedicine
Life is pretty chill, for the most part.

Blair was hit hard with the flu and is way behind in almost everything. She graduates in May and is looking down the barrel of having to find a career in her field, though that's looking to be quite difficult these days (national parks and whatnot are being defunded, after all).

I need to do my taxes. I've been doing everything BUT.

Mostly between the two of us, we've been working, sleeping, and cuddling on the sofa watching youtube. It's a listless time, as the season changes over. We got a LOT of snow this last weekend, so much so that my work was closed down on Monday. Keeping things tidy, running errands, and trying to keep up with my shows. I'm not a very interesting person these days, haha.

We've got a small local convention we're going to, the weekend of May 1st, so we're going to have to get our cosplays out and clean and patched up if anything needs patching. We're concerned about Blair's, because, well. Since starting T, she has gotten quite buff, and there's a very good chance that parts of her costume won't fit now. We're also futzing with our hair, because neither of us are much interested in continuing to use wigs when we don't have to. Los Angeles Comic Con also FINALLY dropped their dates for this year, and I've submitted my time off request. It's going to be over Halloween weekend this year, which should be interesting. And a lot of fun.

Trying to finish this week's episode of The Pitt before I gotta get ready to go to Blair's mom's birthday dinner.

FAKE Fic: Looking On The Bright Side

Mar. 20th, 2026 06:54 pm
badly_knitted: (Dee & Ryo black & white)
[personal profile] badly_knitted
 


Title: Looking On The Bright Side
Fandom: FAKE
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: JJ, Dee, Drake.
Rating: PG
Setting: Throughout the manga and Like Like Love.
Summary: JJ has always been an optimist. Even when things fail to go his way, it doesn’t keep him down for long.
Word Count: 1517
Written For: Theme Prompt: 229 – Optimism at 
[community profile] fandomweekly.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
 


 
 

Ficlet: Too Much Blood

Mar. 20th, 2026 06:45 pm
badly_knitted: (Sad Jack)
[personal profile] badly_knitted
 


Title: Too Much Blood
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Owen.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 670
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Ianto is injured and bleeding, and Jack is worried.
Written For: The prompt ‘any, any, blood’, at 
[community profile] threesentenceficathon.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.
 
 


Birdfeeding

Mar. 20th, 2026 01:03 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is mostly sunny and quite warm. It's already 78°F outside. 0_o

I fed the birds. I've only seen a few sparrows and house finches, but lots of birds are singing all around the yard. I suspect they're more interested in foraging.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I sowed 3 troughs with 'Sugar Ann' snap peas and 3 with 'Avalanche' snow peas. I put 2 peas in each end of a trough, leaving the middle open to plant other things. That makes 24 pea plants. These are bush types and did well last year.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I sowed one trough with 'Lovely Lettuce Mesclun Blend' and one with 'Thumbelina Baby Ball' carrots. I plan to sow more of those 2 weeks later.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I trimmed a few spray bits of brush in the parking lot, and followed up with weed spray. My partner Doug is trying to find someone to come install a load of gravel.

A large flock of several dozen blackbirds has gathered high in the trees.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I watered the six troughs on the benches of the new picnic table garden.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I used the last partial bag of compost & manure to spread a little over the eight big pots atop the new picnic table garden. So I'm out of that and nearly out of the American Countryside potting mix.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I put topsoil in four of the big pots atop the new picnic table. They're not completely full yet; there's room to add a bit of potting soil.

EDIT 3/20/26 -- I put topsoil in the other four of the big pots. I still have a partial bag left.

I am done for the night.

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