Book 39, 2026
May. 4th, 2026 09:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chez_jae
Witch and Tell by Angela M. SandersMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
View all my reviews
I stayed up a tad past bedtime to finish reading Witch and Tell, which is the 7th book in the “Witch Way Librarian” series by Angela M Sanders. The main character is librarian Josie Way.
Josie’s life is imploding around her. Not only has Sam given her the cold shoulder since she told him she’s a witch, but now her magic is failing her. Josie suspects her long-lost great aunt Beata may be behind the magical mayhem, but she has no way to prove it. Things go from bad to worse when she discovers a dead body on the floor of the library late at night, only to have it disappear by the time Sam arrives to investigate. When someone else finds a dead body in the woods later, Josie falls under suspicion. Her grandmother’s lessons and writings relate how she’d once bound Beata’s magic and that Beata herself may seek Josie out to release the binding. As Josie grows ever more desperate for answers, summoning Beata may be the only option open to her.
This was a very fast-paced story, and the plot featured multiple layers. Characters were portrayed well, from familiar faces to new characters. However, I found myself puzzling over ( Spoilers! )
Favorite lines:
♦ “She didn’t have a murder weapon, unless it was poison.”
♦ “Strangely, I think it has to do with cats.”
♦ The only thing worse than life imprisonment would be life imprisonment with a bad dye job.
How I wish I could award 4.5 stars. I enjoyed the story enough to earn a five, but the inconsistencies leave me wanting to knock a star off. I’ll give it five, in a nod to the series as a whole.
May the 4th
May. 4th, 2026 09:41 pmmellowtigger
I saw this meme making the rounds. I thought I'd share it too.
Text: "Star Wars Day. May the 4th be with you. Reminder: Luke, Han, and Leia were antifa."
I'm antifa, and you should be too.
And if you wonder why you should be, then Ruth Ben-Ghiat explains here (YouTube, 45 minute) some context of what's happening now. She's another USA historian, less well known than the ones I keep recommending, but she talks here about her New York Times guest essay from February 1st, "History Shows Trump’s Worst Impulses May Backfire on Him".
Book survey!
May. 4th, 2026 06:39 pmglacier_kittyThis week I'm reading: Project Hail Mary (are you surprised, question? :P) and Fourth Wing. I'll need to start Somewhere Beyond the Sea at some point too for book club on Friday!
My favorite book of all time is: The Worst Journey in the World, And Then There Were None, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition, etc
Favorite book read in the last 3 months: Dungeon Crawler Carl, The House in the Cerulean Sea, etc
The last book I bought was: Project Hail Mary at the airport haha
The first book I bought with my own money was: I definitely can't remember that lol
The first book I received as a gift was: That either :P
The last book I received as a gift was: Hmmm..The Phantom Tollbooth or Ahab's Wife, I think? People find it hard to get me books because I've read so many :P
The last book I borrowed from the library was: I haven't borrowed one in years, possibly a Dave Barry book around 2007. Since working at a used bookstore, I buy a lot of them there
The book physically closest to me right now is: Sole Survivor, for one..so many book piles around my apartment LOL
This or that:
Physical book or e-book: Physical book..reading on a screen just isn't the same!
Used or new: Both, though new books can be expensive
Fiction or non-fiction: Depends on my mood
Read at a coffee shop or at the park: I don't really do either, but with transition lenses, I can read better inside if I had to choose lol
Paperback or hardcover: Paperback
Romance or Crime: Crime. Romance is one of my least favorite genres (it's ok if there's a little in the book though
Yes or no
Stream of consciousness? Project Hail Mary is written that way, which seems to work well. I can be exciting being surprised along with the character!
Poetry? Not really, though I do like Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner and Edgar Allan Poe
Memoirs? They can be interesting, especially if they're an explorer haha
Philosophy? NO thank you. It is so incredibly boring and existential..when people start talking about it around me my brain just melts and I just can't follow what they're saying
Thrillers? Sure
Chronicles? If you mean a series, yes
Travel logs? Sure, especially Antarctic ones
Dialogue heavy? Maybe for a chapter or something..I'd be bored if the whole book was just dialogue!
I'm glad I had two days to recover before going back to work! I'm always nervous there will be a mess, but I'm sure Danae didn't let that happen! Hopefully they'll be happy to see me :P
( 4. What is your idea of the perfect afternoon? )
My favorite book of all time is: The Worst Journey in the World, And Then There Were None, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition, etc
Favorite book read in the last 3 months: Dungeon Crawler Carl, The House in the Cerulean Sea, etc
The last book I bought was: Project Hail Mary at the airport haha
The first book I bought with my own money was: I definitely can't remember that lol
The first book I received as a gift was: That either :P
The last book I received as a gift was: Hmmm..The Phantom Tollbooth or Ahab's Wife, I think? People find it hard to get me books because I've read so many :P
The last book I borrowed from the library was: I haven't borrowed one in years, possibly a Dave Barry book around 2007. Since working at a used bookstore, I buy a lot of them there
The book physically closest to me right now is: Sole Survivor, for one..so many book piles around my apartment LOL
This or that:
Physical book or e-book: Physical book..reading on a screen just isn't the same!
Used or new: Both, though new books can be expensive
Fiction or non-fiction: Depends on my mood
Read at a coffee shop or at the park: I don't really do either, but with transition lenses, I can read better inside if I had to choose lol
Paperback or hardcover: Paperback
Romance or Crime: Crime. Romance is one of my least favorite genres (it's ok if there's a little in the book though
Yes or no
Stream of consciousness? Project Hail Mary is written that way, which seems to work well. I can be exciting being surprised along with the character!
Poetry? Not really, though I do like Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner and Edgar Allan Poe
Memoirs? They can be interesting, especially if they're an explorer haha
Philosophy? NO thank you. It is so incredibly boring and existential..when people start talking about it around me my brain just melts and I just can't follow what they're saying
Thrillers? Sure
Chronicles? If you mean a series, yes
Travel logs? Sure, especially Antarctic ones
Dialogue heavy? Maybe for a chapter or something..I'd be bored if the whole book was just dialogue!
I'm glad I had two days to recover before going back to work! I'm always nervous there will be a mess, but I'm sure Danae didn't let that happen! Hopefully they'll be happy to see me :P
( 4. What is your idea of the perfect afternoon? )
West Village Tavern, forgotten backpack
May. 4th, 2026 09:45 pmwalkitoutToday, we were late getting out of the house and we forgot A.’s backpack, but R. rode to the rescue and brought it in maybe 15 minutes late. Teamwork!
I picked A. up and google maps routed us via 62 thus driving right past West Village Tavern at 5 pm. Lots of street parking. I asked her if she’d like to have dinner there and she said yes. No wings on the current menu, so we got a fish and chips and they split it for us. This is so exciting, because she’s been wanting to try fish and she liked it! It was haddock, in case this becomes a likes some white fish but not others thing. I had the $10 Tavern Marg which was fine, but too sweet for me to order again. Not insanely overpowering, which was nice. She ate some of my fries, and would have liked a bit more fish, but it worked out well for us and was obviously an inexpensive dinner. And we saw B.! Which was really nice. I love her so much.
I’m making blondies. I already started granola and it is cooling right now. A. does not like Yasso Cookies and Cream frozen yogurt.
ETA: I’ve been going over the depths of my Note where I try to remember things. I’m so far behind, but today, I thought I’d take a look at what I could delete. Restaurants that closed before I got to them. A bitters shop ditto. A shrubs shop ditto. A few things I actually did accomplish, and today I took A. out for fish and chips which took care of another. Also on the list: Russell Howard comedy special. I tried watching Lubricant on Netflix. I smiled at one joke, and noticed a real misogynistic trend and opted out after about 7 minutes.
But I tried, and it’s another thing to delete from the really long Note, so there’s that.
I picked A. up and google maps routed us via 62 thus driving right past West Village Tavern at 5 pm. Lots of street parking. I asked her if she’d like to have dinner there and she said yes. No wings on the current menu, so we got a fish and chips and they split it for us. This is so exciting, because she’s been wanting to try fish and she liked it! It was haddock, in case this becomes a likes some white fish but not others thing. I had the $10 Tavern Marg which was fine, but too sweet for me to order again. Not insanely overpowering, which was nice. She ate some of my fries, and would have liked a bit more fish, but it worked out well for us and was obviously an inexpensive dinner. And we saw B.! Which was really nice. I love her so much.
I’m making blondies. I already started granola and it is cooling right now. A. does not like Yasso Cookies and Cream frozen yogurt.
ETA: I’ve been going over the depths of my Note where I try to remember things. I’m so far behind, but today, I thought I’d take a look at what I could delete. Restaurants that closed before I got to them. A bitters shop ditto. A shrubs shop ditto. A few things I actually did accomplish, and today I took A. out for fish and chips which took care of another. Also on the list: Russell Howard comedy special. I tried watching Lubricant on Netflix. I smiled at one joke, and noticed a real misogynistic trend and opted out after about 7 minutes.
But I tried, and it’s another thing to delete from the really long Note, so there’s that.
[#299 | Uprising] Voting Post
May. 4th, 2026 09:47 pmfanweeklymod posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomweekly( List of entries )
Please Note: Because we only have 4 entries this week, there is only a First Place and Runner Up to vote for!
In order to vote, please reply to this post using the form provided. All comments are screened, and entries are listed in the order they were submitted. For your vote to qualify, you must fill out your entire voting card (both spots) in order to be counted. Winner votes are worth 2 points, Runner Up votes are worth 1 point. Meeting the bonus goal on an entry gets an extra point for that submission.
When voting, please copy/paste the ENTRY NUMBER and the FIC TITLE from the list above into the spot you're voting for (this prevents accidentally mis-numbering a vote and casting it for the wrong entry). It should look like this:
First Place: 61. Fic Title Here
Runner Up: 88. Another Fic Title
Please note that you cannot vote for your own entry, and that votes cannot be made anonymously. You do not have to be a member of the community in order to vote, nor have submitted an entry for this week; everyone is welcome to participate in the voting. IP addresses are logged to prevent duplicate voting.
Voting closes Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00PM EST.
Please Note: Because we only have 4 entries this week, there is only a First Place and Runner Up to vote for!
In order to vote, please reply to this post using the form provided. All comments are screened, and entries are listed in the order they were submitted. For your vote to qualify, you must fill out your entire voting card (both spots) in order to be counted. Winner votes are worth 2 points, Runner Up votes are worth 1 point. Meeting the bonus goal on an entry gets an extra point for that submission.
When voting, please copy/paste the ENTRY NUMBER and the FIC TITLE from the list above into the spot you're voting for (this prevents accidentally mis-numbering a vote and casting it for the wrong entry). It should look like this:
First Place: 61. Fic Title Here
Runner Up: 88. Another Fic Title
Please note that you cannot vote for your own entry, and that votes cannot be made anonymously. You do not have to be a member of the community in order to vote, nor have submitted an entry for this week; everyone is welcome to participate in the voting. IP addresses are logged to prevent duplicate voting.
Voting closes Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00PM EST.
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: D is for Detective
May. 4th, 2026 09:27 pmstonepicnicking_okapiSo this week is the week that I take off of domestic duties. Over the weekend, I cleaned the apartment, stocked the fridge (and made a list of options), and did all the laundry, and now through Sunday I am not cooking or cleaning or doing any housework unless it's an emergency.
So I also decided to post about things I like and, of course, one of the things I like best is detectives. Here are some cards I embellished. I am offering happy mail as part of 3 Weeks 4 Dreamwidth.
So I also decided to post about things I like and, of course, one of the things I like best is detectives. Here are some cards I embellished. I am offering happy mail as part of 3 Weeks 4 Dreamwidth.
May the Fourth Be With You.
May. 4th, 2026 04:16 pmrogueslayer452As many are celebrating Star Wars on this day, I wanted to give attention to something that I hadn't seen much acknowledgement on in terms of this franchise.
An Ewok Adventure (a.k.a. Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure) (1984) and its sequel Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). Both were live-action made-for-television movies set in the world of Star Wars focusing on the Ewoks and their human companions, mainly the little girl, and other creatures and antagonists.
Although I grew up on the original trilogy, I was always a casual fan of Star Wars. I liked the story, but that was about it, I didn't dig deeper into anything else beyond some of the following movies (and later with The Mandalorian) nor have I been part of its fandom. With that being said, I do remember these two Ewok movies. I recall seeing commercials for them on television, especially on The Disney Channel in the 90s, and we must've recorded them on video during that time too because this was very memorable to me, especially the little girl and her friendship with an Ewok. And truthfully, I didn't even know these were two separate movies because I just kind of lumped them together, which is why although my memory of the plot itself is vague I do remember specific little moments between both. So every single time people talk about Star Wars media, from the movies to shows or even that Christmas special, I rarely see anyone reference these two Ewok movies. It's become kind of obscure and forgotten, which is a shame, because this kind of gives us a look into Star Wars media before the prequel trilogy and definitely before Disney bought it.
An Ewok Adventure (a.k.a. Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure) (1984) and its sequel Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). Both were live-action made-for-television movies set in the world of Star Wars focusing on the Ewoks and their human companions, mainly the little girl, and other creatures and antagonists.
Although I grew up on the original trilogy, I was always a casual fan of Star Wars. I liked the story, but that was about it, I didn't dig deeper into anything else beyond some of the following movies (and later with The Mandalorian) nor have I been part of its fandom. With that being said, I do remember these two Ewok movies. I recall seeing commercials for them on television, especially on The Disney Channel in the 90s, and we must've recorded them on video during that time too because this was very memorable to me, especially the little girl and her friendship with an Ewok. And truthfully, I didn't even know these were two separate movies because I just kind of lumped them together, which is why although my memory of the plot itself is vague I do remember specific little moments between both. So every single time people talk about Star Wars media, from the movies to shows or even that Christmas special, I rarely see anyone reference these two Ewok movies. It's become kind of obscure and forgotten, which is a shame, because this kind of gives us a look into Star Wars media before the prequel trilogy and definitely before Disney bought it.
Post and Jam: Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen [1988]
May. 4th, 2026 04:12 pmdelphiFandom 50 #12
There were a lot of Leonard Cohen songs in the running, but his 1988 I'm Your Man album fit tidily into the lineup, and this is one of the tracks on it that I'm always in the mood to listen to. (That said, I might also be sneaking in a cover of a Cohen song later on in the series.)
Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen
There were a lot of Leonard Cohen songs in the running, but his 1988 I'm Your Man album fit tidily into the lineup, and this is one of the tracks on it that I'm always in the mood to listen to. (That said, I might also be sneaking in a cover of a Cohen song later on in the series.)
Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen
Just one thing: 05 May 2026
May. 4th, 2026 06:49 pmjazzyjj posting in awesomeersIt's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
THIS IS KILLING MEEEE by lukremium (SFW)
May. 4th, 2026 07:08 pmi_like_the_stars posting in fanart_recsFandom: Sonic the Hedgehog
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Sonic the Hedgehog
Content Notes/Warnings: None
Medium: Digital
Artist on DW/LJ: N/A
Artist Website/Gallery: Luke on Twitter
Why this piece is awesome: The lighting! The painting! It is all so striking and pleasing! It's also Sonic Riders, which is cool.
Link: https://x.com/lukremium/status/1890945511529590956/photo/1, backup link
Characters/Pairing/Other Subject: Sonic the Hedgehog
Content Notes/Warnings: None
Medium: Digital
Artist on DW/LJ: N/A
Artist Website/Gallery: Luke on Twitter
Why this piece is awesome: The lighting! The painting! It is all so striking and pleasing! It's also Sonic Riders, which is cool.
Link: https://x.com/lukremium/status/1890945511529590956/photo/1, backup link
[ SECRET POST #7059 ]
May. 4th, 2026 05:58 pmcase posting in fandomsecrets⌈ Secret Post #7059 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.
( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 30 secrets from Secret Submission Post #1008.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
Fic Intentions Meme - Day 18
May. 4th, 2026 11:28 pmredfiona9918. Do you typically post multi-chapters as you write, or finish it all and then start posting? Would you like to change your posting method?
After painful previous experience of my inspiration plain old drying up mid-way through a story, I now only allow myself to post a chapter after the next chapter is written. It's the happy mid-point between security that I will finish the damn thing and my inner "hamster of wanting feedback".
(This will become important as two of the next three fics after the 3 Sentence Fics go on AO3 are multi-chapter fics.)
( The rest of the days )
After painful previous experience of my inspiration plain old drying up mid-way through a story, I now only allow myself to post a chapter after the next chapter is written. It's the happy mid-point between security that I will finish the damn thing and my inner "hamster of wanting feedback".
(This will become important as two of the next three fics after the 3 Sentence Fics go on AO3 are multi-chapter fics.)
( The rest of the days )
History
May. 4th, 2026 04:59 pmysabetwordsmithArchaeologists Discover 80-Ton Stones Beneath the Sea, Believed to Be Remains of One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
More than 1,600 years after its disappearance, massive stones from the Lighthouse of Alexandria are being recovered from the Mediterranean seabed. Archaeologists have brought up massive stone blocks tied to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
In the waters off Alexandria, asubmerged site known for decades is now yielding some of its most striking elements. The PHAROS project reports that22 monumental stone blocks linked to the lighthouse have been lifted from the seabed after years of underwater exploration.
That which is loved, is remembered; that which is remembered, lives.
More than 1,600 years after its disappearance, massive stones from the Lighthouse of Alexandria are being recovered from the Mediterranean seabed. Archaeologists have brought up massive stone blocks tied to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
In the waters off Alexandria, asubmerged site known for decades is now yielding some of its most striking elements. The PHAROS project reports that22 monumental stone blocks linked to the lighthouse have been lifted from the seabed after years of underwater exploration.
That which is loved, is remembered; that which is remembered, lives.
A good day off
May. 4th, 2026 10:46 pmcosmolinguistI got to see my Canadian friend Bill today! I haven't seen him in like 15 years. I hadn't even heard from him in a while (which would be fair enough, he was Andrew's friend before he was mine, but then he started emailing me again! and now he's here!).
We went around town, eating and drinking and talking, and ended up eating McTucky's in Sackville Gardens, looking over the canal at the lights of the Village as the sky went dark, and some guy all on his own walked down the street shouting "fuuuuck yooooour muuuuum!" at the top of his voice. Repeatedly.
D and I agreed it was a particularly Mancunian experience to offer our visiting friend.
(no subject)
May. 4th, 2026 01:49 pmgreghousesgfHad the greatest time in Texas with my family! We went to this great Mexican restaurant where I had brisket enchiladas and a coconut margarita, then the next day they took me to the Dallas Aquarium (it doesn't just have fish in it, it has birds and monkeys and a bunch of other animals and is more like a mini zoo) and this cool bar and grill owned by my sister's husband's friend where this really good Beatles cover band was playing! Then next day they gave me a Beatles themed party over at my sister and her husband's house with lots of people and I got a ton of presents and yummy food including homemade lasagna and chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing! Then when I got home yesterday I got together with a friend for drinks and dinner and we saw Project Hail Mary, it was great!
Gorillaz (Virtual Band): The Answer by sonatas
May. 3rd, 2026 04:14 pmzorbo_jorks posting in fancakeFandom: Gorillaz (Virtual Band)
Pairings/Characters: Murdoc Niccals/Stuart "2D" Pot, Various OCs, Hannibal Niccals, Noodle, Russel Hobbs
Rating: Explicit
Length: 298,396 words (26 Chapters)
Creator Links: https://archiveofourown.org/users/sonatas/pseuds/sonatas
Theme: journey & travel
Summary: When a phone call informing him of his father’s death sends him on an unexpected and unwanted trip back to his childhood home, Murdoc finds himself confronted with more questions about his origins than he ever could have anticipated. Who knew a couple of shoe boxes, left to gather dust in his father’s closet, could contain such heart-wrenching secrets. And why is 2D so invested? Post-canon. 2Doc.
Reccer's Notes: I have just recently started peeking into this fandom, and did not realize that this is one of the Big Fics for the pairing until after I finished it, but it's so earned! The story pulled me along the whole way: imagine a world-wide road trip where every party is kind of miserable, and there are occult curses and ghosts chasing them the whole time! Great world-building and mystery elements too, and pique character work and dramatic tension!
There is a lot of fanart embedded throughout, as well, which is such a treat!
Strong Content Warning for Graphic depictions of violence & injury, predominant themes of drug abuse, addiction, and mourning, as well as very heavy and frequent discussion of past child abuse, CSA and adult SA
Fanwork Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11767422/chapters/26527818
Pairings/Characters: Murdoc Niccals/Stuart "2D" Pot, Various OCs, Hannibal Niccals, Noodle, Russel Hobbs
Rating: Explicit
Length: 298,396 words (26 Chapters)
Creator Links: https://archiveofourown.org/users/sonatas/pseuds/sonatas
Theme: journey & travel
Summary: When a phone call informing him of his father’s death sends him on an unexpected and unwanted trip back to his childhood home, Murdoc finds himself confronted with more questions about his origins than he ever could have anticipated. Who knew a couple of shoe boxes, left to gather dust in his father’s closet, could contain such heart-wrenching secrets. And why is 2D so invested? Post-canon. 2Doc.
Reccer's Notes: I have just recently started peeking into this fandom, and did not realize that this is one of the Big Fics for the pairing until after I finished it, but it's so earned! The story pulled me along the whole way: imagine a world-wide road trip where every party is kind of miserable, and there are occult curses and ghosts chasing them the whole time! Great world-building and mystery elements too, and pique character work and dramatic tension!
There is a lot of fanart embedded throughout, as well, which is such a treat!
Strong Content Warning for Graphic depictions of violence & injury, predominant themes of drug abuse, addiction, and mourning, as well as very heavy and frequent discussion of past child abuse, CSA and adult SA
Fanwork Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11767422/chapters/26527818
May
May. 4th, 2026 01:00 pmpaperghostWorking full time has started. Meanwhile Neighcon was happening in Baltimore last weekend, but I
1. don't use Twitter
2. am trying to look at 4chan less
So I'm not going to feel FOMO over it. It's a new convention and will probably last a few years. TFS is next month and it's the first time I'll have a hotel room and the weekend to myself. I'm waiting for the schedule to post in advance before deciding to get a suitcase and a bag or not... If it goes as badly as TFF did, I might just not attend conventions anymore this year and focus on doctor's appointments.
My tablet also arrived last week. I already feel like I focus better, this is the second tablet I've had and they've become more advance compared to the dinky Tab I had in 2013. It's a large phone and small laptop at the same time. When it comes to art, I've tried 3 programs so far:
Running emulators has also gone pretty well. Right now I'm using Lemuroid because it runs most consoles, but I've only tried Gameboy + Genesis + SNES games. Some SNES games lag like Bomberman, but others don't. I've managed to focus well enough to reach the 100th level of Puzzle Bobble, but I can't beat the boss. I might install Winlator to see if I can run some "low grade" PC games on here. But more importantly I need to see if I can run a 3DS emulator!!! I still haven't found anyone who can repair my 2DS, so I might just emulate instead of playing on there. (Wait: Would emulating Colors 3D make a good art program? lol)
That aside, I'm not really doing well. I've been struggling with suicidality and working full time probably contributes. I've been having a bad financial situation for the last few years that I have to bootstrap myself out of. It's coming close to two years since "you know what" happened. I haven't recovered. I haven't found new circles or friends. I realized I wasted the last 7 years of my life on a lie. The issue of being traumatized by someone who is well-liked and respected is you won't be believed, or it won't matter that much. But I also feel like I "can't" feel this way because I wasn't "abused" physically or sexually, but I suspect someone else was. I feel like I'm insulting people who dealt with actual DV, even though I've also gone through "real" bodily trauma. The sheer "soft" cruelty I was put through is what makes me feel the craziest. But again, I doubt anyone would believe me. Oh well.
I really, really hate being single. But I feel like damaged good and can't connect with others well. I've given myself 6 more years to go. If things don't improve by the time I'm 40, I don't really plan on being around anymore. I've been trying so hard to get better, but I wasn't socialized well in my formative years and it's affecting me now.
I still have a backlog of things to answer scattered on several sites. I rarely check things that aren't push notifs on my phone, tbh.
1. don't use Twitter
2. am trying to look at 4chan less
So I'm not going to feel FOMO over it. It's a new convention and will probably last a few years. TFS is next month and it's the first time I'll have a hotel room and the weekend to myself. I'm waiting for the schedule to post in advance before deciding to get a suitcase and a bag or not... If it goes as badly as TFF did, I might just not attend conventions anymore this year and focus on doctor's appointments.
My tablet also arrived last week. I already feel like I focus better, this is the second tablet I've had and they've become more advance compared to the dinky Tab I had in 2013. It's a large phone and small laptop at the same time. When it comes to art, I've tried 3 programs so far:
- Krita is "the best" because it's a desktop-quality program in mobile form. But... it's still the hardest for me to get used to. The brush set from The Dawner lags, so I'm probably going to explore other scrips and brush packs. The painting engine is really good on mobile, BUT getting stabilization in control is a pain. I really wish the mobile version of Krita was more visually stripped down. I'm on a Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, which is slightly oldish and I don't need the bells and whistles desktop Krita has.
- Hipaint is decent. Not much else to say. I've seen it called an Android counterpart to Procreate but I haven't seen any resources for it. It has a good layout and is easy to use.
- Autodesk is the "comfiest" to use and has no lag, good brushes, and built-in stabilization and editing tools. My paycheck is tomorrow so I shelled out $3 for premium. Seems to be worth it so far.
- CSP mobile is one I KNOW about but haven't tried. CSP is my favorite program, I used a pirated copy for years before I bought it at full price. I'd love to have the mobile version to transfer art from tablet-to-PC, but the monthly payments really piss me off. If there's a free trial I could install and quit, or I can look into a crack.
- I know Iblispaint and Medibang exist, but the former is unusable without paying and I don't know what Medibang has that everything listed above has.
Running emulators has also gone pretty well. Right now I'm using Lemuroid because it runs most consoles, but I've only tried Gameboy + Genesis + SNES games. Some SNES games lag like Bomberman, but others don't. I've managed to focus well enough to reach the 100th level of Puzzle Bobble, but I can't beat the boss. I might install Winlator to see if I can run some "low grade" PC games on here. But more importantly I need to see if I can run a 3DS emulator!!! I still haven't found anyone who can repair my 2DS, so I might just emulate instead of playing on there. (Wait: Would emulating Colors 3D make a good art program? lol)
That aside, I'm not really doing well. I've been struggling with suicidality and working full time probably contributes. I've been having a bad financial situation for the last few years that I have to bootstrap myself out of. It's coming close to two years since "you know what" happened. I haven't recovered. I haven't found new circles or friends. I realized I wasted the last 7 years of my life on a lie. The issue of being traumatized by someone who is well-liked and respected is you won't be believed, or it won't matter that much. But I also feel like I "can't" feel this way because I wasn't "abused" physically or sexually, but I suspect someone else was. I feel like I'm insulting people who dealt with actual DV, even though I've also gone through "real" bodily trauma. The sheer "soft" cruelty I was put through is what makes me feel the craziest. But again, I doubt anyone would believe me. Oh well.
I really, really hate being single. But I feel like damaged good and can't connect with others well. I've given myself 6 more years to go. If things don't improve by the time I'm 40, I don't really plan on being around anymore. I've been trying so hard to get better, but I wasn't socialized well in my formative years and it's affecting me now.
I still have a backlog of things to answer scattered on several sites. I rarely check things that aren't push notifs on my phone, tbh.
Friday Five on Monday
May. 4th, 2026 12:37 pmhalfshellvenusThe Friday Five
1. Do you like to spend time outdoors?
Oh, yes. Providing I have sunscreen!
2. What is your favorite flower?
I really like roses, but I think it's a toss-up between the blue iris and the stargazer lily.
3. Any favorite warm weather activities?
Biking and hiking, ideally only in warm-ISH weather (it gets horribly hot here).
4. Have you ever kept a garden? If so, what did you grow?
Yes, many times. Tomatoes grow well in this climate, and we have cherry, orange, and mandarin trees. I've grown canteloupe in the past, as well as zucchini (eh). But ever since we moved to this house some 26 years ago, nothing but the zucchini has grown well (and it goes from thumb-sized to baseball bat seemingly overnight). The soil in our garden area appears to be really crappy. :O
5. Do you know how to swim?
Yes. Not in an impressive way (I hate to put my face in the water), so I usually dog paddle or do the breaststroke with my head up. OTOH, I can backstroke for days...
1. Do you like to spend time outdoors?
Oh, yes. Providing I have sunscreen!
2. What is your favorite flower?
I really like roses, but I think it's a toss-up between the blue iris and the stargazer lily.
3. Any favorite warm weather activities?
Biking and hiking, ideally only in warm-ISH weather (it gets horribly hot here).
4. Have you ever kept a garden? If so, what did you grow?
Yes, many times. Tomatoes grow well in this climate, and we have cherry, orange, and mandarin trees. I've grown canteloupe in the past, as well as zucchini (eh). But ever since we moved to this house some 26 years ago, nothing but the zucchini has grown well (and it goes from thumb-sized to baseball bat seemingly overnight). The soil in our garden area appears to be really crappy. :O
5. Do you know how to swim?
Yes. Not in an impressive way (I hate to put my face in the water), so I usually dog paddle or do the breaststroke with my head up. OTOH, I can backstroke for days...
To the "bring it on" stage
May. 4th, 2026 03:19 pmmissdianeThe last time I messaged my GP to get drugs refilled and that it was time to go from 2.5mg to 5mg, she said to message her before she's out of the office May 8 so I did over the weekend. I also noted that I so far wasn't feeling any difference on the 5mg (aside from the usual occasional gastro weirdness now and then and being fatigued the first couple of days after, typical side effects).
She called me today to ask about those before refilling and I said that I thought that the 5mg would have more side effects and would also hopefully turn the food noise off again, which it hadn't. I stopped losing weight a month ago. It also hasn't had any more difference on the blood sugar on the higher dose so far. Yesterday in the morning it was 104 which made no sense since I thought I slept pretty well. So she asked if for the next round if I want to go ahead and hop up to the 7.5mg dose.
Normally I'd be all nervous about it but screw it, I need this drug to WORK already so let's just do this. I still have three more doses/weeks of the 5mg before switching over to the 7.5mg so it shouldn't be a complete shock to the system.
Probably was also affected by thinking I was looking rather huge in my gardening video and also that recent blood test I didn't like the results of. Meh, whatever motivates, I suppose.
She called me today to ask about those before refilling and I said that I thought that the 5mg would have more side effects and would also hopefully turn the food noise off again, which it hadn't. I stopped losing weight a month ago. It also hasn't had any more difference on the blood sugar on the higher dose so far. Yesterday in the morning it was 104 which made no sense since I thought I slept pretty well. So she asked if for the next round if I want to go ahead and hop up to the 7.5mg dose.
Normally I'd be all nervous about it but screw it, I need this drug to WORK already so let's just do this. I still have three more doses/weeks of the 5mg before switching over to the 7.5mg so it shouldn't be a complete shock to the system.
Probably was also affected by thinking I was looking rather huge in my gardening video and also that recent blood test I didn't like the results of. Meh, whatever motivates, I suppose.
When We Were Real, by Daryl Gregory
May. 4th, 2026 12:06 pmrachelmanija
One day everyone in the world woke up with these words in front of their eyes, somehow inscribed in their inner eye: YOU ARE LIVING IN A SIMULATION. Simultaneously, a number of impossible things appeared on Earth, apparently to prove it: a frozen tornado, windows between continents, etc.
It's now seven years later. Those words still appear before everyone's eyes periodically. And tours have sprung up to take people to see the Impossibles, or at least as many as can be seen on a seven-day bus trip.
This extremely high-concept premise resembles that of The Measure in some ways: a world-spanning event, clearly real and equally clearly done by a more-than-human power, with immense existential implications, and with no one having any idea why it happened or why it happened now. But this is Daryl Gregory and he's very good with bizarre high-concept premises, and this book is excellent.
The other genre of When We Were Real is "set of random people thrown together" story. A number of the characters are, at least on the surface, straight out of a 1930s train story or a 1970s airplane story: two nuns, a rabbi, a pregnant woman, an elderly woman in a wheelchair and her devoted daughter, a set of elderly tourists, a person who's secretly dying, a person with a secret identity, a fugitive from the law. The only stock character it's missing is the cute child.
The many characters are very human and likable, with even the most frustrating of them having reasons for being the way they are; the annoying pregnant influencer's reason for being an annoying influencer turns out to be both sympathetic and heartbreaking. (Yes, it's partly to provide for her upcoming baby, but the real question is "Why an influencer rather than some other job?")
( Read more... )
The Impossibles themselves are excellent. My favorite was the time tunnel, where you can stay an infinite amount of subjective time (you get a home pulled out of your own history or desires, plus fresh-baked bread every morning) and emerge several hundred miles away, only a second having passed outside. But the flock of non-real sheep was pretty great too.
There's serious themes - existentialism, mortality, meaning, God, ethics, love - but delivered with a light touch. It's more plotty than I expected, given the quest/picaresque structure, and the story is very satisfying. You don't get answers to all the questions, but you do get a general outline as to what's going on and why. It's a very human and humane novel, of the moment but in a good way.
Content notes: Cancer. Plans for suicide due to terminal illness. Pregnancy and birthing issues. Violence.
I’m terrible at receiving negative feedback — and am spiraling from my 360 review
May. 4th, 2026 05:59 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
askamanager_feedA reader writes:
As part of a leadership development opportunity offered by my organization, I’ve been given the chance to participate in a 360 review process. For context, I report to a member of the C-suite and have been angling for a promotion (which would entail a new role basically being created for me), and the 360 was brought up by my supervisor and our CEO as a growth investment.
I consider myself to be very self aware, so most of the things that came up in the process are not surprising to me, but I’m also very sensitive to criticism, especially from higher-ups. I am very professional and am able to calmly hear the feedback when it’s given, but with this 360, I’m finding myself spiraling. I received the written summary and skimmed the positive, but have read and reread the criticisms. I’m devastated to see the critical feedback from C-suite members in particular, and now have a twofold challenge: one, how do I become better at hearing critical feedback without taking it so personally? And two, how do I get the most out of what is being billed as a leadership/growth opportunity and transform the critical elements of the 360 into something constructive?
Years ago, I was coaching a manager with a similar sensitivity to criticism, who was similarly upset about the feedback in a 360. Interestingly, when I read it through, the majority of what was in there was positive, but she couldn’t stop focusing on the (relatively small amount of) things people thought she could do to improve, and she felt like a failure. I asked her to take a yellow highlighter and highlight everything positive — which left her with a document that was about 90% yellow, which made it visually impossible for her to ignore the actual balance of the input her colleagues had offered, despite what her brain had been trying to do. She has told me in recent years that she still keeps that highlighted document as a reminder for herself.
Can you try something similar and see if that changes the way it’s landing with you? I’m sure you don’t think that you’re flawless or have no areas where you can grow, and if you can correctly place those areas within the broader context of all the things people say you do well, it generally gets a lot easier to feel comfortable with this type of document as a whole, and to see it realistically.
The other thing is: we all have areas where we can do better, and it’s actually a favor for people to be willing to tell you what those are! I know the whole “feedback is a gift” framing feels cheesy … but feedback really is a gift if you’re someone who wants to get better and better at what you do. I was going to add “as long as they offer it reasonably politely,” but I actually think even feedback that’s not diplomatically stated can be a gift, if you choose to see the value in hearing unvarnished input.
That’s true even when you disagree with the feedback — because, if nothing else, it gives you useful info about how you’re coming across to someone else. You might ultimately consider that info and decide it doesn’t matter, but it’s still valuable to have it.
The post I’m terrible at receiving negative feedback — and am spiraling from my 360 review appeared first on Ask a Manager.
Birdfeeding
May. 4th, 2026 01:11 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy, mild, and damp. It rained a little earlier.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
I set out potted plants to get some sun.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I planted the surviving squashes. I am dubious if any will survive, but maybe some of the cushaws will. They all sprouted and grew vigorously at first, but quickly started to die. Forget gaining 2-3 months by starting seeds indoors. However, if I had started them in April instead of March, that might have worked. Fortunately I still have more seeds, so I can also try direct sowing.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I planted a northern red maple at the edge of the savanna.
I saw a male Baltimore oriole in the forest garden! :D 3q3q3q!!! I cut an orange in half and put it out for him. I've also seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I planted a 'Prairie Fire' dogwood in the west hedge of the savanna and put mulch around it.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- We broke up the big walnut branch in the savanna and hauled the bits to the firepit.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
I set out potted plants to get some sun.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I planted the surviving squashes. I am dubious if any will survive, but maybe some of the cushaws will. They all sprouted and grew vigorously at first, but quickly started to die. Forget gaining 2-3 months by starting seeds indoors. However, if I had started them in April instead of March, that might have worked. Fortunately I still have more seeds, so I can also try direct sowing.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I planted a northern red maple at the edge of the savanna.
I saw a male Baltimore oriole in the forest garden! :D 3q3q3q!!! I cut an orange in half and put it out for him. I've also seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- I planted a 'Prairie Fire' dogwood in the west hedge of the savanna and put mulch around it.
EDIT 5/4/26 -- We broke up the big walnut branch in the savanna and hauled the bits to the firepit.
.
Game Review: Wall World
Apr. 17th, 2026 10:05 amdorchadasI had never heard of this game at all before it was recommended to me by someone who I work together with on Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead, so when I saw it was on sale for $2, I picked it up. When I checked it out on HowLongToBeat and saw that it was only ten hours or so, I figured it'd be fun to play after finishing all the postgame of Clair Obscur.
That's it. I usually have more to say in these intros but like I said, this game was completely new to me. I didn't have any preconceptions going in because I had no conception at all, so you're getting this with no nostalgia or anecdotes about the last time I played this. Savor it.
Climb that wall.
( Read more... )
That's it. I usually have more to say in these intros but like I said, this game was completely new to me. I didn't have any preconceptions going in because I had no conception at all, so you're getting this with no nostalgia or anecdotes about the last time I played this. Savor it.
Climb that wall.
( Read more... )
Check-In Post - May 4th 2026
May. 4th, 2026 06:30 pmbadly_knitted posting in get_knittedHello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.
Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?
There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.
This Week's Question: What do you wish you could get right first time, every time?
If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.
I now declare this Check-In OPEN!
Chat corner, celebrating
May. 4th, 2026 07:12 pmannathecrow posting in dreamwarsHello,
happy Star Wars Day! This is your weekly chat post. Come and talk!
~ ~ ~
The cat spilled tea on me, I had to change, and so I'm actually wearing Star Wars themed pants today :D
The May the 4th Be With You Fanworks Exchange archive is live! I already have at least one new favorite, but I'm pretty sure I'll find more.
(I haven't bought and games - yet. Still a few days to go...)
is it rude to instant-message someone “hi” with no further context?
May. 4th, 2026 04:29 pmaskamanager_feedA reader writes:
At my company, we have an instant messaging system. A lot of people will send an initial message that says nothing but “you free?” or “hi.”
In addition to making me irrationally annoyed (just tell me what you want already!), I have no idea what the appropriate response is. Is it “yes,” “hello Bob,” “what’s up”? All of these seem terrible.
What is appropriate IM protocol? I like to start with, “Do you have time for a question about X?” Or just the question if it’s short because that’s what I’d prefer to receive, but maybe people find this rude? I am aware that I am overthinking this but I also can’t stop overthinking it.
I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here.
The post is it rude to instant-message someone “hi” with no further context? appeared first on Ask a Manager.
my coworker carries a hidden recording device everywhere
May. 4th, 2026 02:59 pmaskamanager_feedA reader writes:
I work in higher education, in an area that is particularly under political fire. Due to anti-DEIA legislation, there have been people who have been targeted and fired due to anti-diversity advocacy. Some of the incidents have involved video that had been taken clandestinely and then edited for maximum damage. This has led to people losing their jobs and created a space of paranoia.
I work in an environment that requires collaboration and collegiality in order to complete work. During a casual meeting with a friendly colleague, they mentioned that another colleague showed them a piece of tech that they were now carrying that allowed them to record the people around them without their knowledge. Think Meta glasses but actually more discreet (like an AI transcribing device you can carry in your pocket). This information was *kind of* given in confidence, as the person who told me was the only one would know that our colleague was walking around with it. I hope to circle back to have a deeper conversation about what could be shared once I get your advice.
I walked away from that conversation kind of freaked out. My profession has specific norms around privacy that are definitely in contrast to this technology and our front-facing policies reflect those norms. But our policy norms are not the same as the larger workplace and there are definitely a small but loud minority of people who would try to argue for the use of the tech.
Regardless, I am extremely uncomfortable with the idea of this colleague wandering from meeting to meeting, recording coworkers without their knowledge. The space I work is intensely hierarchical and while I’m not at the bottom of the hierarchy, I don’t actually interact with this person. So I technically don’t have a way to directly make him stop. But I do have strong networks in administration that I could involve. This also brings larger issues about recording colleagues, trust in the workplace and current standards of privacy.
I guess I’m asking, am I overthinking/overreacting? And if I’m not, what should be the next step and what recommendations can I make to try to make sure that my colleagues are aware that we have a recorder in our midst?
You are not overthinking or overreacting. Most workplaces have policies or practices that assume or require that people be informed before they’re recorded, and having someone surreptitiously recording every work conversation they’re involved in (and then having the data sent elsewhere to be processed and stored by AI) raises enormous security issues.
As these devices get more common, employers are going to need to come up with more explicit policies to address their use.
In fact, are you sure that your organization doesn’t have existing policies that would cover this? It’s possible that they do, even if those policies didn’t envision this specific technology.
Either way, though, this is a very, very reasonable thing to raise. In fact, I’d argue that now that you know about it, you have an obligation to raise it (doubly so if you’re in any kind of leadership or senior role). Go to those strong administration networks you mentioned, explain what you’ve become aware of, share your concerns, and ask how to address it.
The post my coworker carries a hidden recording device everywhere appeared first on Ask a Manager.
nenuphar
May. 4th, 2026 07:54 amprettygoodwordAll the words for the next couple weeks were encountered in works of Dorothy L. Sayers, specifically Have His Carcass, Gaudy Night, and Busman’s Honeymoon. (I also read Strong Poison to complete the quartet, but none of its vocabulary caught my attention.) In order, of course, so the first few are from HHC, starting with:
nenuphar (NEN-yoo-far) - n., a water-lily, esp. the European white water-lily (Nymphaea alba).
Thanks, WikiMedia!
Or as some older dictionaries put it, esp. the Egyptian lotus. This came up when Lord Peter is (as usual) being frivolous with Harriet Vane:
---L.
nenuphar (NEN-yoo-far) - n., a water-lily, esp. the European white water-lily (Nymphaea alba).
Thanks, WikiMedia!
Or as some older dictionaries put it, esp. the Egyptian lotus. This came up when Lord Peter is (as usual) being frivolous with Harriet Vane:
“There’s something in that. But I’ll have to get a decent frock if there is such a thing in Wilvercombe.”The quotation in question is from the poem “The Sphinx” by Oscar Wilde. The word in question is from Medieval Latin nenuphar, from Arabic nīlawfar/nīnūfar, from Middle Persian nīlōpal, lotus/water-lily, from Sanskrit nīlotpala, blue lotus, from nīla, blue + utpala, lotus/water-lily -- so it traveled a fair distance there.
“Well, get a wine-coloured one, then. I’ve always wanted to see you in wine-colour. It suits people with honey-coloured skin. ‘Blossoms of the honey-sweet and honey-coloured nenuphar’—I always have a quotation for everything—it saves original thinking.”
---L.
Smash Burger Tacos
May. 4th, 2026 01:30 pmbudgetbites_feedThese easy Smash Burger Tacos are packed with juicy seasoned beef, cheese, crisp lettuce, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing, giving you all the best parts of a diner-style burger wrapped up in a golden tortilla! I love anything with pickles and melty cheese, so this burger-taco mashup was an immediate YES for me. The simple burger filling is pressed onto flour tortillas and cooked meat-side down in a hot skillet, so the edges get browned and savory while the tortilla turns crisp. It’s easy, budget-friendly, ready in about 30 minutes, and the best compromise when you can’t decide between burgers or tacos for dinner!
CHeesy Smashed Burger Tacos
These smash burger tacos give me all the crispy, browned edges of our classic smash burgers, but folded into a crispy tortilla like a beef taco! I keep the seasoning simple with minced onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper so the beef still tastes like a classic burger, then finish each taco with American cheese until it’s all melted and delicious.
You do have to cook these burger tacos in batches, but each one only takes about 4 minutes total, and once they hit the skillet, they’re pretty hands-off until you need to flip them. I can buzz around setting the table or serving up my sides while they cook. You’ll know they’re ready to flip when the beef is browned, sizzling around the edges, and releases easily from the pan. Then I keep my toppings straightforward and affordable with lettuce, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing. But you can absolutely go all out with your favorite burger toppings. There’s no wrong way to enjoy these cheesy, flavorful, juicy burger tacos!
Recipe Success Tips
- I like 80/20 beef for these smash burger tacos. It has enough fat to stay juicy and flavorful, but not so much that the tortilla gets overly wet or greasy. I wouldn’t go any fattier than that, because too much rendered grease may cause the beef to separate from the tortilla when flipped.
- Don’t overmix the beef. I only mix the ground beef and seasonings just until combined. Overworking the meat can make the burger filling dense instead of juicy and tender.
- Spread the beef into a thin layer. This helps the beef cook quickly and make plenty of contact with the hot skillet, which creates those crispy, savory edges that make smash burgers so good!
- Preheat and lightly oil the skillet. Let the skillet get properly hot before adding the tortilla. Also make sure there’s a thin coating of oil in the pan. If the beef sticks when you try to flip it, give it another 30 seconds or so to form a crust and release naturally.
- Don’t worry if the beef separates. If the patty does pull away from the tortilla when you flip it, just place it right back on top and keep going. It’s already done its job by flavoring the tortilla and building a browned crust. Once the taco is folded up with cheese, sauce, lettuce, and pickles, no one will know (I promise!)
- Keep the finished tacos warm in the oven (optional). You can place cooked taco burgers on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you finish the rest, if desired. Add the toppings just before serving so they stay crisp and fresh.
- Have fun with the toppings. You can definitely swap out the toppings I use, or add even more! Try sliced tomatoes, caramelized onions, diced red onion, air fryer bacon, jalapeños, different melty cheeses, or even a little hot sauce.
Smash Burger Tacos
These Smash Burger Tacos have juicy beef, melty cheese, pickles, lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing in a crispy golden tortilla. Ready in about 30 minutes!
Servings 6 servings
Calories 430kcal
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- Medium Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef $5.93*
- ¼ cup yellow onion minced, (45g) $0.20
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce $0.02
- ½ tsp salt $0.02
- ¼ tsp garlic powder $0.02
- ¼ tsp black pepper freshly cracked, $0.04
- 6 small flour tortillas taco size, $0.64
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil $0.04
- 6 slices American cheese $0.62
To Serve
- ½ cup iceberg lettuce shredded, (40g) $0.23
- ½ cup pickle chips 100g, $0.62
- ¼ cup Thousand Island dressing $0.39**
Instructions
- Gather all your ingredients.
- Mix ground beef, minced onion, Worcestershire, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a large bowl. Divide into 6 equal balls and press each ball down onto tortillas.
- Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla into the skillet, meat side down, pressing down with a spatula to cook. Cook for 2-3 minutes while pressing down, and flip when browned and crispy.
- Flip the tortilla, top with a cheese slice, and cook 2 more minutes until the cheese melts.
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Top your smash burger tacos with shredded lettuce, pickle chips, and Thousand Island dressing. Serve and enjoy!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
*I use 80/20 ground beef, which I found to be the most flavorful for the cost. I wouldn’t use a fattier beef as it’ll seep too much fat, but leaner beef should work just fine. You can also use other ground meat like chicken, pork, or turkey.
**Any burger or “special” sauce works well in place of the Thousand Island dressing! Ranch, BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup, or mustard are all good options too.
Nutrition
Serving: 1taco | Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 30g | Sodium: 1028mg | Fiber: 2g
how to make Smash Burger Tacos step-by-step photos
Gather all of your ingredients.
Make the burger filling: In a large bowl, combine 1 lb. ground beef, ¼ cup minced yellow onion, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp garlic powder, and ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper. Mix just until combined, being careful not to overwork the meat so it stays tender. Divide the beef mixture into 6 equal portions, then roll each portion into a loose ball.
Add to the tortillas: Place one beef ball in the center of each of the 6 small flour tortillas, then press and spread the meat into a thin, even layer, leaving a border around the edge. A thinner layer helps the beef cook quickly and evenly.
Cook the smashburger tacos: Heat 1 Tbsp cooking oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, place one tortilla in the skillet, meat-side down. Press firmly with a spatula so the beef makes good contact with the pan, then cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the beef is brown (with no pink) and slightly crisp around the edges.
Flip the tortilla so the crispy beef side is facing up. Add 1 slice of American cheese on top of the hot beef, then cook for about 2 more minutes, or until the tortilla is golden on the bottom and the cheese is soft and melted.
Transfer the taco to a plate and repeat with the remaining tortillas, adding a little more oil if the skillet starts to look dry. Keep the heat at medium so the beef browns nicely without burning the tortillas.
Add toppings and serve: Top each smash burger taco with some shredded iceberg lettuce, a few pickle chips, and some Thousand Island dressing. Serve warm while the tortillas are crisp, the cheese is melty, and the burger filling is juicy! Enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these smash burger tacos with classic burger-night sides. Air fryer French fries are an easy pick because they’re crispy, budget-friendly, and perfect for dipping in any extra Thousand Island dressing. A pile of onion rings also makes the whole meal feel a little more diner-style, and I LOVE a side of creamy coleslaw for a crunchy contrast to the rich beef and melty cheese. For something make-ahead friendly, our three bean salad is a tangy and oh-so-easy side that doesn’t need extra oven or skillet space to make it!
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover smash burger tacos (without the toppings) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the fully cooked tacos before adding toppings. Wrap each taco individually in foil or plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat on the stove, in the oven, or in the air fryer at 375°F until warmed through and crispy again, then add the toppings just before serving.
Try These Delicious Taco Ideas Next:
- My Sheet Pan Tacos are a fun weeknight shortcut when you want crispy tacos without standing over the stove!
- Hummus Breakfast Tacos are a quick 15-minute breakfast with tortillas, eggs, hummus, and whatever toppings you love.
- I love how these Cauliflower Tacos turn roasted bell peppers, tomato sauce, almonds, and smoked paprika into a vegan taco option that still feels hearty!
More Easy Burger Recipes
The post Smash Burger Tacos appeared first on Budget Bytes.
Happy Star Wars Day!!!
May. 4th, 2026 09:19 amcolls posting in swbookclub
What Star Wars material (movie, game, show, comic, book, etc) have you been into lately?
What fan-made material (fanfic, fanart, fanvid, cosplay, etc) have you enjoyed recently?
Anything to recommend?
WIP Challenge Check-in, Day 4 -- Monday
May. 4th, 2026 08:15 amlinaewen posting in writethisfanficHello on Monday! How's the day going so far for fic? (If you haven't gotten started on your day as yet, how did yesterday go for writing fic?)
- Excellent!
- Terrible
- Somewhere in between
- Nothing doing
How much time have you spent on writing fic today, roughly?
- None
- 30 minutes or less
- 30-60 minutes
- 60-90 minutes
- More than 90 minutes
In five words or less, how do you feel about that?
- Excellent!
- Terrible
- Somewhere in between
- Nothing doing
How much time have you spent on writing fic today, roughly?
- None
- 30 minutes or less
- 30-60 minutes
- 60-90 minutes
- More than 90 minutes
In five words or less, how do you feel about that?
Spring In the Valley
May. 4th, 2026 07:56 ammallorys_camera
Whatever else you can say about the Wallkill Valley, this one thing is true: It is heartstoppingly beautiful, particularly in the spring when all the greens are tender and fresh, and the breeze carries the scent of stone fruit blossoms.
This weekend was the Gardiner Art Studio tour. Gardiner is suburban New Paltz, and New Paltz is a hippie preserve, where the last hippies roam free, practicing the ancient arts of organic farming, artisanal cheese-making, and handcrafting hideous tie-dye teeshirts. Please to note that in our rapidly technologically mutating world, anything over 20 years old is "ancient," particularly, or should I say, especially moi.
The Gardiner Art Studios are not in Gardiner but scattered along the backcountry roads that crisscross the plateau just below the Shawangunk Ridge. So, the tour basically gave me an excuse to explore the countryside. It was a gorgeous day. A bit cool, so the air had a prismatic quality.
The art was nothing to write home about. But, hey! It was art. Its creators poured their hopes, dreams, & fears into it. I would have bought it all for vast sums of money if I could.
I also spent time at the New Paltz Community Garden. There was a meeting for new gardeners. Technically, I'm not a new gardener. But after joining last year, I did nothing with my half plot after weeding out the five-foot tall nettles—first, there was a hot spell for two weeks where you would basically succumb to heat stroke after five minutes if you ventured forth there even at 6 in the morning, then the person in the other half of the plot planted a bunch of her own tomatoes there. I could have raised a stink about it—That's my land!—but figured, Why?
Also, Brian was dead. Which dampened my enthusiasm for just about everything.
Anyway, they gave me another half-plot this year. I'm on probation, though.
I will wander out there for a few hours today to finish the last of the heavy weeding and transport some dirt. The New Paltz Community Garden is right next to the Wallkill River; the Wallkill River floods periodically, displacing huge amounts of rich, river-bottom soil. The Community Garden elders arrange to have that soil collected in a huge mound, free for the having. It's kind of a hassle transporting it to your own garden site, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, etc., etc., etc.
I also need to pack & prep for my trip to Ithaca. I'm going up tomorrow to hang out with RTT for a few days, which should be the Big Fun. Haven't seen him since November! He has some political pow-wows scheduled, and he's gonna take me with him, so I'll get to see him in action.
I note that RTT seems to have adopted Zohran Mamdani as his personal style icon.
Hmmmm...
Book Review: An American Girl in London
May. 4th, 2026 08:13 amosprey_archerLike The Empire Must Die, Sara Jeannette Duncan’s An American Girl in London is another book that I almost certainly read but didn’t actually mark as read on my Kindle, which is perhaps fortunate as this gave me the very great pleasure of rereading it.
The book was published in 1891, catching the zeitgeist of stories about the culture clash occasioned by Americans descending on England, sometimes as tourists and sometimes on the hunt for aristocratic husbands. (Edith Wharton’s The Buccaneers is a late entry to this genre, but probably the most famous.)
In An American Girl in London, our heroine Mamie is the heiress to a baking powder fortune out of Chicago, who decides to travel to London on her own after her parents are unavoidably detained by political business in America. (Poppa is a senator, you see.) Indomitable and archly funny, she visits Madame Tussaud’s, goes to Ascot, and is presented at Court:
(The concern that contact with monarchical European institutions would corrupt American democratic principles is a recurrent one in 19th century American books, possibly because at that point American democracy was politically speaking a weird outlier in a monarchical world. At another point, Duncan assures us that “My democratic principles are just the same as ever, though – a person needn’t always approve what she likes.” You can enjoy the pomp of someone else’s monarchy without wanting to bring it home!)
Aside from being deliciously funny, the book is full of fascinating tidbits about the differences between American and British English in the 1890s, like Mamie’s shipboard exchange with a woman who inquires, “Have you been bad?” Mamie, after some hesitation, replies that she doesn’t think so, but after all the prayer book says that we’re all miserable sinners… The lady, startled, informs her that she was asking if Mamie had been seasick.
Or the bit where a man accuses Mamie of “pulling his leg,” an expression that was clearly not current in America at the time.
Or the entire subplot where Mr. Mafferton decides that he should like to marry Mamie, but neglects to inform her of this fact by so much as a single bouquet or box of chocolates, so that Mamie remains completely in the dark until she’s actually having dinner with his family and discovers that they think she will be joining the family on a permanent basis very shortly. Awkwardly, Mamie is already engaged to a fellow back in America.
Honestly just the perfect combination of business and pleasure. Some of the most delicious research material I’ve ever had the joy of experiencing. I’m now overcome by the desire to reread the sequel, A Voyage of Consolation, in which Mamie takes Europe.
The book was published in 1891, catching the zeitgeist of stories about the culture clash occasioned by Americans descending on England, sometimes as tourists and sometimes on the hunt for aristocratic husbands. (Edith Wharton’s The Buccaneers is a late entry to this genre, but probably the most famous.)
In An American Girl in London, our heroine Mamie is the heiress to a baking powder fortune out of Chicago, who decides to travel to London on her own after her parents are unavoidably detained by political business in America. (Poppa is a senator, you see.) Indomitable and archly funny, she visits Madame Tussaud’s, goes to Ascot, and is presented at Court:
I liked going to Court better than any other thing I did in England, not excepting Madame Tussaud’s, or the Beefeaters in the Tower, or even “Our Flat” at the Strand. It did a great deal to reconcile me, practically, with monarchical institutions, although, chiefly on poppa’s account, I should like it to be understood that my democratic theories are still quite unshaken in every respect.
(The concern that contact with monarchical European institutions would corrupt American democratic principles is a recurrent one in 19th century American books, possibly because at that point American democracy was politically speaking a weird outlier in a monarchical world. At another point, Duncan assures us that “My democratic principles are just the same as ever, though – a person needn’t always approve what she likes.” You can enjoy the pomp of someone else’s monarchy without wanting to bring it home!)
Aside from being deliciously funny, the book is full of fascinating tidbits about the differences between American and British English in the 1890s, like Mamie’s shipboard exchange with a woman who inquires, “Have you been bad?” Mamie, after some hesitation, replies that she doesn’t think so, but after all the prayer book says that we’re all miserable sinners… The lady, startled, informs her that she was asking if Mamie had been seasick.
Or the bit where a man accuses Mamie of “pulling his leg,” an expression that was clearly not current in America at the time.
Or the entire subplot where Mr. Mafferton decides that he should like to marry Mamie, but neglects to inform her of this fact by so much as a single bouquet or box of chocolates, so that Mamie remains completely in the dark until she’s actually having dinner with his family and discovers that they think she will be joining the family on a permanent basis very shortly. Awkwardly, Mamie is already engaged to a fellow back in America.
Honestly just the perfect combination of business and pleasure. Some of the most delicious research material I’ve ever had the joy of experiencing. I’m now overcome by the desire to reread the sequel, A Voyage of Consolation, in which Mamie takes Europe.
Reading Wrap-up 4/26
May. 4th, 2026 01:50 pmvamp_ress posting in booknookAnother really good month. Definitely more hits than misses!
McMurtry, Larry: Lonesome Dove. Simon & Schuster Audio. 2025
What an epic undertatking! I (and I'm not a native speaker) decided on the audiobook and doubted my sanity during the first two hours. I always need a bit of time to get used to a certain dialect - and this one comes in a nice Texan drawl. Or at least I suppose that this is what I was hearing, LOL. But even through I struggled through some of the language I enjoyed this so very much. I've rarely read something so out of my comfort zone that turns out to be so very addictive. If you like a tale with a lot of characters that are all fleshed out into the tiniest detail, then try this book. And don't let yourself dissuaded by the fact that this is a western!
Dunmore, Helen: The Siege. Penguin. 2001.
I picked this out of a little library without knowing anything about the author or the plot. Turns out this was actually nominated for the Women's Prize back when it was still called the Orange Prize.I liked this and will definitely look for more by the author. This is a convincing piece of historical fiction set during WWII (not my favourite setting) and the siege of Leningrad. If you're interested in a story that's not political or military but that deals with the experience of the normal, everyday people during war, this is one that won't disappoint.
Swarthout, Glendon: The Shootist. Books in Motion. 2010.
Another western but this one isn't nearly as excellent as Lonesome Dove. The premise is pretty cool: An aging gunslinger learns that he only has weeks to live. So he decides to go out with a bang. This tries to come with a surprise twist, but it's neither surprising nor much of a twist. The author didn't do much with his great idea.
Shafak, Elif. Honour. Penguin. 2013.
I read The Island of Missing Trees a while ago and always planned on trying more of Shafak's writing. So this was my next pick and again it was very good. A tough subject matter, but it's told so interestingly and with so much compassion that it swept me away. If you like early Isabel Allende, Shafak could be something for you!
Hari, Johann. Stolen Focus. Crown. 2023.
This guy proves his point (which is that we can't pay attention) by going on every possible tangeant in his book. Wouldn't recommend.
This time around I did have some Thoughts [bicycling]
May. 4th, 2026 08:00 amrebeccmeisterI might not get to articulate things for another day or two, however, because it's Finals Season and I'm playing catch-up on everything. To wit, the house did not get vacuumed this week but we're just going to live with it.
Anyway - 300k done, in 16 hours.
Just prior I finally read the Renee Hearse treatise on supple tires, and now I want to experiment on that front.
I am also thinking I need to change up Froinlavin's gearing, but I don't pay too much attention to gearing so I have some work to do there.
I have a lot of bike maintenance I need to catch up on in the near future.
The short version of the 300k: We started in Westfield, MA, dipped down into Connecticut, then turned noses north and rode up into southern Vermont, then back south to Westfield. It was a Phenology ride: Connecticut was in full bloom - dogwoods, lilacs, redbuds, still some cherries, some daffodils, tulips, phlox, everything in all those beautiful shades of bloom and green.
There were places in Massachusetts captured right at that stage where the fiddleheads were just barely beginning to leaf out. Fairy tale landscape and I regret I didn't pause for one particularly beautiful moment to take a photo but the image will live on in my head.
The hillsides in Vermont were still the gray of late winter/early spring, certain things just barely starting to leaf out.
Parts of the ride were somewhat surprisingly remote, but I guess that's a good thing to have learned about the northern Berkshires.
My hip and back are still pretty creaky today.
I missed my chance to look at the Housatonic Tunnel!! I need to learn more about that.
I think I lost my cycling gloves at the finish line, sigh. I need to modify the next pair so they are less Stealth and more Obviously Mine.
Route URL, photos to follow later: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/380962991
Better go to work now...
Anyway - 300k done, in 16 hours.
Just prior I finally read the Renee Hearse treatise on supple tires, and now I want to experiment on that front.
I am also thinking I need to change up Froinlavin's gearing, but I don't pay too much attention to gearing so I have some work to do there.
I have a lot of bike maintenance I need to catch up on in the near future.
The short version of the 300k: We started in Westfield, MA, dipped down into Connecticut, then turned noses north and rode up into southern Vermont, then back south to Westfield. It was a Phenology ride: Connecticut was in full bloom - dogwoods, lilacs, redbuds, still some cherries, some daffodils, tulips, phlox, everything in all those beautiful shades of bloom and green.
There were places in Massachusetts captured right at that stage where the fiddleheads were just barely beginning to leaf out. Fairy tale landscape and I regret I didn't pause for one particularly beautiful moment to take a photo but the image will live on in my head.
The hillsides in Vermont were still the gray of late winter/early spring, certain things just barely starting to leaf out.
Parts of the ride were somewhat surprisingly remote, but I guess that's a good thing to have learned about the northern Berkshires.
My hip and back are still pretty creaky today.
I missed my chance to look at the Housatonic Tunnel!! I need to learn more about that.
I think I lost my cycling gloves at the finish line, sigh. I need to modify the next pair so they are less Stealth and more Obviously Mine.
Route URL, photos to follow later: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/380962991
Better go to work now...
Korean practice
May. 4th, 2026 01:44 pmprofiterole_readsHere's the new Korean practice post! As usual now, it's an open chat.
You can write about whatever you want. If you're uninspired, tell us the story of what you're currently watching/reading/playing...
You can talk to one another.
You can also correct one another. Or just indicate "No corrections, please" in your comment if you prefer.
화이팅! <3
You can write about whatever you want. If you're uninspired, tell us the story of what you're currently watching/reading/playing...
You can talk to one another.
You can also correct one another. Or just indicate "No corrections, please" in your comment if you prefer.
화이팅! <3