Reading

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

news,
science

Problem-Solving

New study backs up 'sleeping on it,' suggesting naps promote creative problem-solving

All groups improved in the dot-sorting test after their nap, but 85.7% of those who achieved the first deeper sleep phase — called N2 sleep — had the breakthrough.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

recurring posts

Hard Things

Life is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.

What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Whales

Killer whales attempt to feed people in first-ever sightings: 'Represents altruism'

Among their own whale circles, they have long shared their prey with one another, but in a new study, recorded over the course of the last two decades, wild orcas were spotted trying to share their food with human beings.

These wild whales, on 34 occasions, across four oceans, were documented approaching humans on their own, dropping a fresh kill in front of the people, and waiting for a response.

The polite thing to do is accept it, and if you have anything suitable, swap something back. Cetaceans love the hell out of human item drops. A sturdy beach toy should go over well. Treat this as a first-contact situation; be cautious but aware that you are dealing with a sophont of another species.

Current Mood: busy

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Moment of Silence: Jimmy Swaggart

Sinful televangelist Jimmy Swaggart has passed away.

... I just kinda want to pass Lucifer a big bag of popcorn and a big shaker of Mexican spice blend. He's gonna need it.

(no subject)

New computer is now up and running. I am just about finished moving in, I think.

I mentioned that because my current monitor is really old, an adaptor was necessary to deal with obsolete cables, but that Husband could just pick one up as click and collect and the whole process was only delayed by a few hours while waiting for the shop to open.

Turns out that wasn't the last of our problems! This old monitor was constructed in such a way that the sockets are in a little cavity on the back, probably so that there wouldn't be anything sticking out and looking unseemly or something. What nobody had foreseen, however, was that cable + adaptor was too tall for said cavity!

Creative solution: Having first determined to his satisfaction that all the electronic bits were elsewhere and the bottom edge of the cavity was indeed just plastic, Husband proceeded (with permission) to make a hole in it.

It was a nothing to lose situation, really. Alternative to it not working was to get a new monitor. Alternative to not trying was also get a new monitor. So you might as well try, right?

Result: Works fine and you can't see it.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

food,
recipe

Today's Smoothie

Today we made a smoothie with:

1 cup orange juice
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
1 banana
1/2 cup Great Value Mixed Fruit (pineapple, sliced strawberries, mango, peaches)
1/2 cup ice

The result is slightly thick, a pale peach color, with a nice orange-tropical flavor -- almost reminds me of a dreamsicle. It'd be good with some coconut; there's another tropical mix with that but it's not what we have at the moment.

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Withering Blossoms: A Hurt Kaoru Prompt Week

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Falling In Love: A Fall Themed Getting Together Exchange

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July Break Bingo 2025 - Final Days to Sign Up!

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Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison

July the First.

It was such a slow first day, midway through the afternoon, I was being paid to sit there and read. It won't be like that every day - not even other days this week - and even if it doesn't get repeated, I can savor having had it for a little while.

So far, it's a front desk job like all front desk jobs: phone calls, emails, appointments, office supplies. People called, I called them back. Documents were scanned into the computer and copies were made. The clients were largely punctual and there's no music playing. While I doubt I can get away with headphones or a radio, there's a fan I may use for white noise to make the periods of sitting around, waiting for more nothing to happen, a little easier to get through without having to fall back on monetary compensation. Even if I got through a large chunk of some reading today.

Though I suppose longhand writing notes are always an option. If I remember to bring the right notebooks tomorrow.

Entry tags:

joaquin torres. mcu. captain america: brave new world.

CANON: MCU. Captain America: Brave New World.
CHARACTERS: Joaquin Torres | The Falcon (Danny Ramirez).
ADDITIONAL INFO: 100 Icons
CREDIT TO:

inkonic

HERE @

inkonic

Post Delay Deadline Pinch Hits - Both in!

No need to claim, when a work is in that fits the requirements they will be removed from the pinch hit list.

All rules which are relevant for regular assignments also apply to pinch hits.Including the rule that the freeform must be indicated in some way

Work in! ~~PDPH 1 - Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021), Psych (TV 2006), Good Omens (TV), Supernatural (TV 2005), Hannibal (TV)~~

Work in! ~~PDPH 2 - NCIS: Los Angeles, Twin Peaks (TV 1990), Crossing Jordan, RoboCop (Movies 1987-1993)~~

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Beta Reader Call!

Hi friends! I’m looking for a beta reader (or two) to give feedback on my VERY rough completed first draft of a contemporary queer romance/WLW novel. It’s a heartwarming, emotional, and intimate story about two best friends who end up in a surprise Vegas marriage—only to discover they’re expecting a baby.

Genre: Contemporary WLW Romance / Queer Domestic Drama

Length: Approx. 60,629 words (I’m looking to get it up to 70k)

Content Tags: Accidental pregnancy, friends-to-lovers, secret marriage, queer rep, chosen family, birth scenes, emotional healing, moderate spice, single-parent backstory, hurt/comfort

CW: Pregnancy complications (non-fatal), difficult ex, fertility struggles (in epilogue)

Looking for feedback on:

Character development + emotional arcs
Pacing and structure
Believability of relationship progression
Any parts that felt confusing, repetitive, or lacking payoff
General impressions and reactions

Continuity

If you love messy love stories, slow burn emotional intimacy, and queer joy with a sprinkle of angst and domestic fluff, this one’s for you.

Note: I’m chronically ill and have been writing this story in pieces since 2022- some things may not make sense or line up due to my illnesses and how I’ve been writing (damn brain fog and forgetfulness). Continuity checking is important.

I cannot provide swap services at this time. I work and I’m in school on top of being ill.

I’m a sensitive person when it comes to my art. Offer me advice wrapped up in praise and not just harsh red pen all over my work.

Just drop a comment or DM me. Thanks in advance for your time and support!

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Fandom 50 May + June Roundup (7 Recs: Art, Gifsets, Fic)

Continuing with my goal to make fifty rec posts in my journal this year, here's a roundup from May and June.

( 3 x Our Flag Means Death Art (Izzy Hands/Edward Teach; Jim Jimenez; Izzy Hands/Roach) )

( 2 x Our Flag Means Death Gifsets/Edits (Frenchie/Izzy Hands) )

( 1 x Our Flag Means Death Fic (Stede Bonnet/Izzy Hands) )

( 1 x Severance Art (Harmony Cobel/Asal Reghabi) )

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Partners 4 Life Exchange

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Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

activism,
holiday

Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month.

These are some of my characters with disabilities. Series with disabled main characters include Clay of Life, the Draft Dawgs thread in Arts and Crafts America, Daughters of the Apocalypse, Frankenstein's Family, Monster House, The Moon Door, P.I.E., and Walking the Beat. Polychrome Heroics has a bunch, but they are scattered around various threads; some are ordinary disabilities while others relate to superpowers. You can ask for more disabled characters in any relevant prompt call. Today's Poetry Fishbowl theme is "Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance."

( Read more... )

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Sherlock Holmes: A lesson to live by RatTale

Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (tagged both Books and Granada)
Pairings/Characters: Holmes & Watson
Rating: T
Length: 2743 words
Creator Links: RatTale
Theme: working together

Summary: After a long day of seeing patients, Doctor Watson is on his way home when he gets pulled into an alleyway to help one more patient for the night.

Reccer's Notes: When Watson has an unexpected patient, in an unexpected place, Holmes gets roped into helping. They have to work together for the benefit of the patient. It's very nice to read a story where Watson is the competent medical professional and is the one in charge instead of Holmes.

Fanwork Links: AO3

Entry tags:

Fic: Waiting Up (Challengers OT3)

Title: Waiting Up
Pairing: Art/Tashi/Patrick, Art/Tashi
Rated: Explicit
Word Count: 2,611

Summary: Art wants to be cucked. When he finds out Patrick is going to be at the Atlanta Challenger, he tells Tashi about his fantasy.

A/N: Written for the

latetreatbonanza and bad sex bingo (Art comes too soon).

Fic on AO3

( Fic under here )

[ SECRET POST #6752 ]

⌈ Secret Post #6752 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

( More! )

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 20 secrets from Secret Submission Post #965.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Entry tags:

Kink Hub Theme of the Month: "Sex on the Beach"

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