At the bottom of the sea

Sep. 22nd, 2025 06:51 pm
shadowhive: (Sherma Singing)
[personal profile] shadowhive
Yesterday I started watching season 2 of Wednesday with the first ep. It’s obviously a lot of setup, with Wednesday’s first day back at Never ore, dealing with hero worship and, of course, being annoyed by it. There’s also two mysteries already: an investigator that got pecked to death by ravens and Wednesday has a stalker. Are they connected? I guess we’ll see.

Xavier has been put on a bus which is a shame but at least had an in universe explanation that makes sense. Pugley is also joining Nevermore this year and already he has what might be a sub plot of his own. I already don’t like or trust the new head and it feels I’m right not too. Also it looks like Morticia is gonna have a bigger roll to play this year (which explains the Lego set!). It remains to be seen if that’s good or not. (Personally I wasn’t sold on Catherine Zeta Jones as her in season 1.)

Then there was dnd which went well, though I had to be muted at the start cause Leia was jumping everywhere and I was worried she’d knock things over. But it was also a mix of sad, sweet and ominous.

I started Borderlands 4 and did the opening quest though ran into trouble cause of a glitch. Thankfully exiting and restarting solved it though I am so pissed how it ended. (Why'd the hot guy have to die😭)

Then last night there was a nature documentary. I love nature stuff, even though Naryu tends to bark at the animals and get worked up, but I especially love stuff to do with the sea. This one was about a deep sea expedition to find coelacanth.

Now the coelacanth is famously known as a living fossil. It was around when the dinosaurs were and was believed extinct long ago… until one was found fished up. (Though if I remember right indigenous people already were aware of them.) Ones have been found fished up and washed ashore since but until now they weren’t seen. Luckily the expedition was successful! It found one hiding between rocks and they watched her for 30+ hours to see what she’d do.

And she spent that time just staying in the same spot, which is relatable. Eventually she went for a swim and joined a bunch of other coelacanth just chilling out in a lil cave. It was honestly so incredible to see them and you can even tell them apart by their markings. There really is something so strangely endearing about them too.

In the night I watched Alien Earth. I’m an ep behind so this one was The Fly. There was A Lot of poor communication going on throughout the whole thing (as well as bad decisions!), though I can’t help but wonder if at least some was intentional. Also Boy Kavalier shown off his feet again(If the alien universe has a wiki feet his must go crazy) and he proved that, while he appears dismissive he isn’t an idiot. (Though it does seem his head of security might be undermining him as well as Yutani plotting)

Today’s been an ok day, though tiring cause of taking Naryu for a longer walk. But! There’s finally a trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu! There’s also a description, but it’s so vague it could mean anything. It’s so cool seeing a u-wing and lil Grogu being cute and Sigourney Weaver.

There’s also more MCR dates been announced, though there’s not one in Birmingham (there’s more for London, plus Liverpool and Glasgow). I’m kinda glad for that though, it’ll be a feeding frenzy and I’m not prepared for that at all. But good luck if you’re gonna try!

Bundle of Holding: Weird Wizard

Sep. 22nd, 2025 01:57 pm
james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


The SHADOW OF THE WEIRD WIZARD corebooks, supplements, and adventures.

Bundle of Holding: Weird Wizard

BtVS Ficlet: Walking Away

Sep. 22nd, 2025 06:39 pm
badly_knitted: (Rose)
[personal profile] badly_knitted
 


Title: Walking Away
Fandom: BtVS
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: Buffy, Angel.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Set sometime before or during The Prom.
Summary: They’ve played this scene out more than once, but there are still things they need to say.
Word Count: 901
Written For: The prompt ‘Any, any, post-breakup conversation,’ at 
[community profile] threesentenceficathon.
Disclaimer: I don’t own BTVS, or the characters.
 



 

Ficlet: Manipulation Tactics

Sep. 22nd, 2025 06:28 pm
badly_knitted: (Confused Ianto)
[personal profile] badly_knitted
 


Title: Manipulation Tactics
Author: 
[personal profile] badly_knitted
Characters: Jack, Ianto.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 623
Spoilers: Nada.
Summary: Jack is determined to get his way, no matter what he has to do.
Written For: 
[personal profile] milk97x
’s prompt ‘any, any, little spoon,’ at [community profile] threesentenceficathon.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Torchwood, or the characters.




Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax!

Sep. 22nd, 2025 06:14 pm
oursin: Illustration from medieval manuscript of the female physician Trotula of Salerno holding up a urine flask (trotula)
[personal profile] oursin

Though probably African frogs do not say that (the chorus from Aristophanes' The Frogs).

Anyway, this was of considerable interest to me having had to do with archives relating to these here amphibians (in which they were described as 'toads'):

Escapee pregnancy test frogs colonised Wales for 50 years

and also read the ms of a work by A Friend on the history of pregnancy testing in which they played a significant role.

They replaced the rabbit test ('did the rabbit die' - the rabbit had to die, actually, in order to examine its ovaries) as this was a non-lethal test and kept producing yet more frogs.

And there was quite an issue of what to do with the little blighters once chemical testing became the norm - as I recall attempts to dispose of them as pets.

Also

The frog is genetically surprisingly similar to humans, which means that scientists can model human disease in this amphibian and replace the use of higher sentient species.

Do we not feel that this is the beginning of some Golden Age sf/horror work? FROGMAN.

More books. IDEK know myself, LOL.

Sep. 22nd, 2025 12:18 pm
glitteryv: (Default)
[personal profile] glitteryv
Re-Reads. HUH.

None for now.


I DNF'd

I actually finished everything I started. O__O


Had an awesome time at first (but it all went downhill from there)

* Away Games by Misha Horne (M/M Romance) - A 35k novella that takes place a few months after the ending of Book 2. It has too much football (including an excess of practice and game scenes). The last chapter is a ridic (yet sweet) long porny scene between Caleb and Logan that segues into them talking abt their futures post-high school.

To me, the whole thing read like an epilogue draft since it didn't add anything new to Logan and Caleb's story and it wasn't far enough in the future (say, during their second year of university) to make any kind of impact. I gave this a 2 out of 5.


* She Didn't See It Coming by Shari LaPena (Mystery) - Bryden is happily married to Sam. They have pretty good careers, are the parents of a sweet 3-y.o., and seem to have a fab life. That is, until Bryden disappears...

Extremely readable novel. Good writing (no typos or weird turn of phrases.) Having read most of this author's books, I knew that I was in for domestic suspense, a whole lotta POVs (10 different characters in this novel), and some O___o kind of drama.

I wasn't AS taken with the mystery as I was with the MESSINESS of everything else.

Starting with 2 super chaotic evil characters who were fun to read abt. Even though they gave me the impression to have come in from a totally different book. There's also a 3rd character whose life went off the rails at some point...and that whole thing was never resolved?

Finally, a fourth character had a v. late in the book turn that made me ?????. And, to explain why, I gotta
dive into FULL SPOILERS
This fourth character is not only an abuser, but also a functional drug addict (Oxycontin). This is revealed in the next-to-last chapter and grants that character a full alibi (?!). This character--who has their own POV chapters--is never shown to be thinking abt drugs and/or getting high nor experience any type of physical withdraw from, again, their everyday usage.


It was v. odd that there were no hints abt this from the fourth character or anyone else who also had POVs. This was so UNBELIEVABLE that I 🙄 as the book came to a close.

Had I not been familiar with this author's usual style and that I had borrowed this from the library, I'd have probably DNF'd this book. Although I'm not quite putting this author on 'reader probation' yet, I will reconsider after reading whatever she publishes next. I gave this a 2.3 out of 5.


* Those We Run From by Fiona Zedde (F/F Romantic Suspense) - After finding out that Tilly, her ex-girlfriend from 20 or years ago, is on a hit list, almost-retired assassin Sterling heads to Miami to protect her and find out who wants her ex dead...

OTOH, this book had a v. diverse (in terms of race, sexuality, and gender) cast. I also really liked that the majority of the characters were 39+ years old. Oh, and the author can write actions scenes (including gunfights, knife fights, etc.) really well. She's got a knack for timing and describing the goings on.

OTOH, I had three issues with this 120-page novella.

1. The worldbuilding was incomplete. This story takes place in Miami (FL), the Bahamas, and southern Georgia. But there was no actual sense of place. Like, whenever the story moved to Miami, characters would inevitably think or say "wow, it's so hot/humid." And that was abt it. Same with the Bahamas.

2. Given the premise, i was ready for some goofiness plotwise. But then, a little near the halfway point, when the reason why Tilly has been targeted is revealed, the book moves on permanently to DEEPLY UNSERIOUS LAND. I mentally threw my hands in the air and said "I guess?!", NGL.

3. This last thing is the main reason why I gave it such a low ranking. This involves a mild spoiler w/r/t one of the MCs, but I don't consider it worthy of hiding behind a spoiler tag. Though, again, this is gonna be a MILD SPOILER.

So it turns out that Tilly has a twin sister named Nora. They've never gotten along and it's been a while since they've spoken with each other.

The book never uses words like autistic, autism, etc. However, it's clear that Nora is neurodivergent. The issue is the extremely negative way autism is shown. Especially when the chapter is from Tilly's POV.

Examples from Chapter 21 after Nora shows up. This is 100% from Tilly's POV (Emphasis mine):

It was bizarre seeing her sister again. Hearing her talk. They were identical in looks, but in temperament, in the way they processed things, were as different as dawn and midday. No doctor had been able to explain why. Nora was the analytical and brilliant one their parents never stopped praising. The one who was an ice cube but excelled at everything academic from her very first exam.


They start talking:

Tilly swallowed a few times. "What exactly do you mean by showing up here?"

"I made a gamble I shouldn't have and didn't factor in that I might have been gambling with your life, too." Nora faintly grimaced.

The scream crawled higher in Tilly's throat. "you talking to me like a robot isn't making the situation clearer."

"This is how i talk. There is no other way I can express myself."

That much was true. Tilly let out another sigh. [...]"


And the conversation continues with Nora talking and Tilly being judgy and on the defensive for no reason at all. The book does show Nora interacting with other characters just fine? There's one specific (but v., v. spoilery) convo Nora has with another character in which the other character never remarks on how 'odd' or 'robot-like' Nora is talking to them. So it's basically a Tilly-only issue, IMO.

At best, the way this book approaches a neurodivergent character is quite off-putting and, at worst, is truly worrisome and weird.

On top of that, it simply does not make any sense that Tilly, a 39-y.o. character who works with a variety of clients (she's a boudoir photographer) AND who has a really colorful group of friends AND gives the impression of being quite a worldly character wouldn't know or even consider the existence of autism. Especially in relation to her twin sister. Keep in mind that the story takes place in our world in contemporary times. That's all I'm saying.

ETA: I think I wouldn't have had as much of a problem if one of two things had happened:

1. If Tilly and Nora had been raised in an ultraconservative and super religious community. Since those types of groups tend to avoid/disregard anything that wouldn't be considered "normal".

OR

2. If the story has been set anywhere in the 1970s to 1980s. At those times, the general population's awareness of ADHD, dislexia, autism, etc was v. limited and prejudiced.

But that's not what happened here.


FTR, I was super grossed out by this part of the story, but it was such a short novella that I ended up. No idea if I'll read anything else by this author. I gave this a 1 out of 5.


Good vibes all around

* Comfort Me, Daddy by Misha Horne (M/M Romance) - the 444-age sequel to Hurt Me, Daddy. Logan has moved in with Caleb. There's a big chemistry test he HAS to pass if he wants his scholarship to continue AND some v. important football games he's gotta train for...

The writing continued to be good (no typos, no weird turn of phrase, etc.). There was enough space in the book for Logan to get some more character development. Which isn't to say that he became suddenly mature, but that he had changed (for the better) when it came to his self-esteem and relation to the world. Another thing that was v. clear was how much care this author had in creating all of the characters. Logan, Caleb, Walker, Ellis, and the rest of the guys had distinct personalities and behaviors and that made all of their interactions pretty interesting to follow along.

Most of the Logan/Caleb scenes (both in and out of bed) were fun and/or spicy.

OTOH, the author could've deleted 100-150 pages. Like, the author could've gotten rid of 8 or so chapters (out of 40) and tightened the story a lot.

Then there's a late-in-the-book dramarama involving Logan's mother. It felt kinda spliced into the book because there hadn't been anything working up to it. That said, I figured the author felt it necessary to give Logan some kind of closure regarding that aspect of his life? IDK.

Finally, I finished the book feeling quite dissatisfied with Caleb as an MC. There was so happening (and a lot of it being terrible) to Logan in the first book, that Caleb's steady and focused presence was v. welcomed. However, this book really showed that Caleb (both as a Daddy and as himself) had an infinite amount of patience (as well as all of the answers, I guess.) It flattened him as a character. I wish there had been at least one scene, moment, chapter in which Caleb had an off/bad day. If only to balance out all of the scenes of him being the perfect boyfriend.

Because, even though his care, love, and support of Logan made him a likable character, he didn't have anything else to him as a person. YMMV. I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5.


Current fic tally

Have picked up 160 fics, DNF'd 78


Some Thoughts

Not much in terms of satisfying reads, but I'm not actively regretting picking up most of the books (I still 😒 at Those We Run From, tho.) Thankfully, i have avoided falling into a reading slump, so I'm calling this a win (of sorts, LOL.)


Up Next...

Last time: "I'm now halfway thru the second book of the "The Brat and The Beast" duology, a mystery/thriller, a queer femdom (?) M/F set in space, and a historical paranormal that is NOT cozy."

Finished the first two books, am halfway thru the third one (which is NOT set in space)--though IDK if I'll finish it, and ended up renewing the fourth book before it was due back to the library. I'm also in the middle of another book which is the last one in a series. 🤞🏾 for good reading ahead!
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Posted by Meredith Dietz

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After years of wincing through aggressive massage gun sessions, I just assumed muscle relief required enduring a little bit of pain. There's a reason for the saying, "hurts so good," right? But it turns out you don't need to suffer to see results: The Rally orbital massager, which I have previously reviewed, has completely changed my hard-ass approach to recovery.

Don't get me wrong—percussive massage guns have their place. They're powerful and effective at working out the deepest knots. But after months of inconsistent use, I realized something: I was avoiding my own recovery tool. The aggressive pounding felt like punishment rather than self-care, turning what should've been a daily wellness ritual into something I'd postpone until I was in serious pain.

I'd skip sessions when I needed them most, only reaching for my massage gun when my muscles were screaming for attention. By then, I'd need that aggressive percussion just to make a dent in the tension I'd allowed to build up. During marathon training especially, I simply can't let this happen. That's where orbital massages come in.

Why Rally's gentler recovery changes everything

The Rally's orbital massage technology works differently than traditional percussive guns—instead of hammering muscles with rapid-fire pulses, picture the circular motion of a car buffer. Luckily, the motion is gentle enough that it feels more like a human touch, as opposed to turning me into a car getting buffed.

The Rally has taught me something crucial about sustainable self-care: I'm infinitely more likely to reach for a device that feels good to use, rather than one that hurts. It's a game-changer for consistency. With my old massage gun, I'd psyche myself out before sessions: "Do I really need this? Can I handle the intensity right now?" With the Rally, there's no mental barrier. I can use it while watching TV, during work breaks, or as part of my bedtime routine, without dreading the experience.

Building up when you need to

Here's the best thing about the Rally: It can double as a percussive massager when you need more intensity. But now, instead of starting with the nuclear option, I work my way up to it. It's more comfortable and, I find, more effective: My muscles respond better to massage when they're already relaxed and have good blood flow.

I'll begin with the gentle orbital motion to warm up tissues and increase circulation, then switch to percussion mode if I encounter stubborn knots. I am far from anti-percussion massage—there are times when you need that deeper, more aggressive treatment, like after a particularly intense workout, when dealing with chronic knots, or for trigger point therapy. But now, those hurt-so-good instances are the exception, rather than the rule.

The Rally's ability to switch between modes means I'm not locked into one approach. I have the gentleness for daily maintenance and the power for when things get serious.

The best recovery tool is the one you actually use

By embracing the gentler, orbital massage as my daily default, I've created a sustainable self-care routine that prevents problems rather than just treating them. Proactive care beats reactive treatment every time.

Maybe my muscles are thanking me not because I'm punishing them less, but because I'm caring for them more consistently. Sometimes the revolutionary approach is simply being kinder to yourself, and having the tools that make that kindness effective.

If you've been avoiding your massage gun or find yourself using it only when you're already in pain, consider making the switch to orbital massage as your primary recovery method. Your future self (and your muscles) will thank you for choosing consistency over intensity.

further in Gilmore Girls experiences

Sep. 22nd, 2025 01:02 pm
watersword: Keira Knightley applying lipstick and looking in a mirror, with the words "a work in progress" nearby (Keira Knightley: lipstick)
[personal profile] watersword

Block party yesterday extremely good: I met someone who keeps bees on his garage roof, and may have acquired volunteers for the pollinator garden, and talked about needlework with someone, and ate delicious fried chicken and upside-down peach cake. A+ community experience.

Today the cleaner is taking a crack at my dishwasher filter because I could not face a further attempt, and I am doing the interesting parts of my job (discussing copyright in archives! writing semantic HTML in preparation for writing modern CSS! prepping for a teaching commitment later this week!), and tomorrow I will go to the river for Tashlich first thing, and then have a co-writing sesh with H., and then the apple tasting flight with local honey (not from the garage bees) with friends in the park.

There is a constituent meeting with my state senator I am planning to go to later this week, he seems mostly useless but not actively evil, wish me luck.

[syndicated profile] fail_feed

Posted by Brad Dickson

It really is a terrible feeling to want something so badly, but for it to always be out of reach for reasons outside of your control. Still, there is a cost to everything, and sometimes even when we have the ability to decide things ourselves, we still must make a choice. So, there will inevitably be sacrifices, since often two things are mutually exclusive and can't be had or achieved at the same time. Failing to commit to anything, stopping short of reaching out to pluck that fig off the vine,  may leave you with nothing at all, and years down the road, you'll be staring at a bunch of withered fruit, wondering just what the heck happened.

The opportunity to have kids is important to a lot of people, and can be a dealbreaker in any relationship. It's understandable that, at some point in their relationship, the opportunity to have children of their own, or the loss of that chance, might be considered to be a breaking point. But that point should probably come before you make lifelong commitments to each other, and if you truly love someone, you won't regard them as simple opportunities or consolation prizes.

When this now teen's mother married her new husband, he seemingly had accepted the fact that his new wife was unable to have any more children, meaning that he would have no biological children of his own. He had taken consolation in the fact that she had a 10-year-old daughter and that she might one day come to see him as her father, except that day never came.

Despite no troubling grievances or incidents of note, the feelings that the teen felt needed to come along with the title of "father" never developed, as the teen felt that she had had, and lost, one father already. So, despite her stepfather's efforts and attempts to grant himself that place in her life, the "fatherhood" remained a river without a bridge to be crossed.

Seemingly, though, the entire issue here may have been the approach of both parties from the outset. Desiring to be a father in name, the stepfather might have sought to be one in name only, not putting in the intangible extra efforts that foster the unconditional love of parenthood. Similarly, it doesn't seem that the teen ever made an effort to reciprocate or include him in her life.

But the stepfather was singularly focused on achieving the role of father, and the teen was concerned about whether or not he deserved to "replace" her biological father, and this was a lose-lose game for both of them. There is no replacing a previous relationship of any kind, especially when it's replacing someone dear to you who has been lost. Seeking to do so will only leave you disappointed and upset. You need to approach the issue in a different way, seeking to add something new to each other's lives. 

Still, claiming that his stepdaughter's refusal to accept him as a father is reasonable grounds for divorce is a measly attempt at an excuse, and there were likely other issues, acknowledged or not, in the parents' relationship.  All said and done, it's hard to say whether there is any fault or not in this divorce, but it certainly isn't the fault of the child, and it never is.

Celebratory Day!

NSFW Sep. 22nd, 2025 12:34 pm
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[personal profile] minoanmiss
( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )
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Posted by Michelle Ehrhardt

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Folks are finally starting to get their iPhone 17s, and now that the new phones are in the hands of people who don’t work for Apple, flaws are starting to come to light. Specifically, durability testers are saying that you might want to slap a case on your new phone.

Most notably, it turns out that the iPhone 17 Pro has a major flaw with its camera bump. While the lenses themselves are fine, the edges on the raised camera “plateau” (as Apple is calling it) can apparently get scuffed just by hanging out in the same bag or pocket as household items like coins or keys. That’s according to testing by reliable YouTube reviewer Zack Nelson, or JerryRigEverything, who bemoaned Apple’s decision to avoid adding a chamfer or other protective barrier around the camera bump.

“I think it was intentional,” the YouTuber says in his video. “So it looks cooler.”

According to Nelson, the scratches probably have to do with Apple’s decision to move back to anodized aluminum for this model, as opposed to the titanium the company started using with the iPhone 15 Pro. Aluminum provides better cooling, and strong scratch resistance anywhere that the anodizing process adheres to, but the catch is that without chamfers, those corners tend to get missed during the anodizing bath.

For instance, when Nelson tried to scratch the flat parts of the plateau (as well as the rest of the back of the phone), it only produced dust that could be easily wiped off, good as new. But those camera plateau corners remained permanently chipped, even after wiping.

This follows a similar report from Bloomberg, which noted that display models of both the blue iPhone 17 Pro and black iPhone Air seemed especially prone to scratches, as well as posts from users, pointing out scratches across all colors and multiple models of the new iPhones, especially after being attached to MagSafe accessories. While it’s possible that some of these scratches could be wiped away, as shown in Nelson’s video, those around the corners look particularly nasty, and I’m not just talking about the camera plateau.

How to stop scratches on your iPhone 17

While it’s certainly not ideal that your bare iPhone could be susceptible to scratches, there is a simple solution—slap a case on it. That’ll hide your fancy Apple branding, sure, but it will also ensure your phone doesn’t take the brunt of your keys or loose quarters, and add a barrier around those camera plateau edges. 

This year, Apple has three case options, including a clear plastic, silicone, and a new fabric style case called TechWoven. In testing by YouTuber Arun Maini, or Mrwhosetheboss, the clear case was easily susceptible to scratches by simple household objects, but all other options held up well. That’s a relief for anyone who was burned by Apple’s previous fabric case, FineWoven, which also had its own scratch-related drama when it debuted alongside the iPhone 15 line.

Alternatively, you could go third-party. In that case, you’ve got plenty of options. Lifehacker sister publication CNET has praised Otterbox in the past, which I can also attest to by personal experience. For a more premium look, you could also go for Nomad’s leather cases, which I can also give a personal recommendation to.

astrogirl: (Missy)
[personal profile] astrogirl
Since authors have been revealed now, I can admit to writing this little thing for the Just Married exchange:

Title: Maybe This Time
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters/Relationships: Twelfth Doctor/Missy
Rating: Apparently I rated it Teen, but it might not even merit that much.
Summary: Doctor/Master divorces: one. Annulments: several. Marriages: it seems even they've lost count. But, hey, at least this marriage wasn't their fault! Well, OK. It was only indirectly their fault.
Tags: Accidental marriage(s), Annulment(s), previous Doctor/Master divorce, Banter, Missy's time in the Vault, Humor, A little bittersweet at the end
Length: ~2600 words
Author's Notes: Written for natequarter for the Just Married exchange, for the absolutely delightful prompt suggestion of "accidentally got married yet again and are trying to annul the latest marriage, but can't get it done because all their other marriages keep on getting in the way."

Maybe This Time

(no subject)

Sep. 22nd, 2025 11:57 am
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Posted by Daniel Oropeza

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It's impressive how far TCL has been pushing the limits of QLED technology. The QM7K is its latest mid-tier QD-Mini LED smart TV and it offers great value for your money. Right now, the 65-inch QM7K is marked down 41%, bringing its price down to $877.99 (originally $1,499.99), the second lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. The 85-inch QM6K, which is the more affordable version, is 37% off right now.

The QM7K is better in every way than the QM6K except for color accuracy. It has better contrast, brightness, gaming specs, black levels, processing, and other specs, but the QM6K is still a great option for those on a tighter budget.

I personally tested the QM7, which is a slightly older model of this TV, as well as the more budget QM6K, and I can tell you TCL is not skimping out on these TVs. They feel and look truly premium. This QM7K is no different. Its highlights are a bright panel, making it great for sunlit rooms. It has deep blacks and almost no light bloom, giving it that premium picture quality. Gamers will appreciate the 144 Hz native refresh rate and 288 Hz support panel with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, making it a smooth experience. Since it's a Google TV, it has hands-free Google Assistant and Google Cast, which makes streaming almost anything from your phone or computer a breeze. It can also do the same for iPhones with AirPlay.

If you're a color stickler, you might notice that the colors run a little warmer out of the box, according to PCMag's "excellent" review, but that's something you can edit easily in the picture settings. If you want a massive, bright, colorful smart TV with that "wow" factor, get the 65-inch QM7K, but if brightness is not as important to you, consider the 85-inch QM6K. Either option is a great TV for a killer price.


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Posted by Zach Weinersmith



Click here to go see the bonus panel!

Hovertext:
Sometimes the apple gets stuck in sphincter 3 and she has to gently loosen it.


Today's News:
drabblewriter: (Epic - Troy Saga)
[personal profile] drabblewriter posting in [community profile] 100words
Title: Turned Arouns
Fandom: The Iliad
Characters/Ship: Hector & Andromache
Rating: G
Note: also for “plead my belly” on my [community profile] allbingo Piracy Bingo card

Read more... )

Rebel Blade by Davinia Evans

Sep. 22nd, 2025 05:35 pm
profiterole_reads: (HOB - Hua Cheng and Xie Lian)
[personal profile] profiterole_reads
Rebel Blade by Davinia Evans was great. It's the third and final book of The Burnished City, an alchemy story taking place in a Byzantine-inspired world.

The plot now focuses on setting up a democracy and I'm always here for this.

There's m/m (to be honest, I've been excitedly waiting for Siyon and Izmirlian to reunite since Book 1, so it's a disappointment that it only happens in the last two pages) and f/f.

Soon! October Review-a-Thon!!

Sep. 22nd, 2025 05:19 pm
quillpunk: screenshot of Rue (with a super innocent expression) from the webcomic The Villainess Flips the Script (rue2)
[personal profile] quillpunk posting in [community profile] booknook

We're getting very close! XD

Sign-ups are still open; they are, in fact, open until Oct 30 :D We have 11 unclaimed days (though of course, you can claim already claimed days, too, if that's what works best for you) and it'd be super cool to fill up some more!

You can review anything from cookbooks to short stories to novels or comics AND MORE: if you think it counts, it counts. There's zero (0) consequences for missing a claimed day <3 Let's have fun together! XD

tozka: title character sitting with a friend (lady lovely locks & friends)
[personal profile] tozka

Book Info

Cover of The Forest Unseen

Genre: Nonfiction, Natural History, Ecology

LibraryThing: https://www.librarything.com/work/11720259/t/The-Forest-Unseen-A-Years-Watch-in-Nature

Acquired from: Little Free Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA [see log]

Started reading: August 17, 2025

Finished reading: September 2 (DNF)

May come back to this later (in ebook version) but it’s not holding my attention and I don’t want to carry it around waiting for it.

Reading Updates

Title Page: This copy is signed by the author!

Page xii:

Indeed, the truth of the forest may be more clearly and vividly revealed by the contemplation of a small area than it could be by donning ten-league boots, covering a continent but uncovering little.

Page 8: Somebody did a lot of underlining in pencil but stopped after the second chapter. Guessing they DNF’d this, but I’m enjoying it so far. It reminds me of Seasons of the Wild but more satisfyingly science-y.

Read the rest of this entry » )

Crossposted from Pixietails Club Blog.

[syndicated profile] fail_feed

Posted by Remy Millisky

Spending an afternoon at the museum can be a great way to break out of your usual monotonous routine. When was the last time you went to one? Depending on where you live, there may be tons of art museums, history museums, or kid-focused museums. It's not for everyone — some people find them boring — but you're sure to see things you've never seen before, and maybe broaden your horizons. Plus, in some places, if you're a resident, you can get into that museum for free or for like, a dollar using the pay-what-you-wish system. Especially if you've got kids and a long summer's afternoon to fill, it's the spot to go.  

While you're at that spot, though, you'll still have to deal with the hoi polloi who are also wandering the same halls as you. Maybe you planned on a peaceful afternoon wandering the art museum hallways and browsing the paintings, but there are a bunch of kids who can't stop laughing their faces off at the lifelike sculptures. Or, have you ever toured a museum at the same exact time as a school field trip full of kids who are either chatty or very bored and can't wait to leave? Instead of a relaxing visit, you're now surrounded by grouchy teens who just want to be on their phones. 

In some people's cases, folks were confused about the art itself! As you can see below, one person mistook an ancient bowl for a trash can… yikes! There are all kinds of ways an afternoon at the museum can totally go south, so keep scrolling to see which museum fail is your fave. 

Next up, read about the unfortunate dating prospects of the 27-year-old dude who tried to chat up a 34-year-old woman using AI: "Is he using ChatGPT to talk to me?" 

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Posted by Jesse Kessenheimer

If there were a job where you got paid $300k annually, worked 1 day a month, and got to dump all of your workplace responsibilities on your underlings, that would be the perfect career path. Oh, wait—that job description already exists, you just have to become a CEO!

Failing to attach a PDF to an email may be a job requirement for a CEO, but achieving the ultimate seat at a company is tougher than it looks. That pesky glass ceiling has proven to be the greatest barrier for underling workers to pierce into their dream job's hiring market. How does one become a CEO? Beats me, but it seems like every C-level employee has something in common: Loads of charisma, an arsenal of immaculately tailored suits, and a whole slew of CEO friends. Perhaps the key to your dream job isn't working harder in the workplace, slogging through paperwork, and staying to work overtime. All you need to do is befriend some other CEO's, buy nice clothes, and work on your elevator pitches. 

Once you've mastered that, forget everything you know about basic computer use and the entire G-Suite, and you'll be on the fast track to greatness in your career. Until then, however, you can join the rest of us in the workforce, commuting on trains, making sandwiches for lunch, and dreaming of the vacation we planned with our meager PTO accrual. 

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