arduinna | Network

Last night at this time, I was on what ended up to be a 90 minute (or more - I left after 90 minutes) call with other shareholders in my building to discuss options for complying with local law 97, which is all about reducing carbon emissions. It was informative, though as usual, the people running these meetings are bad at it it, and 2 people basically monopolized all the Q&A time with very specific-to-them concerns instead of applicable-to-all-tenants stuff, but at least nobody accused the board of being racist for muting them, which is what happened the last time I joined a building-related zoom call. Still only about a quarter of the people who live here showed up, which I find inexplicable considering the financial considerations involved. While no final decision was made, it seems like there will be a recommendation to take one of the incremental measures while continuing to explore the more expensive (but not the ludicrously expensive most expensive) options. So we'll see how that goes. If it helps my apartment not to turn into a sauna going forward, I am interested!

*

Baby Miss L is still trying to finalize her Halloween costume, but as with last year, there may be multiple outfits as she has a very full social calendar. She has gotten better about school, too - apparently she waves hello to everyone as she enters, and I imagine they all appreciate her attention. *g* I have also started compiling a list of books to buy her for her birthday and Christmas, which I guess I'll start shopping for soon.

*

I complain about work fairly often, but today I learned that 1. they've confirmed that our insurance will cover covid jabs for everyone who uses it, and 2. they're giving us 2 extra paid holidays this year since both 12/26 and 1/2 fall on Fridays. So I know I have it pretty good despite...everything happening in the world to try to ruin public health and nonprofits.

*

I can't remember if I posted about the very addictive phone game I recently downloaded, but after several lelvels where the only way to advance was to spend money to get helpful items, I deleted it. I can't be spending that kind of money and I am definitely the kind of person who needs to defeat the puzzles, even though I can see they are specifically designed to not be beatable without those helpful items. It's one reason I don't gamble or play "real" video games - I tend to get feverishly obsessive about winning and neither sleep nor money matter to me in that state. *hands* At least I know this about myself? Idk, but it felt good to delete the game even though I am still craving it.

*

The Mets snapped their losing streak on Sunday and still control their destiny in terms of a wild card spot, but given how poorly they've played for so long, this series with San Diego feels like a playoff game already. We'll see if they can hold the early lead. ....and now Lindor goes deep! <333

*

Current Mood: anxious
Current Music: Mets vs Padres on tv

shipperslist

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trobadora posting in

c_ent

A gifting fest for Guardian and related fandoms: guardian-wishlist.dreamwidth.org

guardian_wishlist sign-ups are now closed! We have 21 wishlists covering a variety of Guardian canons and related fandoms and a wide range of media. Go forth and make gifts!!! :D :D :D

Wishlists are tagged for fandoms and media (previous years' tags are labelled with their respective years, so check the plain fandom and media tags at the bottom for this year's), and there's also a spreadsheet for your convenience.

Anyone can write or make gifts for any sign-up, right up to reveals on 6 October (Reunion Festival). All gifts must be hidden from public view until reveals. Post or link gifts in comments on the recipient's wishlist. (Comments are screened.) Gift comments can be anonymous or signed in. You don't need a Dreamwidth or AO3 account to gift.

Rules/FAQ/schedule | AO3 collection | Fandom and media tags | Spreadsheet | Promo text and graphics

primeideal

Happy 9-16-25 (or even 16-9-25 if you're in a country that has that dating system) to Raz from Anathem and all other perfect square appreciators! ;)

yourlibrarian

1) Some interesting posts at Henry Jenkins blog about the Peabody Awards process and disruption in the entertainment industry. "So, Peabody meets 3 times face-to-face. And it is an award that is decided across genres and platforms: television, radio, podcasting, and interactive, which is games and VR, etc. And across genre: entertainment, news, documentary, etc. But in particular, it's decided by a unanimous vote of a board of 18...who represent lots of different facets. There's critics, which include academics and TV critics, media executives, writers, and showrunners. ..which is different from a campaign for 26,000 voting members, in which you have no control of what they've watched and what they've not watched...Aziz Ansari was famous for coming to our show and saying, “You know, this is pretty cool. It's like you watch all of our shit, and you just decided it was good, and we didn't have to go to a bunch of weird-ass parties and stuff"

Two other factors: "It's not just celebrating entertainment. It's trying to talk about the ways that popular culture and entertainment can deeply shape who we are and want to be as a people, as empathetic citizens in the world" and "also...is it a story that matters? So, sometimes the craft can be brilliant, but it may not be a story that matters." ( Read more... )

2) A few more notes about Silent Witness as I move into S26. S23 seemed a really unusual season, enough so that I wondered about its production dates. ( Read more... )

3) Watched a documentary on the BeeGees which, like a lot of documentaries, goes very light on the time after their popularity peaked. (That was one thing the Billy Joel and Bon Jovi ones avoided). ( Read more... )

4) A Spy Among Friends was well written and interesting to watch but I kept constantly thinking about the 2003 Cambridge Spies which I saw last year and suspect it's much closer to the truth. ( Read more... )

5) Just a few comments about the Emmys, mostly in how unsurprising it was that Stephen Colbert finally won an Emmy for Best Show more because voters were jolted into a show of support. Yet John Oliver won yet again, twice. (Particular irony given the broadcast was on CBS).

Otherwise can't say it was entertaining and I wish a lot of stuff not involved in handing out awards had been cut. The tribute to Gilmore Girls seemed to really exemplify "too little, too late" since it and so many shows from the WB had been overlooked through sheer snobbery decades ago, when the attention would have done more good.

Poll #33627 Kudos Footer-540

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lifehacker_feed

Posted by Michelle Ehrhardt

https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-fix-tilted-dark-mode-app-icons-in-ios-26?utm_medium=RSS

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.

iOS 26 is here, and with it, Apple’s “Liquid Glass” design revamp. Yesterday, I covered how to quickly undo most of the harshest changes that come with Liquid Glass, but a complaint users are making today requires an entirely separate fix. Luckily, there is an option that could help you, although it’s not for everyone.

Dark Mode icons look a little tilted right now

As users are posting over on Reddit, it turns out that Dark Mode app icons don’t play nicely with iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic. How much this will bother you will vary from person to person, but essentially, some folks online (and on the Lifehacker team) are now complaining that their Dark Mode icons look tilted, as if they’re not perfectly dead center.

Personally, I have a hard time seeing this when looking at my home screen as a whole, but after a colleague sent me a more zoomed-in shot, I can see how it would bother him. It’s an optical illusion, as the icon positioning is the same, but it’s there.

Credit: Joel Cunningham

The problem, it seems, is in new highlights added to certain, but not all, app icon corners while using Dark Mode. The uneven lighting produces an effect that, as reported by Lifehacker sister site Mashable, has some users complaining of dizziness. Worse yet, how prominent the highlights are depends on your background—I can see them more easily over dark parts of my background, but they tend to bleed into lighter parts.

Technically, those highlights are also there when using app icons with lighter backgrounds, but they’re less noticeable, since they don’t contrast with them as much.

Again, you may not be susceptible to the effect. If I’m not concentrating on it, I do tend to forget about it. But if it is bothering you, what can you do?

Reducing transparency does nothing

Unfortunately, the one-toggle fix that undoes most of the issues with Liquid Glass, “Reduce Transparency,” doesn’t seem to do anything for your app icons. Here’s my iPhone Home Screen with Reduce Transparency on, and the same screen with it off (please don’t judge my unread mail and unchecked reminders).

iPhone Home Screen with Dark Mode app icons and Reduce Transparency off (left) vs. on (right) Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

That’s a shame, since Reduce Transparency is easy to implement: You just turn it on under Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, and it’ll get rid of most of the see-through elements in Liquid Glass for you. But because the icons are solid anyway, it won’t do anything here. Instead, you’ll need to get creative.

Try tinting your app icons

Right now, I unfortunately don’t have a fix for Apple’s Dark Mode app icons. Even custom icons that use Apple’s Dark Mode background color will still have the new highlights. But I do have one piece of advice that will get you close to the same experience.

It turns out, setting your app icons to Dark Mode isn’t the only way to get them to use more subdued colors. If Dark Mode looks ugly to you right now, you could try tinting your app icons instead.

This gives your app icons a monochrome appearance with white or gray text, and while that does unfortunately mean losing out on app icons with more than two colors, it also means you can swap over to other dark colored backgrounds that might look a bit less tilted to you. The offending highlights will still be there, but with the right tinted background, you might be able to make them less noticeable.

To try it out, head to your home screen, then long press until your apps start jiggling. Click Edit in the top left corner, then Customize. In the menu that pops up on the bottom of your screen, pick Tinted.

You’ll get two color picker bars, as well as the option to choose Light or Dark icons (this is separate from the general Light and Dark mode app icons, which aren’t monochrome). Think of the top color picker bar as the app’s general color, and the bottom as a way to get more specific within that color zone. Meanwhile, Light will make the app’s text and graphical elements white, while Dark will use a more grayish tone.

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

You can play around here to get an app tint you like best, although Apple does have a few shortcut buttons to help you find the color for you. Personally, I like the leftmost button, under the color picker bars, that takes you to a standard black and white if you’ve selected Light or a more subdued black and dark gray if you’ve selected Dark. If neither of those work for you, there’s also an Apple Intelligence button that will try to pick a tint that goes well with your wallpaper, or an eyedropper that will let you pick a color from your wallpaper.

None of this is quite the same as just using Dark Mode icons, but if you’re like me, it might be close enough.

Or, wait for an update

If tinting your app icons doesn’t work for you, though, don’t despair. It’s likely Apple is seeing these complaints and will adjust Liquid Glass accordingly. It already toned it down twice over iOS 26’s beta, so maybe the real solution here is time.

https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-fix-tilted-dark-mode-app-icons-in-ios-26?utm_medium=RSS

lifehacker_feed

Posted by Pradershika Sharma

https://lifehacker.com/tech/windows-11-pro-stacksocial-sale?utm_medium=RSS

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If your current Windows setup is feeling a bit outdated or you’re setting up a brand-new PC, you might want to check out this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro deal on StackSocial—you can get this single-device lifetime license for just $13, which would usually cost you $200 at the Microsoft Store. Once you buy, the redemption code and setup instructions hit your inbox instantly. That said, make sure your system is eligible. This isn’t an upgrade path for unsupported PCs—it’s a fresh install for machines that meet the full list of Windows 11 Pro requirements.

Now, about the OS itself—it feels like Windows finally got a glow-up without messing with your workflow. The layout is cleaner, Snap Layouts and virtual desktops make multitasking smoother, and redocking windows actually works like you'd expect. If you’re into voice typing or just want better search across apps and docs, it delivers. Windows 11 Pro also throws in some solid pro tools like BitLocker for encryption, Hyper-V for virtualization, and even a sandbox mode for testing apps safely. You’re also getting DirectX 12 Ultimate, so your hardware can shine during gaming or graphic-heavy tasks, assuming your machine is beefy enough.

Security is another win here. Windows 11 Pro doubles down with biometric login, Smart App Control, and TPM 2.0 requirements, which makes it a tougher nut to crack. It also includes the new AI-powered Copilot and baked-in Microsoft Teams support, which might appeal to remote workers. Just a heads up, you won’t get an Office upgrade bundled in with this deal—this is strictly a Windows license. It will work alongside Office if you have a separate license, though (if you’re on a Mac using Parallels Pro). If your PC meets the specs (like a 1GHz processor, 4GB RAM, TPM 2.0, and UEFI firmware, among others), and you’ve been holding off on a full Windows upgrade, this $13 deal is about as straightforward and affordable as it gets. Just be sure to double-check your specs before clicking “buy.”

https://lifehacker.com/tech/windows-11-pro-stacksocial-sale?utm_medium=RSS

lifehacker_feed

Posted by Naima Karp

https://lifehacker.com/tech/3-in-1-eufy-smart-lock-amazon-deal?utm_medium=RSS

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.

The Eufy Video Smart Lock E330 is a multitasking three-in-one smart home device that combines a fingerprint-scanning smart lock, a 2K HD camera, and a video doorbell. Right now, it’s 37% off at Amazon, marking its lowest price in the past few months.

If you want a multipurpose smart lock with a clean, minimalist aesthetic, this gadget has been vetted by PCMag, which dubbed the best smart lock of 2023.

Eufy Video Smart Lock E330

You can unlock this thing in multiple ways: via fingerprint, by inserting a pin into the keypad, or by using an app or even voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant. (Of course, you can also stick a manual key into the keyhole, which is hidden behind the doorbell button.) The E330 has built-in WiFi and 8GB of local storage (no ongoing fees or subscription required). When paired with the Eufy HomeBase 3, you can expand storage up to 17TB.

The 2K HD camera offers sharper image quality than 1080p video doorbells, and four infrared LEDs enable night vision. Intelligent motion detection and dual motion sensors help the device distinguish humans from vehicles, according to PCMag's review. It also has an IP65 weather resistance. Because the camera is housed in a lock located in the center of the door, the field of view may be more limited than a doorbell camera mounted above or to the side, and door jambs may also restrict the view.

While the Eufy Video Smart Lock E330 is normally on the pricey side at $300, its current discount takes it down to $220. It even comes with all the tools you need to replace your old lock.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00)

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack) — $699.99 (List Price $1,099.99)

Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Roku Streaming Stick Plus — $38.50 (List Price $39.99)

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $89.99 (List Price $139.99)

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99)

Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB 11" 2000x1200 Tablet — $174.99 (List Price $229.99)

Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

https://lifehacker.com/tech/3-in-1-eufy-smart-lock-amazon-deal?utm_medium=RSS

elayna

I admit, when I'm watching a movie I really enjoy, I'm usually absorbing without thinking ahead. So I was totally flabbergasted when the Winter Soldier showed up at Pierce's house and was taking orders from him. In retrospect, it seems obvious that they wouldn't have hired someone of Robert Redford's caliber to just be an upright lead bureaucrat type, he must be there for a significant twist. But that was a great 'omg!' moment for me.

Redford was one of the greats, and one of the most significant actors of my childhood. Looking at dates, I think Jeremiah Johnson was probably the first movie of his I saw, though all I remember is he looked fabulous as a mountain man. Then The Way We Were and The Sting... and somewhere in there I saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on TV, being devastated by that ending. Three Days of the Condo and The Electric Horseman...I only saw All the President's Men within the last 10 years or so. That was weirdly fascinating just for how much the technology of journalism has changed.

I don't know much about his personal life, but he had an amazing career and did so many worthwhile things and lived to a pretty darned good age... we were lucky to have him and the body of work he created. RIP, Robert Redford, you will be missed.

lunabee34

I contacted my rheumatologist because I've been having increased pain--hurting enough to wake me at night and keep me awake, hurting enough to make walking difficult--and have gotten a referral to PT to learn how to use a cane. Fiona's gonna help me bling her out once I get her. The doc also went ahead and started the process of getting me a biologic; it's so fucking involved, y'all.

You can't get a biologic at a regular pharmacy; only specialty pharmacies carry them. So right now I'm at the stage where the RX has been sent to the specialty pharmacy and they're in the process of doing the prior authorization and figuring out how much my insurance will pay. I'm just waiting for them to get back to me to let me know if it's been approved and what the copay will be.

Assuming it gets approved and is affordable, I'll be taking once weekly injections of Enbrel.

Anybody here take Enbrel and want to share?

alisx

"Apple Intelligence. Personal, private, powerful."

Scrolling past this quickly and reading it as “personal, private, perfect” . . . IYKYK.

Stream horizontally and vertically at the same time

Currently in testing and set to get a wider release “in the coming months,” YouTube’s combined support for horizontal and vertical streaming is probably the most exciting news to me here. I tend to put streams on in the background, and I much prefer doing that on a second monitor rather than on my phone. But with sites like TikTok getting more popular these days, plenty of streamers are eschewing more traditional platforms for them, meaning I’m likely to miss out on content unless I go looking for vertically oriented streams on my mobile device.

Now, though, YouTube will let creators put out both horizontal versions of their streams, meant for larger screens, and vertical ones meant for smaller screens, at the same time. That means there’ll be less incentive to stick with a mobile-only platform to try to hop on the new trend, and users across all devices will be able to watch streams however they wish. Whether you’re watching the horizontal stream or the vertical one, you’ll be thrown into a chat room with everyone, and the streamer won’t have split view counts across different uploads. The vertical stream will just have a cropped or letterboxed view, as usual, depending on the content. It seems like a perfect solution, and I’m excited to see more creators trying it out once it’s available to them—finally, at least on YouTube, I won’t have to worry that I’m missing a stream from a favorite creator by not watching on my phone.

AI-generated livestream highlights

Meanwhile, as for actually watching streams themselves, YouTube’s making it a bit easier for creators to create highlights from their streams. Personally, while I do have favorite creators, I’ll admit I don’t have the time to watch all of their content, and will often just sort through clips in my free time instead. Unfortunately, not everything gets clipped, because it takes manual effort to do that—that’s why you’ll sometimes see creators tell their fans to “clip that” after a memorable moment. Now, though, YouTube’s throwing some automation into the mix. Starting “in the next few weeks,” you’ll be able to task AI with sorting through your livestreams to automatically find highlights and turn them into YouTube shorts, which you’ll be able to check before uploading. It’s kind of become expected in some corners of the internet for stream clips to be uploaded via unofficial channels, since they currently need a bit of manual work. While I’ve seen streamers express appreciation to their fans for doing this, I also do worry that I’m not supporting the actual content creators enough by watching through these sources. Hopefully, the new tool will make it easier to see clips straight from creators themselves.

Live reaction and streaming 'Playables'

Credit: Google

Finally, there are two additional features that are set to make it a lot easier to promote content via YouTube. The first is “React Live,” which will allow you to start a vertical livestream with content you’re watching in the upper half and your own feed in the bottom half. This will make it easier for creators to create reaction streams, without forcing them to capture video on their own, but it’ll only work with events and creators that allows their content to be reacted to. Still, if you like to watch tech keynotes alongside your favorite commentators, this should allow creators to start them up without bothering to independently license a stream first, assuming the company behind the keynote allows reaction streams. YouTube expects this to enter testing “early next year.”

The second is the ability to stream YouTube’s “Playables” browser games with the touch of a button, again without needing to capture the gameplay yourself. Having played a bunch of these, I personally think the quality is all over the place, but it should be a good way to get started with streaming without worrying about tech or capture software. And there are a few noteworthy games in there, including Angry Birds Showdown and Cut the Rope. YouTube says this should come to some creators next month, ahead of a larger rollout later this year.

Why does this matter?

I’m personally thrilled to see YouTube drop a few barriers to streaming, both by making it easier to find content to react to, as well as to reach multiple types of viewers at once. In particular, the new updates seem designed to help the site cross the threshold between desktop and mobile without losing its existing audience, which is funny, given that one of YouTube’s top competitors just made it harder to stream on mobile.

In order to go live on Instagram, as of one month ago, you now need to have a public account and at least 1,000 followers. That probably saves Instagram some server load, but also kills new talent right out of the door. With YouTube quickly catching up, it’s possible it could soon be eating Meta’s lunch. Will other streaming sites be next?

https://lifehacker.com/tech/youtube-livestreams-are-about-to-get-much-more-mobile-friendly?utm_medium=RSS

lycomingst

Robert Redford died. I always thought he was a better actor than he was given credit for. Too much focusing on the pretty.

brithistorian

I just got a kudo on one of my fanfics at AO3. The username of the person was Ash_From_Pallet_Town! (It was not a Pokemon fic.)

eff_feed

Posted by Matthew Guariglia

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/california-tell-governor-newsom-regulate-ai-police-reports-and-sign-sb-524

The California legislature has passed a necessary piece of legislation, S.B. 524, which starts to regulate police reports written by generative AI. Now, it’s up to us to make sure Governor Newsom will sign the bill.

We must make our voices heard. These technologies obscure certain records and drafts from public disclosure. Vendors have invested heavily on their ability to sell police genAI.

TAKE ACTION

AI-generated police reports are spreading rapidly. The most popular product on the market is Axon’s Draft One, which is already one of the country’s biggest purveyors of police tech, including body-worn cameras. By bundling their products together, Axon has capitalized on its customer base to spread their untransparent and potentially harmful genAI product.

Many things can go wrong when genAI is used to write narrative police reports. First, because the product relies on body-worn camera audio, there’s a big chance of the AI draft missing context like sarcasm, culturally-specific or contextual vocabulary use and slang, languages other than English. While police are expected to edit the AI’s version of events to make up for these flaws, many officers will defer to the AI. Police are also supposed to make an independent decision before arresting a person who was identified by face recognition–and police mess that up all the time. The prosecutor of King County, Washington, has forbidden local officers from using Draft One out of fear that it is unreliable.
Then, of course, there’s the matter of dishonesty. Many public defenders and criminal justice practitioners have voiced concerns about what this technology would do to cross examination. If caught with a different story on the stand than the one in their police report, an officer can easily say, “the AI wrote that and I didn’t edit well enough.” The genAI creates a layer of plausible deniability. Carelessness is a very different offense than lying on the stand.

To make matters worse, an investigation by EFF found that Axon’s Draft One product defies transparency by design. The technology is deliberately built to obscure what portion of a finished report was written by AI and which portions were written by an officer–making it difficult to determine if an officer is lying about which portions of a report were written by AI.

But now, California has an important chance to join with other states like Utah that are passing laws to reign in these technologies, and what minimum safeguards and transparency must go along with using them.

S.B. 524 does several important things: It mandates that police reports written by AI include disclaimers on every page or within the body of the text that make it clear that this report was written in part or in total by a computer. It also says that any reports written by AI must retain their first draft. That way, it should be easier for defense attorneys, judges, police supervisors, or any other auditing entity to see which portions of the final report were written by AI and which parts were written by the officer. Further, the bill requires officers to sign and verify that they read the report and its facts are correct. And it bans AI vendors from selling or sharing the information a police agency provided to the AI.

These common-sense, first-step reforms are important: watchdogs are struggling to figure out where and how AI is being used in a police context. In fact, Axon’s Draft One, would be out of compliance with this bill, which would require them to redesign their tool to make it more transparent—a small win for communities everywhere.

So now we’re asking you: help us make a difference. Use EFF’s Action Center to tell Governor Newsom to sign S.B. 524 into law!

TAKE ACTION

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/09/california-tell-governor-newsom-regulate-ai-police-reports-and-sign-sb-524

lilacs_in_space posting in

iddyiddybangbang

Title: Melancholy's Child
Author: lilacs_in_space
Fandom: Star Trek (Lower Decks)
Pairing: Vrek/Mariner
Word Count: 10,380
Rating: E
Warnings: Explicit sexual content
Summary: On Sherbal V, Mariner ends up taking shelter with Vrek instead of Ma’ah, and their story goes a little differently.

You can read it [here].

tinny

The current round at

retro_icontest provided three themes and I made three icons for each theme.

Enjoy!

( Dongji, Nothing But You, and Shine )

Every single comment is treasured. All icons shareable! Concrit welcome. Check out my resource post for makers of textures and brushes I use.

Previous icon posts:

ysabetwordsmith

Today is partly sunny and hot.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds. The honeybees had drained the small metal birdbath again.

EDIT 9/16/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 9/16/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 9/16/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 9/16/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.

EDIT 9/16/25 -- I watered the patio plants and the old picnic table.

EDIT 9/16/25 -- I watered the irises, telephone pole garden, and a few of the savanna seedlings.

EDIT 9/16/25 -- I watered the new picnic table and septic garden.

Cicadas and crickets are singing.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

facethestrange posting in

sid_guardian

2 drama fics, 1 novel fic, 1 RPF drawing. (The last one has already been linked elsewhere in the comm, but I'm still putting it here for completion's sake. :))

Held (463 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Hands, Memories, Wedding, Domestic Fluff, Tenderness, Canon Angst with a Happy Ending, Fix-It, Mild Sexual Content, POV Zhao Yunlan, Guardian Bingo
Series: Part 11 of Guardian Bingo 2025
Summary: He takes Shen Wei's hand in his, slow and solemn, and thinks of the handshake from what feels like a lifetime ago — all the longing and confusion and desperate hope in the firm grip, back when Zhao Yunlan didn't understand anything.

Taking What's (Not) Mine (1568 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Shen Wei/Ye Zun/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Ye Zun (Guardian), Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Threesome - M/M/M, Twincest, Dubiously consensual voyeurism, Mildly Dubious Consent, (as in: everyone consents but Ye Zun wouldn't exactly care if Zhao Yunlan didn't), POV Ye Zun (Guardian), Clothed Sex, Grinding, Coming In Pants, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Finger Sucking, Biting, Come Eating, Possessive Sex, Possessive Ye Zun, hand-wavy post-canon, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies
Summary: Ye Zun is welcome here, in Gege's bed, in Gege's home, no matter how Zhao Yunlan feels about it.

Show Me (1879 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen San/Shen Wei (Guardian)
Characters: Shen San (Guardian), Shen Wei (Guardian)
Additional Tags: Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Porn with Feelings, First Time, First Time Blow Jobs, Oral Sex, Laughter During Sex, a bit of praise kink, Soft
Summary: "I want to show you," Wei says, breath warm against his skin, and Shen San makes a soft, strangled sound and nods wordlessly, the fire he has tried to keep in check all day rising and blooming in his belly.

Good Fortune by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
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Posted by Meredith Dietz

https://lifehacker.com/health/my-first-impressions-of-the-new-hydrow-rowing-machine?utm_medium=RSS

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As someone who spends most of my training time pounding pavement in preparation for marathons, I'll admit that rowing has always felt like foreign territory. Sure, I'd hop on the occasional rowing machine at the gym for cross-training, but I never really got it. That all changed when I had the opportunity to test Hydrow's newest release—the Hydrow Arc Rower—which launched today with some seriously impressive AI-powered features.

I’ve just begun testing it out, so stay tuned for my in-depth review of the Arc later this month. For now, here are my first impressions of Hydrow's latest high-tech rowing machine.

Hydrow Arc Rower

$2,295.00 at Hydrow

First impressions

Right out of the gate, the Arc feels like what I imagine would happen if Peloton decided to make a rowing machine. The build quality is immediately apparent. In other words, it feels high-end compared to the typical rower at your local gym. The touchscreen is large and crystal clear, and the overall aesthetic screams premium home fitness equipment.

It's hard to do justice with my phone's camera, but the Arc's screen is big and beautiful. Credit: Meredith Dietz

Because here's what struck me most as a runner: The motion is incredibly smooth and intuitive. I've used plenty of rowing machines at various gyms over the years, and there's usually this clunky, disconnected feeling. The Arc eliminates that entirely. The difference is like comparing a cheap stationary bike at your local gym to a high-end indoor cycling setup.

The standout feature that sets the Arc apart is undoubtedly HydroMetrics, Hydrow's "proprietary strength measurement system." As someone obsessed with running metrics (pace, heart rate zones, cadence, you name it), I was immediately intrigued by the promise of intelligent scoring for rowing.

Here's how it works:

Complete at least two rowing workouts (longer than 5 minutes, excluding warm-ups and cool-downs).
HydroMetrics analyzes your performance and provides scoring.
Click "Tap for HydroMetrics" on your workout stats screen to dive deeper into your data.
The AI-powered system helps you understand your performance and motivates continued progress toward strength goals.

Here's where you can choose to see your AI-powered insights. Credit: Meredith Dietz

Here's what HydroMetrics look like after a beginner workout. Credit: Meredith Dietz

What impressed me most is how the system doesn't just throw numbers at you. As someone unfamiliar with rowing, I found it actually provides context and actionable insights. As a data-driven athlete, this resonated with me immediately.

Learning proper form (finally)

Another strong first impression: Hydrow's how-to videos are exceptional. As someone who has probably been embarrassing myself on rowing machines for years, these quick tutorials were eye-opening. They address questions I didn't even know I should be asking: Should my heels should lift during the motion? Am I properly driving power from my legs, or just yanking with my arms?

The instruction quality makes me think about all those times I mindlessly hopped on a rower for a "quick cardio session" without any real technique. Now I understand why rowing never felt particularly effective for me before.

Improving my form next to all my snacks. Credit: Meredith Dietz

Personally, what excites me most about the Arc is its running-specific programming available in its catalogue. As marathon runners, we're always looking for effective cross-training that complements our running without adding unnecessary impact stress. Rowing checks all those boxes: It's low-impact, works different muscle groups, and provides excellent cardiovascular benefits.

The Arc takes this a step further with dedicated running programs that seem designed specifically for people like me. After completing my first session, I immediately followed up with a five-minute yoga cool-down, and the seamless transition between activities felt natural within the ecosystem (another moment that makes me think of Peloton's ecosystem).

Technical specs that matter

If you're already a fan of Hydrow or at-home rowing machines, here's what you need to know. The Arc shares the same footprint as Hydrow's flagship Origin Rower (formerly the Pro), but packs significantly more processing power under the hood. Allegedly the improved hardware supports the constant AI advances that power features like HydroMetrics, provides more memory for smoother operation, and delivers better audio through upgraded speakers. The 24" touchscreen display is also an upgrade worth writing home about. It's way easier to work out with so many video options delivered in such a quality viewing experience.

But let's be honest about the drawbacks. This machine is substantial. It's a whopping 147 pounds, measuring 86"L x 25"W x 48"H. We're talking serious equipment here, not something you casually tuck in a corner. While there is a vertical storage option, the Arc is definitely best suited for people with dedicated home gym space. Living in a tiny Brooklyn apartment, I found myself wishing I had more room to make this a permanent fixture.

The other consideration is price and commitment. This is premium equipment with a premium price tag, and you'll want to make sure you're actually going to use it consistently to justify the $2,295 investment. More on that in my official review, coming soon.

Bottom line: This could be my cross-training obsession

After several sessions on the Arc, I'm genuinely excited about incorporating rowing into my training routine in a more meaningful way. The combination of proper instruction, intelligent metrics, and running-specific programming addresses every complaint I've had about traditional rowing machines.

Like with Peloton for cycling, it's not just about having a machine at home; it's about having access to a comprehensive training ecosystem that understands and supports your goals. The AI-powered features like HydroMetrics provide the kind of data-driven feedback that serious runners appreciate, while the instructional content ensures you're actually getting the most out of each session. If you have the space and budget for premium home fitness equipment, the Arc deserves serious consideration as your next training investment.

I'm still in the early stages of testing the Arc, and I'll be providing more detailed insights as I continue to explore its features and programs over the coming weeks.

https://lifehacker.com/health/my-first-impressions-of-the-new-hydrow-rowing-machine?utm_medium=RSS

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