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| Ok, is it just me being hyper critical or is this just bad writing?
"Eine knappe dreiviertel Stunde. Das letzte Stück, wo der Weg nicht mehr asphaltiert ist, ist im Moment etwas beschwerlich zu befahren, (...)" [page 28]
(...)
"Das Retreat liegt noch relativ weit unten am Berg, aber da keine alphaltierten Straßen bis dorthin führen, konnten wir keine normalen LKWs nutzen." [page 29]
It's one character repeating the same description, he is in fact saying the same thing twice. To the same person, in the span of one conversation, barely two sentences apart.
Isn't it the job of an editor to catch stuff like that? You can easily rewrite a description like "unpaved road" so the character isn't saying it twice. Or just get rid of the first description since it's unnecessary there.
This is Emily Rudolf "Die Auszeit" from 2024. I think the premise of the thriller is interesting but the writing isn't that great. Some of this characters sound like they are reading lines in a play ("Es geht nicht um die Farbe, Tori. Es ist der Ausdruck darin. So ehrlich und intensiv. Ich habe mich noch nie so gesehen gefühlt."). I like that we get POV switches and the chapters are super short but the "now" chapter of the person who is accused of murder is so cliched.
She somehow puts on her clothes in the total dark and vomits in the toilet without noticing that her clothes are specked with blood. It's only written that way to make her notices the blood after putting on her clothes and vomiting when common sense tells you that you would definitely turn on a light before doing any of those things. It's also impossible to vomit without noticing the clothes you are wearing.
Oh and then she finds an unconcious body by the beach and does cardiac massage before another person pulls her aways because it's a dead body. How do we know this? Well, POV character notices after the cardiac massage that the body has been stabbed multiple times. It's described as wide open, bloodless cuts in belly, neck and chest. Something you would notice before touching someone!! You can't do suspense for suspense's sake when you tell things out of order like that. Every person on planet earth would notice open neck wounds. | |
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| 1. Books* Currently reading on ebook: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt D - it's the first novel in the best-selling series. And if you've been in a book store of late? You've seen it. Or spent any time on Book Instagram. I'm reading it for free on Kindle Unlimited, and have a few books with a credit on Audible. ( vague spoilers )* On audio? I've finished The Vicky Bliss/John Smythe Mysteries - now I'm listening to The Camelot Caper,which introduces Smythe as a villain - and in a supporting role - takes place in Britain (obviously). It's his origin story more or less. And then Borrower of the Night - which introduces Vicky Bliss and her boss, Herr Dr. Schmidt. It takes place in Bavaria. These are kind of cozy murder mysteries? Many don't have murders - and are just thrilling comedic capers. The best are Trojan Gold and Night Train to Memphis. The order is Camelot Caper, Borrower of the Night, Street of the Five Moons, Silhouette in Scarlet, Night Train to Memphis, and Laughter of Dead Kings. The last two end up in Egypt. The very last one, is in Munich, London, Rome, Egypt, and Munich. They focus on art theft, and murders related to art theft, with a kind of cocky not incredibly adept self-deprecating and snarky female detective, and over-educated aristocratic international art thief/antiques dealer - who sounds like Lord Peter Whimsy. The heroine sounds like Kathleen Turner. (So much so that people think Kathleen Turner is reading the audiobook - she's not.) Quick, simple reads. For me? Comfort reads. Per Good Reads, the science-fiction/fantasy novelist Lois McMaster Bujold binge read them in 2018. (LOL!) I'm amused. She mentions she is pushing through them. ( more on Lois McMaster Bujold )*** 2. Entertainment Tidbits* They've cast quite a bit of the new X-men film slated for 2028. It's filming in 2027. So far the cast is "Jean Grey", "Cyclops", "Beast", "Rogue", "Emma Frost"...that's who have cast to date. But I know they are looking for a Charles Xavier, and are waiting for Black Panther III to cast Storm. Also, they intend on casting Nightcrawler and have been in talks with the female star of Obsession, potentially for Mystique. ( Read more... )* Robert Pattinson seems to playing a lot of villians in films of late, and doing a lot of A24 films, including Primetime. He's an underrated actor, who surprised me in the Drama. (I'm beginning to think Twilight was a director/script issue not an actor issue.) * They are doing a ... Broadway musical adaptation of Purple Rain, with all the original songs from the film version. Lin Manuel-Miranda is among the producers (because of course he is). 3. The difficulty with Book to Film Adaptations, and What makes a film adaptation good?Richard Brody of the New Yorker - writes What Makes an Adaptation Good?( excerpts )It's a good article written by a professional film critic who state rather aptly: "The recent release of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has turned just about every film critic in America into a classicist, and vice versa." *** Why knowing film history and Hollywood history, and how films are actually made is important in regards to critiquing them? ( excerpt - how films often vary from the source material, are rewritten during filming, film without a script, or have the script changed along with the director halfway through )"For filmmakers, the approach to a script (regardless of who wrote it or when) is akin to the approach to any literary classic: the situations and the characters are givens, and all that matters is one’s own interpretations, extrapolations, intuitions, and visions of them. ( Read more... )*** What makes a good adaptation anyhow? It's an interesting question that has resurfaced with all the discourse (or hubbub depending on your point of view) over The Odyssey film adaptation. It's certainly not the first nor will be the last discourse over a film adaptation. Mileage varies on it? And honestly, it depends on how much you love and revere the source material? Also, whether you read or remember it, and how clearly. Someone asked on one of the social media platforms : "Do you read the book before you see the movie or before the movie comes out?" (What if the book is an adaptation or novelization of the movie or television series? Then what?) ( my thoughts on this matter, if you are at all curious )And here's a novelist's take on adapations of his work - a novelist who has had just about every novel he ever wrote adapted: John Le Carre - on Adaptations of His Work( excerpt )I can't find his famous quote - which I remember reading in Time Magazine or Premiere - where he famously stated that he expected the adaptations to vary from his work, because they are someone else's interpretation of it. And he grew over time to be curious to see how they looked at it, and how they viewed it differently than he did, what they saw in it that he didn't and what he was able to communicate to them through it. At the end of the day - that's what we are doing with art whether it be in film form, theater, a painting, a song, a book or a poem - trying to communicate what is in our head and hearts to someone else, and hoping for some sort of connection, preferably a positive one. | |
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BUFFY: Tara's birthday. We're at a loss.
GILES: You're in a magic shop, and you can't think what Tara would like. I believe you're both profoundly stupid.
XANDER: Well, we don't really know ... the kind of things witches like. What, are we gonna get her some cheesy crystal ball?
GILES: Bloody well better not. I've got mine already wrapped.
~~Family~~
The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
[Chaptered Fiction]
- You Make Slaying Fun, Chapter 47 by cosplayermadness (Buffy/Spike, E)
- Stake Me Baby One More Time, Chapter 25 by Moonlit_Illusion (Buffy/Faith, M)
- I’m A Slayer (And That’s Okay!), Chapter 36 by RKWesley (OC Slayer, T)
- Rounding the Bases: Chapter 28 by VladimirHarkonnen (TheLightdancer) (Willow/Tara, E)
- The Shape of Absence, Chapter 59 by DoctorDeath231098 (Angel/OCs, E)
- Bound Not in Blood, Chapter 8 by nothingeverlost (Buffy/Giles, E)
- The Friends I Left That Parting Day, How They Have Changed, How Time Has Sped: Chapter 6 (complete!) by TheLightdancer (Willow/Tara, Buffy/Spike, E)
- Not Closed, Chapter 7 by MPRose (Buffy/Spike, T)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 8, Chapter 5 by Myrige (Buffy/Spike, Willow/Oz, T)
- Sunnydale High: Lost Records, Chapter 3 by bloodsoakedblond (Xander/OC, M)
- Echoes of the Past, Chapter 6 by Rod (Oz, Supernatural and Merlin crossover, T)
- killer, Chapter 4 by innertimetraveldetective (Buffy/Faith, M)
- Model Partners, Chapter 7 by ChronixCreature (Buffy/Spike, M)
- Bloody Champions, Chapter 1 by SoundOfMoonshine (Spike/Dean Winchester, Spike/Angel, Supernatural crossover, E)
- Something Borrowed, Chapter 13 by Sparkles666 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
- Good boys stay, don't stray, Chapter 4 by zinjadu (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)
- Spike and the Slayer, Chapter 1 by Kazfox (Buffy/Spike, R)
- Immortal Kombat, Chapter 1 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
- Mile Markers and Blood Moons, Chapter 77 by JamesMFan (Buffy/Spike, R)
- serves you right, Chapter 19 by Nadia James (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)
- Soulless Conditions, Chapter 2 by MalloryMain (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
- Uncle Sam, Chapter 9 by tempestt (Buffy/Spike, PGF-13)
- Aphrodite Blossoms, Chapter 20 by Safire (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
- Die, Die My Darling, Chapter 5 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
- Indecent Proposal, Chapter 29 by rocker (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)
 
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| Just needed to vent where people would understand.....
One o the biggest Pains of having a long term Chronic Illness(one that's lasted more than a couple yrs) is what happens after you reach that point where you choose to either give up or decide how much Suffering you're willing to put up for things you consider worth while. In snide terms, you gird your loins, get a stiff upper lip and soldier through;>.
Unfortunately, the non-afflicted often assume you aren't as bad as you say you are because they're the types that take themselves to their deathbed when they catch a Cold and can't imagine others might be willing to put up with a lot of misery to do things that make life worth sticking around.
Family can be a big pain about it. When we moved closer to family my brother's wife asked my Partner if I "reeeeaaaalllly" was that ill.
That was a quarter century ago. Things unsurprisingly have not got "Better".
This week I made myself go out to my garden. Within a few minutes my family was outside asking if I wanted to take a 3hr car ride to spend 2 hrs at a show over at Dollywood. I told them I wasn't up to it and, as usual they gave the impression I was just being antisocial. Truth is I never was a big fan of crowds and esp once I was walker bound it hasn't got better. That said, I've gone when I've had good periods and have enjoyed myself there. It's presently not "Good" and just because it's not bad enough to be bedridden it doesn't mean that Im
fine.
I know it's not a big thing compared to the other stuff I and the others on this group go through but sometimes the little pains make the Big Ones WORSE.
Cheers,
Pat(who discovered Horn Worms on his Tomato this morning. It's always something;>!) - Location:Lenoir City(Nevermore;>!)
- Mood:grumpy
 - Music:Spiral Dance Radio
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| I agree that Ted Lasso had some writing and pacing issues in the 3rd (and even a little in the 2nd) season, after a really good 1st season, but I also love the characters and was all in on a pivot to the women's team when the subject first came up, so I am exactly the person season 4 is made for. So, season 4, episode 1: ( spoilers )I also watched the most recent season of GBBO and I enjoyed it, though it felt like the winner was a foregone conclusion early on, because despite what occasionally felt like special treatment for Tom (am I crazy or did he get through with some things that would have sent other people home a couple times? That black cheesecake was gross! It did not look appetizing AT ALL. And then the big chocolate beehive when he should have been focusing on his macarons! Also, I did not approve of how they sent Lesley home - I was rooting for her though I knew she wasn't going to win), it was clearly Jasmine's season from start to finish. She never did anything really adventurous but almost everything she made looked beautiful and apparently tasted great. They were a decent group of contestants - there was no one I found irritating, but I did wish that Iain and Toby had better hair. *hands* I am looking forward to Nigella as a judge in the upcoming season (I don't really like Prue all that much), though I've seen rumors that she and Paul don't get along and it's causing tension on the show, which is concerning. * | |
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| Xander: So you just went home?
Buffy: What was I supposed to do? Say to Owen, 'Sorry I was late, I was sitting in a cemetery with the librarian waiting for a vampire to rise so I could prevent an evil prophecy from coming to pass?'
Xander: (weighs options with his hands) Or flat tire?
Buffy: (starts walking) I can't take this anymore. I feel like everyone is staring at me, the big, hideous, dateless monster. (to a passing student) What? Yeah, that's right, I have no life, c'mon, nothin' to see here, pal, move it along!
~~Never Kill a Boy on the First Date~~
The Sunnydale Herald is looking for a new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more.
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
[Chaptered Fiction]
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- Downvoted, Ch 25 (Warren/Andrew, E) by Mishafer
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| This is a prayer for Lughnasadh. This is a prayer for the Resistance. Lughnasadh is a fire festival, the first harvest, the beginning of our look towards the dark. Lughnasadh is the time of plenty, the time to gather in, the time to store what we have. Lughnasadh is a prayer for the Resistance.
This is a prayer for hopeful people who plant saved seeds in the chilly ground, in the February dark, charging the seeds and calling Ceres — people who want a clean harvest. This is a prayer for the Resistance.
This is a prayer for mothers bearing children, poets birthing poems, engineers who see how to strengthen a bridge. This is a prayer for the Resistance.
Lughnasadh is a fire festival, the first harvest, the beginning of our look towards the dark. Lughnasadh is the time of plenty, the time to gather in, the time to store what we have. Lughnasadh is a prayer for the Resistance.
This is a prayer for the scholar in her garret, making the cleanest translation, for the teacher setting off sparks, for the whistleblower who takes the risk. This is a prayer for the Resistance.
This is a prayer for the farmer who grows an extra row for the food bank, for the activist in plastic handcuffs, for the nurse who ignores the insurance company’s orders. This is a prayer for the Resistance.
Lughnasadh is a fire festival, the first harvest, the beginning of our look towards the dark. Lughnasadh is the time of plenty, the time to gather in, the time to store what we have. Lughnasadh is a prayer for the Resistance.
This is a prayer for the coder who fends off the hack, for the politician who doesn’t take the bribe, for the paper ballot. This is a prayer for the Resistance.
This is a prayer for phone bankers, demonstrators, people with signs in their yard. This is a prayer for early voters, people who call Senators, door-to-door canvasers. This is a prayer for the Resistance.
Lughnasadh is a fire festival, the first harvest, the beginning of our look towards the dark. Lughnasadh is the time of plenty, the time to gather in, the time to store what we have. Lughnasadh is a prayer for the Resistance.
And, of course, this is a prayer for yarrow and Black-Eyed Susan, for summer squash and basil, for peaches and corn, for fat blackberries and seedy dill. This is a prayer for Resistance, because Lughnasadh is a festival of Resistance.
Lughnasadh is a fire festival, the first harvest, the beginning of our look towards the dark. Lughnasadh is the time of plenty, the time to gather in, the time to store what we have. Lughnasadh is a prayer for the Resistance.
Lughnasadh is how our ancestors said that they would resist winter. They would have less now, but they would store up what they did have against the long, dark nights when tummies rumbled, illness went untreated for lack of herbs, old people died from the cold. And our ancestors said, “No.” Lughnasadh was a fire festival, the first harvest, the beginning of their look towards the dark. Lughnasadh was the time of plenty, the time to gather in, the time to store what they had.
Lughnasadh has always been a prayer for the Resistance.
I am praying it now. Will you pray it with me?
-- by Hecate Demeter | |
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| A co-worker once had a sign on her cubicle which stated "bang your head here". There are days I'd like to replicate that sign. Today, alas was among them. I'll do the what I've been reading lately meme tomorrow. *** Boredom and mounting frustration at work - resulted in taking work training modules (on sexual and domestic violence, and workplace violence) and sigh, reading Emily Wilson scathing and highly subjective rant review of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which can be found HERE. I read it, because I got curious - when a few folks on Threads argued that she referenced various film adaptations. (I wanted to see what she thought of the Kirk Douglas version called Ulysses. Suffice it to say? I was disappointed. The only film reference is The Return. Every other adaptation is a novel version, which needless to say - is not quite the same thing as a film adaptation?) I've read better "written" film reviews on social media platforms. John Scalzi who is a professional film critic writes better reviews. What does she do wrong? She spoils the movie. She literally states all the things he does in detail, and how it contrasts with her work. It's a very subjective review, most are, but the professional film reviews tend to be less so, and far more educational. Why do I care? (I don't about the Odyssey, but I do about film criticism. I love film criticism. I love reading film reviews. I used to subscribe to Film Comment, Premiere, and Entertain Weekly - just for the film reviews. I actually have written them myself. And I get annoyed when people who are so-called professionals and paid to do it and get published, don't do it well. You can rant all you want on substack or on your blog, but not in the London Review of Books. And if you are? At least do it well and not with a grudge and an agenda to further yourself.) ( excerpt )Anyhow, below is a better "critical" reviews of the same work by a lesser known scholar who provides a far more insightful and objective review of the same work (without feeling the need to promote her own work in the process)- which show you how to write a good film review, that's not a rant. When you rant about a film or book or what have you - you lose the reader halfway through. They learn more about you - than what you are ranting about. The last critic is an Associate Professor of Ancient Greek Studies - and a Classicist who does a critical review properly. * Odyssey Big on Suffering and Grotesque, Short on Cunning and Women( excerpt )See how the second reviewer couches her words in such a way to be more insightful and less inciting. How she examines the film on its merits and whether it accomplishes Nolan's aims, while at the same time not quite getting fully there? Now let's look at a professional film critic's review? Justin Chang's review of The Odyssey for NPRThis reviewer looks at the film from the perspective of whether the director accomplished his aims in the film, not from the somewhat nerdish academic perspective of whether he accomplished Homer's aim in writing the poem. The difficulty with critiquing film through the lens of your own political agenda, is you often lose the filmmaker's aim. Both the classics professors critique it through a decidedly feminist lens. (The Odyssey is not feminist, and I don't think of the ancient greeks as feminist.) Nor is Nolan necessarily - he's a White Man, so...and yes there are feminist interpretations being made as we speak, so fear not, you'll get a feminist interpretation at some point. The closest we had on film might be The Return and this one, which alas, says more about us as a culture, than we may want to think about? But that's another discussion. Here's New York Times - The Odyssey Review by Professional Film Critic - it's under a paywall and by a female film critic. "After watching “The Odyssey” again, I flashed on something that Martin Scorsese once said about another film: “The emotion is the emulsion.” Nolan’s gifts are excessively obvious, and even when his characters don’t stir you, his filmmaking does. Among other qualities, he doesn’t know how to make an ugly image and this one is filled with rapturous beauty. Nolan employs beauty strategically, using it to seduce viewers into stories that can seem needlessly byzantine to some — especially by impoverished mainstream industry standards — more the provenance of the art house than the multiplex. Nolan asks us to dream bigger. His “Odyssey” is a classic in every sense, a transporting affirmation of the art and a work of pure cinema. " And Reddit provides a rundown of film review excerpts from "professional film critics": Reddit Thread*** Why I was taking training modules on gender-based and domestic violence and workplace violence at work? I work for a New York State Government Agency, and it's mandated by the Governor for all agency employees. (At least I got paid for it.) I've taken them before? They used to be better, but alas they chose to redo and update them with AI, so now they are kind of boring? I went to sleep during the workplace violence one (in my defense, I only had 4 hours of sleep and slept poorly the night before). All they did was read a bunch of rules and regulations. The second one was a bit more interactive, with a fake person talking. It wasn't designed for me - but for managers and supervisors who have to deal with employees suffering from domestic violence and sexual violence. To say these were depressing is a gross understatement? Particularly the second one. Also, I was grateful that I was single (dodged a bullet there), not living with an asshole (definite dodge), and not been sexually assaulted (knock on wood). Also currently not associating with anyone who is dealing with all of this - in person. (I'd want to help them? And I know there's not a heck of a lot I can personally do about it.) Also made me a bit misanthropic? My work place has a tendency to inspire misanthropy on occasion. NY State is very proud of it's Domestic Violence/Gender Based Violence Training Requirement. Some depressing stats that it threw at me today? ( Read more... ) | |
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| I don't know what is up with Bleu today but he wouldn't settle down and stop barking at me! I let him out and he just wants to come back in. I fed and watered him, given him treats, and tried petting him, but he just stands there barking at me! Finally now he's lying down quietly, and I know he misses his people (though they assure me he is an Eeyore, personality-wise, so it's not a reflection on me), but I can't be having him just bark and bark and bark and have nothing assuage him.
Last night, the cat came down at around 8 pm and started getting real chatty, and again, he'd been fed and he has all his toys out upstairs, so I did not know what he wanted. I texted my niece and she said to feed him an extra can of food, so I did. Then she FaceTimed me and meowed at him for a bit, which he seemed to like. *hands*
So, books!
What I've just finished
I don't think I ever posted about finishing Dead Hand Rule, but I enjoyed it even though I kind of thought it was the final book up until there were only 50 pages left and I knew it couldn't be.
I also read The Lion's Tusk by Robert Jackson Bennett, which is a short story featuring Ana and Din, narrated by Ana. It was a little, fun thing ahead of the new book that came out yesterday.
What I'm reading now
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez, which I am enjoying but which feels very slow somehow. Like, so much has happened! And yet I'm not yet halfway through the book. I'm also trying to figure out what the point of the structure is, which might be distracting me from getting fully immersed in the story, but I do like it.
What I'm reading next
A Trade of Blood, the aforementioned new Ana-and-Din mystery. Also it makes me a little crazy every time someone calls it a Holmes and Watson pastiche when it is CLEARLY NERO WOLFE + ARCHIE. Not every detective is Holmes! Ahem. After that, who knows? I think the third Alex Stern book comes out next month, so maybe that? Idk.
And as if on cue, the cat is yelling at me now and sitting next to his bowl like he wants more food, even though he's already had his dinner. I guess I will text Nicole and see what she says.
* | |
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| Gunn: How do you avoid reality?
Virginia: Money. It cures everything but boredom (holds up the basket) and food cures boredom, so there you go. Imported chips and packets of cheese.
Gunn: Thanks.
Wesley: We'll enjoy them huddled around our pathetic candles.
Cordy: We'll make pathetic nachos.
~~Happy Anniversary~~
The Sunnydale Herald is looking for a new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more.
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
[Chaptered Fiction]
- The Shape of Absence, Ch 52 (Angel/OCs, E) by DoctorDeath231098
- it happened one week, Ch 2 (Spike/Buffy, T) by jewelram
- The Buffy Drabble Files, Ch 422 (Angel/Buffy, T) by badly_knitted
- The End Is Now, Ch 20 (Giles/Buffy, E) by KatyAmberAuthor
- The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Place, Ch 21 (Crossover w/ The Good Place, Spike/Buffy, T) by flootzavut
- killer, Ch 3 (Faith/Buffy, M) by innertimetraveldetective
- Monsters Don't Get Miracles, Ch 20 (Angel/Cordelia, T) by She_posts_nerdy_stuff
- An Unexpected Slayer, Ch 3 (Crossover w/ The Hobbit, Tara/Buffy, M) by storiwr
- Animus, Ch 5 (Complete, Spike/Buffy, T) by violettathepiratequeen
- The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Place, Ch 20 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by flootzavut
- Carol of a missing lipstick, Ch 22 (Buffy/Spike, G) by rossshin
- I Want to Break Free, Ch 3 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Danauleeth
- If a tree falls in the forest, Ch 4 (Complete, Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by BloodandPeaches
- The Vanguard chronicles Part 3 : The Shadow War, Ch 3 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Gamingdragon
- Resolution, Ch 11 (Tara, Wesley, Willow, Xander, NC-17) by Niamh
- it happened one week, Ch 2 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by jewelram
- The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Place, Ch 20 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by flootzavut
- Animus, Ch 5 (Complete, Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by violettathepiratequeen
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| ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png) booknook is returning with another Review-A-Thon this October! Signups are open now until Oct 30 :D
Members of the comm are also able to post whenever they want. A few suggestions are things like reviews, discussions about a particular book/author/series, asking for recs, recomending books, news about upcoming books you're excited about (or dread; there can be a lot of feels about books!).
While you need to be a member to post, you do not need to be one to comment.
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Host: "I said we come in peace. I don't think he believed me."
Angel: "And what did he say to me?"
Host: "He said 'you shall not stop the golden child, the one for whom we have waited.' Lubber demons, they have a way with words."
Angel: "What's a Lubber demon?"
Host: "Fanatical sect, awaiting a messiah who will usher in the end of all human life. A lot of your demons don't yak about it in mixed company, but it is a pretty popular theology in the underworld."
~~Angel Season II Episode #35: Happy Anniversary~~
The Sunnydale Herald is looking for a new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more.
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
- Cornered! (Xander/Oz, T, SMT Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha xover) by madimpossibledreamer
[Chaptered Fiction]
- Mint Tea is Great for Mind and Body Ch. 1 (Buffy/Spike, Unrated) by Aris2410
- Over the end of the road Ch. 11 (Wesley/Lilah, unrated, German version) by MoonLestrange
- Over the end of the road Ch. 11 (Wesley/Lilah, unrated, English version) by MoonLestrange
- Gotham Slayer Ch. 6 (Buffy, G, Batman xover) by cousinmary
- Living; but once dead Ch. 2 (Jenny/Giles, T) by ohrevienssoleil
- The Return of Oz Ch. 6 (Buffy/Oz, G) by Buffyworldbuilder
- I’m A Slayer (And That’s Okay!) Ch. 34 (OC Slayer, T) by
- From the Flames Ch. 1 (Buffy/Angel, T) by Soulless_Angel25
- Amber the Vampire Slayer season 2 Ch. 13 (OC Slayer, Ensemble, M) by Red Cowling she they (Redtheseer)
- A Stake In The Family Ch. 49 (Buffy/Spike, M) by voidslayerworks98
- The Shape of Absence Ch. 47 (Angel/OC, E) by DoctorDeath231098
- Model Partners Ch. 4 (Buffy/Spike, M) by ChronixCreature
- Splintered Sight 2 Ch. 19 (Wesley/Doyle/Angel, T) by TheManedRedFox
- Infinitely Ch. 113 (Willow/Tara, M) by Laragh
- Echoes of the Past Ch. 5 (Oz, T, multiple xovers) by Rod
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| 1) tv_talk is doing its final Emmy poll, this one focusing on writers (who seem to get relatively little love from the academy). 2) The new computer seems to keep losing access to the Internet. It occasionally happened with the old computer, but as in every few months. This one has already done so 5 times in 2 weeks. ( Read more... )3) For years I had been watching first The Colbert Report, and then Late Show when we ate. As with The Daily Show, these would be off for a few weeks of the year, but were essentially shows you'd see multiple days of the week. Now with Colbert gone, we might have them for 4 meals a week, since we almost always skip the interviews (and on Mondays that means most of the show). And besides the fact that we don't subscribe to HBO Max year round, John Oliver's show is off a lot. ( Read more... )4) Two things dovetailed yesterday as I read my feed. "Currently, licensed shows account for roughly 40 percent of the series on [Netflix] globally. Because they generate over 50 percent of series-driven sign-ups, these titles are meaningfully overperforming their share of catalog volume… Classic dramas, comfort comedies and multi-season libraries convert casual viewers into paying subscribers at a higher rate per title than the average original production, proving that third-party IP is an indispensable, high-value asset for streaming platforms hungry for sustainable growth." ( Read more... )5) There's an interesting new post at Henry Jenkins' blog: Inhabited Narrative: From Participatory Culture to Living Storyworlds which I also shared at meta_warehouse. "Where participants once engaged with storyworlds, inhabitants develop ongoing relationships within them, returning to the same environments, forming connections, and accumulating memories. Over time, actions may ripple outward into the larger world, sometimes subtly and sometimes in ways that permanently reshape it." ( Read more... )This poll is anonymous.
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| I don't know if cooking salmon and veggies (aspergus and summer squash) is better in the air fryer or the oven? But it is certainly faster. The air fryer is odd? It's NOSH - 8 in 1 air fryer - and I only got it over the others, because I knew it would fit on my counter top. Now we have Ninja Portable ones, which might have been better - on the other hand? They couldn't steam things or ferment. It would be nice if the thing came with a user's manual or cook book as opposed to a QR code and a small recipe pamphlet. I'd advise getting something else. It was cheaper than others. It does only take 15 minutes in the air fryer, while the oven took around 30 minutes. So yes, considerably shorter. It's a good thing I'm not a shop-aholic - or I'd be in debt. Social media (Facebook and Instagram) and the internet keep throwing things at me. Antbox storage boxes, pulse of potential huggable stuffed animals that are weighted, various appliances, furniture...and I basically get tempted, then talk myself out of it. I tell myself? I've lived this long without it. I can continue to do so. Besides space considerations. But I might get the shoe storage option. AI & Crazy OrgMy work place is providing escape room games on how to do AI prompts on the orgs intranet home page. Each department has one. You enter the department escape room, are given a scenario and asked to give the AI prompt that will provide you with the information for your meeting or get you out of the room. ( Read more... )*** Took a long walk to the tip of Manhattan and the piers below Battery Park, near and around the Jewish Heritage Museum aka the Jewish Holocaust Museum. That museum has lovely grounds and a great view. There was a jet propeller plane and four smaller jets flying over the harbor and past the Statue of Liberty. The view is of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and New Jersey, also Staten Island across the way, and Governor's Island further out. Reminding me once again - that I live and work on a series of islands in New York Harbor and Long Island Sound, with the East River, the Hudson, and the Atlantic surrounding us. It's a good thing I love water. I even love the smell of it - which I can occasionally smell in my neighborhood. It cheered me up greatly. Today has been slow workwise. I got everything cleared from my desk last week in preparation for jury duty, and alas, am now waiting on everybody else. (I worked on my book in protest, and took a long walk at lunch time - since today is going to be the mildest and nicest day of the week - the humidity and high temperatures come back tomorrow and just go up from there. Here's a few photos from my walk: ( photos ) | |
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| It poured most of yesterday, so instead of going in the pool, I went to lunch with Baby Miss L and her mom and we had a lovely time. The dogs did not want to stay outside at all in the rain, which I can't blame them for, but they kept wanting to go out and then running straight back in, so that was annoying. The cat is becoming acclimated to my presence - yesterday, he came all the way up to me and sniffed my arm before streaking away, but he is right there waiting by his bowl when it's breakfast/dinner time! The carousel of zyrtec/allegra/benadryl seems to be doing the job for the most part, but I can tell when one is wearing off - my throat and chest get all itchy (on the inside) - and it's time to take the next one. My liver might not forgive me, but that's a problem for future!me.
Today was hot and sunny again, so it was back into the pool for me. I didn't sleep well last night - I think the amount of iced coffee I drank might have been the culprit - but I didn't end up napping, though I thought about it a lot.
For dinner, I ate those Trader Joe's soup dumplings and they are so good! definitely recommended. I never shop at Trader Joe's (it's not within walking distance at home and they don't do instacart), but my sister-in-law shops there almost exclusively, so this was a good chance to have them. I also made corn muffins yesterday morning, and will probably make another batch on Thursday just to round out the week.
Otherwise, it's pretty quiet around here. I've just been futzing around on the internet and reading - the new Din-and-Ana book came out today, but I want to finish the book I'm in the middle of first, mainly because I really want to know what is going on and I'm afraid if I put it down I won't remember anything by the time I pick it up, but I guess that is more of a post for tomorrow. *g*
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| I am long enough off the steroid to be able to write calmly to General Mills to let them know something in their Cheerios caused a nasty allergic reaction. Calmly, and strongly. I am writing as an angry lifelong consumer of their food who is now, because of their actions, no longer able to trust that their food is healthy or safe for me.
It's a good thing I waited until now, and boiled it down in my mind. If I'd written to them while under the steroid the words would have set their servers on fire. | |
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| I got to the pool today, all prepared to do deepwater running for an hour -- and it was closed.
Closed Aug. 1-15 for annual cleaning.
I had been *told* by staff that it closed the *last* two weeks of August.
Well.
So I don't get to do deepwater running before my meeting tomorrow with the difficult therapist dealing with lymph. I hadn't been able to go for nearly two weeks because of the steroid situation, and now this.
sigh.
I had set myself a list of Things To Do while the pool was closed. Guess I'm doing them sooner instead of later. | |
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GILES: It turns all men into morons. He will, however, get over it.
BUFFY: (exasperated) I cannot believe that you, of all people, are trying to Scully me. There is something supernatural at work here.
~~The Pack~~
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| 1. Update on Jury Duty? ( no one, and I do mean no one, was called for a court case or voir dire - and at 3:30pm we were all sent home, with proof of service and the promise we don't have to do this again for 8 years. )The most depressing thing about Jury Duty, which made the time drag all the more - is no one talked to anyone. At all. For 6-7 hours. ( Read more... )2. Christopher Nolan has decided to discuss film criticism with Yiyang Zhuge - Bard of Civilization at Dusk. This is actually a thoughtful interview about the film-makers take on the Odyssey and how he chose to adapt it. As referenced via Deadline's article - Christopher Nolan - Real Problem with Amateur Film Criticism. Not that Nolan directly addresses this but I've seen this a lot in amateur film criticism? Complaints about the film or television series not being faithful to the book that it was adapted from. Folks? It's not supposed to be? It's not a film reproduction of the book - assuming that was possible, nor a recreation of it - not possible, nor is it a play - which you can do a closer adaptation, but as anyone who has ever worked in theater knows? Each production of a play is vastly different. People interpret the words on the page differently. Just as each translation is different. You don't have to like the adaptation. I didn't like Julian Fellows adaptation of Sandition, which is a book that was partially written by Jane Austen and finished by Another Lady - so that's even crazier. So I stopped watching Fellow's Sandition. It's better, I think, not to have read the book that a film or television series is adapted from. ( excerpt )He makes a point about how the professional critic understands the mechanisms utilized in filmmaking/storytelling narrative structures, while the amateur gets caught up in not quite understanding the point of it, and often making the mistake of thinking the mechanism invalidates the story. Also, a tendency of judging it by other examples of a genre, as opposed to letting it stand on its own. I like film criticism - I studied it in school, along with television criticism. And have know a few professional critics. ;-) (At one point, I wanted to be a film critic, but alas, it didn't take.) An actual professional film critic that I've met (although not stayed in touch with) - Tales of Brave Ulysses: What To Watch While You’re Waiting For (Or Can’t Get Into) Christopher Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ IMAX Screenings ( excerpt ) | |
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| Doctor Sally by P.G. Wodehouse A slim volume, so that the madcap follies are limited in their complexity. ( Read more... ) | |
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| I'm sorry that 'Grantchester' is done, all 11 seasons. I got hooked on it on Netflix for the first four seasons, then switched to PBS and powered my way through the next 7 of them. The strength of something like that is in the ensemble cast, because it goes on so long that minor characters have real continuing plotlines, real changes in personality and outlook, and learn from one another how to be part of their community. And that combination of plotlines, characters and learning continued into the very final episode. ( can there really be spoilers when it's over? ) | |
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WILLOW: Hey. How is he?
BUFFY:(sits) Oh, in the "goes" part of "comes and goes."
WILLOW: Well, there seems to be a definite lack of screaming. That has to be good.
~~S7E13: The Killer in Me~~
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| So I managed to not pack everything - specifically, I left out regular lip balm (only have a tinted one - fine for daytime but not great for sleepy time) and the big bottle of Costco fake Benadryl (instead I grabbed the big bottle of Costco fake Advil, whoops). I had a couple of Benadryl tablets in my pillbox, and my sister-in-law left a package of it out for me, but I am ordering it (and a lip balm, and some conditioner since I require a lot and there are almost empty bottles of like 4 different types of conditioner in the shower and I don't want to use any of them up, but my hair requires quite a bit of the stuff) for delivery on Tuesday.
Tomorrow is supposed to actually be rainy (unlike yesterday and today, which were partly cloudy - and sunny while I was in the pool), so instead of going in the pool, I am going to go to lunch with my niece and Baby Miss L. I also did not pack real shoes since I had no plans to go out, so hopefully my blue flip-flops are acceptable to whatever establishment we end up going to. (Hilariously, there are TWO PAIRS of pink crocs in this house, but I'd rather just go with the flip-flops tbh. Hopefully, aliens don't destroy civilization and drive us into a world dungeon or anything.)
In other news, I watched the first episode of season 2 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and realized I remember almost nothing about the first season except for Kurt Russell, Anna Sawai, the ot3 in the past, and also that Dominique Tapper was in it briefly. Thankfully, those things are still part of the second season so far. *wry*
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| Well, I called and yes, I have to come in tomorrow per my jury summons. I'm actually relieved? I want to get it over with. I find jury duty stressful? I am not good at waiting to be called. It makes me jumpy? I worry about not hearing the call or missing hearing my name called.
This would work so much better if they just told you which court room to report to, get voir dired, and if not chosen? Go home.
If I were running it - that's what I'd do. But no. Instead they make you go through a long security line, sit in an assembly room, get instructions on filling out a card (that is self-explanatory) and wait to be called into a court room, get voir dired, if not chosen, sent back to the room. Lunch is between 1-2pm. (I decided to try to pack it today - gluten free toasted sour dough, peanut/almond butter with cinnamon, a granny smith apple, mixed nuts and kind energy bars. Because it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow, and there's not a lot near the court house, and it takes between 20-30 minutes to get in and out of it apparently.)
Government is run by elected officials who have the organizational management skills of feral cats. Or at least American Governments are, I honestly don't know about other governments (yours may be better?).
***
One of the nice things about the internet, is if you fall in love with something - there is bound to be somebody out there who loves it too. Not only that, but they most likely have a facebook, tumblr, instagram or some social media account devoted to it. (You'll also find people who hate it. Kind of the law of averages - for everything you love, there are folks who vehemently hate it too. For every opinion you strongly adhere to, there is someone out there who has the opposite opinion. And guess what? The internet will locate them for you and send them directly to your post to irritate the hell out of you. It's unavoidable. I know, I've tried. I've decided to just accept the fact that not everybody likes or agrees with me, or for that matter shares my interests.) The internet is like crack for fandoms, geeks, nerds, and what not. Also writers. My father told me that once - when he got on it - "this is highly addictive for a writer or anyone who likes information and sharing it". Yup. Pretty much.
***
Question a Day Meme: August
1. What is your favourite temperature for inside your home (is it the same as your favourite outside temperature)?
Depends on the room. Living room - 75 degrees. I will live with 77-78. I get annoyed when it gets to 80 or above. Bedroom - 69 degrees is ideal, I'm willing to live with up to 73, but nothing above that.
In winter? I can handle 68 in the apartment, gets below 67 or 65, I begin to get annoyed. It rarely does. Usually, I have to battle radiators which overheat the apartment - and make it 80 or above, if I don't use the window fan, turn on an A/C. I have the radiators in the bedroom and kitchen turned off for example.
Outside? Favorite is 60s and 70s. I like middle range temperatures. Anything over 85 is too hot, anything under 45 degrees is too cold. I'm actually living in the right climate - NYC tends for the most part to be temperate, and doesn't go that far into either extreme or rarely. Unlike Kansas City which is anywhere from 20F to below 20F (and somewhere in the 1s C) in the Winter, and anywhere between 95-115 in the summer. Also very dry. And this was before climate change.
2. Do you like liquorice? Have you ever tried Danish salted liquorice (dansk salmiak lakrids)?
No. I can't stand it. I don't like anise or fennel. Or orzo - the Greek liquorice drink. I could stand to some degree red twizzlers - but I can't have them now - not gluten free - they use flour to keep them from sticking together, and in the mixture, apparently.
So no. I don't tend to like candy? Chocolate yes. Candy, no. And it definitely doesn't like me. | |
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| I was discussing this online and with mother last night - primarily related to Star Trek, but it fits other things as well? While I admittedly don't get that caught up in the details or minutia so to speak (more marco than micro so to speak), there are things that will pull me out of a story or bother me - enough for me to stop watching a television show, reading a book, or watching a movie. For example? ( Read more... )I can deal with recasts (I watch a daytime soap opera and Doctor Who?), but they have to be in a genre that it makes sense and is established. ( Read more... )I'm logical in my pickiness. If it can't be helped, is typical of the genre, and I want that story, dammit, then I will handwave. If it can be helped and/or I don't see way the story couldn't have been done differently - than I won't handwave and walk away. For example? The casting of the Odyssey doesn't bother me at all. Nor does the casting of the musical Hamilton. I get why it was done and in the case of The Odyssey? Don't care, don't understand why anyone else does either. That has been made so many times now - it's akin to being annoyed at casting for a Shakespearean play. It's silly. Hamilton - has a clear metaphorical and meta narrative purpose, and it's really cool. And I don't understand how people wouldn't get that? (If you don't we'll probably clash sooner or later and go our separate ways. Because that's a personality clash in the making - been there done that already.) *** Yesterday, I watched The Drama from A24 Films, starring Robert Patterson and Zendaya on HBO. It's an interesting film and does stick with me, although not necessarily in the way you might think. It was fairly controversial when it premiered - because they marketed it as a rom-com/romance, and it's about as far as you can get from that. I'd call it more of a quietly disturbing horror film, although not gorey, and most of the violence is verbal. I went in pseudo-blind, I knew the gist just not the details. The whole conflict in the movie - circles around a late night drunken conversation between the best man, maid of honor, groom and bride while they are sampling catering options, and drinking way too much wine. ( spoilers ) | |
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| Traffic this afternoon was bonkers. It took almost 90 minutes to make the 55 minute trek to my brother's house, where I am now ensconced with 2 dogs and a cat, and a metric fuckton of allergy medication. Brie is much better about coming inside than she was last time I dog-sat, so that was one worry assuaged.
The pool was GLORIOUS. Replacing the treacherous ladder with steps was the best thing ever! I wasn't in for all that long today - maybe 45 minutes - but it was probably the best 45 minutes I've had in ages. The weather is supposed to be cloudy (but hot) all week, so as long as there's no active lightning overhead, I will probably spend some time in the water each day.
I'm very sleepy and now I just have to figure out which remote to use for the TV and remember how the shower works. *wry* Other people's showers are always such an adventure.
* - Tags:life
- Mood:relaxed
 - Music:he knows you're afraid of the dark
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| 1) More stuff going by the wayside. The good news is that our landline did get cancelled and our phone number has ported over to the cell phone. The bad news is that no one mentioned that our “waived” activation fee has to be paid up front and then is refunded within 1-3 months. ( Read more... )2) Watched this compilation celebrating 30 Years of the Daily Show this week, and wow –- we should all have PTSD from seeing how things just get steadily worse despite the comedic angle. 3) The plot holes and other issues that Endgame has have been well explored, and even fixed, in fanfic. It's fanfic in fact, that led me to watch it and Infinity War again. I just finished an epic fic which, even though the fanfic was finished last year, it made me laugh when it self-referentially described the story as a futuristic Odyssey. It reminded me of the conclusion I came to when I walked out of seeing Endgame for the first time. ( Read more... ) 4) Finished S1 of Duchess of Duke Street only to discover that Prime didn’t have S2. Annoying, as I was quite curious where they would take the series given how it ended. The show was different from what I’d expected. ( Read more... )5) Leverage Redemption has been an interesting view in some ways. ( Read more... )This poll is anonymous.
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| I had planned to do one thing a day during August -- one thing, and the rest of the time open. Today's thing was going to be dealing with the small sapling that unwisely has been trying to grow in and through the patio stones over concrete.
But I took the last 1/4 prednisone pill this morning. It had other ideas. It knocked me out this afternoon for three hours.
While I was asleep the SU took it out, so at least it's gone. It was really in the wrong place.
Apparently my one thing for today is taking a nap. That's not a bad thing. While I've been decreasing the steroid, every night as I lie down to sleep I can feel my body *vibrating*. Not wavering, not something visible involved with stance, but vibrating, like a guitar string. It has been so difficult to try to get to sleep through that. A few times over the week it felt like I was picking up distant, mild earthquake tremors, the ones that make you think "did that happen", but all the quakes have been on the Pacific Ring of Fire 3000 miles away, and if one of those was able to be felt here it would have been in the news. So, just another cute steroid game.
I am not vibrating now, at least not at that frequency. That feels good.
The test will be waking up tomorrow and not feeling a need for steroid. When I did this for the long haul in 2013, for a month, I felt the yearning in my body for the med so strongly that I developed a hell of a lot more sympathy for addicts than I had ever had before. The body feels what it feels, and it tells you very clearly what it wants, and it has no time for the mind that knows that what it wants is neither good for you nor available. Getting past that is winning, if there is a win in this besides still being alive. | |
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XANDER: Aw, come on. Big party at Riley's house. It's gonna be fun. Why don't you wanna go?
ANYA: You know why not. Those initiative men make me... not comfortable. And you don't care.
XANDER: They don't even know that you're an ex-demon. And we don't know that they'd care even if they did know. Which, by the way, they're not gonna find out.
~~BtVS 4x18 “Where The Wild Things Are”~~
The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
[Chaptered Fiction]
- If a tree falls in the forest, Chapter 3/4 (Buffy/Spike, M) by BloodandPeaches
- Those the Dark Could Not Have, Chapter 5/26 (Buffy/Obi-Wan Kenobi, M, Star Wars xover) by Angelinasway
- Boston Doll, Chapter 12/? (Buffy/Faith, Fred/Willow, M) by QuillBard
- Nights under the Willow tree, Chapter 4/? (Buffy/Willow, T) by Red Cowling she they (Redtheseer)
- Rebooting the Big Bad Vampire, Chapter 5/30 (Buffy/Spike, M) by voidslayerworks98
- The End Is Now, Chapter 19/? (Buffy/Giles, E) by KatyAmberAuthor
- The Shape of Absence, Chapter 16/? (Angel/OC, E) by DoctorDeath231098
- Ashes to Amber, Chapter 40/41 (Buffy/Jacob Black, not rated, Twilight xover) by Aya1600
- Neighbors, Chapter 8/? (Buffy/Faith, M) by abrokenscholar
- Eclipse, Chapter 23 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Sirabella
- Buffy and the Slayer, Season 4, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Sunnydale Sentinel
- The Vanguard chronicles Part 3: The Shadow War, Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Gamingdragon
- As the Crow Flies, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by EverythingElse
- Undertow, Chapter 5 Complete! (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by MillennialCryBaby
[Images, Audio & Video]
- Artwork: Freddykins (Fred as a vampire, blood depiction, worksafe) by n1-adora-fan
- Artwork: Inspired by that look from Real Me (Buffy as a vampire, blood depiction, worksafe) by n1-adora-fan
- Artwork: Spike! (worksafe) by scxrlet64
- Artwork: Vampire Xander and Willow (worksafe) by leodagay
- Artwork: Here I am first BTVS fanart… my current obsession (Buffy, Xander, Giles, worksafe) by leodagay
- Artwork: DOUBLE VISION! (Spike/Buffy/William, worksafe) by rabbitmotifs
- Gifset: btvs | graduation day pt. 2 (ensemble, worksafe) by lovebvffys
- Vidlet: Season 6 Buffy Escaping Depression Appreciation (Buffy, worksafe) by spvffys
- Artwork: computer bonding activities ~ (Willow, Jenny Calendar, worksafe) by mmhhch
- Artwork: hangover difficulties (Jenny Calendar, worksafe) by mmhhch
- Artwork: halloween! (Spike, Giles, worksafe) by mmhhch
- Artwork: quick painting of my beautiful favorite girl (VampWillow, worksafe) by rebornautumn
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| I've been listening to the audio book versions of Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels aka Barbara Mertz) Vicky Bliss series, read by Barbara Rosenblatt (who is brilliant). At the beginning of the last book in the series, there's a forward by the author about "the current now" - a fictional writing device that author's employ to tell a story, where they may have written the books ten years apart, but the characters haven't aged and the time period has barely changed. Or the time period is the current now, even though the characters are just a few years older. She asks the readers not to write her about any anachronisms that may occur - since they are mainly deliberate and isn't it wonderful to be able play god within the world your own series. It's actually why I like fiction? You don't have to be accurate. Although there's an annoying number of humans on the planet who can't tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction, and need it to be accurate. (Looks at the idiots whining over the historical accuracy of the fictional poetry of Homer for one example. I'm thinking some folks skipped over the humanities courses in school and it is not to their benefit or ours. Sigh, people can be annoying, can't they?) I've never read Barbara Michaels, but am considering trying those books next. Yes, I'm retreating to the classics of my youth - for comfort reads at the moment. At least I know for a fact that they weren't written or edited or done by AI. AI didn't exist in the 20th Century. I may do the same with music after a while - if it wasn't created prior to 2026, I may not bother with it. 2026 - the year I start boycotting random things, even if it feels seemingly futile. Talking about them just markets them, so I try not to. Spent most of this morning dozing, post shower. I was trying to read an article on the internet about the cast in something or other - and it put me to sleep. It's an overcast but pleasant day. I should run errands during it. Since it is supposed to rain the rest of the week. I may also spend a good chunk of it reading. Television isn't grabbing me at the moment? Mother warned me off of Dark Winds S4 - apparently it has a very gruesome and violent mystery this season, and is very difficult to follow. (Considering I found S3 difficult to follow...) I may hunt down the film versions of The Thin Man, Rebecca, Suspicion, To Catch a Thief, and the Thomas Crown Affair. *** I'd like to see Spiderman: Brand New Day (although I did spoil myself on who Sadie Sink plays in the film - mainly because I was tired of the media teasing me about it. They went so far as to out and out lie. Ugh save me from evil marketing people. Although I get it - it's become increasingly difficult to hide casting spoilers from people on the internet.) But my current state of general apathy seems to be spreading to a lack of interest in going to the movies. The apathy is kind of spreading to television as well among other things. Marvel has gotten smart finally - and realized that making multiple movies and television series a year is a bad idea. Movies and television series aren't the same as comic books, they need to treat the two mediums separately. Also the multiple live action television series may have weakened the brand like they have with Star Wars (according to this Link. ( Read more... ) | |
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| I should go to bed, but I don't want to. John Scalzi writes a post about why you shouldn't write with AI. Another Reason Not to Use AI. Excerpt: ( Read more... )My difficulty with AI is two fold: 1 ) the data centers are sapping resources, and drying the earth, resulting in fires, etc. (They aren't green initiatives). 2) It's taking away jobs. (Note if your creation takes away jobs or reduces employment opportunities? It's evil. Just because something is easier or more convenient, doesn't mean you should use it. It's unethical. Ironically my work place is using AI to write ethics training modules and questions - my brother was highly amused by this.) What blows my mind is people are using AI to write fanfic and journal posts? I guess if you want to translate your posts from your native language to another one in order to communicate - it kind of makes sense? Friday Five1. Who are your three favourite book characters? (I'm answering these by - what I think they are in this moment, with the caveat that I may very well change my mind tomorrow?) Kate Daniels Sir John Smythe/ Tregarth & Vicky Bliss Huck Finn 2. What are your three favourite things to wear? Joggers - they are Talbots Joggers, with stretch, and lightweight, terry cloth interior. T-Shirt - light weight, soft cotton, large with lots of room. Hike sneakers or sandals 3. What are your three pet peeves? Folks that are nitpicky about speech (how you pronounce words, what word you say, syntax, etc , interrupt you to correct it - I've had my speech nitpicked and made fun of most of my life by pedantic bullies who lack empathy.) Manipulative narcissistic critical people Trumpers - alt-right opinionated conservatives 4. What are your three favourite TV shows? General Hospital Legend of Vox Machina (which I keep re-watching -it's pathetic) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which I also keep re-watching...I've seen it over 100 times by now. Also pathetic.) [The Pitt - which I have no interest in rewatching. The Bear - which I may rewatch.] 5. What are three things you wish you could do? Facility with languages - learn and speak another language without difficulty Sing Sew (I can't do any of the above to save my life - and trust me, I've tried many times. I was going to say dance? But I can dance technically speaking, just can't do choreographed dancing. ) | |
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Cordelia (as Buffy): Oh—Angel! I know that I'm a Slayer and you a vampire—and it would be impossible for us to be together—but!
Wesley (as Angel): But! My gypsy curse sometimes prevents me from seeing the truth. Oh, Buffy!
Cordelia: Yes, Angel?
Wesley: Oh, I love you so much I almost forgot to brood!
Cordelia: And just because I sent you to hell that one time doesn't mean that we can't just be friends.
Wesley: Or possibly more.
Cordelia: Gasp! No! We mustn't.
Wesley: Kiss me.
Cordelia: Bite me!
(Wesley dramatic-dips Cordelia and pretends to bite her neck)
Angel (walking in behind them): How about you both bite me.
~~Fredless~~
The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
- Monster (Faith, FR13) by RavenMorbisk
[Chaptered Fiction]
- Rime and Exile, Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, T) by desicat
- Cordelia: The Memory Shop, Chapter 6 (Cordelia and OCs, T) by michaelt
- Splintered Sight 2, Chapter 15 (Doyle/Wesley, Angel/Doyle, T) by TheManedRedFox
- Nights under the Willow tree, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Willow, T) by
- () by
- The Shape of Absence, Chapter 13 (Angel/OC, E) by DoctorDeath231098
- Amber the Vampire Slayer Season 1: How Much A Dollar Cost, Chapter 26 (complete!) (Willow, Xander, OCs, M) by Red Cowling she they (Redtheseer), Redtheseer
- Not Closed, Chapter 6 (Buffy/Spike, T) by MPRose
- Blood of My Blood, Chapter 4 (Buffy & OFCs, M) by EvilCatLady
- The Academy, Chapter 4 (Buffy, Nova, Riley, Willow, M) by rileyfinntastic
- Episode 1: Welcome To The Gleeful Hellmouth, Chapter 10 (complete!) (Giles, Xander, Cordelia, multiple crossovers, M) by FireChild17, TrinityQSG
- The Knife Cuts Both Ways, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Angel, M) by GraceNM
- Mile Markers and Blood Moons, Chapter 76 (Buffy/Spike, R) by JamesMFan
- Dusk's Haven, Chapter 19 (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only) by TwilightChild
- The Many Deaths of Riley Finn, Chapter 5 (complete!) (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by zinjadu
- The Will of Hell, Chapter 9 (Buffy/Spike, PG) by Perelyn
- How Does A Moment Last Forever, Chapter 19 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by number1angirl
- I Want to Break Free, Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Danauleeth
- it happened one week, Chapter 5 (complete!) (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by jewelram
- The Slayer, the Teen and the Ducky, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Over The Rainbows
- You are cordially invited , Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Sirabella
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| Work today was aggravating, mostly because I had blocked three full hours to knock out my annual required compliance trainings, which are due next week when I will be out, but things kept coming up and keeping me from completing them. So I still have 3 HIPAA trainings left (which is hilarious because 1. I am in the Legal department so I know all about HIPAA) and 2. I do not handle PHI AT ALL EVER. But whatever! I did get the things I needed to get done, done, and so they won't be hanging over my head all week and that's a plus. I still need to pack but at least the laundry is clean and I know where everything is. I am a midnight packer from way back. I just never feel any urgency until bedtime. *hands* And I am not even leaving until noon tomorrow, so there's plenty of time. #famous last words But I did get the July recs update done: ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png) unfitforsociety has been updated for July 2026 with 22 recs in 3 fandoms: * 15 Heated Rivalry* 6 Batfamily* 1 Dungeon Crawler CarlNow, I want you to know that I know there are many hockey things wrong with some of these stories (e.g., nobody does an 8 minute shift; that's not how the Force trades or free agency work!; etc.) but if my enjoyment was enough to outweigh my teeth-grinding, I put it on the list. I know people can't know what they don't know, but would it kill folks to read a basic primer on the game? I'm not asking anyone to explain goalie interference but come on. Just leave it out if you don't know! (Note: I cannot guarantee that nothing on this list used AI, but I also am not going to go looking. I guess this is one time when I'm glad that I haven't posted anything since AI became a thing because it's not looking pretty out there.) * | |
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| Today I learned that the financial database system aka Peoplesoft that has been plaguing my life for the last fifteen years, and keeps being updated, was created and owned by infamous and nefarious tech billionaire Larry Ellison ( who Ellison is )and was meant to be an HR database. It's not being used as an HR database. My meditation today suggested if I felt lonely (which I am of late)? I should talk to more strangers on public transportation and on the sidewalks. I thought, clearly the meditation guide has not been to NYC recently? ( Read more... )Adorable Pocket Lawyer has devised a new procedural work flow to suit herself, her schedule and her boss's schedule - which has confused everybody. ( Read more... )And the NYC Jury Duty sent me an email - only one problem? The email states I should go to 360 Jay Street, while the Jury Summons states 360 Adams Street. ( Read more... )I feel like I'm constantly fighting with jello. The jello is winning, as is wont with jello? It tends to win in most battles. You really can't fight jello, all you do is sink into it. Oh, well, been cheering myself up by listening to the Vicky Bliss books on audio books. ( Read more... )The day is humid, drizzly, overcast, and in the 70s F/low 20s C. It's in the 60s/upper teens C at night. I still use the A/C- to keep my bedroom at 69 degrees. Opening windows and using fans - will only result in heightened allergies and lots of tiny flying bugs that can get through the sorry excuse that I have for a window screen. My bedroom windows look out on an enclosed concrete courtyard. I have blinds over them. Without the A/C? It's in the upper 70s/low 80s in the apartment. Good news is the apartment doesn't get direct sunlight or heat. So I can usually keep it between 75-77F (20s C) during the day, and 67-75 (10s to 20s C) at night. For dinner, I impressed my mother at least - by informing her that I'd made chickpea/yellow pea flour macroni and cheese (with vermont shredded white cheddar cheese), butter, and almond milk. It's very good. With kidney bean salad. Mother meanwhile decided to make her own pasta sauce - which has to simmer for three hours. It's a tomato rich recipe - which she couldn't make while my father was alive (he despised tomatoes, especially the texture). She loves them. Of the two of them - mother is easier to deal with, so I'm glad she outlived him. (Don't get me wrong, I loved him and miss him? But, sigh, mother is easier.) I tend to avoid doing tomato sauces now (not because I don't love them) - since it spikes my blood sugar and is highly acidic (and I've got bad gastric reflux as it is). Mother has similar issues - but she doesn't care. (She's 83, I guess she's entitled not to care?) And I've managed to do my exercises - the leg lifts with weights (Ankle weights), the Tia Chi walking with weights (hand weights), and calve lifts. My creative muse appears to have departed for parts unknown. I can't seem to focus on any creative activities at the moment. Question a Day - Memage - July,28. It’s World Nature Conservation Day! Do you reduce, reuse and recycle? Perhaps you could reconsider the transportation you use or buy second-hand rather than new? In what small way could you help reduce your impact on the Earth?Yes. I have a ridiculously small carbon footprint. Climate change is not being caused or furthered by me. ;-) ( details in case you are remotely curious )29. Wyrt is an Old English word for ‘herbs’, and the medieval name Wyrt Moon for tonight’s full moon reflects that while little has ripened yet, greenery and herbs are plentiful. Have you ever made pesto sauce from scratch?Yes. I don't do it now - since I don't use it often enough. Now, I just buy it off and on. I've made it with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, parmesene, and without parmesene. 30. It’s the International Day of Friendship – have you reconnected with an old friend or made a new friend recently?I met threemen and her mother recently in NYC for dinner around the 4th of July. I explained to her mother that threemen and I met via a social media platform that is in reality akin to a letter correspondence club - we basically exchange electronic letters on a blog service and interact with them. It's my favorite social media platform on the planet, and the only one I'm consistent with. 31. What is your favourite spread or topping for toast?Pesto? Or avocado? I rarely eat toast. Ceiliac, and well most gluten free bread and toast is horrible? Not only that - the good stuff spikes blood sugar. And it's hard to digest even if it is GF. I'm not a bread fan. I tend to avoid it completely along with most carbs. | |
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