This is the February 1st Weekly Megapost & Chat!
Feb. 1st, 2026 04:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalloway posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
mobilegamesThis is the February 1st Weekly Megapost & Chat!
Things you can do in the comments-
- trade friend codes
- ask about games
- post about in-game events
- anything you don't want to make an individual post about
- share how the RNG is treating you
Revenue charts at some point today...
Things you can do in the comments-
- trade friend codes
- ask about games
- post about in-game events
- anything you don't want to make an individual post about
- share how the RNG is treating you
Revenue charts at some point today...
Just Create - better late than never edition
Jan. 31st, 2026 11:03 pmsilvercat17 posting in justcreateI do not like using DW on my phone but I'm too lazy for a computer right now, even though there is one literally within arm's reach.
What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype? I've been neglecting Dreamwidth - tell me what I'm missing!
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count!
Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky.
Some Fairly Surface Level Star Trek: Starfleet Academy thoughts
Jan. 31st, 2026 09:36 pmmuccamukkI'm still really enjoying it! I think episode three was a little woobly for me (I don't enjoy school bully plots, even if they come to a good resolution), but the others have been great, and I love how the episodic nature is letting us get to know all of the characters better, not just focusing on Caleb and Ake (though Caleb and Ake are great!). And there's 1.5 queer couples!
I like how much of it is about building a better future. The characters come from different cultures, and come with a certain amount of damage because the stable government hasn't been there for them, and that's an organic part of the plot too. So, the kids are trying to grow up and figure out who they are, and they've also found themselves at a pivot point of history, when the Federation tries to decide what it wants to be. It's a lot of the same themes as DS9 dealt with in the later seasons (though in that case, fending off what the Federation ought not to be, which I guess Picard was trying to do too, but in a very cludgy way). I like the credits being about growth and building (though could take or leave the theme), and the show also being that.
And yes I have been watching Jessie Gender again, but one of the things I agree with her about is how it's not leaning very hard on nostalgia, or trying to recreate a Star Trek the show runners grew up with, which honestly a lot of post-Voyager shows have leaned on. (Though Discovery didn't especially land for me, and I never gave it enough of a chance, I think it at least was trying to do something different, so it makes sense that it created the setting for SFA.) Like the shows I loved most, and which re-invented what the show could be in the '90s, they're not on a ship called Enterprise, and they're not on an exploratory mission backed by the strength of the Federation (and don't forget that people loathed every single one of the '90s shows on grounds of: "They changed it, and I don't like it!") The main challenges in SFA are different because the main characters are students, but the way of poking at moral themes remains. The show is about them building a better world, personally and politically, with respect for and in conversation with the world building that came before, but not beholden to it as a prefect object, and I'm really loving that.
(The mix of earnestness and silliness reminds me of this hilarious short by![[youtube.com profile]](https://youtube.com/favicon.ico)
SoOkayHeresTheThing: What It's Like to Watch Star Trek. Summarised in One Minute.)
I especially really liked these specific spoilery things: ( Spoilers for episodes 1x02 and 1x04. )
Two beats that I absolutely hated, for balance: ( Spoilers for episodes 1x01 and 1x02 )
I like how much of it is about building a better future. The characters come from different cultures, and come with a certain amount of damage because the stable government hasn't been there for them, and that's an organic part of the plot too. So, the kids are trying to grow up and figure out who they are, and they've also found themselves at a pivot point of history, when the Federation tries to decide what it wants to be. It's a lot of the same themes as DS9 dealt with in the later seasons (though in that case, fending off what the Federation ought not to be, which I guess Picard was trying to do too, but in a very cludgy way). I like the credits being about growth and building (though could take or leave the theme), and the show also being that.
And yes I have been watching Jessie Gender again, but one of the things I agree with her about is how it's not leaning very hard on nostalgia, or trying to recreate a Star Trek the show runners grew up with, which honestly a lot of post-Voyager shows have leaned on. (Though Discovery didn't especially land for me, and I never gave it enough of a chance, I think it at least was trying to do something different, so it makes sense that it created the setting for SFA.) Like the shows I loved most, and which re-invented what the show could be in the '90s, they're not on a ship called Enterprise, and they're not on an exploratory mission backed by the strength of the Federation (and don't forget that people loathed every single one of the '90s shows on grounds of: "They changed it, and I don't like it!") The main challenges in SFA are different because the main characters are students, but the way of poking at moral themes remains. The show is about them building a better world, personally and politically, with respect for and in conversation with the world building that came before, but not beholden to it as a prefect object, and I'm really loving that.
(The mix of earnestness and silliness reminds me of this hilarious short by
I especially really liked these specific spoilery things: ( Spoilers for episodes 1x02 and 1x04. )
Two beats that I absolutely hated, for balance: ( Spoilers for episodes 1x01 and 1x02 )
Monthly Listening: Jan 2026
Jan. 31st, 2026 08:42 pmadevyishWe are fully in the swing of winter now (I say, while leaving my parka unzipped outside). We are also nearing the Olympics, so I will take this opportunity to make a PSA and say: under no circumstances should you support the French ice dance team and here is why.
On to the music.
( Read more... )
Nominations Open!
Jan. 31st, 2026 11:36 pmslashmarks posting in goreswapNominations are now open! You can find the tagset here, and instructions below.
Nominating is how the fandoms, relationships and characters you can offer and request in the exchange are chosen. You can nominate up to ten fandoms, and up to twenty relationships per fandom by filling out the form here (or click 'nominate' at the top right of the tagset). All eligible, correctly formatted nominations will be approved.
Formatting Guidelines:
If your fandom has an existing AO3 tag, please enter that tag. If not, make up a tag that matches AO3's formatting. See below for instructions for specific franchises.
Individual character nominations should be nominated in the form "Char: X." These nominations are for works featuring at least the requested character, not necessarily that character alone. Romantic and sexual relationships should be nominated in the form X/Y. Platonic relationships should be nominated in the form X & Y. You may also nominate larger groups, such as X/Y & A/B for a work which features all four characters together in two relationships, A & B & C for all three characters featured in platonic relationships, X/Y/Z for a threesome, etc.
Original characters may be nominated, by themselves or in relationships with canon characters. All details that aren't included in the tag are up to the creator's discretion. For example, Harry Potter/Original Female Slytherin would require a work featuring Harry Potter in a romantic or sexual relationship with a female Slytherin OC, whereas Harry Potter/Original Slytherin would allow the creator to choose the original character's gender. Creator's Choice of Fandom and Original Work relationships should also include all important details in the tag.
Please do not nominate ambiguous groups such as "Harry Potter & Slytherins." Instead, you may nominate "Harry Potter & Any Slytherin," or "Harry Potter & Any Slytherin(s)." This is to avoid ambiguity as to which specific characters must be included. I will generally correct this type of nomination without querying.
Crossover pairings should be nominated in the formatting X (Fandom)/Y (Fandom). Disambiguation (putting the fandom after the character names) is optional for other fandoms.
Eligibility Guidelines
In general, all fandoms are eligible (but see the main rules post for RPF-related exceptions). You may nominate fanworks if the creator gives permission for transformative/recursive works. Please send me either a link to a public statement or evidence of a nonpublic one before or when you nominate fanworks.
Without getting into existential issues, characters should unambiguously be some combination of alive, self-aware, and/or distinct individuals in canon. Animals, ghosts, and eldritch abominations are eligible, but non-sentient settings and objects generally arenโt. Specific โversionsโ of characters are eligible only if they are so distinct as to be a different character (e.g., Wishverse!Buffy is a separate character with a different backstory and personality. Vampire!Willow is likewise a demonic entity and comes from a divergent timeline. Evil!Willow is not eligible as a separate character, as she is her usual self from the main timeline of the show in the midst of an emotional crisis.) AU versions of characters which do not exist in canon, such as genderbend AUs which are not canon, should be included in your optional details rather than nominations.
Franchise Guidelines:
Star Wars should be nominated by the specific Star Wars property or trilogy, e.g., Star Wars Prequel Trilogy - Anakin Skywalker/Obi-Wan Kenobi or Star Wars Legends: New Jedi Order - Solo: Ben Solo. I will query Star Wars nominations which do not give a specific property, and either make my best guess or reject at the end of the nominations period if I don't receive an answer.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and any related fandoms should be nominated under Buffyverse.
MCU movies should be nominated under MCU. TV shows should be nominated by the specific show.
Fire Emblem games should be separated into individual games.
Doctor Who should be nominated under the specific series or property.
Zelda fandom should be split up by specific property.
If you have preferences for how an additional franchise fandom is nominated, please comment!
Nominating is how the fandoms, relationships and characters you can offer and request in the exchange are chosen. You can nominate up to ten fandoms, and up to twenty relationships per fandom by filling out the form here (or click 'nominate' at the top right of the tagset). All eligible, correctly formatted nominations will be approved.
Formatting Guidelines:
If your fandom has an existing AO3 tag, please enter that tag. If not, make up a tag that matches AO3's formatting. See below for instructions for specific franchises.
Individual character nominations should be nominated in the form "Char: X." These nominations are for works featuring at least the requested character, not necessarily that character alone. Romantic and sexual relationships should be nominated in the form X/Y. Platonic relationships should be nominated in the form X & Y. You may also nominate larger groups, such as X/Y & A/B for a work which features all four characters together in two relationships, A & B & C for all three characters featured in platonic relationships, X/Y/Z for a threesome, etc.
Original characters may be nominated, by themselves or in relationships with canon characters. All details that aren't included in the tag are up to the creator's discretion. For example, Harry Potter/Original Female Slytherin would require a work featuring Harry Potter in a romantic or sexual relationship with a female Slytherin OC, whereas Harry Potter/Original Slytherin would allow the creator to choose the original character's gender. Creator's Choice of Fandom and Original Work relationships should also include all important details in the tag.
Please do not nominate ambiguous groups such as "Harry Potter & Slytherins." Instead, you may nominate "Harry Potter & Any Slytherin," or "Harry Potter & Any Slytherin(s)." This is to avoid ambiguity as to which specific characters must be included. I will generally correct this type of nomination without querying.
Crossover pairings should be nominated in the formatting X (Fandom)/Y (Fandom). Disambiguation (putting the fandom after the character names) is optional for other fandoms.
Eligibility Guidelines
In general, all fandoms are eligible (but see the main rules post for RPF-related exceptions). You may nominate fanworks if the creator gives permission for transformative/recursive works. Please send me either a link to a public statement or evidence of a nonpublic one before or when you nominate fanworks.
Without getting into existential issues, characters should unambiguously be some combination of alive, self-aware, and/or distinct individuals in canon. Animals, ghosts, and eldritch abominations are eligible, but non-sentient settings and objects generally arenโt. Specific โversionsโ of characters are eligible only if they are so distinct as to be a different character (e.g., Wishverse!Buffy is a separate character with a different backstory and personality. Vampire!Willow is likewise a demonic entity and comes from a divergent timeline. Evil!Willow is not eligible as a separate character, as she is her usual self from the main timeline of the show in the midst of an emotional crisis.) AU versions of characters which do not exist in canon, such as genderbend AUs which are not canon, should be included in your optional details rather than nominations.
Franchise Guidelines:
Star Wars should be nominated by the specific Star Wars property or trilogy, e.g., Star Wars Prequel Trilogy - Anakin Skywalker/Obi-Wan Kenobi or Star Wars Legends: New Jedi Order - Solo: Ben Solo. I will query Star Wars nominations which do not give a specific property, and either make my best guess or reject at the end of the nominations period if I don't receive an answer.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and any related fandoms should be nominated under Buffyverse.
MCU movies should be nominated under MCU. TV shows should be nominated by the specific show.
Fire Emblem games should be separated into individual games.
Doctor Who should be nominated under the specific series or property.
Zelda fandom should be split up by specific property.
If you have preferences for how an additional franchise fandom is nominated, please comment!
(no subject)
Jan. 31st, 2026 10:06 pmshadowkatStarted watching Bridgerton S4 - and was reminded of why I dislike the Cinderella Trope. Cinderella is way too nice. She should have looked into poisoning her evil stepmother. Deathly Nightshade. Hemlock. Arsenic. Mold. Maybe valium or opium? ( Read more... )
Took a shower to relax the muscles last night, and my tub mat got crooked and loose and when I tried to fix it - the mat slipped under my feet, and I tumbled out of the shower/tub and sprawled somewhat painfully onto the bathroom floor. ( Read more... )
I didn't get in nearly as much knee exercises or other activities, as I'd planned. I also fell asleep watching the James Bond flick Spectra - which isn't nearly as good as the prior films. The actress playing his love interest has almost no chemistry with him, and doesn't "spark". [I think I'm as tired of the James Bond trope as Daniel Craig appears to be - he was kind of walking through the film.]
Watched Angel S4 - Soulless - which is an interesting episode to watch while watching Buffy S7. ( Read more... )
An unfortunate side effect of the Buffy/Angel rewatch - is every time I watch these series - I get obsessed with the character of Spike and crave more of him. And more of the actor's performance. I don't know why. There was just something about his performance as Spike that sparked a response in me?
**
I've decided to subscribe to the Calm App - to deal with insomina, feelings of anger, anxiety, and depression - which are kind of wrapped up together in one nice neat bundle. Calm is actually helping. The problem I had with Headspace - was it was geared more towards millenials with small children or Yuppies. And kept triggering me. Also, it had embraced AI and was going the text psychology route with AI. While Calm was using sound technology to help with rebalancing the nervous system, and calming it.
Calm's also cheaper than Headspace.
***
End of January Memage
30. In 1873, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne was published in France. Have you read the book or seen any of the films?
I think I read it once? Can't remember. I've seen multiple film and television versions. The best is the most recent version with David Tennet that was done a few years back. The worst was probably the one with David Niven. I don't really remember the David Niven one that well, but it does NOT date well - Shirly McLaine plays an Asian woman in it (yes, Shirly McLaine). The Pierce Bronsan version is okay - I vaguely remember that one.
31. Do you like hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
I used to? But now? Not so much. It makes the hot chocolate too sweet. I guess if you can get a home-made marshmallow - which I've done. Those home made gourmet ones - are a treat. But it also doesn't work well. The marshallows don't quite melt the way they should and get kind of slimy and again too sweet.
I prefer whipped cream. And peppermint. Also I prefer unsweetened hot chocolate with almond milk, and zero sugar whipped cream. It's insanely difficult to get unsweetened hot chocolate though - because people put sugar in everything.
***
Weather - very cold. But not as bad as yesterday, believe it or not. We didn't have the wind chills. So the apartment was actually 70-73 degrees as opposed to 65-69 degrees. And outside, it made it up to 22 F/ -18 C.
Low was 10 degrees F.
Took a shower to relax the muscles last night, and my tub mat got crooked and loose and when I tried to fix it - the mat slipped under my feet, and I tumbled out of the shower/tub and sprawled somewhat painfully onto the bathroom floor. ( Read more... )
I didn't get in nearly as much knee exercises or other activities, as I'd planned. I also fell asleep watching the James Bond flick Spectra - which isn't nearly as good as the prior films. The actress playing his love interest has almost no chemistry with him, and doesn't "spark". [I think I'm as tired of the James Bond trope as Daniel Craig appears to be - he was kind of walking through the film.]
Watched Angel S4 - Soulless - which is an interesting episode to watch while watching Buffy S7. ( Read more... )
An unfortunate side effect of the Buffy/Angel rewatch - is every time I watch these series - I get obsessed with the character of Spike and crave more of him. And more of the actor's performance. I don't know why. There was just something about his performance as Spike that sparked a response in me?
**
I've decided to subscribe to the Calm App - to deal with insomina, feelings of anger, anxiety, and depression - which are kind of wrapped up together in one nice neat bundle. Calm is actually helping. The problem I had with Headspace - was it was geared more towards millenials with small children or Yuppies. And kept triggering me. Also, it had embraced AI and was going the text psychology route with AI. While Calm was using sound technology to help with rebalancing the nervous system, and calming it.
Calm's also cheaper than Headspace.
***
End of January Memage
30. In 1873, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne was published in France. Have you read the book or seen any of the films?
I think I read it once? Can't remember. I've seen multiple film and television versions. The best is the most recent version with David Tennet that was done a few years back. The worst was probably the one with David Niven. I don't really remember the David Niven one that well, but it does NOT date well - Shirly McLaine plays an Asian woman in it (yes, Shirly McLaine). The Pierce Bronsan version is okay - I vaguely remember that one.
31. Do you like hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
I used to? But now? Not so much. It makes the hot chocolate too sweet. I guess if you can get a home-made marshmallow - which I've done. Those home made gourmet ones - are a treat. But it also doesn't work well. The marshallows don't quite melt the way they should and get kind of slimy and again too sweet.
I prefer whipped cream. And peppermint. Also I prefer unsweetened hot chocolate with almond milk, and zero sugar whipped cream. It's insanely difficult to get unsweetened hot chocolate though - because people put sugar in everything.
***
Weather - very cold. But not as bad as yesterday, believe it or not. We didn't have the wind chills. So the apartment was actually 70-73 degrees as opposed to 65-69 degrees. And outside, it made it up to 22 F/ -18 C.
Low was 10 degrees F.