The Reveal

Apr. 17th, 2026 08:39 pm
crantz: Shakespeare from Kate Beaton saying 'read my latest, it is god damn glorious' (read my latest)
[personal profile] crantz
(Dear Ashenmote: Remember when I said I was working on a secret project and when I revealed it would have been one of my usual secrets? This is it!)

The reason I was watching all those westerns was to write a Western AU of Harley Quinn! So the thing I could not talk about was that it was a secret assignment for a fic exchange, which is the usual secret I am keeping to a certain deadline.

Well it's done and revealed now. I watched movies, read books, listened to radio shows, and read academic sources. Also watched a documentary. I had a great time! Shout out to Vali and Ann, who were my movie buddies and to all the people who recommended me Western movies to watch that fit the parameters of influential and not subversions.

And The Harlequin Came Riding (6979 words) by Rosencrantz
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: DCU (Comics)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Pamela Isley & Harleen Quinzel, Dick Grayson & Harleen Quinzel
Characters: Pamela Isley, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, Harleen Quinzel, Vandal Savage, Oswald Cobblepot
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Western, Western, Pastiche, Action/Adventure, Adventure, Alternate Universe
Summary:

The Harlequin raced across the plains. The dust kicked up by her horse curled into the air as though meeting the clouds in the blue sky, choking her pursuers. It wasn't long until their dusty throats and empty bags were the only souvenirs of their encounter with the Harlequin.

Some said the Harlequin came from back East. They even said she came from the circuses of Europe. They said that the Harlequin was a monster of the West, like the Poison Ivy and Solomon Grundy and other tall tales to tell in the dark. Something that happened to you, rather than something you understood.

Plagued by a curse

Apr. 18th, 2026 01:20 am
[syndicated profile] horrorlitreddit_feed

Posted by /u/mandemango

Do you have any recommendations where the characters are plagued by curses/spirits? I recently read The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo and I really liked the concept of a family hounded by a curse.

I'm pretty much open to a lot of things, but I don't really like stories with graphic animal cruelty and sexual violence. Thank you.

submitted by /u/mandemango
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solarbird: our bike hill girl standing back to the camera facing her bike, which spans the image (biking)
[personal profile] solarbird

This is a big one if you live in south Seattle and nearby beyond. Massive, really.

Greater Northshore Bike Connector Map 2.1.0 – 17 April 2026 – is now available on github, as is MEGAMAP 2.1.0.

Please welcome to MEGAMAP coverage the communities of:

  • WHITE CENTER / RAT CITY / TOP HAT
  • GLENDALE
  • BOULEVARD PARK
  • SOUTHERN HEIGHTS
  • LAKERIDGE
  • BRYN MAWR
  • and northernmost TUKWILA

Congratulations, ALL OF YOU have a bike map now!

Other updates:

  • Yesler Way from 2nd Ave west to Alaskan now has a fully-separated bike corridor, closing an important downtown Seattle loop
  • All new 2 Line stations have been added to the MEGAMAP
  • All old stations now served by the 2 Line now have added 2 Line indicators, indicating service for both lines

It is, obviously, a big update. This was my winter project and it took several tries to make the various base maps mesh up, including having to hand-render a section of Bryn Mawr to get it all to fit. (So don’t take the distances in Bryn Mawr as gospel, it gets a little odd down there – but all the streets connect together right, as they must, and that’s what’s important.)

All permalinks continue to work.

If you enjoy these maps and feel like throwing some change at the tip jar, here’s my patreon. Patreon supports get bonus map variants, like pre-sliced printables of the Greater Northshore, and this month I’m throwing them an all-cautions-removed 0% compression version of the MEGAMAP to see whether people like that. Plus, I can be open to requests.

Regardless – enjoy biking!

Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.

Good BD Remuxes tracker

Apr. 18th, 2026 01:23 am
[syndicated profile] reddittrackers_feed

Posted by /u/Equal-Leading-3803

Hello!
I want to see some musicals, and I need a tracker that may have some, and includes the original blu-ray files. I dont know if theres anything specialized in it, but if anyone knows any, please respond!

submitted by /u/Equal-Leading-3803
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[personal profile] mimihylea posting in [community profile] pinchhits
Event: Worldbuilding Exchange
Event link: [community profile] worldbuildex 
Pinch hit link: View details and claim at this post
Due date: May 16
Assignment Minimums: 1000 words for fic or in-universe media, a finished piece not on lined paper for fanart

PH 1 - NoPixel (Web Series), 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs, 仙王的日常生活 | The Daily Life of the Immortal King (Cartoon) (fanfiction and in-universe media, varies by request)

PH 2 - Children of Time Series - Adrian Tchaikovsky, Young Wizards - Diane Duane, Firefall Series - Peter Watts (fanfiction and in-universe media)

PH 4 - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), Henry Danger (TV), Rufus (2016 2017) (fanfiction)

PH 5 - Star Ocean: The Second Story | Second Evolution, Phantasy Star, Live A Live (Video Game), Xenoblade Chronicles (Video Game), Chrono Trigger (fanart and fanfiction)

PH 7 - Dinotopia - James Gurney, KinnPorsche: The Series (TV), บ้านหลอน ON SALE | Peaceful Property (TV) (fanfiction and in-universe media)

PH 8 - Project Wingman (Video Game), Ace Combat (Video Games), Warframe (fanfiction and in-universe media)

wild iris, duff, waterfall, dew

Apr. 17th, 2026 08:13 pm
oliviacirce: (open road//oxoniensis)
[personal profile] oliviacirce
Take me back to the woods, please. (But actually, I took two pretty nice walks today; could be worse.)

Yes, That's When )

Weekly Reading

Apr. 17th, 2026 06:09 pm
torachan: (Default)
[personal profile] torachan
This is over two weeks' worth of reading, since I didn't do a post while I was in Japan.

Recently Finished
The Colossus Rises
First book in a middle grade series about a group of kids who discover they carry some ancient gene that can give them super powers but will also kill them soon after it manifests at age 13 unless they can find seven objects that were hidden in the seven wonders of the ancient world. This is clearly trying to be the next Percy Jackson type thing, but while I've never read the Percy Jackson books, I'm pretty sure they must be better than this. The characters were all stereotypes (and there's only one girl in the group of four and she's literally the only female character in the book) and the plot and worldbuilding all felt very haphazard. No interest in continuing the series.

The Disaster Tourist
Translated from Korean. Yona works at a dystopian company that sells tours to disaster zones and when she takes one herself to evaluate whether the company should discontinue it or not, things go off the rails. This was interesting but I didn't love the ending.

Bright
Translated from Thai. When five-year-old Kampol is abandoned by his parents, he is taken in and raised by the close-knit community. This is more a series of short stories than a novel. I liked it a lot.

A Murder for Miss Hortense
First in a new murder mystery series featuring a middle aged Jamaican British sleuth. I liked this a lot. Highly recommend the audiobook.

The Deep
Fantasy novel about a race of mermaids who were born from pregnant slaves tossed over the side of ships. Only one person in each generation holds the memories of their past, and must share them with the group. Interesting world building, but I never could get that into it.

Night Drop
First in a series of muder mysteries set in 1990s LA, around the time of the Rodney King riots. I liked it all right. Will continue the series.

Teaching What Really Happened: How to Avoid the Tyranny of Textbooks and Get Students Excited About Doing History
I am not a teacher nor do I have kids, but this sounded interesting and it was.

An Unnatural Life
A cyborg in prison for murdering a human claims he didn't do it. The MC is a lawyer who decides to take his case and attempt to get a retrial based on the fact that a human jury was prejudiced against him. I liked this but it dragged a bit. It's more novella length, but could have been even shorter.

Two Truths and a Lie
Short story about a woman who mentions a creepy children's show, thinking she's making it up, only to find out it was real and she was on it as a kid. Reminded me a lot of Mister Magic.

Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome
Short story tied to a series of sci-fi novels I haven't read. The novels don't sound that interesting, but this is like a mockumentary style write-up of the world building. I liked it a lot. No knowledge of the series necessary.

Age 16
Graphic novel about three generations of Chinese/Chinese Canadian women and their strained relationships with each other. Chapters alternate between the present when the MC is 16, her mom at 16 in the 70s, and her grandma at 16 in the 50s. I liked it a lot.

Stone Fruit
Graphic novel about two queer women, their relationship with each other, which is falling apart, their role as fun aunts, and their reconnection with their respective sisters. I liked it.

Kokoro no Ichiban Kurai Heya vol. 1
Newish horror manga with a framing story of an online chat group that tells off-the-cuff horror stories based on random words the group suggests. First volume was free on Amazon Japan. Vaguely curious about continuing, but the first volume didn't really grab me, and the overarching plot introduced at the end seems less intriguing, so I'm not sure if I will continue it.

A Star Brighter Than the Sun vol. 5

Mystery to Iu Nakare vol. 16

Saint Oniisan vol. 22

Lake Lewisia #1384

Apr. 17th, 2026 06:00 pm
scrubjayspeaks: Town sign for (fictional) Lake Lewisia, showing icons of mountains and a lake with the letter L (Lake Lewisia)
[personal profile] scrubjayspeaks
"This is a good luck rock," the toddler informed the stranger solemnly, heedless of the amused smiles of the adults overhead, and graciously placed a small, roundish pebble in the palm of a much larger hand. Much to the stranger's surprise, after forgetting the pebble in her pocket, it did prove to be good luck, coinciding with several fortunate turns until she didn't like to do anything important without it tucked away somewhere on her person. Unbeknownst to the many recipients of the child's proffered trinkets, he was a young incarnation of a minor luck god, and even the most humble of objects became blessed tokens in his plump and generous hands.

---

LL#1384
[personal profile] mimihylea posting in [community profile] worldbuildex

We have just over four weeks until works are due, and we still have some pinch hits! These are due at the same time as normal assignments, May 16 at 9pm EDT (Countdown). To claim, please either comment on this post (comments will be screened) or email us at worldbuildmod@gmail.com and include your AO3 user name and the number or recipient username of the pinch hit you are claiming!


PH 1 - NoPixel (Web Series), 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs, 仙王的日常生活 | The Daily Life of the Immortal King (Cartoon)

PH 1 )

PH 2 - Children of Time Series - Adrian Tchaikovsky, Young Wizards - Diane Duane, Firefall Series - Peter Watts

PH 2 )

PH 4 - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), Henry Danger (TV), Rufus (2016 2017)

PH 4 )

PH 5 - Star Ocean: The Second Story | Second Evolution, Phantasy Star, Live A Live (Video Game), Xenoblade Chronicles (Video Game), Chrono Trigger

PH 5 )


PH 7 - Dinotopia - James Gurney, KinnPorsche: The Series (TV), บ้านหลอน ON SALE | Peaceful Property (TV)

PH 7 )

PH 8 - Project Wingman (Video Game), Ace Combat (Video Games), Warframe

PH 8 )

sparowe: (Jesus)
[personal profile] sparowe

Jesus Is Willing. Are You?


My alma mater’s mission statement says: Wartburg College challenges and nurtures students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning.

Lately, I’ve found myself reframing that in a more personal way: God challenges and nurtures me for a life of leadership and service as a lived-out expression of my faith and learning.

Over the past several months, that’s been real! Not polished and definitely not perfect. But real. There have been moments in this past season of life where I’ve felt a lot like the leper. Not physically sick—but internally wrestling. I’ve felt isolated in some of the decisions I’ve made. I’ve felt unworthy of the role I’m in. Like a messy person couldn’t possibly be used to further something meaningful.

That’s where we find this man in Mark 1:40-45—feeling isolated, unworthy, and unclean. He comes to Jesus and says, “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” He doesn’t question Jesus’ ability. He questions his willingness.

I think a lot of us live there. We believe God can show up. We’re just not always sure he will. But Jesus’ response changes everything.

Mark writes that Jesus was “moved with compassion.” The original word used here is splanchnizomai—a deep gut-level stirring. Not surface emotion. Not passing sympathy. This is something felt in Jesus’ core.

At Hope, when we feel something tug our core (or our hearts), we like to say, “Was that the Holy Spirit, or was it the pizza I had last night?” This was, in fact, not the pizza Jesus had the night prior.

What does he do next? He reaches out and touches the man. He doesn’t keep his distance. He moves closer. That matters. Sometimes, I assume God’s holding me at arm’s length, when in reality, I’m the one doing it.

Jesus speaks, “Be healed!” Immediately, the man is healed! We see it again and again in Mark 1 that Jesus has authority—over spirits, over sickness, over brokenness. And he still has that authority today. The question is: Do we actually let him speak into our lives? Not just think about him. Not just believe in him. But let him in!

The healed man is grateful! But not the best listener. Jesus says, “Don’t tell anyone about this,” and the man does the opposite and tells everyone.

Honestly, it makes sense. He was healed. Restored! Brought back into community. Of course, he wanted to tell people! Scripture even points us there. In Mark 5:19, Jesus tells a man to go home and share how much the Lord has done for him. But in this moment, Jesus had given him a specific instruction—and he chose excitement (and likely some ambition) over obedience.

I’ve seen that in my own life, too. There have been moments where God has worked in me with splanchnizomai (compassion), reminded me who I am, pulled me out of things I thought defined me … and my first instinct was to go and share it all.

That’s not a bad thing! But following Jesus isn’t just about celebrating what he’s done for us. It’s also about how we choose to respond and engage with him next.

Jesus is able, and he is willing. The question is—are we willing to trust him, come close to him, and actually follow through with what he calls us to?

Write Every Day: Day 17

Apr. 17th, 2026 05:10 pm
sanguinity: (writing - semicolon)
[personal profile] sanguinity
Intro/FAQ

My check-in: After two hours of insomnia this morning, lying there thinking about what revisions I wanted to make to the longfic, I got up and made the revisions. Next I have to figure out what revisions to make to the epilogue, but that's not a today problem.

Day 17: [personal profile] china_shop, [personal profile] sanguinity

Day 16: [personal profile] badly_knitted, [personal profile] carenejeans, [personal profile] china_shop, [personal profile] cornerofmadness, [personal profile] dswdiane, [personal profile] goddess47, [personal profile] sanguinity, [personal profile] sylvanwitch, [personal profile] the_siobhan, [personal profile] trobadora, [personal profile] ysilme

When you check in, please use the most recent post and say what day(s) you’re checking in for. Remember you can drop in or out at any time, and let me know if I missed anyone!

L&O season 3: Episode 3

Apr. 17th, 2026 07:32 pm
sabotabby: two lisa frank style kittens with a zizek quote (trash can of ideology)
[personal profile] sabotabby
This one was good by Law & Order standards, in that while the dialogue and acting were quite bad* and I called the murderer almost immediately, it actually performed a socially useful function.

However, it deals with infanticide and I'm putting everything under a cut.

Uncertain Justice )
[syndicated profile] moviessubreddit_feed

Posted by /u/voac4y55bpuc

With the Martian ($600M gross) set to become his second biggest success, Weir now tops the list of highest grossing "runner-up" novel adaptation for books not in a franchise. He moves ahead of King (Green Mile $300M, second to It) and Crichton (Disclosure $200M, second to JP).

Note that these successes are far lower than runner-ups that are part of a single franchise (Harry Potter, LOTR, etc), but this is esteemed company for writing multiple compelling, but fully independent, stories.

submitted by /u/voac4y55bpuc
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The Bride (2026) was a disappointment

Apr. 17th, 2026 10:46 pm
[syndicated profile] moviessubreddit_feed

Posted by /u/rubyishiding8651

I wanted to love it. I was meant to love it. I adore Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jessie Buckley. But the whole way through, I had this feeling that the film kept insisting it was making a bold feminist statement, when really it felt quite shallow. The feminism came across as a bit on the nose and cringe, like the Barbie movie but for goths. “Sexual assault bad.” “Male gaze bad.” “Patriarchy bad.” None of it felt new or especially insightful, considering Maggie’s press tour interviews.

The performances, cinematography, and overall look were strong. It just felt surface level to me. Thoughts?

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delphi: A carton of fresh blueberries. (blueberries)
[personal profile] delphi
Fandom 50 #10

When I was putting together this list of Canadian songs I love from the last fifty years, some years had a clear favourite jump out at me while others had too many bangers to choose between. (Seriously, 1993 turned out to be the keystone year whose ultimate selection affected everything from 1987 to 2001.) But 1986 was the first stumper.

I don't think it's the case that 1986 was a mid year for Canadian music. It's more likely that it's just the first year I was properly conscious of music, with the releases getting replayed throughout my early childhood until they became background noise. These are third-favourite albums from artists whose later eras hit stronger for me, songs I slept through during my first concert as a toddler, and snippets from radio bumpers that earworm me to this day.

So, without a stronger personal preference, the clear choice was the Canadian song of 1986. The one that everyone loved and then became so inescapable that everyone hated it, and which is probably on schedule for a revival soon if it gets used in the right commercial or CBC show. However you feel about it, it's hard to find something more Canadian than this.

Patio Lanterns by Kim Mitchell

March 2026

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