Fancake's Theme for July: Working Together
Jul. 4th, 2025 09:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
runpunkrun
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fancake's theme for July is Working Together!If you have any questions about this theme, or the comm, come talk to me!
runpunkrunfancake's theme for July is Working Together!If you have any questions about this theme, or the comm, come talk to me!
The Sun Down Motel, by Simone St. James
Jul. 2nd, 2025 08:27 amrunpunkrunOne of those thrillers that splits the narrative between two women—both twenty years old, working at the same grubby motel and living in the same apartment, one in 1982 and the other in 2017 trying to solve the mystery of the first one's disappearance—and their stories run so parallel they're basically interchangeable and you start wondering if maybe the author should have only told the story once. It certainly would have cut down on the amount of clunky exposition and awkward dialogue.
The thrills were not thrilling, but the mystery might have been interesting if we weren't getting it from both ends. As it is, not worth the time.
Contains: References to rape, domestic abuse, and child death; descriptions of dead bodies; ghosts.
The thrills were not thrilling, but the mystery might have been interesting if we weren't getting it from both ends. As it is, not worth the time.
Contains: References to rape, domestic abuse, and child death; descriptions of dead bodies; ghosts.
Rebuilding journal search again
Jun. 30th, 2025 03:18 pmalierak posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenanceWe're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.
Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.
Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.
OAAAAAASIIIIIIIIIS
Jun. 29th, 2025 10:32 amsnickficIT'S HAPPENING. YOU GUYS IT'S HAPPENING. After literal months of dragging my feet due to a pet health situation, I finally bit the bullet yesterday and bought my plane tickets. To be fair to me, that did take several hours of thinking and comparing, because I'm also going to Slovenia to see friends, so I had to consider three one-way legs vs nested round-trips, plus see what day was cheapest to leave and come back within various other constraints, etc. BUT I HAVE THEM. AND I LEAVE IN LITERALLY THREE WEEKS AHHHHH.
Friend I'm going to the concert with told me all her friends are jealous because none of them could get tickets. 😇😇😇 I've seen photos of big Oasis displays over in the UK. Sounds like the hype is huge, can't wait to see it for myself.
In celebration, here's some top-notch Oasis content I've come across recently:
Noel calling into TalkSports, 6/27. On one hand, there's been basically zero official promo (unless you count a really slickly produced video advertising their exclusive Adidas line, which I do not???). On the other hand: Noel randomly calling into a sports radio show every so often. He seems in SUCH GOOD SPIRITS here omg, constantly referring to Liam as "our kid," winding up the hosts, being silly, and cheerfully declaring that it's "too late to back out [of the tour] now."
‘Liam had been drinking all night. Noel was not in a great mood’: photographers pick their best Oasis shot (The Guardian). Some fantastic quotes in this.
Are you fucking kidding me. Just when you think you've finally seen all the best/weirdest quotes from Noel about Liam... there's always more.
🥺🥺🥺
And in conclusion, a performance of the song that got me into Oasis, from 1997 near the peak of Oasis mania:
Noel gets so into the prechorus that he sings along with Liam even though he's not at the mic at the time, Liam looks like he's having a religious experience during Noel's guitar solo and then does a little dance, Noel looks like he's having a difference kind of experience during the solo... Top notch stuff.
Friend I'm going to the concert with told me all her friends are jealous because none of them could get tickets. 😇😇😇 I've seen photos of big Oasis displays over in the UK. Sounds like the hype is huge, can't wait to see it for myself.
In celebration, here's some top-notch Oasis content I've come across recently:
Noel calling into TalkSports, 6/27. On one hand, there's been basically zero official promo (unless you count a really slickly produced video advertising their exclusive Adidas line, which I do not???). On the other hand: Noel randomly calling into a sports radio show every so often. He seems in SUCH GOOD SPIRITS here omg, constantly referring to Liam as "our kid," winding up the hosts, being silly, and cheerfully declaring that it's "too late to back out [of the tour] now."
‘Liam had been drinking all night. Noel was not in a great mood’: photographers pick their best Oasis shot (The Guardian). Some fantastic quotes in this.
Bands – especially ones with a pretty boy singer or a female singer – can get really nervous that the singer gets all the attention. Noel was never like that. He said: “You’ve got to use the assets you’ve got.” -- Kevin Cummings
Are you fucking kidding me. Just when you think you've finally seen all the best/weirdest quotes from Noel about Liam... there's always more.
We were booked on the same flight, but the band were in club class and me and the hack were in goats-and-chickens. Liam came back to say hello. He was a garrulous guy, even pre-fame. He was standing at the back of the plane having a beer and this woman came by huffing and puffing with some kids and Liam offered to look after one of them. He pulled down one of those seats the flight attendants sit on and had the girl on his lap and chatted to her. After the tales I’d heard, I’d thought I was about to spend a few days with a nutcase. But he was sweet as a nut. -- Tom Sheehan
🥺🥺🥺
And in conclusion, a performance of the song that got me into Oasis, from 1997 near the peak of Oasis mania:
Noel gets so into the prechorus that he sings along with Liam even though he's not at the mic at the time, Liam looks like he's having a religious experience during Noel's guitar solo and then does a little dance, Noel looks like he's having a difference kind of experience during the solo... Top notch stuff.
Service Model, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Jun. 25th, 2025 08:52 amrunpunkrunI will read anything Adrian Tchaikovsky writes, and I read this, where a robot valet makes a decision his programming can't account for and is then thrust out of the safety and predictability of his manor home and into the chaos of the unknown, but it's a book that can't seem to commit to a perspective or tone. I mean:
This is not a page turner. At one point, I swear to god, Libby predicted it would take me 23 years to finish reading it. But it's Tchaikovsky, and so finish it I did. Even when dealing almost entirely with robots, his science fiction is humanist, concerned with individual choices, with no one person or group being the big bad. Instead the friction comes where systems overlap without comprehension.
There's also a short story set before this book that you can read at Reactor: Human Resources by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Contains: the collapse of human civilization, robot harm and death.
Inside his decision-making software there were two subroutines in the shape of wolves, and one insisted that he stay, and the other insisted that he could not stay.Is this robot valet on Tumblr? Nothing in the text justifies such a distracting choice.
This is not a page turner. At one point, I swear to god, Libby predicted it would take me 23 years to finish reading it. But it's Tchaikovsky, and so finish it I did. Even when dealing almost entirely with robots, his science fiction is humanist, concerned with individual choices, with no one person or group being the big bad. Instead the friction comes where systems overlap without comprehension.
Charles, House said at last. We are only following instructions.This book is a world-building slow burn that examines the overlap of automation and humanity, and comes to a dire—but logical—conclusion.
There's also a short story set before this book that you can read at Reactor: Human Resources by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Contains: the collapse of human civilization, robot harm and death.
(no subject)
Jun. 24th, 2025 04:00 pmsnickfic- Of course now I want some kind of Brokeback/On Swift Horses crossover. Maybe like mid-60s, Jack runs into happily partnered Henry and Julius and they listen to his woes and fuck him.
- On related note, sure wish On Swift Horses would get onto streaming! Like for free with subscription, not just VOD like it is now.
- Some highlights from the very serious Oasis discussion forum:
- The Dead Meat Podcast is covering the entire Saw series, movie by movie. I am so excited. First episode of Hot Saw Summer is here. I have already rewatched Saw II in preparation for the next episode, which comes out tomorrow.
- I am eyeing the Terrible Temperature Troubles flash exchange, although I really shouldn't, because I still need to beat my Hurt/Comfort Ex bus pass into shape, and I have to Summer of Horror treats to work on. Meanwhile I'm also tempted by Battleship, which I said I'd never do again...
- On related note, sure wish On Swift Horses would get onto streaming! Like for free with subscription, not just VOD like it is now.
- Some highlights from the very serious Oasis discussion forum:
Liam looked especially handsome in the video for 'Don't Go Away'. Elegantly wasted.
Why does it matter [what Noel looks like]? Being pretty is Liam's job.
- The Dead Meat Podcast is covering the entire Saw series, movie by movie. I am so excited. First episode of Hot Saw Summer is here. I have already rewatched Saw II in preparation for the next episode, which comes out tomorrow.
- I am eyeing the Terrible Temperature Troubles flash exchange, although I really shouldn't, because I still need to beat my Hurt/Comfort Ex bus pass into shape, and I have to Summer of Horror treats to work on. Meanwhile I'm also tempted by Battleship, which I said I'd never do again...
Movies: Planet Terror and Brokeback Mountain
Jun. 24th, 2025 03:16 pmsnickficPlanet Terror (2007). A very silly, pulpy exploitation movie starring a bunch of recognizable people fighting a zombie apocalypse. This is very much the thing that it is. Gross, inappropriate humor, a child shoots himself in the head. Rose McGowan is really hot, but the whole thing is soured by her RL history with Weinstein, who produced. Tarantino cast himself as a would-be rapist in his buddy's film. There's a lot of ehhhhhhh here, is way I'm saying.
I didn't hate watching it, but nor do I need to watch it again.
--
Brokeback Mountain (2005). Two cowboys herd sheep on a mountainside and start a decades-long affair. I got to see this at the theater for the 20-year anniversary, yay. It was pretty good! Heath Ledger was fantastic as Ennis, and the scenery was gorgeous.
That said, I had a lot of quibbles. Truthfully, realistic drama is not my genre even when you make it gay, so feel free to chalk most of my complaints up to that if you want.
That said, there were two key transition points that felt really abrupt and underdeveloped (the first time they have sex, and the reunion after four years apart). I also feel like either Gyllenhaal didn't get enough to work with, or he did not do a great job at working with what he had. It felt like the whole movie Ledger was showing and Gyllenhaal was telling. Ultimately, though, I think my main problem with this movie is I just about never vibe with the "decades of vignettes" drama subgenre. It always feels like the story is spread too thin, and it does here, too.
I do see the criticism about this being too much about tragic gays or whatever. There's no such thing as the universal queer experience, and no one work can capture What It Means To Be Queer, but even so this feels like a particularly narrow and bleak perspective.
Overall probably won't become one of my favorites, but I'm glad I've finally seen it.
I didn't hate watching it, but nor do I need to watch it again.
--
Brokeback Mountain (2005). Two cowboys herd sheep on a mountainside and start a decades-long affair. I got to see this at the theater for the 20-year anniversary, yay. It was pretty good! Heath Ledger was fantastic as Ennis, and the scenery was gorgeous.
That said, I had a lot of quibbles. Truthfully, realistic drama is not my genre even when you make it gay, so feel free to chalk most of my complaints up to that if you want.
That said, there were two key transition points that felt really abrupt and underdeveloped (the first time they have sex, and the reunion after four years apart). I also feel like either Gyllenhaal didn't get enough to work with, or he did not do a great job at working with what he had. It felt like the whole movie Ledger was showing and Gyllenhaal was telling. Ultimately, though, I think my main problem with this movie is I just about never vibe with the "decades of vignettes" drama subgenre. It always feels like the story is spread too thin, and it does here, too.
I do see the criticism about this being too much about tragic gays or whatever. There's no such thing as the universal queer experience, and no one work can capture What It Means To Be Queer, but even so this feels like a particularly narrow and bleak perspective.
Overall probably won't become one of my favorites, but I'm glad I've finally seen it.
Uterus: yeeted
Jun. 22nd, 2025 10:31 ambironic( Discussion of menstruation, reproductive organs, surgery recovery )
I took off work ’til the end of the month. My mom came for a week, my sister for almost a week, and now it’s “vacation” with daily-ish friend visits. I’m hoping my brain will permit playing around with a vid for some of the time. I have ideas for a show and a movie, neither of which I had any plans to vid until compelling songs presented themselves.
I took off work ’til the end of the month. My mom came for a week, my sister for almost a week, and now it’s “vacation” with daily-ish friend visits. I’m hoping my brain will permit playing around with a vid for some of the time. I have ideas for a show and a movie, neither of which I had any plans to vid until compelling songs presented themselves.