Current Mood: accomplished

Entry tags:

Youtube Boycott

Well, uh. It's going? It has come to my attention that I might have a bit of a problem, but that's okay. I'm also not 100% sure how long I can keep a full boycott going, but that's fine. I'll remind anyone else maybe thinking about it that even substantially changing your viewing habits especially if you're a heavy user will be noticed as long as you're not the only one doing it.

*One of my big youtube uses was overnight. I'd have 8-10 hour ambience videos going to help me sleep. Except Dailymotion also has those. Don't need youtube overnight anymore!
*A lot of people were worried about watching cartoons/animated stuff/anime. Check your local library. You might not even need to physically check anything out if they have a service like Hoopla. I believe I found HunterxHunter on it the other day. If your local public library is part of a library system, like ours is, you may even be able to get stuff within the area but not at your specific library through an interlibrary loan. I can also confirm that 'Animation & Cartoons' is a section of the Internet Archive, though I can't confirm they will have the specific cartoon you want to watch. Also, some places, like yugioh, have their own dedicated website from the publisher to watch the anime.
*Something you have might have Vevo for music. The Internet Archive also has music.
*Some youtubers might have, say, a podcast that you can listen to instead of watching, or at least to cut down on your watching. Council of Geeks and Jessie Gender have a podcast, The Man With a Million Channels Simon Whistler's stuff are also podcasts, some like the Meidas Touch Network also have their own website to watch things instead, etc.
*It's harder to get actually voiced let's play content alternatives, but there's some non-voiced I've found on Dailymotion, and there's always Twitch (though if you're looking for full playthroughs that's unlikely, as Twitch added their 'maximum hours per channel' thing a bit ago).

And if you just have to watch: watching signed out, using adblock (as the FBI recommended) and a VPN are all ways to send a message to youtube and make your data less profitable. Maybe see this as a sign to de-google your life. Sign petitions, write or call Google, like or share videos calling them out on their policy, etc.
Oh yeah, also: think long and hard if you want to give them any info. If you're a creator that uses facecam, I'd probably be most likely to do the selfie, since that's info they already have and have already used to train AI, so they're not getting anything new that can and will be lost in a massive data leak.

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Summer 2025 Assignments Out!

Assignments have now been sent out!

The deadline is Saturday, August 23 @ 11:59pm Eastern Daylight time (Countdown). If your assignment has not been submitted to AO3 by then, you will be defaulted.

If your recipient did not request a fandom, character, and drabble type you offered, please contact the mods at seasonsofdrabbles@gmail.com ASAP.

If you need to default, please do so via the button on AO3.

For the requirements your drabble must meet, please see our guidelines. The collection is moderated and we will be doing a brief check of submitted works before admitting them into the collection. If we see an issue, we will contact you through email.

If you write a drabble for a fandom in the tagset but it doesn't fit anyone's request, you may post it to the collection anyway, with no recipient.

We'll aim to post initial pinch hits in the next 24 hours. Happy drabbling!

Entry tags:

books

some books wot I read

I am overdue on a life post (a LOT has happened, much of it shitty) but all that will be behind a filter anyway. In the meantime, something slightly more positive!

- Metropolis: A History of the City, Mankind's Greatest Invention, Ben Wilson

I actually really loved this, even though it was just an airport purchase some time ago and had stayed on the bookshelf (okay book pile. I am not that organised) increasing the gap of shame for like a few years. This particular non-fiction writer has a way with words and there are some really choice passages. There are some really lush turns of phrases here and I would recommend it just for worldbuilding alone. But I also really loved reading about the cities I didn't know much about esp in their historical contexts - like there are so many books about New York or London or Paris, there are far fewer books about Baghdad or Lagos or Manchester. In terms of population, most of the world is urban already, and at least according to this book, by 2050 the projection is that something like 70% of the Earth's population will live in cities. But when you think about it it's kind of interesting how cities came to be, why they work, what benefits or disadvantages they bring and how they've changed and morphed over the years mostly as our technology increases. One thing I thought was particularly interesting is that cities used to be this place where there was no private life, not really, and if you were a city dweller then your whole life was very much in the public eye (the notion of the Greek 'agora'), and then in the flow between the 1800s - 1900s the place to go became country estates which the concept of that may have informed suburbia, which is not a city but very close to one, which coincided with this privatening or closing-off of our lives, and now we are trying to get back into urban areas or urbanify the suburbs and create these 15-minute cities or locations while also preserving our very necessary privacy while also increasing our social community just enough that we don't feel completely isolated. Or similarly others are trying to make smart cities where it's more eco friendly and there's less food waste but there's also everpresent sensors to monitor these things to recoup waste so big data is mining every last bit of it. So ultimately, you have privacy, but you also super don't, and on both sides of the coin you only really reap the disadvantages of both positions. And that kind of feels like the city in general to me, at least in the modern meaning: you're all alone in a crowd. Sure, it's true that people have always found ways to be private in the middle of the city forever - one example Wilson gives is a caliph in 1100's Baghdad who just really wanted to indulge in some tasty street meat (mood tbh) so had to dress up incognito to go and get some chicken skewers from the local food cart without being known as, y'know, the fucking caliph - I kinda have that luddite-like impression that our modern age and/or technology has definitely made the isolated-but-spotlit problem scaled up and so much worse. Maybe just me.

One thing I think could be true about most cities, read in conjunction with Why Nations Fail, is that one of the reasons they so massively boost GDP is because that many people together naturally fosters creative innovation, even if the state or some other institution would be set on extracting all value out of it for their own richness or indulging in creative destruction (again, to keep lower class workers impoverished and needing to continue to perform subsistence instead of turning to entrepreneurship). Another thing I think could be true about Europe, in conjunction with this course on the early middle ages (so starting from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vikings) is that not having an actual city proper for just about all that time (the cities of Europe were largely founded by Rome, and most cities piddled away once Rome fell) meant that all of Europe was a massively extractive zone where power and wealth and land was concentrated in the hands of the few instead of the many for a very, very long time, and I wonder if it might help explain why Europe did some of what it did.

(That Yale course is overall really great btw, would recommend. We started watching it mostly on a lark but kept going because it kept being interesting and it was just kind of heartwarming and nostalgic to have that lecture-like university environment. I have minor quibbles here and there with the content and how it's delivered but it's rare and I think it's due to it being a product of its time - the lecturer is an old white guy and this series is from 2012. This doesn't justify but does explain a bit.)

- The Membranes, Chi Ta-Wei

This book was AMAZING and I heartily 10000% recommend it. Unless you are the type of person who is easily shocked by things or need to search doesthedogdie (in which case I should note that since this book likely won't be on it yes there are dead dogs at some point in it). It's very cool cyborg-flavoured cyberpunk, technically post-apocalyptic but not in the YA or Fallout Sole Survivor kind of way, more in the 'everything is set up for our comfort! don't think about the outside world!' way, super clever, really well-written, with a lot of great twists and the pacing starts a bit slow but quickly absorbs you. Anyway I love love loved it, I would so much recommend it to everyone who likes cyberpunk or wants to like cyberpunk but doesn't want to read 1200 pages of Neal Stephenson because Chi's book is actually fairly short (more novella sized) and equally as entertaining and twisty but you could easily read this in like 7 hrs.

Entry tags:

we didn’t plan to go to worldcon

like, at all

even though it was fucken here, right downtown

because until a few months ago it was going to be utterly impossible, economically (we’ve only really dug out of a two-year financial crisis just now, just the last month or so)

and also because of the pandemic and how that’s never fully ended (check out how people who study long-term covid do conferences and tell me again it’s over)

and also because I have some ambivalence about it anyway, despite all the work I’ve done on cons including a couple of worldcon bids, a NASFiC, a couple of v-cons, and arguably way, way too many norwescons (because of the way the latter fell out when i was finally done there)

and also because, well, look the fuck around you, fascism everywhere and month to month reanalysis of whether we have to leave the fucking country (and the depression which inevitably falls out from that)

and so on

but it starts today, and we didn’t plan to go because we literally couldn’t

and yeah

i’m pretty sad about that.

i have work today, anna has work today, tomorrow, and friday. sunday’s the last day and probably a half day like they usually are. i guess that leaves saturday for… something? anything? i don’t even know. i was gonna do the tesla takedown protest, like usual. maybe i still will. but after that…

anybody gonna be around?

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

Entry tags:

2025,
nominations

Nominations Clarification 3

Nominations Clarification 3

Here is a little FAQ about Nominations Clarification posts for those of you who haven't run into them before:

What/why is a Nominations Clarification post?

Nomination clarifications are queries about tags we find confusing and updates about tags or the tagset in general. The goal of nominations is to create a tagset of unambiguous, easy to understand tags that will be useful to participants and solidly within the scope of the exchange. The goal of a clarifications post is to keep all of our participants up-to-date regarding our nominations work and solicit feedback where necessary to create the most useful tagset we can.

Do I need to read the whole post?

No. You can just skim each clarification post to see if a fandom you're interested in requesting or offering has been mentioned. We recommend doing this even if you don't care very much how the tagset is organized in case we make some kind of huge blunder with your favorite fandom or OTP.

How do I reply to a Nominations Clarification post? Do I need a Dreamwidth account?

You don't need a Dreamwidth account because we have anonymous commenting turned on. If you comment anonymously, remember to check back for our reply! You can also email us at ficinaboxmod@gmail.com if you'd prefer.

There's a query about a fandom I'm familiar with, but I'm not the nominator. Can I tell you what I think?

Yes! If you are not the nominator but have relevant fandom knowledge about something, please speak up. Nominators don't always reply to our queries, so answers from other people in the fandom are often very helpful.

Why haven't you processed my nomination(s) yet?

Nominations can't be processed in a strictly first-in, first-out manner because of various backend reasons, so most likely we just haven't yet had a chance because of the large volume of submitted nominations. Double check our nominations clarification posts for your tag. If sign ups open and one or more of your tags is mysteriously still missing, please reach out.

My AO3 tagset nomination(s) were rejected but aren't discussed below, why did you reject them?

Most likely you failed to disambiguate your nominations, or made some other error — we reject incorrect tags rather than fixing them. You're welcome to post a link to your nominations slate if you'd like us to tell you why the tag(s) were rejected. You can attempt to re-nominated tags either on AO3 or via the form if you'd like.

However, there is a delay between us rejecting and us posting nominations clarifications! Literally as I post this post, other people on the tagmod team are approving/rejecting new tags. So your rejected tag might show up in a future clarification post

I have a nominations question not answered here or on the Nomination Guidelines. Can I ask on this post?

Yes! You can ask nominations questions on whichever nominations clarification post has been most recently posted, or you can ask on the Nomination Guidelines, or you can use the mod contact post, or you can email us. We're happy to help no matter how you get in contact!

Nominations closing soon

Nominations close today! We will then enter tagset clean up. There will probably be at least one more nomination clarification after this, possibly two more, as we work on clearing out the AO3 tagset nominations and the sheet nominations. A big benefit of the longer tagset clean up phase this year is that it should give us ample time for clarification of late submitted tags. Once we enter sign ups, we will stop work on tagset clarification so that we can focus on the next phase of the event.

While you're thinking about sign ups, we'd encourage you to stop by the Fandom Promo post (link) to browse promos or post your own!

Recursive fandoms in need of additional interested participants

Per our rules for nominating new recursive fandoms, we need either either proof of an established fandom for the nominated work or 3 participants who are interested in the fandom. In addition to the one we mentioned last time, we have several more nominations for recursive fandoms that are in need of 1-2 more interested parties. If you would be interested in requesting, offering, or pinch hitting for any of the following fandoms, please follow the associated link and leave a comment.

Batstallion - c_art (DFE)

Fandom: DCU (Comics)
Very brief summary: wild west au fancomic with Jason, Bruce, and Dick
Link to work: Here on AO3
Where to comment: This can now be nominated!

The Agreement - Tavina (DFE)

Fandom: Original Work
Very brief summary: M/M pseudohistorical Original Work set in republic era-ish China, where two men who used to be friends where one is rich and one is poor and both want custody of their nephew!
Link to work: Here on AO3
Where to comment: This can now be nominated!

under the olive grove - embraidery (DFE)

Fandom: Original Work
Very brief summary: estranged childhood friends to lovers + class differences set in classical greek inspired setting
Link to work: Here on AO3
Where to comment: This can now be nominated!

Eernal Lies - westwind & sphinx & Tol Ailin & nextworldover & apprenticebard & Kelardry & hearts (DFE)

Fandom: Call of Cthulhu
Very brief summary: Ten years ago, a team of occult investigators banded together to prevent the summoning of an ancient and monstrous evil. They failed. The world looks the same as it always has... for now. It is 1934, and a team has been hired by the daughter of one of the two surviving investigators-- who has just recently died-- to find out what happened to her father and perhaps to set right what once went wrong.
Link to work: Here on glowfic
Where to comment if you'd request, offer, or pinch hit for this fandom: Here on the Nominations Guidelines! Please sign your comment if you are commenting anonymously.

A More Satisfying Vengeance - SassySnowperson (DFE)

Fandom: Original Work
Very brief summary: A More Satisfying Vengeance by SassySnowperson is an OW Cruel King's Widowed Husband/New King set in medieval times. Not quite love at first sight but they fall for each other over the course of an evening with excellent hurt/comfort.
Link to work: Here on AO3
Where to comment: This can now be nominated!

Surrender Denied - SassySnowperson (DFE)

Fandom: Original Work
Very brief summary: Surrender Denied by SassySnowperson is an OW Winning General/Respected Opposing General Who is Their Postwar Arranged Marriage Spouse, an arranged marriage IN SPACE with world building and two very competent men!
Link to work: Here on AO3
Where to comment: This can now be nominated!

Queries

Google Forms nominations

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Video Game): Expedition 33 & Expedition 33 (Clair Obscur) — Does this mean "Any Expedition 33 Member & Any Expedition 33 Member (Clair Obscur)"?
Crossover Fandom: Gotham City (DCU Comics) & Any Fear Entity from The Magnus Archives — Our nomination guidelines say, "We will not accept inanimate objects, inanimate locations, vague concepts, or platonic ideals as characters. Animals, canonically thinking/feeling objects, and canonically thinking/feeling locations are fine!" Is Gotham canonically thinking/feeling?
DCU (Comics): Gotham City & Jason Todd (DC Comics) — Our nomination guidelines say, "We will not accept inanimate objects, inanimate locations, vague concepts, or platonic ideals as characters. Animals, canonically thinking/feeling objects, and canonically thinking/feeling locations are fine!" Is Gotham canonically thinking/feeling?
DCU (Comics): Solo: Gotham City (DC Comics) — Our nomination guidelines say, "We will not accept inanimate objects, inanimate locations, vague concepts, or platonic ideals as characters. Animals, canonically thinking/feeling objects, and canonically thinking/feeling locations are fine!" Is Gotham canonically thinking/feeling?
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: The Bulb (D20) — We think this might be too close to a Solo: nomination, but we're not sure whether or not The Hungry counts as a character! We would appreciate more information about that. Alternatively, the nominator could let us know what specific worldbuilding they're looking for on this subject.
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: The Hungry One (D20) — We think this might be too close to a Solo: nomination, but we're not sure whether or not The Hungry counts as a character! We would appreciate more information about that. Alternatively, the nominator could let us know what specific worldbuilding they're looking for on this subject.
Doki Doki Literature Club! (Visual Novel): WB: The Game Without The Player's Influence (DDLC) — Nominator, we're not sure what this means. Could you clarify for us?
Fire Emblem: Kakusei | Fire Emblem: Awakening: Solo: Future Kids (FE:A) — Are these canonical future kids? Is there another name (or, more specific name) for this group?
Hazbin Hotel (Cartoon): Alastor's Shadow/Angel Dust (Hazbin Hotel) — We need more information about characters' shadows. Are they separate thinking/feeling characters in this canon?
Hazbin Hotel (Cartoon): Alastor's Shadow/Angel Dust's Shadow (Hazbin Hotel) — We need more information about characters' shadows. Are they separate thinking/feeling characters in this canon?
Katekyou Hitman Reborn!: WB: Box Weapon Animals (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!) — Nominator, we can't figure out what this WB: tag means! Can you explain it for us?
Original Work: Solo: Nonbinary Person Who Needs to Pee but Won't Use Public Bathroom (OW) — This was nominated twice in a row! Did you mean to nominate a different tag?
Original Work: WB: Civilian's Impressions of Superhero Group (OW) — Nominator, we're not really sure if this is a worldbuilding topic. Could you elaborate a little about what you're thinking? It seems to us like this might be covered by "Civilians & Superhero Group (OW)"
Original Work: WB: Human's Impressions of Alien Species (OW) — Nominator, we're not really sure if this is a worldbuilding topic. Could you elaborate a little about what you're thinking? It seems to us like this might be covered by "Humans & Aliens (OW)"
Smokey and the Bandit (1977): Bandit/Original Male Character(s) (Smokey and the Bandit) (Smokey and the Bandit) — We don't allow tags with "(s)". Any request for a group of characters can be filled with just one of those characters or with multiple . Do you want the singular or plural version of this tag?
Stargate - Live Action: Solo: Any Military Character (Bluestone 42) in Stargate Atlantis (Stargate LA) — Nominator, just letting you know in case you lost track of this—you nominated this under Stargate - Live Action, but we approved it under Crossover Fandom.
Superman (Movie 2025): WB: Opinion/Rumors About The Superharem (Superman 2025) — Nominator, we also have a nomination for "WB: Superman Secret Harem Conspiracy Theories (Superman 2025)" and of course we can see that this WB tags are subtly different, but we wanted to know if there was any possibility that you and the other nominator would be able to settle on a single tag, for matching purposes. If not, that's okay, and we will accept both tags as-is.

Ao3 tagset nominations

DCU (Comics): WB: Red Hood Inc Paperwork (DC Comics) — This is already in the tagset, but on second look we can't figure out what Red Hood Inc is. What does this tag mean? Is Red Hood Inc. canon?
Dinotopia - James Gurney: WB: Relationship with the modern world (Dinotopia - James Gurney) — Nominator, we can't figure out what this WB: tag means! Can you explain it for us?
Doki Doki Literature Club! (Visual Novel): WB: The game without the player's influence (Doki Doki Literature Club) — Nominator, we can't figure out what this WB: tag means! Can you explain it for us? Also, WB: tags need to be phrased in an in-universe way, although we're not sure how much that rule applies to this tag.
Haikyuu!! : WB: Inner Politics of Pro Volleyball Teams (Haikyuu!!) — We need more information about this nomination. Do volleyball teams in Haikyuu!! have significantly different social dynamics than real-life teams? What kind of "politics" does a volleyball team have? Is this a request for politics between members of one team, or the politics between different teams?
KPop Demon Hunters (2025): WB: Fan Interpretations of the Movie's Finale (KPDH) — WB: tags should be phrased in an in-universe way. Nominator, what part of the aftermath of the movie's finale are you looking for worldbuilding about?
Superman (Movie 2025): WB: Superman Secret Harem Conspiracy Theories (Superman 2025) — Nominator, we also have a nomination for "WB: Opinion/Rumors About The Superharem (Superman 2025)" and of course we can see that this WB tags are subtly different, but we wanted to know if there was any possibility that you and the other nominator would be able to settle on a single tag, for matching purposes. If not, that's okay, and we will accept both tags as-is.
Teen Wolf (TV): WB: Born Versus Bitten Wolves (Teen Wolf) — We're not totally sure what this nomination means. Would "WB: Differences Between Born And Bitten Wolves (Teen Wolf)" work, or does this tag mean something else?
逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney: Sebastian Debeste & Franziska von Karma (Ace Attorney), Sebastian Debeste & Kay Faraday (Ace Attorney), Sebastian Debeste & Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney) — The official translation of Sebastian Debeste is Eugene Winner. Does it make sense to use that name instead for the tagset?

Rejected Tags

Google Forms nominations

Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery: WB: Any (Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery) (AOGG) — We're rejecting this tag because we will add all WB: Any tags to the tagset after nominations close.
D.Gray-man (Anime & Manga): WB: Fallen Ones (DGM) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
D.Gray-man (Anime & Manga): WB: Recent Bookman History (DGM) — We realize that "History of [Group]" is a fairly common WB: tag format, but we're concerned this might be a little close to "WB: Backstory of [Group]" which is a type of WB tag we don't allow. Could you elaborate on what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for? (Also, in hopes that you don't feel singled out, I want you to know I have made a note for myself to review all of our "WB: History of..." nominations before the next round starts to see if this is a problem in other similarly phrased tags.)
DCU (Comics): Jason Todd & Any Red Hood Henchperson(s) (DC Comics) — Nominator, we can't accept this as-is because we don't allow nominations with "(s)". We can approve it as singular or plural—because of our exchange rules, the plural version does also opt requesters into the singular version.
DCU (Comics): WB: Interrogation Of Any Red Hood Henchperson (DC Comics) — Nominator, this is a prompt rather than a worldbuilding topic. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
DCU (Comics): WB: Justice League Mission Report (DC Comics) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
DCU (Comics): WB: Mission Report From The Batcomputer (DC Comics) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: Deus-Pa'Zuul (D20) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: FDA | Fellowship of Destiny's Architects (D20) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: House Rocks (D20) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: Neverafter - The Authors (D20) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: The Great Beasts (D20) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: The Order of the Spinning Star (D20) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Dimension 20 (Web Series): WB: The Traveling Swirler Sisters (D20) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Fallout: New Vegas: WB: After the Second Battle of Hoover Dam (Fallout: New Vegas) — Nominator, this is a period of time instead of a specific worldbuilding topic. What aspect(s) of this period of time are you looking for worldbuilding about?
Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature (Audio Drama): Solo: Original Harbridge Student(s) Studying Anterra (Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature) — We don't allow tags with "(s)". Any request for a group of characters can be filled with just one of those characters or with multiple. Also, this OC description is too detailed for an original character outside of the Original Work fandom. Do you want "Solo: Original Harbridge Student (Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature)" (singular) or "Solo: Original Harbridge Students (Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature)" (plural)
Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature (Audio Drama): Solo: Original Peking University Student(s) Studying Anterra (Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature) — We don't allow tags with "(s)". Any request for a group of characters can be filled with just one of those characters or with multiple. Also, this OC description is too detailed for an original character outside of the Original Work fandom. Do you want "Solo: Original Peking Student (Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature)" (singular) or "Solo: Original Peking Students (Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature)" (plural)
Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature (Audio Drama): WB: Gods & Monsters (Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
ONE - Cheesy Hfj (Web Series): Solo: Any Female ONE Contestant(s) (ONE - Cheesy Hfj) — We don't allow tags with "(s)". Any request for a group of characters can be filled with just one of those characters or with multiple. Do you want the singular or plural version of this tag?
ONE - Cheesy Hfj (Web Series): Solo: Any First Episode ONE Contestant(s) (ONE - Cheesy Hfj) — We don't allow tags with "(s)". Any request for a group of characters can be filled with just one of those characters or with multiple. Do you want the singular or plural version of this tag?
The Avengers (Marvel Movies): WB: Any Avengers Comms Transcript (Avengers) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
The Avengers (Marvel Movies): WB: Any Avengers Mission Report (Avengers) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
The Avengers (Marvel Movies): WB: Any Shield Mission Report (Avengers) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
Wiedźmin | The Witcher (Video Game): WB: Any Witcher School (Witcher Games) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
銀魂 | Gintama (Anime & Manga): WB: Shiroyasha (Gintama) — This seems like the title of a person, which would make it a little too close to a Solo: nomination. We would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.

Ao3 tagset nominations

15th Century CE RPF: Solo: I. Mátyás magyar király (15th Century CE RPF) — This was rejected for incorrect capitalization, but a curious google brought us to this Wikipedia page—this seems to be the Hungarian name for "Hunyadi Matyas" who is nominated in a different 15th Century CE RPF tag. If that's the case, please re-nominate under that name. If Wikipedia has lied to us (very possible) and these are actually two different people who need to be nominated under separate names, please let us know!
Betrayal at House on the Hill: WB: Backstories of the Entities Inhabiting the House (Betrayal at House on the Hill) — We don't accept WB tags with "Backstory" in them. Also, we're not really sure what this tag means, but it seems to be about a group of characters, which would probably be better for a Solo: nomination. Could the nominator help us out so we can find a rephrasing that works?
Betrayal at House on the Hill: WB: Backstories of the Rooms (Betrayal at House on the Hill) — We don't accept WB tags with "Backstory" in them. Also, we're not really sure what this tag means. Could the nominator help us out so we can find a rephrasing that works?
Betrayal at House on the Hill: WB: How Betrayals Work During Haunts (Betrayal at House on the Hill) — Nominator, this is phrased like a prompt instead of a worldbuilding topic. What kind of worldbuilding are you looking for?
Final Fantasy XIV: WB: IVth Legion Beastmasters (FFXIV) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Haikyuu!! : WB: Articles about Volleyball Matches (Haikyuu!!) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
Haikyuu!! : WB: Kodzuken's Social Media Presence (Haikyuu!!) — This WB: tag would be better as optional details under a Solo: request. "
Haikyuu!! : WB: Social Media Discussions of Pro Volleyball Players (Haikyuu!!) — We would like to rephrase to ""WB: Internet Discussions of Pro Volleyball Players (Haikyuu!!)"" so that the exact medium of the discussion (social media, forum posts, etc) can be left up to creator discussion, possible influenced by selected tags. We don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. "
House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski: WB: How the House Works (HoL - Danielewski) — We don't accept WB: tags with phrasing like this because it's too close to a prompt/question. Nominator, could you elaborate on what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle: WB: Non-Player Characters (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) — Groups of characters can't be nominated as WB tags, only as Solo: tags. We're happy to accept this as a Solo: tag, but we'd also be interested in hearing what kind of worldbuilding the nominator wanted about this group. Please keep in mind that WB: tags need to be phrased in an in-universe way.
KinnPorsche: The Series (TV): WB: Family History (KinnPorsche) — We realize that "History of [Group]" is a fairly common WB: tag format, but we're concerned this might be a little close to "WB: Backstory of [Group]" which is a type of WB tag we don't allow. Could you elaborate on what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for? (Also, in hopes that you don't feel singled out, I want you to know I have made a note for myself to review all of our "WB: History of..." nominations before the next round starts to see if this is a problem in other similarly phrased tags.)
Riverdale (TV 2017): WB: The Gang Returning to an Altered Present Timeline (Riverdale) — Nominator, this is phrased like a prompt instead of a worldbuilding topic. What kind of worldbuilding are you looking for?
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien: Aragorn/Halbarad (Tolkien) — These were disambiguated incorrectly but we thought you might be confused about why, so here's an explanation: you selected the canonical (official) tags instead of writing a tag with a more specific disambiguation. Per the Nominations Guidelines, we need disambiguations that are clear about which specific fandom a tag is nominated under, so tags under this fandom should be disambiguated with "Aragorn/Halbarad (LotR - Tolkien)" or similar. You can re-nominate via the form if you are out of nomination slots.
The Magnus Archives (Podcast): WB: Lukas Family History (TMA) — We realize that "History of [Group]" is a fairly common WB: tag format, but we're concerned this might be a little close to "WB: Backstory of [Group]" which is a type of WB tag we don't allow. Could you elaborate on what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for? (Also, in hopes that you don't feel singled out, I want you to know I have made a note for myself to review all of our "WB: History of..." nominations before the next round starts to see if this is a problem in other similarly phrased tags.)
The Magnus Archives (Podcast): WB: Original Statement (The Magnus Archives) — It's come to our attention that this is a prompt for an in-universe media type, rather than a worldbuilding topic, so it will be removed from the tagset. Nominator, what kind of worldbuilding about statements are you looking for? We'd be happy to put a replacement tag into the tagset for you.
天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù: WB: Ghost City Local Newspapers & Articles (TGCF) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù: WB: Manual on Ghost Types (TGCF) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
山河令 | Word of Honor (TV 2021): WB: Ghost Valley Recipes (Word of Honor) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
山河令 | Word of Honor (TV 2021): WB: Notes & Textbooks from Healer Valley (Word of Honor) — Nominator, we don't want anyone to seem like they're opting in to a specific medium via a WB: tag. Could you clarify what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for?
黄金の太陽 | Golden Sun Series: WB: The Years Immediately After The Return of Alchemy (Golden Sun) — Nominator, this is a period of time instead of a specific worldbuilding topic. What aspect(s) of this period of time are you looking for worldbuilding about?
黄金の太陽 | Golden Sun Series: WB: Vale's Refugees Moving To Kalay Or Rebuilding Nearby (Golden Sun) — Nominator, this is too close to a Solo: group nomination and we would like to rephrase. Maybe something like "WB: Logistics of Vale Refugees' Move To Kalay" although you might want worldbuilding about some different aspect of their resettlement.

Entry tags:

2025: 07,
matching

Grace Period and Matching Info

We have now closed signups! Below is the expected timeline for the next couple days:

Like always, for the next 12 hours, people can contact us to add to their signups. This is intended for people who may have run into the character tagset bug when signing up close to the deadline, or whose nominations were approved late. However, anyone may ask to have characters/fandoms added to their requests or offers. If you would like us to add to your signup, please post on the screened mod contact post or email us at seasonsofdrabbles@gmail.com. Please make sure to include your AO3 username.

After that window has closed, we will check the matching and send out emails to anyone who is unmatchable on offers. They will be given 24 hours to respond.

Barring unexpected delays, assignments will go out before the end of Wednesday, August 13.

As you wait for assignments to go out, please feel free to check out the app to browse requests and start writing!

Current Mood: yare yare daze
Current Music: A Narrow Escape! - Devil Summoner OST

Entry tags:

A Narrow Escape!

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/SMT Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha (Will of the Yatagarasu)
Summary: Buffy's bad night might just be turning around.
Word Count: 1226
Rating: Teen

( retaliation )

Current Mood: yare yare daze
Current Music: Moon Light and Eyes - Devil Summoner 1 OST

Entry tags:

Moon Light and Eyes

Dialogue half written just so I can use this title, because it is very apropos.

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/SMT Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha (Will of the Yatagarasu) Dialoguefic
Summary: faster to read
Word Count: 35
Rating: Teen

“If I flirted with you, would you be cool with that?”
“...I...um. If you were serious, sure.”
“What about me makes you think I’m not serious?”
“Good point, there. Then I’m looking forward to it.”

Entry tags:

no better satire could be written

Holy hell. The Tesla Truck is such a complete fucking sales disaster that he’s getting a corrupt deal with the military to buy them as targets.

I repeat:

THE TESLA TRUCK IS SUCH A COMPLETE FAILURE THAT THEY’RE SELLING THEM TO THE MILITARY AS TARGETS FOR TARGET PRACTICE.

Only a couple at first. Still, no doubt it’ll be at full price or some shit. Gotta claw those losses back somehow, right? Try this, see who complains.

Regardless, “OFFICIAL US MILITARY TARGET” stickers for Teslas, y/y?

Also, I may need to make yet another new sign for the Tesla Takedown protests because holy shit xD

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

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Live as Lions - Epic Heaven Music

Entry tags:

Conspiracies in Eden

Juuust in under the wire, oof.
I totally forgot about the line from Spock “Deriving sustenance from emotion is not unknown in the galaxy,” so this is actually a plausible and not totally out there AU. Thanks Nimoy!Spock.
Honestly in just a slightly different world, He Jiankui’s experiment especially in a tense or cold war sort of environment could easily have sparked off a genetics arms race that could have led to the Eugenics Wars, and given how fast science is going these days, it’s not actually too far off timeline-wise.
I wasn’t sure whether or not to include this, but I’ll go ahead and say it now (and probably update the tags to reflect this): John Harrison and Khan really are two different people in this rewrite, because while I appreciate the comics trying to actually explain why Khan is a white guy now, it was a nonsensical twist.

Main Points:
Star Trek (the 2009!movie verse) Cambion AU (New Genesis)
Summary: Jim and Carol have one (several) long-overdue conversation(s).
Word Count: 2196
Rating: Teen

( no apples in sight )

Entry tags:

2025: 07,
signups

Signups closing soon!

Reminder that you have a day and a half left before both signups and nominations close on Monday, August 11 @ 11:59pm Eastern Daylight time (Countdown).

As you finalize or submit your signup, remember to check out Uncategorized Fandoms for crossovers and other fandoms you might have missed! Here's the requests app that may be easier to browse than AO3.

As usual, there will be a 12-hour grace period after signups close during which you can ask us to add tags to your requests/offers.

Entry tags:

Post-Deadline Post! Repost of PHs 11-13

Post-Deadline Post!

The deadline has passed! Reveals are scheduled for August 16th at 11:59PM EDT (countdown)!

If you have an extension, your new deadline is August 13th at 11:59PM EDT (countdown)!

Pinch Hits

We still have three PHs up for grabs (added two new ons on August 13th, will formally announce with next post), which will need to be filled in order for the collection to reveal on time! These pinch hits are due on ~~August 15th at 11:59PM EDT~~ August 16th at 11:59AM (NOON) EDT (click here for a countdown).

To claim a pinch hit, please comment below with your AO3 username and the pinch hit you would like to claim (comments are screened) or email us at littleblackdressex@gmail.com. If you are not signed up to the exchange and you are posting anonymously, please also leave an email address so I can contact you if necessary. For exchange requirements, consult the rules.

( PH 11 - Fanfic - Felvidek (Video Game), Hallo itt Mátyás király! - Bogáti Péter, 15th Century CE RPF )

( PH 12 - Fanart, Fanfic, Podfic - aoen (Band), &TEAM (Band), TOMORROW X TOGETHER | TXT (Korea Band), Dark Moon: The Grey City (Webcomic), ENHYPEN (Band) )

~~( CLAIMED PH 13 - Fanart, Fanfic, Podfic - The Librarians (TV 2014), Homestuck, Pacific Rim (Movies), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - All Media Types, Outer Range (TV) )~~

( PH 14 - Fanfic - Top Gun (Movies), Teen Wolf (TV), Marvel Cinematic Universe, Mission: Impossible (Movies), Jurassic Park Original Trilogy (Movies), Kingsman (Movies), Merlin (TV), Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies) )

Entry tags:

One of the weirder things I've ever made + Artfight!

Hi!! I haven't have much going on B5-wise so I keep forgetting to update here, lol. A couple things though:

1. I made this in-universe vorlon/reader fic hosted on an in-universe fic archive! Truly one of the weirder things I've put together but I am very proud of it. I just wish I'd had time to put other "pages" for the "site" together but it was for an exchange so I was limited. Maybe I'll come back to it someday, and maybe on Neocities instead of totally relying on the limits of AO3 work skins.

2. I did not have time to do ArtFight this year :( BUT I did get some lovely art of my OCs from friends!!! You can see the things I got last year and this year here. So freaking obsessed with it all. There's a bunch of pretty things for my Minbari OC Mekall (Deathwalker's Wind Sword GF), and some new wonderful art for my Centauri OCs Vicenti (genderfucked noble) and Karic (Shadow associate scientist).

I hope everyone has been well!

Entry tags:

cloak and dagger

Cloak & Dagger

Hellooo I took advantage of being sick and watched the entirety of Cloak & Dagger (2018). I really loved it--two sides of the same coin kinda duo who know each other better than anyone else! I also am now very obsessed with Brigid and her Mayhem doppelganger. Really hoping I have some time to write some fics or make some vids for them once things calm down for me. I feel a little weird about the pacing and narrative structure in season 2 in a way that would necessitate a rewatch to properly word out, but it was still super enjoyable and pretty unique with how it handled quite a bit and it deserved a season 3.

Has anyone else ever watched it or read any of the comics? I'd be curious to know your thoughts or if anyone has other superhero media to recommend!! I'm thinking of getting into Black Lightning since I loved Christine Adams in Terra Nova. I still need to get back into quite a bit of X-Men media as well.

Other shows I'm watching rn when time allows me: Cleopatra 2525, Charmed (sorta rewatch), Grey's Anatomy (rewatch), Yellowjackets (rewatch), and I need to get the strength to finish Wheel of Time ;-;

Entry tags:

24 hours to the deadline, PHs, and extensions!

Deadline Reminder

We're about 24 hours out from the deadline, which is August 9th at 11:59PM EDT (countdown)!

Pinch Hits

We still have two initial PHs up for grabs, and one new one! These pinch hits are due at 11:59PM EDT August 14th (click here for a countdown).

To claim a pinch hit, please comment below with your AO3 username and the pinch hit you would like to claim (comments are screened) or email us at littleblackdressex@gmail.com. If you are not signed up to the exchange and you are posting anonymously, please also leave an email address so I can contact you if necessary. For exchange requirements, consult the rules.

( PH 11 - Fanfic - Felvidek (Video Game), Hallo itt Mátyás király! - Bogáti Péter, 15th Century CE RPF )

( PH 12 - Fanart, Fanfic, Podfic - aoen (Band), &TEAM (Band), TOMORROW X TOGETHER | TXT (Korea Band), Dark Moon: The Grey City (Webcomic), ENHYPEN (Band) )

( PH 13 - Fanart, Fanfic, Podfic - The Librarians (TV 2014), Homestuck, Pacific Rim (Movies), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - All Media Types, Outer Range (TV) )

Extensions

In the event you can't make the deadline but could make a slightly further out deadline, you may request an extension to August 13th at 11:59pm EDT. You can use one of the two following forms to do so! They ask for your and your recipient's AO3 names, and have you acknowledge a couple of basic rules (1: That you only request if you are reasonably certain an extension will allow you to finish, and 2: that if you no-show default on an extension you won't be able to request one the following year).

The two forms are identical except that the email version asks for an email to send you a copy of your submitted request.

Extension Form: https://forms.gle/ZpQMcTNvkegSMxWVA
Extension Form (email option): https://forms.gle/VjXB5jy4GRFFTxY59

If don't want to use a form, please comment on this post (screening is on) with your AO3 name, your recipient's AO3 name, and an acknowledgement of the two extension rules above. Make sure to clearly indicate you are requesting an extension, as this is also where PH claims will happen. You may only request extensions to August 13th at 11:59pm EDT. Please do not include an explanation of why you need an extension, everyone is currently eligible.

All extensions must be requested before the deadline of August 9th at 11:59PM EDT!

Entry tags:

One nominations query

We have one quick query about a nomination for "Don Armstrong" under Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene. Could the nominator share more information about where this character appears in the canon? We're having a bit of trouble verifying they exist. Thank you!

Sign-ups are still ongoing and will remain open until Monday, August 11 @ 11:59pm Eastern Daylight time (Countdown). Once that deadline has passed, we will have a 12-hour grace period during which you can request changes to your signup.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Jotaro's Theme - 7th Stand User OST

Entry tags:

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 386

Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: Johan gets his answers as Jotaro attempts to get his.
Word Count: 1210
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS

( Things Aren't What They Used to Be, Part 2 )

Some More Pinchhits #5, #6, #8, #9, #11, #16-19

The Pinch Hits are due the same time as regular assignments. The deadline is set for Saturday 16 August at 20:00 UTC. You can view a countdown here.

To claim: please reply to this post with your AO3 username and the name and number of the pinch hit you want to claim. Comments are screened. You can also email tentaclemod@gmail.com.

Anon commenting is fine but bear in mind that I cannot reply if you comment anon!

You don't have to be signed up to the exchange to claim a pinch hit, but you do need an AO3 account.

All pinch hits must comply with the rules here. The minimum is a completed work of fanfiction of at least 1000 words or a completed piece of fanart or 500 words of podfic (depending on what the recipient has requested).

CLAIMED! PH 5 - 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, 镇魂 | Guardian - priest, Crossover Fandom, 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)

( PH 6 - [Fanfic + Fanart] NoPixel (Web Series), 鴨乃橋ロンの禁断推理 | Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri | Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective (Manga), 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs, 吸血鬼すぐ死ぬ | Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu | The Vampire Dies in No Time (Anime), Runescape (Video Games) )

( PH 8 - [All Fanfic] Bandom, Cool Runnings, due South, Good Omens, Zootopia, Real Genius- )

( PH 9 - [All Fanfic] Dishonored (Video Games), BioShock 1 & 2 (Video Games), Revenge (1990) )

( PH 11 - [All Fanfic] X-Men: The Animated Series (Cartoon 1992), World of Warcraft, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV 2000), Hellboy (Comics) )

CLAIMED! PH 14 - Bleach (Anime & Manga), Natsume Yuujinchou | Natsume's Book of Friends, フェルマーの料理 | Fermat no Ryouri (TV)

CLAIMED! PH 16 - 天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, Elden Ring (Video Game), 魔尊也想知道 - 青色羽翼 | Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know - Cyan Wings, The Magnus Archives (Podcast), The Glory (TV 2022), 苍兰诀 | Love Between Fairy and Devil (TV), 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 내가 키운 S급들 - 근서 | S-Classes that I Raised - Geunseo, 오픈 더 도어 - 임짜달 | Open The Door - Imjjadal, 山河令 | Word of Honor (TV 2021)

( PH 17 - Crossover Fandom, Naruto (Anime & Manga), 新世界狂歡｜NU: carnival (Video Game) )

( PH 18 - Biggles Series - W. E. Johns, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Labyrinth (1986), Sime~Gen - Jacqueline Lichtenberg & Jean Lorrah, Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band (Song), Original Work )

CLAIMED! PH 19 - Red One (2024), Justin and the Knights of Valour (2013), Spacelords (Video Game), Original Work

8/4/25 - 8/8/25 The Horrors

* News keeps moving fast, so some items may be already out of date.

* "Israel intends to take control of Gaza Strip, Netanyahu says:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/07/netanyahu-israel-control-gaza-00497835

* "Sen. Slotkin On The Deep State, Israel’s Endgame In Gaza, and Dems’ Alpha Energy:"

( Embed: )

******

* "Trump tells European leaders he’ll continue Russia talks through in-person meetings with Putin:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/06/trump-european-leaders-in-person-meetings-putin-00496106

* "Trump orders nuclear submarines moved after Russian 'provocative statements':" https://archive.ph/Xujli

* "Brazil's Bolsonaro appeals house arrest order:" https://archive.ph/Fa9E2

* "U.K. resident activism:" https://amaebi.dreamwidth.org/2680664.html

* "Rival anti-migrant and anti-racism protests face off outside a hotel housing migrants in London:" https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rival-anti-migrant-anti-racism-protests-face-off-124308218

* "U.S. plans to ease human rights criticism of El Salvador, Israel, Russia:" https://archive.is/4e5sZ

* "Anti-LGBTQ+ Catholic leader confirmed as ambassador to Vatican:" https://www.advocate.com/news/anti-lgbtq-catholic-ambassador-vatican

* "Trump's tariffs are now fully in effect. Are prices rising? Here's what we know:" https://www.npr.org/2025/07/29/nx-s1-5477470/prices-trump-tariffs

* Tariffs are a regressive tax paid by ordinary American consumers: "US expects $50 billion a month in tariff revenues, US Commerce chief Lutnick says:" https://archive.ph/Wqyi7

* "Trump says US will charge tariff of about 100% on semiconductor imports:" https://archive.ph/SnnQd

* "Apple CEO Tim Cook bends the knee to Donald Trump with a golden Oval Office gift & $100 billion pledge:" https://www.advocate.com/news/tim-cook-donald-trump-gift

* "Trump imposes extra 25% tariff on Indian goods, ties hit new low:" https://archive.ph/N5XZg

* "Exclusive: 'I won't humiliate myself': Brazil's president sees no point in tariff talks with Trump:" https://archive.ph/EXAiR

* "US employers slash hiring as Trump advances a punishing trade agenda:" https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-trump-federal-reserve-68a15f89d68793a6cf88a522ff33246c

* "Trump narrows Fed chair candidates to four, excluding Treasury Secretary Bessent:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-reserve-powell-successor-d7a0739a1f870e6b200036b66d9d3d1a

* "Trump names economic adviser Miran to temporary Fed opening:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/07/trump-fed-miran-powell-inflation-cea-00498696

* "Trump says he’s ordering new census:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/07/trump-new-census-00497025

The Census is literally a requirement in Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution and counts everybody living here. (There were exceptions for Slaves and untaxed indigenous people, but that got changed later, obviously). An accurate Census is essential for things like House of Reps, Electoral college, taxation, and resource allocation. The reasons you need to know how many people live in a place is pretty obvious. Notice that they illegally want not to count undocumented Immigrants, but not not prisoners, who also lack voting rights but prisoners are usually taken from cities to fluff up rural numbers, so that helps republicans.

There is no provision to redo the Census if the President doesn't like the numbers.

* "Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Lift ICE Racial-Profiling Ban:" https://archive.ph/oO1BA

* "Trump Just Released His Plan to Revoke Birthright Citizenship. It’s Worse Than Imagined.:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/07/trump-birthright-citizenship-supreme-court-ice-maternity-ward.html

* "More immigration judges terminated as Trump administration works to cut down massive case backlog:" https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-immigration-court-judges-terminated-donald-trump-administration-works-cut-down-massive-case-backlog/17434235/

I have said for decades that we should fold immigration judges into the regular judiciary so they would have independence, rather than being fired on a whim if they do something the president doesn't like and that immigration courts ought to follow more normal procedure including a right to a lawyer.

Also, someone needs to explain subtraction to Republicans (just generally). If you take things away, you have less of them. We need more judges, not less the bigger the backlog is.

* "2 federal immigration judges speak out after being abruptly fired by Trump administration:" https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/immigration-judges-fired-trump-administration/

* "Flight Manifests Reveal Dozens of Previously Unknown People on Three Deportation Flights to El Salvador:" https://www.404media.co/flight-manifests-reveal-dozens-of-previously-unknown-people-on-three-deportation-flights-to-el-salvador/

* "Trump has militarized the immigration system. Now is the time to stand up:" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/03/trump-us-immigration

* "National Guard Ordered to Do ICE Paperwork at Immigration Facilities in 20 States:" https://theintercept.com/2025/07/31/national-guard-ice-immigration-trump/

* "Maddow: U.S. profoundly changed by authoritarian leader; 'We're beyond waiting and seeing now':" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-u-s-profoundly-changed-by-authoritarian-leader-we-re-beyond-waiting-and-seeing-now-244353093883

* "No justice left: Massive ICE recruitment blitz raises red flags:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/no-justice-left-massive-ice-recruitment-blitz-raises-red-flags-244493893972

* "Ice to hold 1,000 detainees in Indiana after deal with state’s prison system:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/05/indiana-immigration-detainees-ice

* "Border patrol agents jump out of rental truck and ambush people at LA Home Depot:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/06/ice-border-patrol-home-depot-los-angeles

* "L.A. agrees to pay $500,000 to reporters arrested at 2021 Echo Park protest:" https://archive.ph/yGXyN

* "DHS denies hunger strike at Alligator Alcatraz despite Cuban detainee’s two-week protest:" https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-08-05/dhs-denies-hunger-strike-at-alligator-alcatraz-despite-cuban-detainees-two-week-protest.html

* Stay Noisy! Keep Protesting! "ICE arrests decline amid backlash to June immigration raids:" https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/ice-arrests-july-decline-immigrants

* "Scarsdale High School grad released after being detained by ICE for several days:" https://abc7ny.com/post/scarsdale-high-school-grad-yeonsoo-go-detained-ice-rally-prayer-vigil-set-thursday/17431965/

* I am not surprised. It's Eugene! "Protest at Lane County Fair over controversial Alcatraz shirts draws county response:" https://www.kezi.com/news/local/protest-at-lane-county-fair-over-controversial-alcatraz-shirts-draws-county-response/article_a34e082c-af02-4559-9e55-f84d9544bf6b.html

* "When The U.S. Government Tried To Replace Migrant Farmworkers With High Schoolers:" https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/07/31/634442195/when-the-u-s-government-tried-to-replace-migrant-farmworkers-with-high-schoolers

* "Stanford student paper, noncitizen students sue Trump officials over speech-related visa policies:" https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/08/06/stanford-student-lawsuit-trump-officials-free-speech-visas/

* "Trump bans trans women athletes from 'extraordinary ability’ visas:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trans-women-athletes-extraordinary-visas

* "State Department to charge some travelers $10,000 bond to get visas:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/state-department-visa-bonds-00492077

* Here are some ways to help Immigrants and the anti-ICE Protesters:

Immigrant Defenders: https://give.immdef.org/give/545119/#!/donation/checkout
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/nbfn-directory
Amnesty International: protect asylum-seekers: https://donate.amnestyusa.org/page/113080/donate/1
The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/
CHIRLA: https://www.chirla.org/
AL Otro Lado: https://alotrolado.networkforgood.com/projects/63833-al-otro-lado-fund
Mid-South Immigration Advocates: https://miamemphis.org/
"Know Your Rights:" https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights

* "Strategic Resistance: Mass Demonstration:" https://ninelives.karawynnlong.com/strategic-resistance-mass-demonstration/
https://mgerwingarch.com/m-gerwing/2012/11/24/architects-glossary-soffit

* "80 years after Hiroshima, Trump’s ‘gut’ is in charge of the nuclear codes, and it's dangerous:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/donald-trump-nuclear-codes-hiroshima

* Which Means he's thinking about it, probably. "Trump says he will ‘probably not’ seek a third term:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/05/donald-trump-2028-election-00493621

* "Before and After Photos Show White House Rose Garden Paved Over:" https://www.newsweek.com/before-after-photos-white-house-rose-garden-2109488

I know it a small thing compared to everything else, but he's destroyed a piece of history by literally paving it over because he has no taste and an inflated ego.

I don't know, it just feels both symbolic of his destruction of the environment and the country as a whole and is deeply distressing as someone who cares about history.

Again, minor compared to what ICE agents are doing or his foreign policy or his public health policy, all of which are actively killing people, but it still bothers me.

* "Trump says JPMorgan, Bank of America rejected his deposits:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/05/trump-jpmorgan-bank-america-debanking-00494729

* "Marjorie Taylor Greene officially urges Trump to commute George Santos’s prison sentence:" https://www.advocate.com/news/george-santos-pardon-mtg

* "Dozens attend OKC Rage Against the Regime rally to protest Trump administration:" https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2025/08/02/rage-against-the-regime-held-to-protest-trump-administration-policies/85427103007/

* "Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/nasa-china-space-station-duffy-directives-00492172

* "Trump, in another break from the norm, interviews 4-star general candidates:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-generals-meeting-candidates-four-star-00ddfa91be57fb92eb616694ef50b6ba

* "What’s Included in the 596 Books Banned by the Department of Defense Education Activity?:" https://bookriot.com/whats-included-in-the-596-books-banned-by-the-department-of-defense-education-activity/

* "VA severs ties with most federal unions, terminating worker contracts:" https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/08/06/va-severs-ties-with-most-federal-unions-terminating-worker-contracts/

* "Air Force rescinds early retirement approvals for transgender service members kicked out by Trump :" https://www.advocate.com/news/air-force-transgender-retirement

* "Senate Democrats Estimate DOGE Caused Billions of Dollars In Government Waste:" https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/senate-democrats-estimate-doge-caused-billions-of-dollars-in-government-waste

* "FDA’s New Drug Approval AI Is Generating Fake Studies: Report:" https://gizmodo.com/fdas-new-drug-approval-ai-is-generating-fake-studies-report-2000633153

* "US health agency to wind down mRNA vaccine development:" https://archive.ph/eojTk

* "Is America's Food System Safe Under Trump?:"

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* "White House backs away from IVF coverage mandate despite Trump’s campaign pledge, Washington Post reports:" https://archive.ph/WMGAF

* "Trump Administration Moves to Destroy Satellite That Monitors Greenhouse Gases:" https://gizmodo.com/trump-administration-moves-to-destroy-satellite-that-monitors-greenhouse-gases-2000639234

Destroying the satellites is essential to preventing us having accurate climate data, something Billionaires do not want us to have for obvious reasons.

* The Republican War on the environment continues. "E.P.A. Moves to Cancel $7 Billion in Grants for Solar Energy:" https://archive.ph/7N9lV

* "After helping GOP-led Texas, Trump admin denies FEMA aid to another Democratic-led state:" https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/maryland-fema-aid-flooding-texas-trump-wes-moore-rcna220869

* "Key sections of the US Constitution deleted from government’s website:" https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/06/key-sections-of-the-us-constitution-deleted-from-governments-website/

They are outright censoring parts of the constitution in service of Fascist Autocracy.

* "Confederate statue toppled during Black Lives Matter protests will be reinstalled:" https://www.npr.org/2025/08/05/nx-s1-5493106/confederate-statue-albert-pike-reinstall

Republicans prefer to honor traitors instead of people who tried to make the country or the world better, so, of course.

* "Philly activists rally at Independence Park to protest Trump’s moves to remove exhibits that depict slavery in early America:" https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-presidents-house-site-slavery-exhibit-protest-trump-removal/

* "Pam Bondi seeks grand jury review of Obama-era origins of Trump-Russia investigation:" https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-russia-trump-bondi-gabbard-55bd00e15fe18da1533b623c3ca9bbbb

* "Legal Watchdog Files Bar Complaints Against Justice Dept. Lawyers:" https://archive.ph/PwYRT

* "Trump regulatory czar Jeffrey Clark should be disbarred for role in 2020 election plot, disciplinary board rules:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/31/jeffrey-clark-disbarred-recommendation-00487257

* "Law strikes back: Lawyers doing Trump's bidding targeted where integrity still matters:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/law-strikes-back-lawyers-doing-trump-s-bidding-targeted-where-integrity-still-matters-244355141795

* "Video shows Department of Justice official urging Jan. 6 rioters to 'kill' cops:" https://www.npr.org/2025/08/07/nx-s1-5493197/doj-trump-jan-6-defendant-jared-wise-capitol-riot

* "FBI ousts ex-acting director, other agents, in latest purge, people briefed say:" https://archive.ph/B3r1b

* "Trump's war on facts backfires at FBI as top talent walks away:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-s-war-on-facts-backfires-at-fbi-as-top-talent-walks-away-244564037814

* " Trump’s War on Big Law Means It’s Harder to Challenge the Administration:" https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-law-firms-accountability-environment-police-lgbtq

* "New nonprofit firm in Washington adds to legal resistance to Trump:" https://archive.ph/rrMSE

* "Brown University is ‘functionally inaccessible’ to transgender students after Trump settlement:" https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-students-unsafe-brown-university

This is the goal of all the anti-trans policies and laws: To force all trans people out of public life.

* "Harvard President Garber Tells Faculty He Is Not Considering a $500 Million Deal With Trump:" https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/8/3/garber-500-million-trump/

* "Harvard scientists say research could be set back years after funding freeze:" https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-nih-funding-cuts-32c1ae9dc542897496974a85aaa07b85

* "Judge dismisses Truth Social CEO’s defamation suit against Rachel Maddow:" https://www.advocate.com/news/nunes-maddow-defamation-case-dismissed

* "Liberal watchdog Media Matters is in serious trouble after being sued by Elon Musk:" https://www.advocate.com/news/media-matters-existential-crisis

* "38 years in the media industry, and I never thought the U.S. media would crumble like this:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/media-crumbles-under-trump-attacks

* CW: CSA. Trump is out championing pedophilia again. "Trump and the Catholic Church Fight a Law Requiring Clergy to Report Child Abuse:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-catholic-church-child-abuse-law-clergy-priests-1235388032/

* CW: Sex Trafficking "Sean 'Diddy' Combs has reached out to Trump about pardon, source says:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sean-diddy-combs-trump-pardon-rcna223282

**** Trump/Epstein/Maxwell, etc. CW: CSA ****

* "JD Vance to meet with top Trump officials to plot Epstein strategy – report:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/06/jeffrey-epstein-jd-vance-trump-meeting

* "Busted: Weasel words fail to hide Vance, Bondi, Patel at damage control meeting:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/busted-weasel-words-fail-to-hide-vance-bondi-patel-at-damage-control-meeting-244558917936

* "The FBI Redacted Trump’s Name in the Epstein Files:" https://archive.ph/EipJb

* "Ghislaine Maxwell doesn’t want grand jury materials in her case unsealed:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/05/maxwell-grand-jury-materials-00494366

* "Comer issues subpoenas for DOJ’s Epstein files, depositions with former officials:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/05/epstein-subpoenas-department-of-justice-00494129?nid=0000018f-3124-de07-a98f-3be4d1400000&nname=politico-toplines&nrid=be070962-4be9-4973-9f98-2d06bb76424c

* "Epstein Victim Says Trump's Reported Move 'Monumentally Mind-Blowing':" https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-files-victim-pam-bondi-2108809

The survivors and the families of the dead should come first, but republicans refuse to consider them at all in the rush to cover up pedophilia and coddle pedophiles.

* "'She is a monster': Survivors warn Trump is dealing with Epstein's 'puppet master':" https://www.msnbc.com/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/-she-is-a-monster-survivors-warn-trump-is-dealing-with-epstein-s-puppet-master-244491333889

* "The Supreme Court Prepares to End Voting Rights as We Know Them:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/08/voting-rights-act-supreme-court-2/

* "New York opens America's first city-funded shelter specifically for trans people:" https://www.advocate.com/news/new-york-city-transgender-shelter

* Extended Interview with Sec. Robert Reich:

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* "Billionaires Want Your 401k Funds:"

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* "CBO: Republican megabill to cost $4.1T, due to higher borrowing costs:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/congressional-budget-office-gop-megabill-to-cost-4-1t-drive-up-borrowing-costs-00492581

* "TRUTH TO POWER: Constituent delivers blast of reality to Republican congressman at town hall:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/truth-to-power-constituent-delivers-blast-of-reality-to-republican-congressman-at-town-hall-244426821802

* Our job for the next year and a half is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

We are trying to build a good list of resistance resources.

Please add more below if you have them.

* "Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

* Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide. https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

* "Democracy 2025:" https://www.democracy2025.org/?utm_source=df-ad&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=21912407002&utm_content=721373734297&source=df-ad-gs&gad_source=1

* "Resisting Fascism in 2025 and Beyond:" https://www.prideandpagesbookclub.com/resisting-fascism-in-2025-and-beyond

* If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

Useful organizing links and resources: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/771859083592613888/hater-of-terfs-ive-already-reblogged-a-link-to?source=share

Protests: "50501 Events:" https://www.fiftyfifty.one/events

How to render emergency aid in a riot: https://riotmedicine.net/static/downloads/riot-medicine_a5.pdf

"How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct:" https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-film-police-safely

"ICE Raids Toolkit: Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests:" https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids-toolkit/

Contains a raid tip hotline amoung other things. "Know Your Rights
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:" https://wearecasa.org/know-your-rights/

* "Texas House Democrats flee the state in bid to block GOP’s proposed congressional map:" https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-democrats-quorum-break-redistricting-map/

* "Texas Democrats fleeing the state also stopped anti-abortion and anti-trans bills:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/texas-democrats-abortion-transgender-maps

* "'ENOUGH': Texas Dem holds fast as Abbott tries heavy hand lawsuit to force Trump's election scheme:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/-enough-texas-dem-holds-fast-as-abbott-tries-heavy-hand-lawsuit-to-force-trump-s-election-scheme-244428357673

* "FBI to Aid Texas in Locating Democrats Over Redistricting:" https://www.newsweek.com/john-cornyn-fbi-texas-democrats-redistricting-request-2110202

Even though they have broken no laws, let alone federal laws, the FBI has agreed to illegal hunt down democrats to arrest them for legally crossing state lines.

* "Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois faced bomb threat, police say:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/06/texas-democrats-threats-00495572

* "Gov. JB Pritzker Pledges That Illinois Will Do "Whatever It Takes To Preserve Democracy":"

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* "Hochul embraces gerrymandering in New York:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/hochul-embraces-gerrymandering-in-new-york-00492008

* "California moves to dismantle GOP map — and Trump’s grip:" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/california-fires-back-at-texas-redistricting-00493314?nid=0000018f-3124-de07-a98f-3be4d1400000&nname=politico-toplines&nrid=24e2b104-55c7-486b-821f-eaaa748661c8

* What would Jesus do? Commit genocide. "Indiana Lt. Gov. Beckwith shares post from church that called for death to gays; his team walks it back:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/indiana-lt-gov-hate-repost

* "Man accused of killing Minnesota lawmaker pleads not guilty to murder charges:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-accused-killing-minnesota-lawmaker-appear-court-murder-charges-rcna223576

* "New details about police activity after lawmaker shootings raise questions about response:" https://www.startribune.com/new-details-from-crucial-hours-after-lawmaker-shootings-raise-questions-about-police-response/601432709

* "Luigi Mangione's attorneys accuse prosecutors of illegally obtaining his medical records:" https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/luigi-mangiones-attorneys-accuse-prosecutors-of-hipaa-violations/

* CW: Suicide, Domestic Violence. "Kansas police severely damage 'Transgender House' in standoff with murder suspect:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/mott-house-transgender-damaged-police

For those who will only see the headline, it was a unrelated murderer who broke in while running from police.

"Planting Peace, which is headquartered in the “Equality House” next door, painted the home in the colors of the transgender flag in 2016. It was renamed in 2019 for late transgender activist Stephanie Mott, former chair of Equality Kansas and founder of the Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project.Trending stories

Both the rainbow-colored Equality House and the pink, white, and blue Mott House are neighbors to the headquarters of the Westboro Baptist Church, a notorious anti-LGBTQ+ religious group founded by Fred Phelps."

If you want to help support the Mott House they take donations here: https://www.plantingpeace.org/campaign/transgender-house/#donate-now

* "He was forced into a women’s prison unit where he was attacked & denied healthcare. Now he’s suing.:" https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/he-was-forced-into-a-womens-unit-where-he-was-attacked-denied-healthcare-now-hes-suing/

* "Project 2025's Mike Howell targets UNC courses that mention diversity and LGBTQ+ topics:" https://www.advocate.com/news/heritage-foundation-diversity-courses

* CW: CSA. "Arkansas man who police say admitted to impregnating a child takes plea deal, gets probation:" https://www.4029tv.com/article/arkansas-probation-impregnating-child/65477545

$690 in restitution and a slap on the wrist. It's adding insult to injury.

* CW: Domestic Violence. "Gay model arrested after his estranged husband was found dead in their New York City apartment:" https://www.advocate.com/news/donald-zieben-hood-arrested-after-husband-found-dead

* "Beyond the Macrons' lawsuit: Why do people accuse powerful women of being men?:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/why-do-people-accuse-powerful-women-of-being-men

* "Citing Skrmetti, appeals court rejects challenge to Oklahoma ban on gender-affirming care for youth:" https://www.advocate.com/news/oklahoma-transgender-care-ban-upheld

* "Tennessee demands abortion data from hospitals in ban exceptions case:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/06/tennessee-abortion-data-ban

* "Idaho Lost One in Three Obstetricians After Its Abortion Ban:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/08/idaho-abortion-ban-obstetrics-doctors-leaving/

* "Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court strikes down St. Lucia laws criminalizing gay sex:" https://www.advocate.com/news/st-lucia-gay-criminalization-invalidated

* "U.K. to begin major study on health of transgender youth:" https://www.advocate.com/health/uk-major-study-transgender-youth

* "FBI report: Despite overall crime drop, anti-LGBTQ+ violence remains alarmingly high:" https://www.advocate.com/news/anti-lgbtq-hate-crimes-high

* "A gay Arizona man's death is still unsolved, but Phoenix police closed the case: report:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/marcus-freiberger-death-case-closed

* "Virginia prosecutor says ‘potential hate crime’ against Black lesbian couple has his ‘utmost attention’:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/black-lesbians-virginia-hate-crime

* "Texas church vandalized by homophobes gets restored by affirming community:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/texas-methodist-church-vandalized-lgbtq

* "Idaho's anti-transgender bathroom law challenged by trans college student:" https://www.advocate.com/news/idaho-transgender-bathroom-ban-challenged

* "A powerful civil rights group is hitting the road and going to red states. Here's why:" https://www.advocate.com/news/hrc-launches-lgbtq-storytelling-tour

* "Trans darts champion laments ban against trans women as 'loss for the trans community':" https://www.advocate.com/news/trans-darts-champion-ban-response

Someone needs to explain to me how being trans makes you inherently better than cis people at darts, because that sounds like bullshit.

* "What to Know About the Hack at Tea, an App Where Women Share Red Flags About Men:" https://web.archive.org/web/20250727001949/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/us/tea-safety-dating-app-hack.html

* "Complaints, protests mar Tesla Diner’s opening in Hollywood:" https://ktla.com/news/california/complaints-protests-mar-tesla-diners-opening-in-hollywood/

* "Single-Celled Creature Has Eye Made of Domesticated Microbes:" https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/single-celled-creature-has-eye-made-of-domesticated-microbes

* "'Gilded Age' side-eye: How a silent maid unveils centuries of trans history:" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/gilded-age

* Monday morning Contractor inspection led to another caulking and a bucket of dancing blue paint set outside our door in the afternoon.

* Tuesday was A LOT. I had a telehealth, which did not work out, much as all the telehealths haven't for the last couple years, so as always, it ended up being phone instead. I tell them over and over that you can not text a zoom link to a landline and they will need to email it. It's in my chart at both doctors who like to telehealth. Inevitably they try to text the landline anyway. It's fine. I hate zoom telehealth anyway; phone is better unless they need to actually look at a thing.

We think third time will be the charm on my lung treatment machine. I may also be getting a walker out of it which will enable me to go out in nature again, hopefully. (No swimming this summer. :()

This ate over an hour for a ten minute call, what with all the prep (I needed to set the sofa into awake position in case Tavy peed on it. He did not, but it's not a thing to bet on.) Things that needed to be undone later, then done again. I needed to brush my hair, etc.. answer assorted pre-telehealth calls, etc.. It took a while to get back to sleep.

And then the Landscapers came.

Not only were they Loud All Day they spent a Lot of time in front of the Patio and the front Window, and one took a leaf blower up onto the patio. (In his defense, he was clearing a lot of stuff he'd earlier chainsawed onto the patio.) Tavy also wanted to fight that guy while also being scared of the sounds, as he was attacking the bushes Tavy thinks the Millennials live in. Normally the cats would have hidden in my room with me, but the room being a barren wasteland, they ran around like chickens with heads cut off.

It was A Lot for all of us. Add in all the allergens they kicked up, which in inevitably leak in the cracks. I could feel my breathing worsening in waves, and continue to struggle.

No painters or contractor work on my floor at all today except for ones passing through or futzing with the materials piles.

* Wednesday: No Painting today.

My lungs are now so bad I am struggling hard to stay oxygenated lying down.

There would be a partial solution to this if I had a bed. I sleep poorly propped like a 19th century tuberculosis patient, but it is better than what I am doing now.

I wake dizzy and exhausted and weak.

I dream about struggling for air.

My mother spent most of the last decade of her life dreaming she was being suffocated by various means. I think about that a lot.

The good news is, they phoned me in the afternoon to get me to go fill out a web form so I could get a new machine. Finally.

Alarmingly, the form has no save or submit button or the like. I called and left a message, just in case.

Out in the garden, a second tomato just got a touch of orange today.

The landscape guy appears to have accidentally decimated my asparagus feathers in the technical sense. (This is where more asparagus come from). Let us hope enough survived or enough seeds did there thing.

An entire bush I was using for privacy is gone. O.o

I miss the mature gardens of my youth, but bougie people hate ground cover and like wasting money replacing bushes and the like just as they start to mature. Sigh.

In my exhaustion and distraction I missed the second zoom meeting yesterday, the one where I planned to beg them to save the pride displays and let the gardens mature for once.

Still there were very good sandwiches with a plum for dessert today, and i am ready to start my Locked Tomb reread.

UPDATE: A friend suggested I try a more commercial browser. This led to me actually fixing it, but the problem was not the browser it turned out, but incredibly poor web design.

They have one of those big ad thingies you can’t close for their own services Covering the button to scroll a tiny privacy policy window, so to submit you need to know there is an invisible scroll bar next to the privacy policy.

* Thursday: I had dental cleaning which meant I needed to stay up for the appointment. I didn't even get to lie down until 11AM.

The good news: They came to paint today and it was a lot of toing and froing. It looks great and they reattached the wood bits they'd removed for the duration.

The bad news: They will not remove the trash, wreckage, clean, etc. until the HoA signs off. I am not allowed to move the furniture back until the HoA signs off. Contractors said to email them, so I did.

I am so tired and brain foggy and having it this close to over without being over is agonizing.

I really hope HoA signs off tomorrow so we can try to assemble the queer community to help me get my bed together and my furniture back where it goes.

It is so hot on the sofa (The anti-Tavy covers really retain heat and I can't blow a fan across to dissipate it) and it hurts and I just want my nice cool comfortable place to sleep with my cats on or around me.

* Squirrel Needs Help with Bills!

They've been running behind since last autumn because they got scammed, plus all the stuff with the Housing issues, plus the strike this Autumn. Now they had to quarantine for most of a week because of a dangerous exposure at work. They are fine, but it means they have a small paycheck right when all the things are due, including insurance and car payment to get to work, the Internet bill, etc..

They think they can negotiate partial payments with another $200ish to keep things going another month.

If you'd like to help them out and help keep us both online:
paypal.me/Squirrelmh

* "Why Was Trump On The Roof? | Trump's Disapproval Rating | Did Ghislaine Snitch? | Red State Rage:"

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* "Our Twice-Impeached President | Donald Trump, Job Killer | Good At Ballroom | El Gilded Age:"

( Embed: )

* "Meanwhile... A "Bewitched" Sequel? | World's Oldest Baby | Vodka Sodas | The $200k Penis:"

( Embed: )

* Queer History and Murderbot (Also some Star Trek): https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/791284563712294913/thank-you-for-writing-this-and-its-a-really?source=share

* "19 LGBTQ+ movies & TV shows coming in August 2025 — and where to watch them:" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/lgbtq-movies-tv-shows-coming-in-august-2025#rebelltitem1

* "Tired Of Democrats Who Don't Fight Back Against Republicans?:"

( Embed: )

* CW: CSA "Why Trump Wants A Golden Ballroom At The White House:"

( Embed: )

* "Deep To The Heart Of Chi-Town:"

( Embed: )

* "Putting Nukes On The Moon:"

( Embed: )

* "Sunday Sweets: Modern Marvels:" https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-modern-marvels-2025

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* CW: Suicide "These hotlines are still available for LGBTQ+ youth after Trump kills 988 services:" https://www.advocate.com/news/lgbtq-youth-hotlines-still-available

* "United States Disappeared Tracker:" https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/danielleharlow/viz/UnitedStatesDisappearedTracker/Map

* "Introducing Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network:" https://aflcio.org/2025/4/16/introducing-rise-federal-workers-legal-defense-network

* Here are some ways to help Immigrants and the anti-ICE Protesters:

Immigrant Defenders: https://give.immdef.org/give/545119/#!/donation/checkout
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/nbfn-directory
Amnesty International: protect asylum-seekers: https://donate.amnestyusa.org/page/113080/donate/1
The Young Center for Immigtrant Children's Rights: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/
CHIRLA: https://www.chirla.org/
AL Otro Lado: https://alotrolado.networkforgood.com/projects/63833-al-otro-lado-fund
Mid-South Immigration Advocates: https://miamemphis.org/

* Want to help Nathan Sage against Joni Ernst? https://www.sageforsenate.com/

* Want to help Dr. Annie Andrews beat Lindsey Graham?" https://secure.actblue.com/donate/loc_annie_fr_txt_q22025?refcode=LOC_RTL_FR_2025.05.29_Lindsey-Bad-Job_B1_C1_Pros_N_Peony_RG-T1&amount=5

* Want to help Mike Pruitt in Virginia? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mike-pruitt-1?refcode=directory

* Want to help Roy Cooper in North Carolina against Michael Whatley? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/roy_cooper_email?refcode=directory

* Want to help James Osyf in Virginia Beach? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/james-osyf-1?refcode=directory

* Want to help Omar Fateh in Minneapolis? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/campaign-fund-of-omar-fateh-1?refcode=directory
( More Links Underneath: )

Entry tags:

2025,
nominations

Nominations Clarification 2

Nominations Clarification 2

Here is a little FAQ about Nominations Clarification posts for those of you who haven't run into them before:

What/why is a Nominations Clarification post?

Do I need to read the whole post?

How do I reply to a Nominations Clarification post? Do I need a Dreamwidth account?

There's a query about a fandom I'm familiar with, but I'm not the nominator. Can I tell you what I think?

Why haven't you processed my nomination(s) yet?

My AO3 tagset nomination(s) were rejected but aren't discussed below, why did you reject them?

I have a nominations question not answered here or on the Nomination Guidelines. Can I ask on this post?

Recursive fandom in need of additional interested participants

Fandom name: Cast Down Chronicles - anonfeather
Very brief summary: Original work, omegaverse, cat boys.
Fandom promo: Here on the Fandom Promo post (link)
Where to comment if you'd request, offer, or pinch hit for this fandom: Here on the Nominations Guidelines! Please sign your comment if you are commenting anonymously.

Queries

Google Forms nominations

Daredevil (TV): All tags — Per nominations guidelines, all Daredevil (TV) tags need to be nominated under "The Defenders (Marvel TV)" so we've accepted your tags under that fandom.
Final Fantasy XII: WB: The Legacy of Kind Raithwall (Final Fantasy XII) — Nominator, we can't figure out what this WB: tag means! Can you explain it for us?
Kino no Tabi | Kino's Journey - Iruka Shiomiya (Manga): WB: Persuaders (Kino's Journey Manga) — Nominator, we can't figure out what this WB: tag means! Can you explain it for us?
KPop Demon Hunters (2025): WB: K-Pop Industry And Companies (KPDH) — Worldbuilding tags require that worldbuilding tags be about something fictional where imagination/creativity is required rather than research (see this section (link)). How close is this industry in KPDH to the real-life industry? If they're very close, what fictional aspect of the industry are you looking for worldbuilding about?
Tommy (1975): Cousin Kevin/Tommy Walker (Tommy 1975) — This ship was nominated twice in a row along with "Nora Walker & Tommy Walker". Was one of these "Cousin Kevin/Tommy Walker" nominations supposed to be a different tag?

Ao3 tagset nominations

Dungeons and Daddies (Podcast): Elizabeth Mothman/Jane Rogan (DnDads - Sons and Sonsability) — Nominator, we're not sure why this tag was disambiguated separately from other Dungeon and Daddies nominations. Are these characters from a special episode or something? Would "Elizabeth Mothman/Jane Rogan (DnDads)" be in some way ambiguous?
Hunter x Hunter (Anime): WB: Zoldyck Family History (Hunter X Hunter) — We realize that "History of [Group]" is a fairly common WB: tag format, but we're concerned this might be a little close to "WB: Backstory of the Zoldyck Family" which is a type of WB tag we don't allow. Could you elaborate on what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for? (Also, in hopes that you don't feel singled out, I want you to know I have made a note for myself to review all of our "WB: History of..." nominations before the next round starts to see if this is a problem in other similarly phrased tags.)
JUDGE EYES | Judgment (Video Games) : WB: History of the Matsugane Family (Judgment) — We realize that "History of [Group]" is a fairly common WB: tag format, but we're concerned this might be a little close to "WB: Backstory of the Matsugane Family" which is a type of WB tag we don't allow. Could you elaborate on what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for? (Also, in hopes that you don't feel singled out, I want you to know I have made a note for myself to review all of our "WB: History of..." nominations before the next round starts to see if this is a problem in other similarly phrased tags.)
Kuroshitsuji | Black Butler: Sebastian Michaelis & Ciel Phantomhive & Real Ciel Phantomhive (Kuroshitsuji) — We were going to query this, but then figured out the answer all on our own! It should be in the tagest now.
Night Watch (Discworld - Terry Pratchett): Lord Downey/Havelock Vetinari (Night Watch (Discworld - Terry Pratchett)) — Nominator, the fandom "Discworld - Terry Pratchett" is usually used for Discworld in exchanges (and is in fact already in the tagset) because there are a lot of character overlaps between books. We do allow overlapping fandoms if nominators feel strongly about it, but we wanted to ask if you'd be alright with us accepting this tag under the broader Discworld fandom.
Paprika (2006): WB: Aftermath of the Dream Parade (Paprika 2006) — This tag was accepted in error, and we might be removing it. Nominator, could you elaborate a little about what kind of worldbuilding you're looking for concerning the aftermath of this Parade?
Persona 5: All tags with "Kurusu Akira" — It's been brought to our attention that this is a name used for the main character of this game in a manga adaptation and in the game there is no default name. Since the video game is the canon that is nominated, we will be changing all of these tags to use "Persona 5 Protagonist" instead.
SIGNALIS (Video Game): WB: History of the Eusan Nation (Signalis) — We pulled this tag to query, but have decided to accept it. It should be in the tagset now!
SIGNALIS (Video Game): WB: Replikas and Their Gestalt Memory (Signalis) — Nominator, we can't figure out what this WB: tag means! Can you explain it for us?
Stargate - Live Action: Ba'al's Host & Vala Mal Doran (SG LA) — Ba'al's Host could refer to multiple characters, especially with all the cloning shenanigans. Did you mean any of Ba'al's hosts or perhaps specifically the Ba'al clone host that survived extraction?
Wylding Hall - Elizabeth Hand: WB: Similar otherworldly occurrences elsewhere in the world (Wylding Hall) — Details on this book are a little sparse on google, so we need a little help with this nomiantion. Are there canonical mentions of "similar otherworldly occurrences"?
Wylding Hall - Elizabeth Hand: WB: Wrens & the wren hunt (Wylding Hall) — Details on this book are a little sparse on google, so we need a little help with this nomination. Can you explain it for us?
薬屋のひとりごと - 日向夏 | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries - Hyuuga Natsu: WB: Verdigris House (KNH) — We pulled this to query, but decided to accept, so it should be in the tagset!
逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney: WB: In-Universe Lawyer Fandom (Ace Attorney) — We're a little confused by this nomination. All WB nominations are mean to be phrased as in-universe, so we think that this WB tag should be accepted as "WB: Lawyer Fandom (Ace Attorney)"—is that correct? We also would like to check if there is canonically a fandom for lawyers in AA. Based on an email we got from someone familiar with the fandom, we will accept this as "WB: Law and Law-Enforcement Fandoms (Ace Attorney)"— but, if the nominator is like "Wait! That doesn't fit the worldbuilding I want!" then please stick up and we'll work our a different tag for you.

Rejected Tags

Google Forms nominations

Diablo (Video Games): WB: Nephalem Born After Destruction Of Worldstone (Diablo VG) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination (Solo: Nephalem Born After Destruction Of Worldstone) and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding about this group they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
K-pop: Solo: Any K-pop Idol (K-pop) — Unfortunately, both this fandom and this relationship-field tag are too broad. The fandom is too broad because it's a huge umbrella fandom which per the nominations guidelines are "all fandom tags that cover multiple subfandoms, multiple medium types, multiple series, etc." The character is too broad because many K-Pop idols are under 18 years old, which makes them ineligible to be nominated to Fic In A Box per the "Other Notes" section of our fandom nomination rules. Additionally, requesting such a broad tag in such a broad fandom comes too close to a "Creator's Choice of Fandom" nomination—we don't allow CCoF to be nominated in FIAB.
K-pop: Solo: Any K-pop Music Video Character (K-pop) — Unfortunately, both this fandom and this relationship-field tag are too broad. The fandom is too broad because it's a huge umbrella fandom which per the nominations guidelines are "all fandom tags that cover multiple subfandoms, multiple medium types, multiple series, etc." The character is too broad because it's asking for creators to choose a fandom/character from any K-Pop MV, which is too close to a "Creator's Choice of Fandom" nomination, something we don't allow to be nominated in FIAB. Also, many K-Pop idols are under 18 years old, which makes them ineligible to be nominated to FIAB—K-Pop music videos often have a large amount of overlap with the idol's RPF fandom, and we're uncomfortable with potentially allowing this nomination to work around our 18+ rule.
Original Work: Solo: Any Original Character (OW) — Unfortunately, this relationship-field tag is too broad. Characters in the Original Work fandom need to be a specific type of original character per this part of the nominations guidelines (link).
Original Work: Solo: Original Characters (OW) — Unfortunately, this tag is too broad. Characters in the Original Work fandom need to be a specific type of original character per this part of the nominations guidelines (link).
Original Work: WB: Fannish History (OW) — Worldbuilding tags require that worldbuilding tags be about something fictional where imagination/creativity is required rather than research (see this section (link)). We're also not sure what kind of fic one could write about this WB tag. Could the nominator please clarify what kind of worldbuilding they're looking for?
Original Work: WB: Fannish Tropes (OW) — This tag is a copy of an exactly phrased tag, which we cannot accept. Did the nominator mean to nominate a different tag instead of the same tag twice?
Original Work: WB: Fannish Tropes (OW) — Worldbuilding tags require that worldbuilding tags be about something fictional where imagination/creativity is required rather than research (see this section (link)). We're also not sure what kind of fic one could write about this WB tag. Could the nominator please clarify what kind of worldbuilding they're looking for?
Original Work: WB: Fantasy Landscapes (OW) — Nominator, are you looking for worldbuilding about landscape paintings/artwork in fantasy settings, or are you looking for worldbuilding about natural locations in fantasy settings? If the first, we'd like to rephrase as "WB: Landscape Artwork in Fantasy Settings" and if the second we'd suggest one of these tags: "WB: Fantasy Environments" "WB: Fantasy Ecosystems" "WB: Fantasy Biomes" (or a different phrasing, if you'd prefer!)
Original Work: WB: Scientific Observations of Sea Life (OW) — Worldbuilding tags require that worldbuilding tags be about something fictional where imagination/creativity is required rather than research (see this section (link)). With this is in mind: what fictional aspect of sea life observation were you looking to see worldbuilding about?
Slow Horses: Shirley Dander/Roddy Ho — We ask that nominators use canonicals when nominating via form. Nominator, is this "Slow Horses (TV)" or the novel Slow Horses by Mich Herron?
The Brothers Karamazov: Ivan Fydorovich Karamazov/Pavel Smerdykov — We ask that nominators use canonicals when nominating via form. Nominator, is this "Brat'ya Karamazovy | Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky"? Or is it maybe "カラマーゾフの兄弟 | The Brothers Karamazov - Takarazuka Revue " or "브라더스 까라마조프 - 이진욱/김경주 | The Brothers Karamazov - Lee Jin Wook/Kim Kyung Ju "?
The Orville (TV): WB: Transgender Krill (The Orville) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination (Solo: Any Transgender Krill, Solo: Original Transgender Krill) and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding about this group they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
The Schoolgirl's Diary: WB: School Life — We ask that nominators use canonicals when nominating via form, but we can't find a canonical for this. We have found a previously nominated tag with no fanworks, though, probably nominated for some other exchange. Nominator, is this "한 녀학생의 일기 | Han Nyeohaksaengeui Ilgi | The Schoolgirl's Diary (2007)"? If that is the right fandom, then we have a follow up question: This film seems to us to be set in a world very close to the real world. Worldbuilding tags require that worldbuilding tags be about something fictional where imagination/creativity is required rather than research (see this section (link)). With this is in mind: what fictional aspect of North Korean school life were you looking to see worldbuilding about?

Ao3 tagset nominations

Alan Wake (Video Games) : WB: the Torchbearers (Alan Wake) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination ("Solo: The Torchbearers (Alan Wake)")and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Overwatch (Video Game): WB: Blackwatch (Overwatch) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination ("Solo: Any Member of Blackwatch (Overwatch)") and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Overwatch (Video Game): WB: Talon (Overwatch) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination ("Solo: Any Member of Talon (Overwatch)") and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Overwatch (Video Game): WB: The Ministry of Genetics (Overwatch) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination ("Solo: WB: Any Member Of The Ministry of Genetics (Overwatch)") and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Overwatch (Video Game): WB: The Shambali (Overwatch) — We think this is a little too close to a Solo: nomination ("Solo: The Shambali (Overwatch)") and would like to ask the nominator what kind of worldbuilding they would specifically be interested in. We're happy to help you phrase one or several tags to cover your worldbuilding interests or, alternately, to accept this tag as a Solo: tag.
Stardew Valley (Video Game): Farmer/The Land (Stardew Valley) — Per our nomination guidelines: "What counts as a character? We will not accept inanimate objects, inanimate locations, vague concepts, or platonic ideals as characters. Animals, canonically thinking/feeling objects, and canonically thinking/feeling locations are fine!" To our knowledge, The Land in SDV is not thinking/feeling, and so cannot be nominated as a character.