X-Men United #1
Mar. 12th, 2026 12:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mastermahan posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scans_daily
X-Men United, originally solicited as X-Men Arsenal*, is the follow-up to Exceptional X-Men. Same creative team, same core cast, but an altered premise. It's the training book, but with more characters, and now they have a mental plane headquarters named Graymatter Lane.
*Go on, get the football jokes out of your system. It'll feel good.
( Read more... )
Community Thursdays
Mar. 12th, 2026 12:11 amysabetwordsmithThis year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...
* Posted "Wildlife" infirst_nations_freaks.
* Commented on "Seed Starting" ingardening.
* Commented on "Check-In Post - March 11th 2026" inget_knitted.
* Posted "Wildlife" in
first_nations_freaks.* Commented on "Seed Starting" in
gardening.* Commented on "Check-In Post - March 11th 2026" in
get_knitted.
Poem: "To Understand Water"
Mar. 11th, 2026 11:02 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the October 5, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from dialecticdreamer. It also fills the "That felt weird." square in my 10-1-25 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It belongs to the Polychrome Heroics series.
( Read more... )
dialecticdreamer. It also fills the "That felt weird." square in my 10-1-25 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It belongs to the Polychrome Heroics series.( Read more... )
Cyberspace Theory
Mar. 11th, 2026 10:21 pmysabetwordsmithWhen you're surfing the web & face a tsunami, make home under a bridge along the information highway
I hereby propose the term "The Under-net" (or "The Undernet") to refer to our preparation for and relationship with whatever (if anything) will be left for us in a future Internet dominated by unending, disingenuous, grifting slop.
This is an analysis of what's wrong with the Internet and some things we can do to improve it, as a form of resistance against corporate takeovers and enshittification.
I hereby propose the term "The Under-net" (or "The Undernet") to refer to our preparation for and relationship with whatever (if anything) will be left for us in a future Internet dominated by unending, disingenuous, grifting slop.
This is an analysis of what's wrong with the Internet and some things we can do to improve it, as a form of resistance against corporate takeovers and enshittification.
![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
Science
Mar. 11th, 2026 09:58 pmysabetwordsmithScientists finally reveal why mint feels cold
Scientists have captured the first close-up view of the body’s “cold sensor,” revealing how winter air—and even mint—tricks your brain into feeling cool.
Scientists have revealed how the body’s microscopic cold sensor, TRPM8, detects both chilly temperatures and the cooling effect of menthol. The discovery finally shows how the sensation of “cool” works at the molecular level—and could inspire new treatments for pain and eye disorders.
Scientists have captured the first close-up view of the body’s “cold sensor,” revealing how winter air—and even mint—tricks your brain into feeling cool.
Scientists have revealed how the body’s microscopic cold sensor, TRPM8, detects both chilly temperatures and the cooling effect of menthol. The discovery finally shows how the sensation of “cool” works at the molecular level—and could inspire new treatments for pain and eye disorders.
Worm Fox Priest Sex Vibes?!: JUSTICE LEAGUE EUROPE #24-25 (JLI 68)
Mar. 11th, 2026 02:58 pmtcampbell1000 posting in scans_daily
Warning for some uncomfortable sexual symbolism. Keith Riffen, Ger-words Jones, bArt Sears.
Giffen’s Justice League plots are never boring, but this story feels extra unhinged, its elements strung together more by Freudian associations than his usual grounded, working-class perspective. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn the production process involved a six-pack of story dice and some of the more stimulating drugs.
( Amphetamines yes, marijuana no. )
what is this, good cop fat cop?
Mar. 11th, 2026 10:16 pmtsuki_no_baramy sister and i saw crime 101 on friday. i liked it, partly because the hotter hemsworth played a guy who's very good and very confident in what he does - jewel thief - but is anxious in so many other aspects of his life. like, he can't look people in the eye when he talks to them about anything that isn't crime-related, and it comes across as nervousness more than anything else. and i liked that. also, you know, he's a very attractive human. :D
saturday i went into the square to see if i had any new comics - i didn't - and ended up in line for a chocolate festival, in which vendors all around the square set up tables and gave out chocolate samples. when i first got to the square the line was excessive so i went to the comic shop instead but by the time i was ready for the line it was a. much shorter because b. the festival was winding down and vendors were out of samples and folding up their tables. i did however get a couple of truffles (yum) and some hot chocolate with whipped cream (also yum). and then it was cold and i went home and watched rental family which was extremely cute and only a little sad and i highly recommend it and not just because brendan fraser is still so charming.
and then sunday my car died! as i was on my way to curling! all the lights on the dashboard went on and then the engine just died. and i couldn't get it to turn over. so i called aaa and eventually they sent a tow truck (it always takes an hour) and in the meantime i sat in my car and read a thing for writing group and four sets of people - four! - stopped to ask if i was ok. (one couple maybe in their late 20s/early 30s, one guy with a dog in a u-haul, one dad with one kid, one mom with two kids.) i was on a residential street, i was mostly out of the way, it wasn't cold, a tow was coming, i was fine.
there is coincidentally and surprisingly a garage around the corner from me. so my car is there and so far they don't know what's wrong with it, only that it seems to be electrical or computer related and not mechanical. hopefully they figure out what's wrong and can fix it because i am 100% absolutely going to curling on sunday because it's been WEEKS. and the only way to get there is to drive.
in weather news it snowed last tuesday (so, a week ago) (and then i got rained on going home >.< ) and yesterday it was like 70º and all the hedges of dirty icy snow along the sidewalk had melted. so i took a walk after work. it was spring! and now it's a little cold again. whatever, at least it's not snow. and i love snow! but it should be closing in on spring already.
a fun story i learned at the comic shop on saturday: years ago there was a signing with jimmy carter somewhere in the square (i think at the bookstore that used to be around the corner from the comic shop and is a bank now but it wasn't a big bookstore so maybe not) and this one woman, after she got her book signed, was walking away and turned and said to the former president "if you still have lust in your heart i'm available". and i thought that was so funny. i felt kind of bad for carter, i mean he must have been mortified, but come on, it was a good line.
yesterday they got rid of the admin manager at work, by which i mean they eliminated her position. (i think as a cost-cutting measure and not because she'd done anything to deserve being fired or anything.) we had the weekly admin meeting and then like two hours later we were all getting an email saying "we've done this thing..." she leads the admin meetings. she didn't act like she knew she was about to lose her job. so now the admins aren't going to have anyone to advocate for us to hq and no one to run interference and do all those things that we need someone to do for us because we have too much other shit to do. i really liked her. i'm sad she's gone.
i also heard a fun story about one of the pi's: she had to fly to houston and then san jose for conference/talk/workshop/whatever, and her admin kept asking for feedback on potential flights, and the pi kept not answering. she has to leave on a tuesday and calls the admin on sunday and the admin says what about your flights? and the pi says i can't find the information you sent me, can you send it again. so the admin does. and then the pi says i found a flight to san jose and the admin says there are no flights to san jose airport (i think this was the houston-san jose leg), you have to fly to san francisco. and the pi insists she found a flight to san jose airport. and the admin finally says fine, ok, whatever. so it's tuesday and the pi is theoretically on her way and the admin gets a phone call and the pi is in san jose... in COSTA RICA. not california. and she can't get through customs because they won't let her out of the airport and into the country without a hotel reservation which she obviously doesn't have because she was supposed to be in the united states and not, may i repeat, costa rica. so the admin probably swears a lot in her head and thinks i told you so, maybe you should fucking listen to me next time and busts her ass trying to get the pi out of costa rica without having to deal with a 24-hour layover in el salvador.
that is a long layover.
i want a nonstop flight, says the pi. you can't get one, says the admin. i need to fly business class, says the pi. the admin probably swears a lot inside her head again and somehow manages to get the pi out of costa rica and to the correct san jose and she ends up only missing one meeting. but holy shit, lady, maybe listen to your admin when she gives you travel information. and also, wouldn't you have to show your passport when you checked in at the airport and did you not realize you don't normally do that flying from one part of the us to another part of the us? good lord.
me and the other admins who heard this story are under strict orders not to tell anyone but you guys don't work with me so i can tell you. :D
i know this was like a week ago but have some pics of the blood moon. so cool, so spooky.
and i know this was a month ago but if you wanted to know about the couple who were married during bad bunny's halftime show here ya go. (it should be a gift link.) when they were done sending out invitations for their wedding (which was not supposed to be during the super bowl, obvs) they had some leftover and figured they'd send bad bunny one for the hell of it because he's the groom's favorite singer. surprise. :D
saturday i went into the square to see if i had any new comics - i didn't - and ended up in line for a chocolate festival, in which vendors all around the square set up tables and gave out chocolate samples. when i first got to the square the line was excessive so i went to the comic shop instead but by the time i was ready for the line it was a. much shorter because b. the festival was winding down and vendors were out of samples and folding up their tables. i did however get a couple of truffles (yum) and some hot chocolate with whipped cream (also yum). and then it was cold and i went home and watched rental family which was extremely cute and only a little sad and i highly recommend it and not just because brendan fraser is still so charming.
and then sunday my car died! as i was on my way to curling! all the lights on the dashboard went on and then the engine just died. and i couldn't get it to turn over. so i called aaa and eventually they sent a tow truck (it always takes an hour) and in the meantime i sat in my car and read a thing for writing group and four sets of people - four! - stopped to ask if i was ok. (one couple maybe in their late 20s/early 30s, one guy with a dog in a u-haul, one dad with one kid, one mom with two kids.) i was on a residential street, i was mostly out of the way, it wasn't cold, a tow was coming, i was fine.
there is coincidentally and surprisingly a garage around the corner from me. so my car is there and so far they don't know what's wrong with it, only that it seems to be electrical or computer related and not mechanical. hopefully they figure out what's wrong and can fix it because i am 100% absolutely going to curling on sunday because it's been WEEKS. and the only way to get there is to drive.
in weather news it snowed last tuesday (so, a week ago) (and then i got rained on going home >.< ) and yesterday it was like 70º and all the hedges of dirty icy snow along the sidewalk had melted. so i took a walk after work. it was spring! and now it's a little cold again. whatever, at least it's not snow. and i love snow! but it should be closing in on spring already.
a fun story i learned at the comic shop on saturday: years ago there was a signing with jimmy carter somewhere in the square (i think at the bookstore that used to be around the corner from the comic shop and is a bank now but it wasn't a big bookstore so maybe not) and this one woman, after she got her book signed, was walking away and turned and said to the former president "if you still have lust in your heart i'm available". and i thought that was so funny. i felt kind of bad for carter, i mean he must have been mortified, but come on, it was a good line.
yesterday they got rid of the admin manager at work, by which i mean they eliminated her position. (i think as a cost-cutting measure and not because she'd done anything to deserve being fired or anything.) we had the weekly admin meeting and then like two hours later we were all getting an email saying "we've done this thing..." she leads the admin meetings. she didn't act like she knew she was about to lose her job. so now the admins aren't going to have anyone to advocate for us to hq and no one to run interference and do all those things that we need someone to do for us because we have too much other shit to do. i really liked her. i'm sad she's gone.
i also heard a fun story about one of the pi's: she had to fly to houston and then san jose for conference/talk/workshop/whatever, and her admin kept asking for feedback on potential flights, and the pi kept not answering. she has to leave on a tuesday and calls the admin on sunday and the admin says what about your flights? and the pi says i can't find the information you sent me, can you send it again. so the admin does. and then the pi says i found a flight to san jose and the admin says there are no flights to san jose airport (i think this was the houston-san jose leg), you have to fly to san francisco. and the pi insists she found a flight to san jose airport. and the admin finally says fine, ok, whatever. so it's tuesday and the pi is theoretically on her way and the admin gets a phone call and the pi is in san jose... in COSTA RICA. not california. and she can't get through customs because they won't let her out of the airport and into the country without a hotel reservation which she obviously doesn't have because she was supposed to be in the united states and not, may i repeat, costa rica. so the admin probably swears a lot in her head and thinks i told you so, maybe you should fucking listen to me next time and busts her ass trying to get the pi out of costa rica without having to deal with a 24-hour layover in el salvador.
that is a long layover.
i want a nonstop flight, says the pi. you can't get one, says the admin. i need to fly business class, says the pi. the admin probably swears a lot inside her head again and somehow manages to get the pi out of costa rica and to the correct san jose and she ends up only missing one meeting. but holy shit, lady, maybe listen to your admin when she gives you travel information. and also, wouldn't you have to show your passport when you checked in at the airport and did you not realize you don't normally do that flying from one part of the us to another part of the us? good lord.
me and the other admins who heard this story are under strict orders not to tell anyone but you guys don't work with me so i can tell you. :D
i know this was like a week ago but have some pics of the blood moon. so cool, so spooky.
and i know this was a month ago but if you wanted to know about the couple who were married during bad bunny's halftime show here ya go. (it should be a gift link.) when they were done sending out invitations for their wedding (which was not supposed to be during the super bowl, obvs) they had some leftover and figured they'd send bad bunny one for the hell of it because he's the groom's favorite singer. surprise. :D
Apparently Moonpie had a rough night last night and wouldn't stop barking
Mar. 9th, 2026 08:59 pmconulyJenn related everybody's lack of sleep, ending with a hopeful "So, you're not working tonight, right?"
Ah, no, I am working, and under no circumstances will I call out on the grounds that my dog is crazy.
Other than dementia, which she shows no signs of (the dog, not my sister... I mean, not her either, but that's not what I'm talking about), what could cause this sudden barking spree in an otherwise pretty quiet doggie?
****************
( Read more... )
Ah, no, I am working, and under no circumstances will I call out on the grounds that my dog is crazy.
Other than dementia, which she shows no signs of (the dog, not my sister... I mean, not her either, but that's not what I'm talking about), what could cause this sudden barking spree in an otherwise pretty quiet doggie?
( Read more... )
Fucking fuck
Mar. 11th, 2026 09:54 pmconulyLink to a sample letter/email
A friend let me know about a new Bureau of Prisons guideline for treatment of inmates with gender dysphoria, which you can read in its entirety here. The short form is that they're denying trans inmates gender-affirming care despite medical consensus, and substituting conversion therapy, which has been proven to be harmful and does not in any way "cure" gender dysphoria
A friend let me know about a new Bureau of Prisons guideline for treatment of inmates with gender dysphoria, which you can read in its entirety here. The short form is that they're denying trans inmates gender-affirming care despite medical consensus, and substituting conversion therapy, which has been proven to be harmful and does not in any way "cure" gender dysphoria
2597 / Fic - The Pitt RPF
Mar. 11th, 2026 09:19 pmsiriaImprov
The Pitt RPF | ~5600 words | Shawn Hatosy/Noah Wyle | Thanks tosheafrotherdon and ![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
thermocline for betaing.
(Also on AO3)
( It had been Sara's suggestion, of course. Noah would never have asked for it. Never even have thought of it on his own. But she'd said 'honey, I don't think three days on the beach are going to cut it this time', and so now here Noah was, sitting on the edge of a bed in a nondescript hotel room. Waiting. )
The Pitt RPF | ~5600 words | Shawn Hatosy/Noah Wyle | Thanks to
sheafrotherdon and (Also on AO3)
( It had been Sara's suggestion, of course. Noah would never have asked for it. Never even have thought of it on his own. But she'd said 'honey, I don't think three days on the beach are going to cut it this time', and so now here Noah was, sitting on the edge of a bed in a nondescript hotel room. Waiting. )
40.
Mar. 11th, 2026 08:48 pmhannahDespite bad sleep last night, I got up and got going this morning. I ran just over 2.3 miles in 30 minutes as a new personal record, and took the stairs up to the gym also. I visited an ear-nose-throat specialist and was told I don't need to panic, and hearing it from a professional makes that a good deal easier. I went to a coffee shop on Madison Avenue that was fancy by Madison Avenue standards, got a vanilla latte and a glass of orange juice that were unfortunately both worth the high price tag, wrote some in my notebook, deliberately overtipped, and rode a bike back through Central Park.
I cooked monster sauce for the first time in a long time - so called because it's doctored up out of spare parts. A can of this, half a can of that. Some of this, more of that. It's always tomato based and it's about the only thing I make entirely on vibes. I ate it a lot in grad school, but haven't for years. The timing seemed right to do it tonight.
I did some editing and managed to get my stuff together enough to send out a query letter. I'm gearing up to wait for the rejection while also reminding myself any submission is a good one to stay in practice for the task.
I've gotten lovely notes and great cards, and all that would make it a good birthday. But all that could have gone aside and it'd still be a wonderful birthday. Because some weeks ago, I preordered an album and it arrived today. An album I'd waited weeks for, and months, and an album I could say I waited years for without knowing it. Because for well over a decade, I'd specify the difference between my favorite band presently making music and my favorite band no longer making music. And now I can't make that distinction quite so easily anymore.
Because after 19 years, Voxtrot released their second album.
19 years ago, I was in college. I was looking out towards the Pacific Ocean, drinking a jack and coke because that's what I'd been able to get the courage to buy for myself. I hadn't written any novels, or any fics of substantial length, either. I'd barely learned how to finish what I'd started.
19 years ago, I'd only seen the world end once.
This isn't an album the band could've made back then. They didn't have the broader maturity or experience on display here. It's still Voxtrot, beautifully so, and it's as rich and tasty and filling as ever. I don't know how I'd have taken it if they'd released it 17 years ago, 15, 10. Nineteen years. I've traveled the world and seen it end and seen it come back. I've said goodbye to people without knowing it was the last time, and welcomed more into my life. I've gone dancing and singing and been kissed a few times. There's things I'd change about the last 19 years, and few of them are about my life and what I've been doing.
It took Voxtrot 19 years to make another finely cut gem of an album that I think is better than their first.
I hope it doesn't take them another 19 years.
I cooked monster sauce for the first time in a long time - so called because it's doctored up out of spare parts. A can of this, half a can of that. Some of this, more of that. It's always tomato based and it's about the only thing I make entirely on vibes. I ate it a lot in grad school, but haven't for years. The timing seemed right to do it tonight.
I did some editing and managed to get my stuff together enough to send out a query letter. I'm gearing up to wait for the rejection while also reminding myself any submission is a good one to stay in practice for the task.
I've gotten lovely notes and great cards, and all that would make it a good birthday. But all that could have gone aside and it'd still be a wonderful birthday. Because some weeks ago, I preordered an album and it arrived today. An album I'd waited weeks for, and months, and an album I could say I waited years for without knowing it. Because for well over a decade, I'd specify the difference between my favorite band presently making music and my favorite band no longer making music. And now I can't make that distinction quite so easily anymore.
Because after 19 years, Voxtrot released their second album.
19 years ago, I was in college. I was looking out towards the Pacific Ocean, drinking a jack and coke because that's what I'd been able to get the courage to buy for myself. I hadn't written any novels, or any fics of substantial length, either. I'd barely learned how to finish what I'd started.
19 years ago, I'd only seen the world end once.
This isn't an album the band could've made back then. They didn't have the broader maturity or experience on display here. It's still Voxtrot, beautifully so, and it's as rich and tasty and filling as ever. I don't know how I'd have taken it if they'd released it 17 years ago, 15, 10. Nineteen years. I've traveled the world and seen it end and seen it come back. I've said goodbye to people without knowing it was the last time, and welcomed more into my life. I've gone dancing and singing and been kissed a few times. There's things I'd change about the last 19 years, and few of them are about my life and what I've been doing.
It took Voxtrot 19 years to make another finely cut gem of an album that I think is better than their first.
I hope it doesn't take them another 19 years.
Daily Happiness
Mar. 11th, 2026 06:06 pmtorachan1. Tuxie was back this morning looking no worse for wear (he still is missing fur/scabby on his forehead, but that's from a couple weeks ago). He wasn't out there first thing when I went to feed the other cats, but was there when I got back from my walk. He doesn't understand daylight savings time, so it was too early for him the first time lol.
2. I finally managed to get a work meeting scheduled for Monday that has been so hard to wrangle. Hopefully it doesn't fall through (even the people who didn't accept the invite yet did specifically say they would be able to attend so fingers crossed).
3. The other night Ollie looked so sad at being evicted from the couch when we had dinner lol. He settled in to the perch in a few minutes, but those first few minutes he just looked so put out.
2. I finally managed to get a work meeting scheduled for Monday that has been so hard to wrangle. Hopefully it doesn't fall through (even the people who didn't accept the invite yet did specifically say they would be able to attend so fingers crossed).
3. The other night Ollie looked so sad at being evicted from the couch when we had dinner lol. He settled in to the perch in a few minutes, but those first few minutes he just looked so put out.