I do enjoy a Star War, but sometimes you read a headline which makes you think that the whole franchise was a mistake.
( The Pitt, 2.09, 3:00P.M. )
( The Pitt, 2.09, 3:00P.M. )
Thanks to a donation from ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
janetmiles, you can now read the rest of "The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds." Gideon and Raymond get some unexpected help in the fight.
janetmiles, you can now read the rest of "The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds." Gideon and Raymond get some unexpected help in the fight.
Tags:
Multifandom: Sufficiently Advanced Exchange 2026
Mar. 8th, 2026 04:25 pmfirebatvillain posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomcalendar♥ Plant update
Two of the succulents whose names I can't remember are flowering. That's neat; didn't know they did that. The white-and-purple fuchsia has so many more buds. I have not given the vines a trellis. The yucca is probably not dead yet.
+Winter sowing project week 2: the snow has melted off the top of the containers but it's still around freezing or below at night, so I think that counts toward cold stratification.
+Dahlia tubers: somehow I ended up with 22 pots of dahlia tubers, which is weird because that's how many containers of winter sown seeds I have also.
...after looking up the number 22, apparently numerology likes it. A master number not reduced to a single digit, specifically the master builder, signifying the ability to turn grand dreams into reality through practical execution. Great! Gardens are off to an excellent start, then.
I don't have any lights set up for the dahlias yet, but that's not actually a problem until they put their heads above the soil, so. Take your time, little tubers. I'll probably move the cannas out to the garage to keep them from getting any ideas, but I need to put one of the temperature sensors with them so I can make sure they don't freeze.
♥ Language and writing
The SuperChinese app is great at catching the j/zh distinction, which I'm lazy about, along with zhe/zhi, ditto. It couldn't care less about tones, but luckily I found "Speak Chinese: Learn Mandarin," which is an app with a clunky name and a free chatbot that's a stickler for both tones and grammar. Thanks, chatbot that puts in a period every time I pause. I appreciate you pretending you don't know what I'm talking about when I use the wrong tone.
I was going to write a Chinese fic about Spring Festival this month, but I wrote an English followup to Apparently instead and then made a series called Back to School, because of the time travel. I don't know how much I'll write of it, but it's fun to not feel like I'm "wasting" study time. Probably because all the speaking practice feels like progress.
Or the reading. Those BLCUP readers are finally easy after years of sitting on the shelf. I actually bought Andy Weir's Hail Mary in Chinese, not because I think I can read it now, but because it's something new to aim for. (I now know Mo Dao Zu Shi too well for it to serve as a benchmark, ha ha. I was listening to the audio drama yesterday and I was like, "Surely I've always understood this.")
♥ March challenges
communal_creators time only mini event March 22 - 28
(sign-ups not open yet, sign up for a daily amount of time to create stuff and log it)
no_true_pair Four-Character Mini-Challenge March 26 - 31
(sign-ups open at the link above, list four characters and create to prompts for their interactions)
Two of the succulents whose names I can't remember are flowering. That's neat; didn't know they did that. The white-and-purple fuchsia has so many more buds. I have not given the vines a trellis. The yucca is probably not dead yet.
+Winter sowing project week 2: the snow has melted off the top of the containers but it's still around freezing or below at night, so I think that counts toward cold stratification.
+Dahlia tubers: somehow I ended up with 22 pots of dahlia tubers, which is weird because that's how many containers of winter sown seeds I have also.
...after looking up the number 22, apparently numerology likes it. A master number not reduced to a single digit, specifically the master builder, signifying the ability to turn grand dreams into reality through practical execution. Great! Gardens are off to an excellent start, then.
I don't have any lights set up for the dahlias yet, but that's not actually a problem until they put their heads above the soil, so. Take your time, little tubers. I'll probably move the cannas out to the garage to keep them from getting any ideas, but I need to put one of the temperature sensors with them so I can make sure they don't freeze.
♥ Language and writing
The SuperChinese app is great at catching the j/zh distinction, which I'm lazy about, along with zhe/zhi, ditto. It couldn't care less about tones, but luckily I found "Speak Chinese: Learn Mandarin," which is an app with a clunky name and a free chatbot that's a stickler for both tones and grammar. Thanks, chatbot that puts in a period every time I pause. I appreciate you pretending you don't know what I'm talking about when I use the wrong tone.
I was going to write a Chinese fic about Spring Festival this month, but I wrote an English followup to Apparently instead and then made a series called Back to School, because of the time travel. I don't know how much I'll write of it, but it's fun to not feel like I'm "wasting" study time. Probably because all the speaking practice feels like progress.
Or the reading. Those BLCUP readers are finally easy after years of sitting on the shelf. I actually bought Andy Weir's Hail Mary in Chinese, not because I think I can read it now, but because it's something new to aim for. (I now know Mo Dao Zu Shi too well for it to serve as a benchmark, ha ha. I was listening to the audio drama yesterday and I was like, "Surely I've always understood this.")
♥ March challenges
communal_creators time only mini event March 22 - 28(sign-ups not open yet, sign up for a daily amount of time to create stuff and log it)
no_true_pair Four-Character Mini-Challenge March 26 - 31(sign-ups open at the link above, list four characters and create to prompts for their interactions)
librarygeek has sponsored "Nuff Respect." I'll get that posted as soon as I can, but at the moment I'm gardening while the sun shines.If anyone else is still shopping for poetry, now's the time to make your final selections.
EDIT 3/8/26 --
janetmiles will be sponsoring "Confident Guesswork and Improvisation."At the moment, "Walnut Park" and "Foraging Forever" are still available.
Week 9
is started now. Good luck, everyone!
Under the cut, you find the weekly playlist. To check out what prompts/minimum/points are waiting for you this week, please visit the Board.
If you can't find your name on this list, you might be moved to the Hiatus List. This is not a punishment, but it helps to make the playlist clearer for everyone. You are always welcome to jump back into the game. Use three tokens to post two of your missed prompts.
In case you have missed a week or you don't like your prompts, remember your Joker Card. Every Joker Card comes with 15 tokens.
Use three tokens, and you can create two extra works for two missed prompts.
Use two tokens to roll the dice again.
Use five tokens to move to any square of your choice (exception: go!, chance, jail)
To re-visit the rules go here.
( Weekly Playlist )
There is a chance for even more points for those who did sign up for the Team Challenge.
Post all your finished works at
fandom_empire_workplace until Sunday, March 15, 18.00 UTC, but I will allow belated works until I've made the closing post. Countdown here.Posting for week 8 is closed now. Thank you to everyone participating this week.
Regular Challenge
We have had a total of 14 participants this week.
Maximum weekly points:
pattrose reached a maximum of 9 points.
Maximum regular points in total:
elian_panatomicpublishing and pattrose have reached 50 points.
Team Challenge
Team Alpha
3 participants
individual points will get rewarded after finishing a line!
42 team points in total
Team Omega
4 participants
line gold finished
card finished
individual points for everyone filling at least one gold prompt
team points: 2 (gold line) and 10 (completed card)
56 team points in total
A new board is already added to both teams!
Maximum points (regular+team) in total:
melime has reached 67 points.
To check out all scores, have a look at the Google Highscore Sheet. If you find an error or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
The playlist for week nine will be online soon!
Regular Challenge
We have had a total of 14 participants this week.
Maximum weekly points:
pattrose reached a maximum of 9 points.Maximum regular points in total:
elian_panatomicpublishing and pattrose have reached 50 points.Team Challenge
Team Alpha
3 participants
individual points will get rewarded after finishing a line!
42 team points in total
Team Omega
4 participants
line gold finished
card finished
individual points for everyone filling at least one gold prompt
team points: 2 (gold line) and 10 (completed card)
56 team points in total
A new board is already added to both teams!
Maximum points (regular+team) in total:
melime has reached 67 points.To check out all scores, have a look at the Google Highscore Sheet. If you find an error or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
The playlist for week nine will be online soon!
⌈ Secret Post #7002 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.
( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 26 secrets from Secret Submission Post #1000.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
Scientists warn fake research is spreading faster than real science
A major investigation found organized networks producing fake scientific papers, selling authorships, and manipulating journals to mass-publish fraudulent research.
A sweeping new study from Northwestern University reveals that scientific fraud is no longer just the work of a few rogue researchers—it has evolved into a global, organized enterprise. By analyzing massive datasets of publications, retractions, and editorial records, researchers uncovered networks involving “paper mills,” brokers, and compromised journals that systematically produce and sell fake research, authorship slots, and citations.
( Read more... )
A major investigation found organized networks producing fake scientific papers, selling authorships, and manipulating journals to mass-publish fraudulent research.
A sweeping new study from Northwestern University reveals that scientific fraud is no longer just the work of a few rogue researchers—it has evolved into a global, organized enterprise. By analyzing massive datasets of publications, retractions, and editorial records, researchers uncovered networks involving “paper mills,” brokers, and compromised journals that systematically produce and sell fake research, authorship slots, and citations.
( Read more... )
Part of trying to use Dreamwidth more is realizing all the things I haven't shared here. Such as: As of December, after 16 years in Canada, I am now a Canadian Citizen!
I had a celebratory citizenship/birthday party last night, surrounded by the family and community I've joined/built here in Canada and it was so lovely and affirming and energizing in exactly the way I needed right now.
I had a celebratory citizenship/birthday party last night, surrounded by the family and community I've joined/built here in Canada and it was so lovely and affirming and energizing in exactly the way I needed right now.
Satellites are exposing weak bridges in America and around the world
Satellites may soon help spot the world’s weakest bridges before they collapse.
Satellites are giving scientists a powerful new way to watch over the world’s bridges. Using radar imaging, researchers can detect millimeter-scale movements that may signal early structural problems long before inspectors notice them. The study found many bridges—especially in North America—are aging and increasingly vulnerable, but satellite monitoring could sharply reduce the number classified as high-risk. The approach could be especially valuable in regions where traditional monitoring barely exists.
The problem is, this won't fix the bridges. America already knows that many of its bridges need repair or replacement. There just isn't enough money for all that work. A big issue is that most government funding focuses on building new infrastructure, not maintaining old infrastructure. Satellite data can't change that.
Satellites may soon help spot the world’s weakest bridges before they collapse.
Satellites are giving scientists a powerful new way to watch over the world’s bridges. Using radar imaging, researchers can detect millimeter-scale movements that may signal early structural problems long before inspectors notice them. The study found many bridges—especially in North America—are aging and increasingly vulnerable, but satellite monitoring could sharply reduce the number classified as high-risk. The approach could be especially valuable in regions where traditional monitoring barely exists.
The problem is, this won't fix the bridges. America already knows that many of its bridges need repair or replacement. There just isn't enough money for all that work. A big issue is that most government funding focuses on building new infrastructure, not maintaining old infrastructure. Satellite data can't change that.
I'm going to be in France, The UK, Belgium, and Germany in May and June!
I'm quite sure I know many people in at least some of these places and I'd love to see as many of you as I can make happen!
As I noted to Ian just now, seeing things is great and awesome and absolutely something I want to do, but the highlight of travel for me is seeing people, especially ones I've known for ages but never met in person.
Tentative schedule currently is:
- arrive in Paris the morning of May 26th
- May 26-June 5 - various locations in France including but not necessarily limited to Paris and Limoges.
- plane from somewhere in France to Birmingham the morning of the 5th of June.
- June 5-7 VidUKon in Birmingham
- June 7-??? - various locations in the UK including London and Portsmouth, other options depending on people and travel options.
- ??? - Train from London to Brussels
- 2 days later - sleeper from Brussels to Berlin
- ??? (tbd quite soon) - fly home from Berlin.
I'll be buying my flight home in the next couple days, at which point all the dates between Birmingham and Berlin will firm up at least a bit.
This is going to be my first time in Europe since I lived in Berlin for three months in 2000. I've never been to France. I've never been to Belgium. The last time I was in England was a high school trip in 1997. It's all both incredibly exciting and kind of terrifying.
Also, while I've done some solo travelling in the US and Canada, both my previous trips to Europe I was always travelling with at least one other person. So that adds an extra layer of nerves.
So, where should I go??? Who should I see??? How much can I vibrate out of my skin with nerves and excitement between now and the end of May???
I'm quite sure I know many people in at least some of these places and I'd love to see as many of you as I can make happen!
As I noted to Ian just now, seeing things is great and awesome and absolutely something I want to do, but the highlight of travel for me is seeing people, especially ones I've known for ages but never met in person.
Tentative schedule currently is:
- arrive in Paris the morning of May 26th
- May 26-June 5 - various locations in France including but not necessarily limited to Paris and Limoges.
- plane from somewhere in France to Birmingham the morning of the 5th of June.
- June 5-7 VidUKon in Birmingham
- June 7-??? - various locations in the UK including London and Portsmouth, other options depending on people and travel options.
- ??? - Train from London to Brussels
- 2 days later - sleeper from Brussels to Berlin
- ??? (tbd quite soon) - fly home from Berlin.
I'll be buying my flight home in the next couple days, at which point all the dates between Birmingham and Berlin will firm up at least a bit.
This is going to be my first time in Europe since I lived in Berlin for three months in 2000. I've never been to France. I've never been to Belgium. The last time I was in England was a high school trip in 1997. It's all both incredibly exciting and kind of terrifying.
Also, while I've done some solo travelling in the US and Canada, both my previous trips to Europe I was always travelling with at least one other person. So that adds an extra layer of nerves.
So, where should I go??? Who should I see??? How much can I vibrate out of my skin with nerves and excitement between now and the end of May???
I found this amusing.
Today is sunny and cool, a beautiful spring day.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches at the hopper feeder, and a male cardinal flying around.
I put out water for the birds.
Several of the gardens are now bursting with flowers. Honeybees are swarming over the flowers. :D
More of the fruit tree seedlings have sprouted in their jugs. The ones in the house are sprouting more too. The willow cuttings in water have rootlets over half an inch now!
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I filled 18 pots in a flat with potting soil.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I planted fruit sprouts in most of the pots: Ginger Gold apple, Pink apple, and yellow pear. I'm pretty sure that I ran out of Ginger Gold and Pear sprouts. There are some Pink sprouts left, so I'll probably finish the pear row with those.
A fox squirrel was scolding from a tree overhead. I've also seen a dark-eyed junco flying around.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I finished the last three pots with Pink Apple sprouts, and put labels in all but those. I still need to make the last few labels.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I labeled the last 3 Pink Apple pots. I put a tub over the flat to serve as a greenhouse.
I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I set up another 12-cell tray indoors with Green Striped Cushaw Winter Squash, seeds I saved from a tiny butternut, Landrace Zucchini, and Lofthouse Landrace Muskmelon. I gave each variety 3 cells, and I put 2 seeds in each cell.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches at the hopper feeder, and a male cardinal flying around.
I put out water for the birds.
Several of the gardens are now bursting with flowers. Honeybees are swarming over the flowers. :D
More of the fruit tree seedlings have sprouted in their jugs. The ones in the house are sprouting more too. The willow cuttings in water have rootlets over half an inch now!
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I filled 18 pots in a flat with potting soil.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I planted fruit sprouts in most of the pots: Ginger Gold apple, Pink apple, and yellow pear. I'm pretty sure that I ran out of Ginger Gold and Pear sprouts. There are some Pink sprouts left, so I'll probably finish the pear row with those.
A fox squirrel was scolding from a tree overhead. I've also seen a dark-eyed junco flying around.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I finished the last three pots with Pink Apple sprouts, and put labels in all but those. I still need to make the last few labels.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I labeled the last 3 Pink Apple pots. I put a tub over the flat to serve as a greenhouse.
I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
EDIT 3/8/26 -- I set up another 12-cell tray indoors with Green Striped Cushaw Winter Squash, seeds I saved from a tiny butternut, Landrace Zucchini, and Lofthouse Landrace Muskmelon. I gave each variety 3 cells, and I put 2 seeds in each cell.
FIC: Dead Girl Walking (Challenge #92 Dead Like Me) [The Sentinel]
Mar. 8th, 2026 02:24 pmbrumeier posting in ficlet_zoneTitle: Dead Girl Walking
Author:brumeier
Challenge(s): #92 Dead Like Me - Dead Girl Walking
Fandom(s): The Sentinel
Pairing(s): very background Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Wordcount: 8,703
Warning(s): serial killer, off-screen murders, physical assault
Summary: The Bayside Strangler has Cascade in a chokehold during the summer of 1997, and an unassuming dress shop clerk will have to work with CPD if they have any chance of putting an end to the killings.
Author:
brumeierChallenge(s): #92 Dead Like Me - Dead Girl Walking
Fandom(s): The Sentinel
Pairing(s): very background Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Wordcount: 8,703
Warning(s): serial killer, off-screen murders, physical assault
Summary: The Bayside Strangler has Cascade in a chokehold during the summer of 1997, and an unassuming dress shop clerk will have to work with CPD if they have any chance of putting an end to the killings.
Pick a thing or two that sums up how you're doing today, this week, in general, and tell me about it in the 5-7-5 syllables of a haiku.
=
Signal-boosting much appreciated!
=
Signal-boosting much appreciated!
I can usually shake off the Spring time change without any trouble, but today all I want to do is nappppp.
My second option is drinking a LOT of coffee. Thank god, I'm an expert at it.
