Monday Media Musings: 01/12/26
Jan. 12th, 2026 11:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
owlmooseJoyride : A buddy road movie focused on Chinese-American women taking a personal journey across China, testing the boundaries of their relationships and coming back stronger. We were looking for a lightweight way to pass an evening, and I'd say this fit the bill, although a little raunchy for my taste (explicit drug use, over-the-top sex). Top-notch cast, particularly Sabrina Wu as the awkward and too-relatable Deadeye.
The Knives Out films: This was a rewatch -- I've seen Knives Out and Glass Onion several times, and I insisted we watch Wake Up Dead Man the day it was released on Netflix -- and I'm happy to say that the series holds up, both as individual movies and overall. I think Knives Out is still my favorite, although a Chris Evans fangirl would say that, but I appreciate them all for their different strengths. Before the rewatch, I would have put Wake Up Dead Man a clear notch below the other two, but now I'm not so sure -- Father Jud is easily the best protagonist in the series, and I appreciate the depiction of a priest who represents the best aspects of Christianity drawn in contrast to some of its very worst. I also found the mystery quite satisfying, maybe even the best of the lot. The major downside was the supporting cast, which was fine (I will never argue with yet another showstopper from Glenn Close), but they didn't quite have the chemistry or interest of the ensembles in the other two films.
Bundle of Holding: Eichhorn Mork Borg
Jan. 12th, 2026 02:02 pmjames_davis_nicoll
Diseased grimdark English-language sourcebooks by Christian Eichhorn for the artpunk tabletop fantasy roleplaying game Mörk Borg!
Bundle of Holding: Eichhorn Mork Borg
snowflake Day 6
Jan. 12th, 2026 01:27 pmmelagan
Top 10 Challenge: The category(ies) you choose are up to you. You can give top 10 Fics you read last year, the top 10 songs to create to, the to 10 guest stars on your favorite show, top 10 characters in your favorite book series, top 10... well, you get the idea.
(Can't think of 10 of anything? That's okay, 10 is just an abstract. It's totally up to you.)
Series I have enjoyed and happily reread.
1. Murderbot by Martha Wells
2. The Expanse by James S.A, Corey
3. Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
4. Finder series by Suzanne Palmer
5. Sector General by James White
6. Discworld by Terry Pratchett (with a special love for Sam Vimes)
7. So you want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane
8. The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
9. Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
10. Excultus by Mottlemoth
This fanfic series blew me away. You don't know need to know a thing about the Sherlock fandom because this is a complete AU. In the 23rd century, two hundred years of genetic tampering has fractured humanity into subspecies.
11. Special mention: Bahamian-Style Mooring by syllic.
A story that no Shawshank Redemption lover should miss. This was the story I didn't know I needed until I read it.
I'm not ashamed to say, by the time I finished, my cheeks were wet.
These are just the ones off the top of my head. I've read--let's say A LOT and leave it at that. 😊📚
(no subject)
Jan. 12th, 2026 01:29 pmneekabeAnnoying side effect of eye goo: I have to maintain a 'correct' sleep hygiene and it's improving my life XD
I'm staying up a little later but I'm falling asleep sooner after I go to bed because distractions are physically less possible.
Last week I was in the middle of reading a fic and just had a little more to go and decided to read in bed, so I put in the goo and then blinked enough to be able to mostly see and read. And I woke up in the early hours with eye pain, and it's the kind of pain that is a significant deterrent, but just an annoyance. I repeated the experiment later and ended up with the same thing. So I can't just 'rub the cream in' and have it work. I can listen to all the podfics podcasts and such, but I will fall asleep to those, where I can stay up reading.
I'm staying up a little later but I'm falling asleep sooner after I go to bed because distractions are physically less possible.
Last week I was in the middle of reading a fic and just had a little more to go and decided to read in bed, so I put in the goo and then blinked enough to be able to mostly see and read. And I woke up in the early hours with eye pain, and it's the kind of pain that is a significant deterrent, but just an annoyance. I repeated the experiment later and ended up with the same thing. So I can't just 'rub the cream in' and have it work. I can listen to all the podfics podcasts and such, but I will fall asleep to those, where I can stay up reading.
Romancing McShep Happy-ending Fest 2026
Jan. 12th, 2026 10:31 ammelaganComing your way in February!
Romancing McShep. Celebrating the pairing of my heart.
Pimping banner! (artwork bycassiope25)
Info link
Romancing McShep. Celebrating the pairing of my heart.
Pimping banner! (artwork by
cassiope25)Info link
Brightknightie's 2025 Fanfic Year in Review
Jan. 12th, 2026 08:36 ambrightknightieI posted 8 fanfiction works in 2025, which is a lot for me these days (though one was a poem and two were drabbles, which can skew such assumptions). I found tremendous joy in several, and early in the year felt full of enthusiasm and creative energy for fanfic. But then something went awry; I lost that for a while. I'd very much like to find it again. The HL exchange at the end of the year is often refreshing and reassuring that way! I'm hoping it will be again coming into this new fanfic year.
Last year (2025), I posted:
Dungeons & Dragons (TV, cartoon, 1983): "Muscle Memory" (G, gen, ~1K words). A little "returned from the Realm" glimpse of Erik as an adult still equipped with skills and insight from his long-ago adventures. I've thought of maybe doing a set of these, one for each of our gang. (Comment threads: 6.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW/TOTK, video game): "The Water in Which We Swim" (G, gen, ~2K words). A lore explanation of why this Link cannot swim underwater, set on a family visit to Zora's Domain a decade or so post-canon. Inspired by EOW's Zelda being able to swim underwater perfectly well. (Comment threads: 5.)
The Legend of Zelda (SkSw, video game): "First Comes Choice" (G, gen, ~500 words). Poem. A glimpse at the moment the spirit of the hero freely chooses Hylia, rather than Hylia ordering the spirit, aka my headcanon on the metaphysics of free will, self-sacrifice, and love in TLOZ's cycle. (Comment threads: 2.)
Forever Knight (TV, 1992): "Reconcilable Differences" (PG-13, gen, ~5K words). Written for FKFicFest. This experience proved dispiriting. I wrote this Nick and Natalie action/drama poorly; readers found it to say something I never intended. I'm afraid that FK fandom experiences are like that these days for me. I do not fit. It is no longer home. (Comment threads: 10.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW, video game): "Reasons to Visit the Library" (G, gen, 100 words). Drabble. Post-BOTW, Link shows Zelda her father's hidden study in Hyrule Castle's library. (Comment threads: 2.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW, video game): "Even the Smallest Possibility" (G, gen, 100 words). Drabble. Revali scoffs at Link for taking the legendary Minish seriously. Inspired by the concept artwork from when the developers thought the Minish could be in BOTW. (Comment Threads: 3.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW/TOTK, video game): "Gerudo Spirit, or Three Last Untold Tales (Before Age of Imprisonment Arrives)" (PG, gen, ~2K words). A set of three sequential, but independent, ficlets. Each mini-story explores a piece of my headcanon for the Gerudo Civil War and Imprisoning War, posted just before Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment came out, as I expected the new game to thoroughly "joss" my ideas, as we used to say. In the event, my guesses held up fairly well (except that I never saw coming that Ganondorf would stay resident at Hyrule Castle after the pledge of fealty and before Sonia's murder!). (Comment threads: 0.)
Highlander (TV, 1992): "Hakobore" (G, gen, ~6K words). Written for HLH_Shortcuts. The title is the Japanese word for a nick in the sharp edge of a blade deep enough to threaten its structural integrity. Inspired by the exchange prompt, I damaged Duncan's katana and sent him to Japan to get it fixed, enjoying learning tons about traditional sword construction and maintenance. Methos and Midori appear. (Comment threads: 18.)
Last year (2025), I posted:
Dungeons & Dragons (TV, cartoon, 1983): "Muscle Memory" (G, gen, ~1K words). A little "returned from the Realm" glimpse of Erik as an adult still equipped with skills and insight from his long-ago adventures. I've thought of maybe doing a set of these, one for each of our gang. (Comment threads: 6.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW/TOTK, video game): "The Water in Which We Swim" (G, gen, ~2K words). A lore explanation of why this Link cannot swim underwater, set on a family visit to Zora's Domain a decade or so post-canon. Inspired by EOW's Zelda being able to swim underwater perfectly well. (Comment threads: 5.)
The Legend of Zelda (SkSw, video game): "First Comes Choice" (G, gen, ~500 words). Poem. A glimpse at the moment the spirit of the hero freely chooses Hylia, rather than Hylia ordering the spirit, aka my headcanon on the metaphysics of free will, self-sacrifice, and love in TLOZ's cycle. (Comment threads: 2.)
Forever Knight (TV, 1992): "Reconcilable Differences" (PG-13, gen, ~5K words). Written for FKFicFest. This experience proved dispiriting. I wrote this Nick and Natalie action/drama poorly; readers found it to say something I never intended. I'm afraid that FK fandom experiences are like that these days for me. I do not fit. It is no longer home. (Comment threads: 10.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW, video game): "Reasons to Visit the Library" (G, gen, 100 words). Drabble. Post-BOTW, Link shows Zelda her father's hidden study in Hyrule Castle's library. (Comment threads: 2.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW, video game): "Even the Smallest Possibility" (G, gen, 100 words). Drabble. Revali scoffs at Link for taking the legendary Minish seriously. Inspired by the concept artwork from when the developers thought the Minish could be in BOTW. (Comment Threads: 3.)
The Legend of Zelda (BOTW/TOTK, video game): "Gerudo Spirit, or Three Last Untold Tales (Before Age of Imprisonment Arrives)" (PG, gen, ~2K words). A set of three sequential, but independent, ficlets. Each mini-story explores a piece of my headcanon for the Gerudo Civil War and Imprisoning War, posted just before Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment came out, as I expected the new game to thoroughly "joss" my ideas, as we used to say. In the event, my guesses held up fairly well (except that I never saw coming that Ganondorf would stay resident at Hyrule Castle after the pledge of fealty and before Sonia's murder!). (Comment threads: 0.)
Highlander (TV, 1992): "Hakobore" (G, gen, ~6K words). Written for HLH_Shortcuts. The title is the Japanese word for a nick in the sharp edge of a blade deep enough to threaten its structural integrity. Inspired by the exchange prompt, I damaged Duncan's katana and sent him to Japan to get it fixed, enjoying learning tons about traditional sword construction and maintenance. Methos and Midori appear. (Comment threads: 18.)
Names from Freeman Wills Crofts
Jan. 12th, 2026 06:19 pmcimoreneSgt. Sheepshanks
Superintendent Sheaf
John Weatherup
Alec Quilter
Ebenezer Peabody
Superintendent Goodwilly
Grosvenor Mairs
Superintendent Sheaf
John Weatherup
Alec Quilter
Ebenezer Peabody
Superintendent Goodwilly
Grosvenor Mairs
Humanz B weerd ('throughout the whole of history', or at least, seldom for the v first time)
Jan. 12th, 2026 03:26 pmoursinThat piece about people having AI spouses is online: As synthetic personas become an increasingly normal part of life, meet the people falling for their chatbot lovers.
NB we note that 'Lamar' says that the breaking point with his actual, RL, girlfriend was when he found her doing the horizontal tango with his best friend, but it's clear that there were Problems already there, about having to relate to another human bean who was not always brightly sunshiny positively reinforcing him....
what would he tell his kids? “I’d tell them that humans aren’t really people who can be trusted …
I'm not entirely persuaded that individuals haven't made up imaginary companions (even way on into adulthood) before - I seem to remember some, was it in Fandomwank back in the day, accounts of people being married on the astral plane to fictional characters?
This is not entirely 'wow, startling news' to Ye Hystorianne of Sexxe: The Phenomenon of ‘Bud Sex’ Between Straight Rural Men.
I am not going to see if I actually have a copy of the work on my shelves, or if I perused it in a library somewhere, but didn't that notorious work of 'participant observation' sociology, Tearoom Trade argue that many of his subjects were not defining themselves as 'homosexual'.
I also invoke, even further back, Helen Smith's Masculinity, Class and Same-Sex Desire in Industrial England, 1895-1957 about men 'messing about' with other men in Yorkshire industrial cities.
And there is a reason people working on the epidemiology and prevention of STIs use the acronym 'MSM' - men who have sex with men - for the significant population at risk who do not identify as gay.
I had, I must admit, a very plus ca change moment when I idly picked up Katharine Whitehorn's Roundabout (1962), and found the piece she wrote on marriage bureaux. In which she mentioned that the two bureaux she interviewed tried to get their subscribers not to be too ultra-specific in their demands - that if they met potential partners in real life they would be more flexible.
Was also amused by the statement that 'Men over thirty are always very anxious to persuade me that they could have all they women they liked, if they bothered'.
Books Received, January 3 to January 9
Jan. 12th, 2026 09:18 amjames_davis_nicoll
This is late because my site was down when I had the time to post on Saturday. Seven books new to me. Two fantasy, one non-fiction, one mainstream, one collection of poetry, and two thrillers.
Books Received, January 3 to January 9
Poll #34072 Books Received, January 3 to January 9
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 40
Which of these look interesting?
View Answers
Of Venom and Vengeance by Mikayla Bridge (July 2026)
6 (15.0%)
Bad Advice by Susan Carpenter (April 2026)
3 (7.5%)
The Innocent Canadian by John Delacourt (April 2026)
6 (15.0%)
Woodbine Grove by Ryan O’Dowd (December 2025)
3 (7.5%)
Rum Maniacs: Alcoholic Insanity in the Early American Republic by Matthew Warner Osborn (March 2020)
23 (57.5%)
Inside Passages by Heather Paul (April 2026)
4 (10.0%)
Existence in All Its Uncoverable Beauty by Calvin White (April 2026)
2 (5.0%)
Some other option (see comments)
0 (0.0%)
Cats!
33 (82.5%)
“into the blue again after the money’s gone / once in a lifetime water flowing underground”
Jan. 12th, 2026 07:32 amlarryhammerFor Poetry Monday:
Blue Winter, Robert Francis
Winter uses all the blues there are.
One shade of blue for water, one for ice,
Another blue for shadows over snow.
The clear or cloudy sky uses blue twice—
Both different blues. And hills row after row
Are colored blue according to how far.
You know the bluejay’s double-blue device
Shows best when there are no green leaves to show.
And Sirius is a winterbluegreen star.
Francis (1901-1987) was a New Englander who as a young poet had a very Frost-ian voice, though he later developed his own.
---L.
Subject quote from Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads.
Blue Winter, Robert Francis
Winter uses all the blues there are.
One shade of blue for water, one for ice,
Another blue for shadows over snow.
The clear or cloudy sky uses blue twice—
Both different blues. And hills row after row
Are colored blue according to how far.
You know the bluejay’s double-blue device
Shows best when there are no green leaves to show.
And Sirius is a winterbluegreen star.
Francis (1901-1987) was a New Englander who as a young poet had a very Frost-ian voice, though he later developed his own.
---L.
Subject quote from Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads.
mai tai
Jan. 12th, 2026 07:25 amprettygoodwordA second week of words from Polynesian languages, though this one is arguably an edge case:
mai tai (MAI-tai) - n., a cocktail containing rum, curaçao, orgeat, and lime, and sometimes other fruit juices.
Thanks, WikiMedia!
One of the characteristic drinks of tiki culture and thus, entirely typically, has nothing whatsoever to do with Polynesian culture. The drink was invented by Victor J. Bergeron in 1944 for Trader Vic’s, the original Oakland, California, location for his chain of tiki bars — though Donn Beach of the rival chain Don’s Beachcomber (later Don the Beachcomber) claimed Bergeron simplified one of his earlier drinks. The name is supposed to be from Tahitian maitaʻi, good (note that’s three syllables), and the story is that one of the first taste testers exclaimed “Maitaʻi!” (or “Maitai!”?) when sampling it. I am … dubious, and some dictionaries go with “origin unknown.” [Sidebar: Mai tais were not introduced to Hawaii till 1953, which I mention solely to have a hook to add that the Hawaiian cognate of maitaʻi is maikaʻi and the Maori cognate is maitai (two syllables). Which last … hmmm.]
---L.
mai tai (MAI-tai) - n., a cocktail containing rum, curaçao, orgeat, and lime, and sometimes other fruit juices.
Thanks, WikiMedia!
One of the characteristic drinks of tiki culture and thus, entirely typically, has nothing whatsoever to do with Polynesian culture. The drink was invented by Victor J. Bergeron in 1944 for Trader Vic’s, the original Oakland, California, location for his chain of tiki bars — though Donn Beach of the rival chain Don’s Beachcomber (later Don the Beachcomber) claimed Bergeron simplified one of his earlier drinks. The name is supposed to be from Tahitian maitaʻi, good (note that’s three syllables), and the story is that one of the first taste testers exclaimed “Maitaʻi!” (or “Maitai!”?) when sampling it. I am … dubious, and some dictionaries go with “origin unknown.” [Sidebar: Mai tais were not introduced to Hawaii till 1953, which I mention solely to have a hook to add that the Hawaiian cognate of maitaʻi is maikaʻi and the Maori cognate is maitai (two syllables). Which last … hmmm.]
---L.
Subscription tidy up
Jan. 12th, 2026 09:45 pmfred_mouseI've done my approximately-annual tidy up of dreamwidth subscriptions. I've stopped following a set of blogs that haven't updated in ~2 years, left roughly half the communities I was in, and changed a few other details. The main exceptions on keeping people who don't post are people who comment often enough that I remember; at least one of those I've left their access but unsubscribed. The other exception is people who I'm very much hoping will turn up again one day (and one who, sadly, will never be back, but whose name makes me smile to see it in the list).
If, as happens with this, I've managed to remove your access and you are someone who does actually want to see the occasional locked post, please comment on this post. I'll put a locked post up shortly; it will read 'test' or some equally inane thing.
the (best of the)^n best, where n>=1
Jan. 12th, 2026 12:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
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The Day in Spikedluv (Sunday, Jan 11)
Jan. 12th, 2026 08:40 amspikedluvI did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, went for a couple walks with Pip and the dogs, hard-boiled more eggs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and changed kitty litter (my favorite Sunday chore!).
I went with the Cinnamon Orange tea again, and this time I didn’t let it steep too long. Much better! I watched the Bills game. It was another close one, but they pulled it out in the end, thankfully. That interception at the end was the icing on the cake.
I finished the Amelia Peabody book and wrote ~500 words on a new fic for Fandom Trees. *fingers crossed*
Temps started out at 32.4(F) and reached 39.9. We had sun in the morning and snow showers in the afternoon, followed by the snow squalls we were warned about. With the wind and the snow, I’m guessing I’ll be leaving late in the morning because the roads won’t be great.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded good when I talked to her. She’d had all the visits today! First my brother, then Niece L with Toddler A, followed by Sister A, followed by Sister S. The three (four) of them were there all at the same time. Mom agreed that having visitors makes the day go by faster.
I went with the Cinnamon Orange tea again, and this time I didn’t let it steep too long. Much better! I watched the Bills game. It was another close one, but they pulled it out in the end, thankfully. That interception at the end was the icing on the cake.
I finished the Amelia Peabody book and wrote ~500 words on a new fic for Fandom Trees. *fingers crossed*
Temps started out at 32.4(F) and reached 39.9. We had sun in the morning and snow showers in the afternoon, followed by the snow squalls we were warned about. With the wind and the snow, I’m guessing I’ll be leaving late in the morning because the roads won’t be great.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded good when I talked to her. She’d had all the visits today! First my brother, then Niece L with Toddler A, followed by Sister A, followed by Sister S. The three (four) of them were there all at the same time. Mom agreed that having visitors makes the day go by faster.
