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"Whatever the songs say, I am still only myself, and I miss my grandfather.β
Five times EΓ€rendil asks for news of Turgon, and one time he does not have to.
Five times EΓ€rendil asks for news of Turgon, and one time he does not have to.
Since I started reading Twitter, my opinion of humanity got significantly worse.
And Russian and English-language Twitter do it in different ways. With Russian Twitter, it's mostly issues of everyday life, relationships, etc. Russian Twitter is very small, and it seems that any large-scale kerfuffle will drift into your feed whether you like it or not. And what it does to me is mostly proving that men are terribly poor stuff. Like, every possible type of a nasty misogynist male that always seemed like 'surely it's a caricature!" turns out to be real.
As for English-language Twitter, I get a lot of right-wingers in my feed, it seems (because it turns out if you follow accounts about books and classical learning, they often tend to be right-wing), and especially American ones. And here I also see things I thought to be a caricature. Like actual people saying that the Pope is not Christian but Catholic. I feel like maybe I should read up about all this non-denominational Christianity, because it's so bizarre sometimes.
... maybe I should read less Twitter, yes, but when I am tired and not in the mood, I can't concentrate on books, I read Twitter and play casual games on my phone.
And Russian and English-language Twitter do it in different ways. With Russian Twitter, it's mostly issues of everyday life, relationships, etc. Russian Twitter is very small, and it seems that any large-scale kerfuffle will drift into your feed whether you like it or not. And what it does to me is mostly proving that men are terribly poor stuff. Like, every possible type of a nasty misogynist male that always seemed like 'surely it's a caricature!" turns out to be real.
As for English-language Twitter, I get a lot of right-wingers in my feed, it seems (because it turns out if you follow accounts about books and classical learning, they often tend to be right-wing), and especially American ones. And here I also see things I thought to be a caricature. Like actual people saying that the Pope is not Christian but Catholic. I feel like maybe I should read up about all this non-denominational Christianity, because it's so bizarre sometimes.
... maybe I should read less Twitter, yes, but when I am tired and not in the mood, I can't concentrate on books, I read Twitter and play casual games on my phone.
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: T
Characters: Sons of Feanor, Elrond, Feanor, Daeron, various others
Warnings: n/a
Summary: After years in Lórien, Maglor and Maedhros are ready to return to their family and to make something new with their lives--but to move forward, all of Fëanor's sons must decide how, or if, they can ever reconcile with their father.
Note: This fic is a direct sequel to High in the Clean Blue Air.
Prologue / Previous Chapter
Rating: T
Characters: Sons of Feanor, Elrond, Feanor, Daeron, various others
Warnings: n/a
Summary: After years in Lórien, Maglor and Maedhros are ready to return to their family and to make something new with their lives--but to move forward, all of Fëanor's sons must decide how, or if, they can ever reconcile with their father.
Note: This fic is a direct sequel to High in the Clean Blue Air.
Prologue / Previous Chapter
( Read more... )
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Thanks everyone who voted, and sorry for the belated results, we got a little busy!
We had a LOT of ties. So who did we think came out of the gate fastest? Results below:
( Third place )
( Second place )
( First place )
We had a LOT of ties. So who did we think came out of the gate fastest? Results below:
( Third place )
( Second place )
( First place )
I was reading the June 2025 American Historical Review tonight and came across Peter Lorge's review of A History of Traditional Chinese Military Science by Huang Pumin, Wei Hong, and Xiong Jianping, translatied by Fan Hao. It's one of the most brutal academic takedowns of a book that I've ever read. I'd like to share with you the first sentence from each paragraph, which manage to convey the sense of the whole thing, with my comments afterward in brackets.
- "The field of Chinese military history in the West has grown considerably in the last couple of decades but remains extremely small." [So this book should be useful.]
- "A History of Traditional Chinese Military Science is therefore valuable if only because there isn't much else." [My comment #1 was right, but just barely.]
- "The term 'military science' is particularly problematic. [Dang! We're not even out of the title and things are already "particularly problematic!"]
- "More problematically, the authors believe that Chinese military thought β or military science, in their terms β did not change after it was established in the pre-imperial period (before 221 BCE)." [It's never a good sign when any paragraph in a review begins with "more problematically."]
- "This brings us to a deep-rooted problem in this book's scholarship." [After two paragraphs of problems, we now come to "a deep-rooted problem"? Damn!]
- "Readers unfamiliar with Chinese history, let along Chinese military history, will find the discussions of history and warfare confusing." [In other words, if you know enough to understand this book, you know too much to learn anything from it.]
- "The translation itself appears to be generally competent, although the translator is not well-versed in the deeper meanings of either the technical military terms in Chinese or in English." [It looks like he's about to let the translator off the hook, but no.]
This is your weekly read-in-progress post for you to talk about what you're currently reading and reactions and feelings (if any)!
For spoilers:
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<b>Highlight for spoilers!*</b><span style="background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #FFFFFF">Your spoilers goes here.</span>*
For spoilers:
<details><summary>insert summary</summary>Your spoilers goes here</details>
<b>Highlight for spoilers!*</b><span style="background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #FFFFFF">Your spoilers goes here.</span>*
I'm up here at my sister's, not quite a hundred miles north of home, while the new floors are put in. It's all SoCal, and yet a completely different microclimate. I woke to the tut-tut-tut of some bird we don't ever hear at home, and other chirps and twitters equally unfamiliar. Over that, though, the very familiar caw of crows.
As I did the morning walk with the little dog, and listened to the local crows up in the eucalyptus and pines, I wondered if the crows that follow me at home were watching for me to come. Now that the sun is lowering a bit, we're back to increasing numbers, so I might have thirty or so swirling around me when I throw unsalted peanuts out. so exhilarating to watch them!
Here they don't know me, of course, so the calls can't be to let me know they are there. I'm sure the lives of humans are ignorable, except as annoyances that send them into the trees. I wondered about that sky civilization as I trod the path to the dog park. So much going on at the tops of the trees, that we barely notice!
It's such a relief not to be toiling with packing, though of course unpacking lies in wait to pounce when I get back. Then I'll only have three or four days before I take off for my October east trip, so most of my share of the unloading will await me on my return. The big job (and the fun one) is the library.
Speaking of, since it's Wednesday, let's see, what have I been reading? The Military Philosophers by Anthony Powell, which is part of a book discussion that I've been following since the start of the year. One book a month in Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time series. The discussion happens at the start of each month over Zoom, and what interests me is how folks from either side of the Atlantic read the work. Also, non-genre reading. This time I'll be on the train when the discussion rolls around, so I hope I have connectivity, but if not I'll listen to the recording. At least that way I can skip ahead if the fellow who leads it gets prolix over an obvious point as he has a tendency to do. The academic curse; students above a certain age level are too polite to say 'Zip it! We got the idea already." (High schoolers had no such restraint, and middle schoolers invariably signalled boredom by more physical means.)
Anyway I had the leisure, for the first time in a couple of months, to make chocolate chip cookies. So I can have those and tea and do some reading. Heigh ho, I will go do that now.
As I did the morning walk with the little dog, and listened to the local crows up in the eucalyptus and pines, I wondered if the crows that follow me at home were watching for me to come. Now that the sun is lowering a bit, we're back to increasing numbers, so I might have thirty or so swirling around me when I throw unsalted peanuts out. so exhilarating to watch them!
Here they don't know me, of course, so the calls can't be to let me know they are there. I'm sure the lives of humans are ignorable, except as annoyances that send them into the trees. I wondered about that sky civilization as I trod the path to the dog park. So much going on at the tops of the trees, that we barely notice!
It's such a relief not to be toiling with packing, though of course unpacking lies in wait to pounce when I get back. Then I'll only have three or four days before I take off for my October east trip, so most of my share of the unloading will await me on my return. The big job (and the fun one) is the library.
Speaking of, since it's Wednesday, let's see, what have I been reading? The Military Philosophers by Anthony Powell, which is part of a book discussion that I've been following since the start of the year. One book a month in Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time series. The discussion happens at the start of each month over Zoom, and what interests me is how folks from either side of the Atlantic read the work. Also, non-genre reading. This time I'll be on the train when the discussion rolls around, so I hope I have connectivity, but if not I'll listen to the recording. At least that way I can skip ahead if the fellow who leads it gets prolix over an obvious point as he has a tendency to do. The academic curse; students above a certain age level are too polite to say 'Zip it! We got the idea already." (High schoolers had no such restraint, and middle schoolers invariably signalled boredom by more physical means.)
Anyway I had the leisure, for the first time in a couple of months, to make chocolate chip cookies. So I can have those and tea and do some reading. Heigh ho, I will go do that now.
As beautiful as he is dangerous, Aegnor, an elven prince, stands against the looming shadows of Angband. Brother to Galadriel, he commands the siege with a fierce intensity, a duty that exacts a heavy toll on him. Beneath the iron walls he has built lies a broken soul, haunted by devastating trauma and guarded secrets. His demons, kept at bay by an unyielding personality, are both his greatest gift and his deepest curse.
Little does he know that a chance encounter with a lost, petrified girl of the Edain will set him on a collision course with destiny. Igniting an extraordinary love, wrought with challenges and sacrifices, one that threatens to unravel the very fabric of his elven nature.
Brace yourself for Part I of this captivating tale, where the primal power of love and devestating loss dare to tear lives apart forever.
Little does he know that a chance encounter with a lost, petrified girl of the Edain will set him on a collision course with destiny. Igniting an extraordinary love, wrought with challenges and sacrifices, one that threatens to unravel the very fabric of his elven nature.
Brace yourself for Part I of this captivating tale, where the primal power of love and devestating loss dare to tear lives apart forever.
A. and I just watched Jimmy Kimmel's comeback monologue from last night. It was great β I'm glad to see him back. I've got to say, though: After seeing his supercut of all the time's Trump said not to take Tylenol in his press conference with RFK Jr., I feel an uncontrollable urge to take Tylenol!
This month is almost over, so, let's hear it. *g* How did it go with your fannish creativity?
Did you manage to make a thing?
Created fanart or made vids? Wrote fic or meta? How about picspams, link collections, character mood boards, themed playlists, promo posts, or whatever else you create for fannish enjoyment?
Here's the place to share it with us! Leave a link in the comments, or elaborate on it as much as you want.
Did you manage to make a thing?
Created fanart or made vids? Wrote fic or meta? How about picspams, link collections, character mood boards, themed playlists, promo posts, or whatever else you create for fannish enjoyment?
Here's the place to share it with us! Leave a link in the comments, or elaborate on it as much as you want.
 NW 21st Ave β’ Portland, Oregon September 21, 2025 Sony RX100 VII β’ Zeiss 24-200mm (35mm equiv) f/2.8-4.5 f/4 @ 38mm β’ 1/8s β’ ISO 1600 |
The worst thing about going to Cinema 21 to see a movie is finding street parking. Iβm not thrilled about the hunt β and Iβm not so great at parallel parking into the tight spaces. I thought I would take a chance on Cinema 21βs Parking Recommendations and use the Legacy Parking Garage on NW Kearney.
I padded my schedule in case I needed to do a street parking search. Sunday, I left home at 6 pm, and Google suggested that the scenic route on SW Barnes Rd and W Broadway would be the fastest β and I prefer that route to the Sunset Highway any day.
( An Evening at the Movies )
Also I forgot to link to this after reveals!
Title: absent of cause or excuse (8789 words) by Lirazel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: ιζ 什 | The Untamed (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin & Jiang Yanli & Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian
Characters: Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin, Jiang Yanli, Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Marriage of Convenience - Marriage For Protection, solving plot problems with marriage
Summary:
Title: absent of cause or excuse (8789 words) by Lirazel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: ιζ 什 | The Untamed (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin & Jiang Yanli & Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian
Characters: Jiang Cheng | Jiang Wanyin, Jiang Yanli, Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Marriage of Convenience - Marriage For Protection, solving plot problems with marriage
Summary:
“I’ve got an idea,” A-Cheng says finally. Then, with effort: “About A-Xian.”
“Tell me,” Jiang Yanli says.
“It’s crazy.” He hasn’t looked at her since he sat down, but now he glances at her out of the corner of his eyes, like he’s gauging her reaction.
She laughs, a little laugh. “It’s A-Xian,” she says, spreading her hands as though that explains everything. (It does. Nothing has ever been orthodox, not with A-Xian.)
The corner of A-Cheng’s mouth jerks up, but the smile doesn’t quite bloom. He shakes his head, the lock of hair falling back down to brush against his cheekbone. “What if I—” Shakes his head again, pulls his shoulders back like he’s pulling on his Zongzhu robes. “I’m going to marry him.”
-or-
Let's fix everyone's problems through marriage. Chengxian-style!
I'm not here, I'm still in Pittland writing fic.
Fic: detect my sudden existence on your sonar (25840 words) by Lirazel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Pitt (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Melissa "Mel" King/Frank Langdon
Characters: Melissa "Mel" King, Frank Langdon, Samira Mohan
Additional Tags: Post-Season/Series 01, Divorced Frank Langdon, Pining, Mutual Pining, (though mel doesn't know that), no seriously this is just mel pining and lusting for 20k+ words and thinking it's unrequited, Until suddenly it isn't, You Have Been Warned, this ship was made for pining, "never look away" by vienna teng, my mel&samira bffs agenda, santos is ready to kill a man, and we can have a little, mel and langdon are drift compatible, as a treat, god this got long, but there's just a lot going on in mel's head okay?
Summary:
Fic: detect my sudden existence on your sonar (25840 words) by Lirazel
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Pitt (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Melissa "Mel" King/Frank Langdon
Characters: Melissa "Mel" King, Frank Langdon, Samira Mohan
Additional Tags: Post-Season/Series 01, Divorced Frank Langdon, Pining, Mutual Pining, (though mel doesn't know that), no seriously this is just mel pining and lusting for 20k+ words and thinking it's unrequited, Until suddenly it isn't, You Have Been Warned, this ship was made for pining, "never look away" by vienna teng, my mel&samira bffs agenda, santos is ready to kill a man, and we can have a little, mel and langdon are drift compatible, as a treat, god this got long, but there's just a lot going on in mel's head okay?
Summary:
She couldn’t say, I’m trying to figure out a way to live with all this longing, and in the meantime, I’m embarrassed and a little bit resentful. Not out loud.
Or:
Mel thought everything would get easier when he came back. Instead, it's a new kind of torture.
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: T
Characters: Sons of Feanor, Elrond, Feanor, Daeron, various others
Warnings: n/a
Summary: After years in Lórien, Maglor and Maedhros are ready to return to their family and to make something new with their lives--but to move forward, all of Fëanor's sons must decide how, or if, they can ever reconcile with their father.
Note: This fic is a direct sequel to High in the Clean Blue Air.
Prologue / Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
Rating: T
Characters: Sons of Feanor, Elrond, Feanor, Daeron, various others
Warnings: n/a
Summary: After years in Lórien, Maglor and Maedhros are ready to return to their family and to make something new with their lives--but to move forward, all of Fëanor's sons must decide how, or if, they can ever reconcile with their father.
Note: This fic is a direct sequel to High in the Clean Blue Air.
Prologue / Previous Chapter / Next Chapter
( Read more... )
I've aspired to be a tag wrangler at AO3 for a while, but each time they opened up applications, I haven't been able to find fandoms I wanted to apply for. They recently opened up applications again, and the fandoms they were looking for wranglers for included a lot of K-pop girl groups, including several that I have written about at length. So I put my application on the 19th and now I'm waiting anxiously to hear back (they said it could be 4 weeks, I put my application in 4 days ago, so I've go plenty of waiting to do). Fingers crossed!
Preview: 
Here in my journal
Btw, has anyone watched The Journey of Legend yet? The summary sounds promising.
Here in my journal
Btw, has anyone watched The Journey of Legend yet? The summary sounds promising.