glowingfish

1. In fairness to Professor Mallory, The Origins of the Irish (2013) seems well written, well researched, and well considered. I'm at 19% in epub (notes and other back matter begin at 76%), and though I don't love his handling of Niall as a hypothetical line in the sand for when people in Ireland are "Irish," he carries it through sensibly. Perhaps the IE/PIE project (2025) was merely the wrong shape and scope at the time he tackled it. He was emeritus already by 2013, and Irish has the cadences of prose built up partly from lecture material. If we may turn an archaeologist's lens briefly upon the archaeologist, simple logistics suggest that he wouldn't have had the same chances to workshop the IE/PIE material in updated form before writing up.

That said, I've zero plans to try reading In Search of the Irish Dreamtime (2016), the monograph published between them, which Mallory intended as part two to Irish. One reasonable-sounding book is plenty as rehabilitation.

2. Because the Taproot Video collective will sunset as of 31 Mar 2026, I've acquired a copy of Annie MacHale's Three-Color Pickup For Inkle Weavers (selfpub, 2021). I understand just enough to follow along, though not to implement. MacHale's explanations are straightforward, and she includes clear illustrations of the effects she describes, with examples of variations.

(Taproot's website doesn't admit to its imminent shutdown, which seems irresponsible. They've sent an email to their past customers.)

bluapapilio

For my anime PTW challenge

(Re)watched episode 1 of K!

(Re)watched ep. 3-4 of Fairy Ranmaru!

Finished season 4/part 2 of Dr. Stone, I'm not too far ahead of this in the manga!

Watched ep. 6-9 of Cardfight Vanguard!!!

Current Mood: anxious

bluapapilio

Episode 10: Just casually shooting up Suika like that. 😭

So it's been 100 days since they took Xeno. And of course his first words (well, spoken anyway) to Stanley were questioning if he was slacking off lmao

Suika girl you really need a backup pair of glasses.

Xeno blames the higher-ups for not accepting his science inventions who instead sought 'power and conflict' but weren't all this inventions weapons of war?? Or did I misunderstand and he was forced down that path.

Stanley had the chance to shoot the last revival fluid but realized that Senkuu would revive Xeno again, and Xeno would get to continue making things with someone who understood him more than even him perhaps. The flashback to little Stanley watching little Xeno do science was sweet. It's clear that it was the boy who was passionate about all these things he was most interested in, not just what he could do.

I got chills as everyone turned to stone and then the little doggy and boar came along. 😭 And that poor cheetah got quite the fright!

Suika was way too young to be left alone like this ughh I know there was very little choice in the end but aHH.

Episode 11: Suika hugging Kohaku's statue 😭😭😭 She's the bravest little girl ever. Ughh my watery eyes.

Episode 12: Thinking about it, Suika is older than Mirai now.

I wonder why Senkuu decided to wait and revive them all at once instead of as he made the liquid? Honestly though I really like that he waited so everyone could reunite at once after that traumatic experience.

Tsukasa's first thought was Hyouga, and the look in his eyes...I see why people ship them. And Hyouga indulging them with his catch phrase lol

Tsukasa's image of the characters as old people. 😭

The earring/communicator kinda looks good on Xeno...

I'm only 6 chapters ahead of this part in the manga.

I prefer the manga panel more, Stan's lips are pursed in it and Xeno looks more in love but this is still nice!

He imagined Stan talking to him. :')

Current Mood: exhausted

airiefairie posting in

talkpolitics

The tennis world is once again abuzz after an exhibition match in which Nick Kyrgios defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6–3, 6–3 in the latest version of the Battle of the Sexes. Social media quickly filled with comments claiming that Kyrgios would "run over" any woman on court and that biology is a wall that cannot be overcome. But anyone who believes these matches are meant to prove that women are physically stronger than men is completely missing the point.

To understand why this debate is so painful, one must look far back in history. At the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, women were not allowed to compete at all. The founder, Pierre de Coubertin, believed their participation would be "impractical and unaesthetic". Women were not fighting for medals, but for the basic right to set foot in the stadium.

( Read more... )

In the end, the debate is not about whether a man can beat a woman or vice versa. It is about honesty and dignity at a time when business and profit are not the only guiding forces. The Battle of the Sexes is a reminder that every athlete deserves recognition for their work within their own category, without being diminished because of their biological traits.

simplyn2deep posting in

1word1day

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Fireplace (noun)
fire·place [fahyuhr-pleys]

noun
1. the part of a chimney that opens into a room and in which fuel is burned; hearth.
2. any open structure, usually of masonry, for keeping a fire, as at a campsite.

Related Words
chimney, furnace, stove

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

Origin: First recorded in 1645–55; fire + place

Example Sentences
The living area comes complete with a cozy fireplace and an expansive view of the backyard, which features a resort-style pool.
From MarketWatch

“The living room wasn’t big enough, and it featured a huge red brick fireplace that had doors on either side of it, leading to the backyard,” said Warwas.
From Los Angeles Times

The faces of the women, who are sitting in front of a grand fireplace, have been redacted with black squares.
From BBC

Hearing Nat King Cole croon about chestnuts roasting on an open fire dozens of times is one of the many reminders that fireplaces are luxuries most of us don’t have.
From Salon

I can relax by the fireplace, newly appreciating the relative safety of home.
From The Wall Street Journal

starryeyedknight posting in

little_details

Hello! I’ve got a rather niche one particularly for Arabic speakers/historians - my writing is set in the medieval crusading period, where European/Catholic individuals would often use expressions of annoyance/surprise/exasperation that are largely religious-based, such as ‘oh sweet Christ’, 'dear God', ‘Christ’s bones’, ‘Saint Jude’s eyes’ etc etc. (One can then make as crude as you like while focusing a lot around divine/saintly body parts!).

I also have a few Levantine Arab Christian characters with mixed Arab/European heritage and I'm wondering if the above sort of religious-based swearing might have been used also in the Levant (particularly if they've taken some verbal influence from their European father), or if would come across as jarring to use these more western-associated idioms in a Middle Eastern setting?

Also: I've done some research around Arabic idioms already, but it would also be great to hear of any Arabic phrases (either in Arabic or transliterated) of annoyance or surprise similar to 'oh Christ' or 'for God's sake' that might be used? (I know ‘ya Allah’ is one such phrase but I’m trying to diversify) Similarly, any other recommendations of non-religious exclamations (of the ‘damn, bugger, blast’ varieties) would be very helpful!

Current Mood: chipper

cakewrecks_feed

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/the-far-side-of-cake-vol-9-2025

They say Santa just wasn't the same after that visit.

*****

Everyone did their best to stay nonchalant, but like moths to a flame, they were inexorably drawn to Eeyore's new lower back tattoo:

*****

The silence stretched out painfully, and now everyone was looking at him. Curse that mechanic and his "ultra performance diesel shake"!

*****

It really was a great place for cookouts and casual get-togethers... provided you never made eye contact with the ducks:

Thanks to Susan L., Laura K., Beth J., & Warren G. for the fowl play.

*****

P.S. Forget the cakes, this month has left my house wrecked. I'm so ready for a big purge and organizing blitz - and eyeballing nifty little turntables like this:

7-Layer Rotating Makeup Organizer

Ohhh, look at this beauty. Don't you just want to take her for a spin?
*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/the-far-side-of-cake-vol-9-2025

prettygoodword

whipcord (HWIP-kawrd, WIP-kawrd) - n., a thin tough cord made of braided or twisted hemp or catgut, sometimes used for the lashes of whips; a cotton or worsted fabric with a distinct diagonal rib.

The very end of a whip being the part that cracks by breaking the sound barrier during a sudden reversal of direction, and so needs to be strongest -- in many whips, the lash is designed to be replaceable when it wears out, as it will long before the rest of the whip. I'm unclear how the fabric (which is woven with a steep-angled twill with even thicker ridges than gabardine) came to be called that, possibly for either its durability or a resemblance to a whipcord's ridges.

---L.

luzula

Becoming a Supple Leopard: the ultimate guide to resolving pain, preventing injury and optimizing athletic performance by Kelly Starrett (2015)
This book has changed my life. I know I sound like I'm doing a paid promotion or like someone who's joined some weird cult, and I know the book has kind of a silly title, but it's true. My mind is blown.

The thing is, I've had problems with stiffness and muscle ache for years. I've been trying to deal with it by exercise and stretching, but while exercise is obviously good for a whole host of reasons, it doesn't solve the problem of stiffness/muscle ache. And stretching doesn't do much, either. I've also gone to a massage therapist, which does partly help, but it's temporary and also costs a lot of money. And while the guy is much better in the practical application of massage than others I've gone to, and I like him, still I'm reluctant to keep going to him because he does do some things with a large application of force and I doubt his medical judgment (to say the least). In the last few years he has begun to spout conspiracy theories about vaccines and only drinks warm water because, as a man, he needs the yang energy.

Anyway, I figured the stiffness and muscle ache was just middle age and at bottom I just had to suck it up. Turns out THERE ARE EFFECTIVE TOOLS TO ADDRESS THIS THAT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT! Also they're cheap and I can apply them myself! I honestly feel like someone prone to headaches who has just, at the age of 46, discovered the existence of painkillers. But better, because this isn't a drug.

( Read more... )

frith posting in

ponyville_trot

Source: https://www.deviantart.com/rvsd/art/Letter-1280101133

Now this, this is great. The blurb states: "Illustration for a fanfic". I don't know which fanfic. I noticed that rvsd included a "noai" tag for this one. As if you could get a robot to Frankenstein-up this image from a paragraph of text and a purée of pin-up ponies. At least, not yet.

ysabetwordsmith

I have made bingo for Amnesty this month. Counting each 5 fills as a bingo, I have made two. \o/

5-1-25 B3 "In a Splash of Color"
11-1-25 B3 "The Sand of Celebration"
8-1-25 B2 "Until the Rain Comes"
5-1-25 O5 "A Palette of Appetizers"
11-1-25 O5 "User Interfaces"

2-1-25 B5 "Protect the Inner Core"
5-1-25 B5 "The Marvels of Brush and Ink"
11-1-25 I2 "The Car That Didn't Like Bullies"
11-1-25 B2 "Learning New Skills"
11-1-25 O4 "The Unicorn Door"

Current Mood: busy

cielsosinfel posting in

onesongaday

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lucy_roman

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ysabetwordsmith posting in

goals_on_dw

This January, don't change who you are, just try vegan

New Delhi [India], December 9: Veganuary -- the global campaign to try vegan for January and beyond - is today launching its 2026 campaign, titled "New Year, Same You". Since launching in India in 2022, Veganuary has had wide success, and more than 140,000 Indians have already signed up for the 2026 campaign.

With "New Year, Same You", Veganuary is flipping the usual New Year narrative on its head. Instead of pushing people to become someone "better", Veganuary reminds people that taking part does not require changing who they are - just making a few simple swaps that naturally fit into their everyday lives

Get the prompt list. It should also work for vegetarians, flexitarians, climatarians,etc. if you treat it as a "one vegan meal per day" challenge.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills the "Accident" square in my 6-1-22 card for the Cottoncandy Bingo fest. It has been sponsored by a pool with

fuzzyred. This is the second poem in the series Crystal Wood; it follows "Trees of Glass."

Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This is an advance announcement for the Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. This time the theme will be "short forms." I'll be soliciting poetic forms of 60 lines or less, so basically below my epic range rather than only the short-short length of 10 lines or less. Free verse below the length limit is also fine. Here are 15 short forms with descriptions. Among my favorite short forms not listed there: hexaduad, indriso, sestina, villanelle. This list of 168 forms is alphabetical. Poets Garrett has my favorite list of forms, including a list of repeating-interlocking forms. Their main page has links to poetic forms of 3-10 lines. Plus a few of my own: A darrow poem is a short, haiku-like musing by dark elves. A khazal is a Whispering Sands desert poem in couplets. A moose track is a repeating-interlocking form. A tweet wire is a tiny 10-line poem designed for Twitter. Some short forms, like haiku and tanka, work well as verses in a longer poem. I have The New Book of Forms by Lewis Turco so most forms should be in there. You can also prompt with a link to any exotic form you find; I collect these things.

In addition to forms, I also need topical prompts. One-word or short-phrase framing will assist in keeping them small enough to fit within the theme. Here is a huge list of common themes. This page of idioms has alphabetical and topical listings. I love writing poems about an individual word; see The Phrontistery (WARNING! Black hole caliber time sink ahead!) for glossaries. Have an orientation that is not well represented in literature? Ask for a sexual, romantic, or other orientation! If it's not on any of my lists, just include a description or link to one. I also list gender identities and my characters with disabilities. Want to help me play with my bookshelf? :D I have The Conflict Thesaurus, The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 2, The Occupation Thesaurus, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus, The Urban Setting Thesaurus, The Rural Setting Thesaurus, The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus, The Negative Trait Thesaurus, and The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus. Simply click "Read Sample" and view the table of contents for a list of cool ideas. You can prompt a sestina with six end words; I usually pick 5 short flexible words and one long exotic word, but I'll work with whatever I get. Favorite characters, threads, series, settings, etc. are also fair game but this is NOT the time for long plotty prompts. Consider combining a name or title with a short form, theme, or idiom. If you like to prompt with photos, this is a great opportunity for that. Just type in a topic (see above for possibilities) and click the Image link in your favorite search engine.

Among my more relevant series for the main theme:

Arts and Crafts America is ideal for picture prompts, or just name a craft.

Clay of Life suits words from Yiddish, Ladino, or Hebrew.

Fiorenza the Wisewoman suits Italian forms, most of which are short; also Italian words or phrases.

Hart's Farm suits Old Norse poetry or words.

Kung Fu Robots goes with Chinese forms.

Lacquerware suits Japanese forms.

Or you can ask for something new.

Linkbacks reveal a verse of any open linkback poem.

If you're interested, mark the date on your calendar, and please hold actual prompts until the "Poetry Fishbowl Open" post next week. (If you're not available that day, or you live in a time zone that makes it hard to reach me, you can leave advance prompts. I am now.) Meanwhile, if you want to help with promotion, please feel free to link back here or repost this on your blog.

( New to the fishbowl? Read all about it! )

Current Mood: busy

$radiantfracture: Beadwork bunny head (Default)$

radiantfracture

Because when I make fan art, I like it to be as obscure as possible

Sure, it looks like a linocut of a loon but really it's a symbol of queer hockey transcendence

§rf§

[ETA: I want to use some of the shimmering ink* to create the iridescent effect of the black feathers and to do the red eye -- painting ink on overtop of the print didn't do what I wanted, so maybe painting it right onto the printing block somehow?]

* specifically, Octopus Fluids' Witch, pine green with purple sheen

ysabetwordsmith

This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills the "Genes" square in my 11-1-23 card for the Drabble Fest Bingo. It has been sponsored by a pool with

fuzzyred. This is the first poem in the series Crystal Wood.

Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Be careful with each other

How activist groups can build trust, care, and sustainability in a world of capitalism and oppression.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

osprey_archer

And Picture Book Advent draws gently to a close. A note for my future self: although traditionally Advent ends on December 24, I think it would be nice to have a final picture book for the morning of Christmas. (My sister-in-law’s large extended family does a BIG Christmas, so we’ve simply ceded Christmas Day to them and have our own little family Christmas later on, which leaves Christmas morning open.)

Because of the way the dates of Advent fell, I had only two books left to review. First, The Wee Christmas Cabin at Carn-na-ween, by Ruth Sawyer, illustrated by Max Grafe, a picture book version of a story I first read in Sawyer’s story collection The Long Christmas. After a lifetime helping out in one cabin after another, with never a home of her own, old Oona is at last driven from her final house on Christmas Eve… only for the Good Folk to build her a house, and grant her wish that every white Christmas hence, the hungry and the lonely will be able to find her home for succor.

A lovely story. Another solid example from Sawyer that the spirit of Christmas is “generosity” and not “copious evergreens.”

And second, The Christmas Sweater, Jan Brett’s new Christmas book this year! Theo’s Yiayia knitted an extremely gaudy Christmas sweater for his dignified pug Ari. Hoping to win Ari over to the cozy warm sweater, Theo takes her for a snowshoe in the woods… only for a fresh fall of snow to obliterate his tracks! But fortunately, Ari(adne)’s sweater caught on a twig near the edge of the woods, so they can follow the unraveled yarn back home.

From the dedication, it looks like one of Brett’s children married into a Greek family, and this book is an homage to that family connection. I particularly enjoyed Ari’s expressive face, and indeed all the dogs running around in the snow in this book.

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glowingfish

December 2025

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Network

current slow reading

December Anime Wrap-Up

Anime Check-in: Dr. Stone S4P2E10-12 END

Battle of the Sexes, or women's place in sport

Tuesday word: Fireplace

Medieval 'Cussing' in the Middle East

The Far Side Of Cake, Vol. 9

whipcord

Learning more things I didn't know that I didn't know

Letter

Bingo

Meklit - Tizita feat. Brandee Younger

Snowflake Challenge

Veganuary

Poem: "Ghost Forests"

Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Art Post: Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird (Gavia immer)

Poem: "Trees of Glass"

Activism

Picture Book Advent Wrap-Up

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December 2025

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