ysabetwordsmith (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-05 12:53 am
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-05 12:53 am
Entry tags:
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 11:42 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 11:42 pmEntry tags:
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 11:07 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 11:07 pmPoem: "The Universal Assent to the World"
This poem is spillover from the November 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from readera. It also fills the "The deeds of ordinary folks keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." square in my 11-1-25 card for the Fairy Tales and Fantasy Stories Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Officer Pink thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
( Read more... )
readera. It also fills the "The deeds of ordinary folks keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." square in my 11-1-25 card for the Fairy Tales and Fantasy Stories Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Officer Pink thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.( Read more... )
Socchan (soc_puppet) wrote2026-01-04 11:06 pm
soc_puppet) wrote2026-01-04 11:06 pm
Entry tags:
Current events (politics)
As bad as Trump's first term was, this one is just... so unspeakably worse.
A part of me wants to dwell on placing blame, on shouting at every leftist and so-called progressive who refused to vote for Harris. But that's not useful right now.
How I feel those who refused to vote for Harris is immaterial, as is how they feel about their own votes (or lack thereof). I hope instead that they have learned their lesson, as some of them actually may not have even after 2016.
More than that, I hope that there will still be a chance for them learning their lesson to be useful.
Enough of this for now; I need to go digging for some hope.
A part of me wants to dwell on placing blame, on shouting at every leftist and so-called progressive who refused to vote for Harris. But that's not useful right now.
How I feel those who refused to vote for Harris is immaterial, as is how they feel about their own votes (or lack thereof). I hope instead that they have learned their lesson, as some of them actually may not have even after 2016.
More than that, I hope that there will still be a chance for them learning their lesson to be useful.
Enough of this for now; I need to go digging for some hope.
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 09:47 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 09:47 pmEntry tags:
Poem: "A Heaviness of Heart"
This poem is spillover from the September 2023 ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by prompts from curiosity. It also fills the "Family" square in my 9-1-23 card for the Story Sparks Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Aquariana, Cuoio & Chiara, and Marionettes threads of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "Help Others to Grow Up" and "The Sound of Anguish," so read those first or this won't make much sense.
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics with emotional mayhem. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes traumatic loss, traumatic stress, emotional agony, supporting character death, a crying man, an inept messenger, upset baby super-intellect, moment of panic, reference to past losses, unfairness, feeling unfinished, worry about a friend, exhaustion, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before deciding if this is something you want to read.
( Read more... )
crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by prompts from curiosity. It also fills the "Family" square in my 9-1-23 card for the Story Sparks Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Aquariana, Cuoio & Chiara, and Marionettes threads of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "Help Others to Grow Up" and "The Sound of Anguish," so read those first or this won't make much sense.Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics with emotional mayhem. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes traumatic loss, traumatic stress, emotional agony, supporting character death, a crying man, an inept messenger, upset baby super-intellect, moment of panic, reference to past losses, unfairness, feeling unfinished, worry about a friend, exhaustion, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before deciding if this is something you want to read.
( Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 09:04 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 09:04 pm
Photos: Sunset
Tonight I happened to glance out the window and spotted a colorful sunset. So I grabbed my camera and ran outside to take pictures. This gets me started on my goal of taking and posting photos at least once per season. \o/
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 06:21 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 06:21 pmEntry tags:
News
Top 10 Positive News Stories of 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re pausing to celebrate something truly special—the Top 10 Most-Loved Stories of the Year, as chosen by you, our Stay Positive News community.
These are the stories you clicked, shared, commented on, and carried with you. Stories that reminded us that even on hard days, goodness shows up—sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly, but always with heart.
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re pausing to celebrate something truly special—the Top 10 Most-Loved Stories of the Year, as chosen by you, our Stay Positive News community.
These are the stories you clicked, shared, commented on, and carried with you. Stories that reminded us that even on hard days, goodness shows up—sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly, but always with heart.
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 05:06 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 05:06 pmEntry tags:
How to Comfort the Dying in an Emergency
Under the character notes for my poem "Help Others to Grow Up," greghousesgf has commented:
I remember seeing a poster in the Bart trains (local mass transit) talking about what to do in an emergency and one of the instructions was "comfort the dying". Frankly I don't know how some random person on the train who isn't a professional psychologist or something would be able to do that. I certainly wouldn't.
Nobody is obligated to help if they're no kind of first responder, which in this case to comfort the dying, would primarily be clergy. Remember that "Stay out of the way" is always a legitimate role in an emergency, and nobody has the right to criticize anyone for choosing that role. If the problem is simply a lack of knowing what to do, though, that is straightforward to fix by learning ways to help. It's good to think about such things in advance, because you never know when you might need to make that decision. Here are some basic ideas...
( Read more... )
greghousesgf has commented:I remember seeing a poster in the Bart trains (local mass transit) talking about what to do in an emergency and one of the instructions was "comfort the dying". Frankly I don't know how some random person on the train who isn't a professional psychologist or something would be able to do that. I certainly wouldn't.
Nobody is obligated to help if they're no kind of first responder, which in this case to comfort the dying, would primarily be clergy. Remember that "Stay out of the way" is always a legitimate role in an emergency, and nobody has the right to criticize anyone for choosing that role. If the problem is simply a lack of knowing what to do, though, that is straightforward to fix by learning ways to help. It's good to think about such things in advance, because you never know when you might need to make that decision. Here are some basic ideas...
( Read more... )
michelel72 (michelel72) wrote in fancake2026-01-04 06:10 pm
michelel72) wrote in fancake2026-01-04 06:10 pmBatman: Journey to the Center of the Multiverse by AddictedApple
Fandom: Batman
Pairings/Characters: Kyle Rayner/Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Everyone
Rating: Teen
Length: 90k words
Creator Links: AddictedApple at AO3
Theme: crack treated seriously
Summary: Jason Todd discovers that he can travel through the multiverse (on top of his usual weirdness, ie, immortality) and chaos ensues.
Reccer's Notes: I recently fell hard into the Batman fanfic space, and this story bowled me right over. It takes Jason's canon resurrection (and the bizarre canon explanation for it), then posits a slow growth of powers from there -- from a recurring inability to stay dead, through the ability to skip universes, and beyond. All the canon reboots become a part of the story, and the pairing is a hilarious portrait of two guys being oblivious. Each chapter's notes contain extensive canon citations, which adds another level of awesomeness. Great fun and very affecting.
[Edited to add] Content note: The starting author notes include, "I will now put a blanket trigger warning for everything that happens in DC canon." That should be taken very seriously; the cited DC canon gets dark, and many abusive canon events are included in this story.
Fanwork Links: Journey to the Center of the Multiverse
Pairings/Characters: Kyle Rayner/Jason Todd, Jason Todd & Everyone
Rating: Teen
Length: 90k words
Creator Links: AddictedApple at AO3
Theme: crack treated seriously
Summary: Jason Todd discovers that he can travel through the multiverse (on top of his usual weirdness, ie, immortality) and chaos ensues.
Reccer's Notes: I recently fell hard into the Batman fanfic space, and this story bowled me right over. It takes Jason's canon resurrection (and the bizarre canon explanation for it), then posits a slow growth of powers from there -- from a recurring inability to stay dead, through the ability to skip universes, and beyond. All the canon reboots become a part of the story, and the pairing is a hilarious portrait of two guys being oblivious. Each chapter's notes contain extensive canon citations, which adds another level of awesomeness. Great fun and very affecting.
[Edited to add] Content note: The starting author notes include, "I will now put a blanket trigger warning for everything that happens in DC canon." That should be taken very seriously; the cited DC canon gets dark, and many abusive canon events are included in this story.
Fanwork Links: Journey to the Center of the Multiverse
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 03:03 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 03:03 pmEarly Humans
This ancient fossil could rewrite the story of human origins
A seven-million-year-old fossil may rewrite human origins, showing our ancestors were walking upright far earlier than anyone expected.
Scientists may have cracked the case of whether a seven-million-year-old fossil could walk upright. A new study found strong anatomical evidence that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal, including a ligament attachment seen only in human ancestors. Despite its ape-like appearance and small brain, its leg and hip structure suggest it moved confidently on two legs. The finding places bipedalism near the very root of the human family tree.
This makes sense given how many primates are capable of walking on two legs and do so whenever it offers them an advantage. With the potential already there, all it would take is an environment where bipedalism worked better than other methods -- like Africa's growing savannas.
A seven-million-year-old fossil may rewrite human origins, showing our ancestors were walking upright far earlier than anyone expected.
Scientists may have cracked the case of whether a seven-million-year-old fossil could walk upright. A new study found strong anatomical evidence that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal, including a ligament attachment seen only in human ancestors. Despite its ape-like appearance and small brain, its leg and hip structure suggest it moved confidently on two legs. The finding places bipedalism near the very root of the human family tree.
This makes sense given how many primates are capable of walking on two legs and do so whenever it offers them an advantage. With the potential already there, all it would take is an environment where bipedalism worked better than other methods -- like Africa's growing savannas.
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 02:32 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 02:32 pmBirdfeeding
Today is mostly cloudy and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows and a starling.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- We did a round of fridge-cleaning.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I started raking around the firepit, and got about a quarter of the way around. The plastic leaf rake does slightly better with leaves than in the parking lot with leaves and sticks, but still not as good as a metal rake.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I spotted the tail end of a very pretty sunset, so I grabbed my camera and shot a few pictures. :D It is 4:58 now and nearly dark.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows and a starling.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- We did a round of fridge-cleaning.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I started raking around the firepit, and got about a quarter of the way around. The plastic leaf rake does slightly better with leaves than in the parking lot with leaves and sticks, but still not as good as a metal rake.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 1/4/26 -- I spotted the tail end of a very pretty sunset, so I grabbed my camera and shot a few pictures. :D It is 4:58 now and nearly dark.
I am done for the night.
sashene (sasheneskywalker) wrote in fancake2026-01-04 03:39 pm
sasheneskywalker) wrote in fancake2026-01-04 03:39 pmBungou Stray Dogs: everyone has a social media addiction by valleykey
Fandom: Bungou Stray Dogs
Pairings/Characters: Fyodor Dostoyevsky & Nikolai Gogol & Sigma, Armed Detective Agency Ensemble & Sigma, Decay of Angels Ensemble & Decay of Angels Ensemble, Dazai Osamu & Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Minor Fyodor Dostoyevsky/Nikolai Gogol, Minor or Background Relationship(s)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Length: 18,403
Creator Links:![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
valleykey
Theme: crack treated seriously, au - modern, social media, pov outsider, trans & non-binary characters
Summary: “Yeah I don’t really use much social media besides LinkedIn,” Sigma says sheepishly. “I post way too much on that app. Of course I have mutuals I like, but...”
A sudden silence.
“What?” Says Atsushi. At the same time that Dazai says, “Mutuals?”
Sigma frowns. “I...post on LinkedIn? What? It's a social media app. Of course I post? And have mutuals?”
/// the one where Sigma has 1.2 million followers on LinkedIn.
Reccer's Notes: An amazing fic that combines modern AU, social media, and crack treated seriously, with thoughtful explorations of characters and relationships that stay true to their canon selves. It’s engaging and will definitely make you laugh <3
Fanwork Links: everyone has a social media addiction
Pairings/Characters: Fyodor Dostoyevsky & Nikolai Gogol & Sigma, Armed Detective Agency Ensemble & Sigma, Decay of Angels Ensemble & Decay of Angels Ensemble, Dazai Osamu & Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Minor Fyodor Dostoyevsky/Nikolai Gogol, Minor or Background Relationship(s)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Length: 18,403
Creator Links:
Theme: crack treated seriously, au - modern, social media, pov outsider, trans & non-binary characters
Summary: “Yeah I don’t really use much social media besides LinkedIn,” Sigma says sheepishly. “I post way too much on that app. Of course I have mutuals I like, but...”
A sudden silence.
“What?” Says Atsushi. At the same time that Dazai says, “Mutuals?”
Sigma frowns. “I...post on LinkedIn? What? It's a social media app. Of course I post? And have mutuals?”
/// the one where Sigma has 1.2 million followers on LinkedIn.
Reccer's Notes: An amazing fic that combines modern AU, social media, and crack treated seriously, with thoughtful explorations of characters and relationships that stay true to their canon selves. It’s engaging and will definitely make you laugh <3
Fanwork Links: everyone has a social media addiction
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 03:32 am
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 03:32 amEntry tags:
Poem: "The Sound of Anguish"
This poem is spillover from the September 2023 crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by prompts from curiosity. It also fills the "Rescue / Recovery" square in my 9-1-23 card for the Story Sparks Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Aquariana, Cuoio & Chiara, and Marionettes threads of the Polychrome Heroics series, and follows "Help Others to Grow Up."
Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics with emotional mayhem. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes traumatic loss, traumatic stress, supporting character death, a crying man, an inept messenger, reference to past losses, upset baby super-intellect, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before deciding if this is something you want to read.
( Read more... )
crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by prompts from curiosity. It also fills the "Rescue / Recovery" square in my 9-1-23 card for the Story Sparks Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Aquariana, Cuoio & Chiara, and Marionettes threads of the Polychrome Heroics series, and follows "Help Others to Grow Up."Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics with emotional mayhem. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes traumatic loss, traumatic stress, supporting character death, a crying man, an inept messenger, reference to past losses, upset baby super-intellect, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before deciding if this is something you want to read.
( Read more... )
flo_nelja (flo_nelja) wrote2026-01-04 10:55 am
flo_nelja) wrote2026-01-04 10:55 amEntry tags:
Snowflake challenge, day 2
Pets of Fandom
Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!
I don't have any pets, so you get a top 5 of some of my fave fandom pets!
1) Mogget (Sabriel). It's a cat who will give you occasional advice, who is very much, probably, an Eldritch horror, but who also very much acts like a cat, I'm deeply in love with him.
2) Old Lace (Runaways). Because "I have no super-powers but also my pet is a Deinonychus" is an incredible concept :D
3) Rio (Arcane). Wasn't a pet, was a subject of experiments, but should have been. If I can list non-canon ships in my ship lists, I can list non-canon pets.
I made a plushie of her!
4) Tetto (Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa). Just for superficial reasons, I love the design of pets that aren't species that actually exist, and it has one of the cutest I have seen.
5) Argos (The Odyssey). His death scene has made people cry for millenia. I'm just one of the people in a very long line.
You know I was heroic and didn't talk about petplay at all
Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!
I don't have any pets, so you get a top 5 of some of my fave fandom pets!
1) Mogget (Sabriel). It's a cat who will give you occasional advice, who is very much, probably, an Eldritch horror, but who also very much acts like a cat, I'm deeply in love with him.
2) Old Lace (Runaways). Because "I have no super-powers but also my pet is a Deinonychus" is an incredible concept :D
3) Rio (Arcane). Wasn't a pet, was a subject of experiments, but should have been. If I can list non-canon ships in my ship lists, I can list non-canon pets.
I made a plushie of her!
4) Tetto (Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa). Just for superficial reasons, I love the design of pets that aren't species that actually exist, and it has one of the cutest I have seen.
5) Argos (The Odyssey). His death scene has made people cry for millenia. I'm just one of the people in a very long line.
You know I was heroic and didn't talk about petplay at all
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 02:35 am
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-04 02:35 amEntry tags:
Politics
So today, America's craziness reached a new frenzy...
What’s Happening in Venezuela? Start Here
US forces struck multiple military and civilian targets in Caracas and nearby cities, and captured Maduro. Here’s what we know at this point.
Sovereign countries are not supposed to violate each other's borders or leadership, outside of properly declared war; and that's largely about defense because war of aggression is also forbidden at this time. But people have largely quite caring about those rules, which is a growing problem.
( Read more... )
What’s Happening in Venezuela? Start Here
US forces struck multiple military and civilian targets in Caracas and nearby cities, and captured Maduro. Here’s what we know at this point.
Sovereign countries are not supposed to violate each other's borders or leadership, outside of properly declared war; and that's largely about defense because war of aggression is also forbidden at this time. But people have largely quite caring about those rules, which is a growing problem.
( Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-03 11:46 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-03 11:46 pmEntry tags:
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-03 11:03 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-03 11:03 pmEntry tags:
ysabetwordsmith (ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-03 09:54 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2026-01-03 09:54 pmEntry tags:
Socchan (soc_puppet) wrote2026-01-03 07:49 pm
soc_puppet) wrote2026-01-03 07:49 pm
New Manga Humble Bundle
New manga bundle at Humble Bundle! It's for Lone Wolf and Cub and a bunch of other works by the same creative team. Full bundle for $18 (comes out to about twenty-nine cents a volume), supported charity is The Hero Initiative.