1SE for March 2026
Apr. 1st, 2026 09:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nanilaVery much feeling as though I'm limping toward the finish line here. The University shuts down at CoB tomorrow for the Easter holiday. I'm running on fumes and caffeine, trying to clear my desk and inbox of things I really shouldn't leave until after it re-opens.
This month features the return of the canal boats*, two trips to London, and the inaugural ice creams from the Ninja Creami (thank you,
semianonymous!). Making your own soft serve ice cream from scratch truly is a luxury.* We missed them last year. The entire lock flight had to be shut for months so the Canal and Rivers Trust could carry out extensive repairs to a lock with collapsed walls.
Tags:
Recent court decisions don't go The Felon's way!
Mar. 31st, 2026 11:42 pmthewayneAh, sometimes life takes a good turn.
A District Judge ruled that construction on the White House Ballroom must stop, and that it can only continue if approved by Congress! The ruling is notable in the number of exclamation marks present. I do love this quote: ""The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!" Leon wrote."
The Rose Garden can be reconstructed, I have no idea if those were the original rose bushes that Mrs. Kennedy planted all those years ago. But rebuilding the East Wing? That will be one huge job. Of course, guaranteed The Felon will go whining to higher courts and ultimately to the SCOTUS, so we'll see if he gets his way.
His latest White House project is to tear out Tennessee (IIRC) flagstones on a walkway and replace them with black marble. No slip hazard there! It would be nice if he were forced to walk that every day next winter and during rain storms.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-halt-white-house-ballroom-construction-unless-congress-oks-it_n_69cc1df6e4b039d10fc770c5
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5768446/judge-rules-white-house-ballroom-construction-must-halt-until-congress-oks-it
Another District Court ruled that The Felon violated the First Amendment when he ordered funding for NPR, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to be withdrawn which had already been approved by Congress. Again, it'll be appealed to infinity. If the funding should be reinstated, what happens with CPB? They've shut down, their people scattered to the winds. I suppose it can be resurrected, but a lot of institutional knowledge has been lost forever.
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5768399/npr-pbs-trump-federal-funding
On March 2, a Federal Appeals Court rejected an appeal from the administration to delay refunding people and companies from the excessive tariff fees that they paid that were found unlawful by the Supreme Court in a ruling in February. The administration asked for 90 days to make plans to start the refunds and to appeal, the court said no. Theoretically they could appeal to the Supreme Court, but since they were the ones who found the tariffs unlawful in the first place, I would expect that they would refuse to hear the case.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-appeals-court-rejects-trump-tariff-refund-delay-supreme-court/
A District Judge ruled that construction on the White House Ballroom must stop, and that it can only continue if approved by Congress! The ruling is notable in the number of exclamation marks present. I do love this quote: ""The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!" Leon wrote."
The Rose Garden can be reconstructed, I have no idea if those were the original rose bushes that Mrs. Kennedy planted all those years ago. But rebuilding the East Wing? That will be one huge job. Of course, guaranteed The Felon will go whining to higher courts and ultimately to the SCOTUS, so we'll see if he gets his way.
His latest White House project is to tear out Tennessee (IIRC) flagstones on a walkway and replace them with black marble. No slip hazard there! It would be nice if he were forced to walk that every day next winter and during rain storms.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-halt-white-house-ballroom-construction-unless-congress-oks-it_n_69cc1df6e4b039d10fc770c5
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5768446/judge-rules-white-house-ballroom-construction-must-halt-until-congress-oks-it
Another District Court ruled that The Felon violated the First Amendment when he ordered funding for NPR, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to be withdrawn which had already been approved by Congress. Again, it'll be appealed to infinity. If the funding should be reinstated, what happens with CPB? They've shut down, their people scattered to the winds. I suppose it can be resurrected, but a lot of institutional knowledge has been lost forever.
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5768399/npr-pbs-trump-federal-funding
On March 2, a Federal Appeals Court rejected an appeal from the administration to delay refunding people and companies from the excessive tariff fees that they paid that were found unlawful by the Supreme Court in a ruling in February. The administration asked for 90 days to make plans to start the refunds and to appeal, the court said no. Theoretically they could appeal to the Supreme Court, but since they were the ones who found the tariffs unlawful in the first place, I would expect that they would refuse to hear the case.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-appeals-court-rejects-trump-tariff-refund-delay-supreme-court/
Babylon 5 is available on YouTube! And other science fiction TV news.
Mar. 31st, 2026 10:31 pmthewayneA very seminal science fiction series from the '90s was removed from Tubi and is now available on YouTube starting February 10 this year. They are releasing an episode a week from the beginning, encouraging people to view it at a leisurely pace just like when it originally aired.
With 110 episodes aired, it'll take two years to be fully released. I really enjoyed this show and might re-watch it. I don't know that I've seen the entire series, I think I've seen most of it. LOVE Walter Koenig's character!
The one thing that I wish the article mentioned was whether or not these are the remastered editions. I would expect they are, but who knows. I don't have time to be digging into YouTube right now.
And an interesting trivia fact about the show - which I've mentioned before within the last year - was that all of the space and battle effects were rendered on Amigas! I think that's pretty cool. Not the first use of CGI, but perhaps the first television use of CGI rendered on computers that could pretty much be bought by anyone!
https://cordcuttersnews.com/babylon-5-is-now-free-to-watch-on-youtube/
In sad news, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, tentatively titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, is currently dead. The rights are still held by Hulu, so there's always a possibility that they might get a shot at another pilot.
One of the main reasons for its failure to fly: the Hulu executive WAS NOT A FAN OF THE SHOW AND NEVER WATCHED IT. Also, it's possible that Hulu was expecting Sarah Michelle Geller to be the star of the remake and they didn't realize that it was to launch a new generation of scoobies with Buffy putting in occasional cameos. False expectations plus a hostile exec in charge = DOOOOOOM.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/buffy-reboot-dead-why-hulu-killed-sarah-michelle-gellar-chloe-zhao-series/ar-AA1YVIZX
In the good news department, Firefly is (theoretically) returning to our TVs again! Nathan Fillion's production company is producing an animated series: the first script is complete, they have the blessing of Disney (the rights holder), and the ENTIRE crew is on board with it! With one exception. The character Shephard Book will be there, but the actor has to be recast as the original actor, Ron Glass, passed away over a decade ago.
This series will be set between the end of the original and the Serenity movie.
Joss Whedon has no involvement in this production, nor did he have involvement in the Buffy relaunch.
As of the Parade's article writing, about two weeks ago, the series was being shopped around for a network home.
Shiny!
https://parade.com/news/firefly-coming-back-as-animated-series
With 110 episodes aired, it'll take two years to be fully released. I really enjoyed this show and might re-watch it. I don't know that I've seen the entire series, I think I've seen most of it. LOVE Walter Koenig's character!
The one thing that I wish the article mentioned was whether or not these are the remastered editions. I would expect they are, but who knows. I don't have time to be digging into YouTube right now.
And an interesting trivia fact about the show - which I've mentioned before within the last year - was that all of the space and battle effects were rendered on Amigas! I think that's pretty cool. Not the first use of CGI, but perhaps the first television use of CGI rendered on computers that could pretty much be bought by anyone!
https://cordcuttersnews.com/babylon-5-is-now-free-to-watch-on-youtube/
In sad news, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, tentatively titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, is currently dead. The rights are still held by Hulu, so there's always a possibility that they might get a shot at another pilot.
One of the main reasons for its failure to fly: the Hulu executive WAS NOT A FAN OF THE SHOW AND NEVER WATCHED IT. Also, it's possible that Hulu was expecting Sarah Michelle Geller to be the star of the remake and they didn't realize that it was to launch a new generation of scoobies with Buffy putting in occasional cameos. False expectations plus a hostile exec in charge = DOOOOOOM.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/buffy-reboot-dead-why-hulu-killed-sarah-michelle-gellar-chloe-zhao-series/ar-AA1YVIZX
In the good news department, Firefly is (theoretically) returning to our TVs again! Nathan Fillion's production company is producing an animated series: the first script is complete, they have the blessing of Disney (the rights holder), and the ENTIRE crew is on board with it! With one exception. The character Shephard Book will be there, but the actor has to be recast as the original actor, Ron Glass, passed away over a decade ago.
This series will be set between the end of the original and the Serenity movie.
Joss Whedon has no involvement in this production, nor did he have involvement in the Buffy relaunch.
As of the Parade's article writing, about two weeks ago, the series was being shopped around for a network home.
Shiny!
https://parade.com/news/firefly-coming-back-as-animated-series
(no subject)
Mar. 31st, 2026 05:54 pmsomigi posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
addmeName: Maxi! But Max is fine too! (｡･∀･)ﾉﾞ
Age: Too old for high school, too young to retire!
I mostly post about: I've only posted personal journals so far, but I'll post about some of my interests soon! I like kpop, animanga, danmei novels, fanfiction, visual novels, chatsims, and lesbian movies! I'll also post progress on my knitting projects (if I remember haha)!
My hobbies are: Running, dance, creating art, going to concerts, and knitting! I'm tying to pick up crochet too!
My fandoms are: A Date With Death, Guardian, Killer Chat!, PMMM, BBC Merlin, and way more that I can't recall on the spot!
I'm looking to meet people who: Post! I'm not picky and I'm not easily upset or disturbed! I love to see what other people have going on! I'll be double happy if you post about your fandoms (even if we don't have any in common), but it's not a requirement! <3
My posting schedule tends to be: Whenever I get to it! Hopefully at least once a week!
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: I'm not cool with any form of bigotry. I won't tolerate that! Zionists are also not cool! I'm with Palestine all the way! <3
Before adding me, you should know: I'm a transmasc lesbian! I know this identity is a bit controversial, so don't add me if it's something you have issues with ^^;
If you see any spelling errors, no you didn't (/▽＼)The heat island effect of data centers!
Mar. 31st, 2026 10:08 amthewayneTwo things up front - not all data centers are AI data centers. And this article is a pre-print and has not yet been peer-reviewed.
A recent article in New Scientist, sadly pay-walled, shows that a data center can warm the surrounding area by 9C - that's 16 degrees Fahrenheit! It's ground-level, it's in the air. This completely ignores the noise pollution, including subsonic, of the enormous amount of cooling fans. A lot of the heat is from water-cooling, and the heated water is frequently directly released as steam with no attempt to cool it or reclaim it before direct venting.
One researcher said follow-up needs to be done to see how much is the systems internal to the building generating heat versus the sun directly heating up these huge buildings with large direct surface areas heating up. More than a bit of both, in my casual estimation.
As I said, the New Scientist article is pay-walled. Frequently Slashdot posters will post alternate links, but none have appeared yet. I think it's likely this might be picked up by Ars Technica or Gizmodo today or tomorrow, I'll post an additional link if I can.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2521256-ai-data-centres-can-warm-surrounding-areas-by-up-to-9-1c/
https://developers.slashdot.org/story/26/03/30/2337240/ai-data-centers-can-warm-surrounding-areas-by-up-to-91c
A recent article in New Scientist, sadly pay-walled, shows that a data center can warm the surrounding area by 9C - that's 16 degrees Fahrenheit! It's ground-level, it's in the air. This completely ignores the noise pollution, including subsonic, of the enormous amount of cooling fans. A lot of the heat is from water-cooling, and the heated water is frequently directly released as steam with no attempt to cool it or reclaim it before direct venting.
One researcher said follow-up needs to be done to see how much is the systems internal to the building generating heat versus the sun directly heating up these huge buildings with large direct surface areas heating up. More than a bit of both, in my casual estimation.
As I said, the New Scientist article is pay-walled. Frequently Slashdot posters will post alternate links, but none have appeared yet. I think it's likely this might be picked up by Ars Technica or Gizmodo today or tomorrow, I'll post an additional link if I can.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2521256-ai-data-centres-can-warm-surrounding-areas-by-up-to-9-1c/
https://developers.slashdot.org/story/26/03/30/2337240/ai-data-centers-can-warm-surrounding-areas-by-up-to-91c
Another source of microplastics: the gloves that researchers wear!
Mar. 31st, 2026 09:51 amthewayneResearchers have just discovered that the latex and nitrile gloves that they wear while researching microplastics shed... microplastics!
*facepalm*
So now in addition to the lab equipment sensitivity being questionable, we now have the concept of the readings having a thumb on the scale from the scientist's attempts to keep a sterile environment while unintentionally shedding the very thing that they're trying to measure.
The solution is clear. The researchers should be wearing leather or asbestos gloves. That would be easy to subtract out from the findings.
Okay, I'm overstating things. It's not the gloves per se.
From the article: "The contamination comes from stearates, which are not plastics but can closely resemble them during testing. Because of this, scientists may be detecting particles that are not true microplastics. To reduce this issue, U-M researchers Madeline Clough and Anne McNeil recommend using cleanroom gloves, which release far fewer particles.
Stearates are salt-based, soap-like substances added to disposable gloves to help them separate easily from molds during manufacturing. However, their chemical similarity to certain plastics makes them difficult to distinguish in lab analyses, increasing the risk of false positives when studying microplastic pollution.
The researchers emphasize that this does not mean microplastics are not a real problem."
I didn't know there was an additional category of clean-room gloves, but this isn't really my field. Cool stuff. I'm sure there are other types of these gloves, too.
The Science Daily article is an interesting read and doesn't get excessively sciency.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260329222938.htm
*facepalm*
So now in addition to the lab equipment sensitivity being questionable, we now have the concept of the readings having a thumb on the scale from the scientist's attempts to keep a sterile environment while unintentionally shedding the very thing that they're trying to measure.
The solution is clear. The researchers should be wearing leather or asbestos gloves. That would be easy to subtract out from the findings.
Okay, I'm overstating things. It's not the gloves per se.
From the article: "The contamination comes from stearates, which are not plastics but can closely resemble them during testing. Because of this, scientists may be detecting particles that are not true microplastics. To reduce this issue, U-M researchers Madeline Clough and Anne McNeil recommend using cleanroom gloves, which release far fewer particles.
Stearates are salt-based, soap-like substances added to disposable gloves to help them separate easily from molds during manufacturing. However, their chemical similarity to certain plastics makes them difficult to distinguish in lab analyses, increasing the risk of false positives when studying microplastic pollution.
The researchers emphasize that this does not mean microplastics are not a real problem."
I didn't know there was an additional category of clean-room gloves, but this isn't really my field. Cool stuff. I'm sure there are other types of these gloves, too.
The Science Daily article is an interesting read and doesn't get excessively sciency.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260329222938.htm
Looking for more people!
Mar. 30th, 2026 08:40 pmmidnight_heavenly_bodies posting in addmeName: C.K. or Chester
Age: 36, nearly 37, growing old mandatory, growing up optional
I mostly post about: Culture Club/Boy George & Jon Moss (my hyperfixation of 22 years and counting), Linkin Park, wrestling (classic SMW/WWF, Jim Cornette, and my deeply cursed WWE 2K25 Universe), my OCs who are realer to me than most people, witchcraft/spirit work/folk healing/moon rituals/grief magic, retro gaming, emotional overshares that read like journal entries from a possessed poet, fanfiction that makes people unwell at 2am, chaos, and the occasional Reddit food rabbit hole
My hobbies are: Writing fic that's 70% emotional breakdown, 20% worldbuilding, and 10% people getting railed in a meaningful way, hexing cults with sigils and sass, collecting music like a religion, drawing OCs, being a haunted glitter goblin with eyeliner and vengeance, building 48-year fanfiction universes with fully documented timelines and named children, going to work like a normal person and coming home a completely different entity
My fandoms are: Culture Club (I'm writing a massive AU called Colour By Numbers spanning 1978-2026, and a supernatural [not the show] fic called The Rhythm of the Hollow), Linkin Park (Bennoda forever), wrestling (SMW/WWF/WCW but mainly the universes in my head)
I'm looking for people who: are too weird for Reddit, too raw for Instagram, too smart for Twitter/X, overshare about their OCs like a religion, cry over character development, understand that Jon Moss deserved better, write long posts, and don't find it weird that I've named all the children in my fictional universe including the surprise baby
My posting schedule: Erratic. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes I vanish for three weeks and return with an entire AU timeline and a new OC
Before adding me: I'm a trans man (he/him, they/them). Autistic and ADHD. I write mpreg unapologetically. I am a Zionist and tired of explaining what that actually means. Pro-AI. I smoke weed. I am extremely defensive of Jon Moss and will write essays about it. My AO3 is CampCornette69 and yes that's a wrestling reference. If you want an even more in-depth about me, click this link for my about post.
Age: 36, nearly 37, growing old mandatory, growing up optional
I mostly post about: Culture Club/Boy George & Jon Moss (my hyperfixation of 22 years and counting), Linkin Park, wrestling (classic SMW/WWF, Jim Cornette, and my deeply cursed WWE 2K25 Universe), my OCs who are realer to me than most people, witchcraft/spirit work/folk healing/moon rituals/grief magic, retro gaming, emotional overshares that read like journal entries from a possessed poet, fanfiction that makes people unwell at 2am, chaos, and the occasional Reddit food rabbit hole
My hobbies are: Writing fic that's 70% emotional breakdown, 20% worldbuilding, and 10% people getting railed in a meaningful way, hexing cults with sigils and sass, collecting music like a religion, drawing OCs, being a haunted glitter goblin with eyeliner and vengeance, building 48-year fanfiction universes with fully documented timelines and named children, going to work like a normal person and coming home a completely different entity
My fandoms are: Culture Club (I'm writing a massive AU called Colour By Numbers spanning 1978-2026, and a supernatural [not the show] fic called The Rhythm of the Hollow), Linkin Park (Bennoda forever), wrestling (SMW/WWF/WCW but mainly the universes in my head)
I'm looking for people who: are too weird for Reddit, too raw for Instagram, too smart for Twitter/X, overshare about their OCs like a religion, cry over character development, understand that Jon Moss deserved better, write long posts, and don't find it weird that I've named all the children in my fictional universe including the surprise baby
My posting schedule: Erratic. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes I vanish for three weeks and return with an entire AU timeline and a new OC
Dealbreakers: Racism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, antisemitism, being a dick, Scientology apologists, anyone who thinks Mike Shinoda is evil because of an Instagram reel, "isn't wrestling fake?", "you still like Linkin Park?", and anti-Zionists/anti-Israel people.
Before adding me: I'm a trans man (he/him, they/them). Autistic and ADHD. I write mpreg unapologetically. I am a Zionist and tired of explaining what that actually means. Pro-AI. I smoke weed. I am extremely defensive of Jon Moss and will write essays about it. My AO3 is CampCornette69 and yes that's a wrestling reference. If you want an even more in-depth about me, click this link for my about post.
Thanks, AI! "Sony Shuts Down Nearly Its Entire Memory Card Business Due to Flash Shortage"
Mar. 30th, 2026 10:54 amthewayneThe subject says it all. Due to the on-going shortage of RAM, Sony is shutting down production of CFexpress and SD memory cards effective last Friday.
The only cards remaining in production are: "960GB CFexpress Type B card and the lowest-end SF-UZ series SD cards remain in production. However, those UHS-I SD cards are discontinued in the United States outside of a scant few retailers and resellers." So if you are truly devoted to Sony memory cards, buy them NOW!
In other Sony news, they've had TWO price increases on the Play Station 5 this year already!
https://petapixel.com/2026/03/27/sony-shuts-down-nearly-its-entire-memory-card-business-due-to-ssd-shortage/
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/03/30/0345230/sony-shuts-down-nearly-its-entire-memory-card-business-due-to-ssd-shortage
The only cards remaining in production are: "960GB CFexpress Type B card and the lowest-end SF-UZ series SD cards remain in production. However, those UHS-I SD cards are discontinued in the United States outside of a scant few retailers and resellers." So if you are truly devoted to Sony memory cards, buy them NOW!
In other Sony news, they've had TWO price increases on the Play Station 5 this year already!
https://petapixel.com/2026/03/27/sony-shuts-down-nearly-its-entire-memory-card-business-due-to-ssd-shortage/
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/03/30/0345230/sony-shuts-down-nearly-its-entire-memory-card-business-due-to-ssd-shortage
Sichuan: Land of Abundance
Mar. 30th, 2026 11:47 amtcpipAfter Guizhou, the next leg of the China journey has involved a return to Sichuan for several days. Nicknamed "the land of abundance" it receives this appelation initially on account of fertile agricultural plains surrounded by mountains. This is still very important to the province, but these days it is also due to the bustling commercial activity in the capital, Chengdu, and the industrial heartland of Dujiangyan. Like other Chinese cities these have a marvellous mix of old and new and because of the way such cities are designed (i.e., no suburban sprawl) they also provide numerous opportunities for nature to flourish. Visited examples, in order, of such a combination include the Wuhou Temple, dedicated to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang and Emperor Liu Bei, political leaders of the Kingdom of Shu in the Three Kingdoms Period some 1800 years ago; Zhuge's story is particularly impressive.
China is famous for pandas, and no province more so than Sichuan, which is almost overwhelming in panda promotion. One particular site is "Panda Valley", a research, breeding, and rewilding centre that is home to dozens of giant pandas and scores of red pandas. The location, as expected, is quite scenic, with its lush, cool environment providing a pleasant home for these impressive and gentle beasts. Nearby is Mount Qingcheng, one of the most sacred sites to religious Taoism, specifically Zhang Daoling's "Way of the Celestial masters". The mountain area is astoundingly beautiful, with many Taoist temples and shrines well integrated into the environment. Our tour guide took some delight in her argument that giant pandas are Taoist because of their yin-yang colouration.
Nearby is a particularly grand example of ancient engineering Dujiangyan Irrigation System, built over 2,200 years ago and still in use today, a credit to the lead engineer, Li Bing, who managed to see this built without explosives. As the oldest and only surviving no-dam irrigation system in the world, it involved the building of an artificial island that redirected waters during the flood season and released them during the drier months. Since it was built, the Chengdu plain has been free from flooding, and the "water dragon" has been tamed. Unsurprisingly, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sichuan is also home to numerous ethnic minorities, including the Qiang people who live in the forested mountains in western Sichuan, and have their own autonomous county, their own language, religion, and practise their culture, including colourful embroidery. After an interesting and lengthy bus trip, our group stayed at Shiyi mountain village, which included quite a greeting ceremony with local chanting, drumming, and firecrackers at our arrival, and in the evening, a bonfire and dance. It must also be noted that the village was reconstructed after the devastating Wenchaun earthquake. Finally, there was a visit to the Sanxingdui Museum, with its impressive collection of Bronze Age artefacts dating back over 3,500 years. It seems that Sichuan has been a "land of abundance" for many centuries.
China is famous for pandas, and no province more so than Sichuan, which is almost overwhelming in panda promotion. One particular site is "Panda Valley", a research, breeding, and rewilding centre that is home to dozens of giant pandas and scores of red pandas. The location, as expected, is quite scenic, with its lush, cool environment providing a pleasant home for these impressive and gentle beasts. Nearby is Mount Qingcheng, one of the most sacred sites to religious Taoism, specifically Zhang Daoling's "Way of the Celestial masters". The mountain area is astoundingly beautiful, with many Taoist temples and shrines well integrated into the environment. Our tour guide took some delight in her argument that giant pandas are Taoist because of their yin-yang colouration.
Nearby is a particularly grand example of ancient engineering Dujiangyan Irrigation System, built over 2,200 years ago and still in use today, a credit to the lead engineer, Li Bing, who managed to see this built without explosives. As the oldest and only surviving no-dam irrigation system in the world, it involved the building of an artificial island that redirected waters during the flood season and released them during the drier months. Since it was built, the Chengdu plain has been free from flooding, and the "water dragon" has been tamed. Unsurprisingly, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sichuan is also home to numerous ethnic minorities, including the Qiang people who live in the forested mountains in western Sichuan, and have their own autonomous county, their own language, religion, and practise their culture, including colourful embroidery. After an interesting and lengthy bus trip, our group stayed at Shiyi mountain village, which included quite a greeting ceremony with local chanting, drumming, and firecrackers at our arrival, and in the evening, a bonfire and dance. It must also be noted that the village was reconstructed after the devastating Wenchaun earthquake. Finally, there was a visit to the Sanxingdui Museum, with its impressive collection of Bronze Age artefacts dating back over 3,500 years. It seems that Sichuan has been a "land of abundance" for many centuries.
RIP: Chuck Norris, Nicholas Brendon, and Robert Mueller
Mar. 29th, 2026 05:10 pmthewayneTwo weeks ago saw some notable deaths. Starting with Walker, Texas Ranger.
Chuck Norris was admitted to a hospital in Hawaii with an undisclosed condition and passed away the next day. He was 86. Chuck was the real deal when it came to martial arts: he was a genuine fighter and invented his own style. He fought Bruce Lee in one movie and went on to starring in his own action series, becoming quite a viable icon on his own. Delta Force was one shoot-'em-up what was pretty big for him. Later he moved to television in Walker, Texas Ranger, slowing down his moves a bit as he aged.
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/chuck-norris-dead-obituary
Nicholas Brendon, 54, to older fans, will always be Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, initially a slightly buffoonish character in the 'damsel in distress' role who gained some competency as the series went on. He had an identical twin who co-starred in one memorable episode. He had previously suffered a heart attack from a then-unknown heart condition, had several spinal surgeries for a congenital condition, and like many young actors, he was also known to have addiction problems which may have hastened his demise. He is the second Buffy actor to pass away after Michelle Trachtenberg (2025). Brendon also appeared in Criminal Minds, Without A Trace, and Private Practice.
https://gizmodo.com/buffy-star-nicholas-brendon-has-passed-away-at-age-54-2000736404
Robert Mueller. The former director of the FBI and a special prosecutor passed away at 81, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's four years earlier. He served in Vietnam and was wounded rescuing another soldier, earning a Bronze Star. He became a lawyer after leaving the military, ultimately joining the Justice department prosecuting homicides in DC. Later he was appointed to head the FBI by George W. Bush a week before the 9/11 attacks. He then shifted the focus of the FBI to fighting terrorism, an understandable reorientation considering the times, and left the Bureau in 2013.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein brought him back in 20917 as a special counsel to investigate the Russian involvement in the 2016 elections after the President fired the director, James Comey, and that's when the fun began. Mueller's final report on election interference did not exonerate President Trump, but he felt that it was not proper for criminal charges to be brought against a sitting President, that the Senate should fist remove him from office, then charges should be levied. Trump, of course, viewed the report as a full exoneration.
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/21/nx-s1-5755800/robert-s-mueller-iii-ex-fbi-director-who-led-2016-russia-inquiry-dead-at-81
Our "Beloved" President, the class act that he always is, said on a 'Truth' Social post minutes after Mueller's death was announced - direct quote - "Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!".
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/trump-rejoiced-i-m-glad-he-s-dead-just-minutes-after-it-was-announced-robert-mueller-had-died/ar-AA1Z8lVW
Chuck Norris was admitted to a hospital in Hawaii with an undisclosed condition and passed away the next day. He was 86. Chuck was the real deal when it came to martial arts: he was a genuine fighter and invented his own style. He fought Bruce Lee in one movie and went on to starring in his own action series, becoming quite a viable icon on his own. Delta Force was one shoot-'em-up what was pretty big for him. Later he moved to television in Walker, Texas Ranger, slowing down his moves a bit as he aged.
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/chuck-norris-dead-obituary
Nicholas Brendon, 54, to older fans, will always be Xander Harris on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, initially a slightly buffoonish character in the 'damsel in distress' role who gained some competency as the series went on. He had an identical twin who co-starred in one memorable episode. He had previously suffered a heart attack from a then-unknown heart condition, had several spinal surgeries for a congenital condition, and like many young actors, he was also known to have addiction problems which may have hastened his demise. He is the second Buffy actor to pass away after Michelle Trachtenberg (2025). Brendon also appeared in Criminal Minds, Without A Trace, and Private Practice.
https://gizmodo.com/buffy-star-nicholas-brendon-has-passed-away-at-age-54-2000736404
Robert Mueller. The former director of the FBI and a special prosecutor passed away at 81, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's four years earlier. He served in Vietnam and was wounded rescuing another soldier, earning a Bronze Star. He became a lawyer after leaving the military, ultimately joining the Justice department prosecuting homicides in DC. Later he was appointed to head the FBI by George W. Bush a week before the 9/11 attacks. He then shifted the focus of the FBI to fighting terrorism, an understandable reorientation considering the times, and left the Bureau in 2013.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein brought him back in 20917 as a special counsel to investigate the Russian involvement in the 2016 elections after the President fired the director, James Comey, and that's when the fun began. Mueller's final report on election interference did not exonerate President Trump, but he felt that it was not proper for criminal charges to be brought against a sitting President, that the Senate should fist remove him from office, then charges should be levied. Trump, of course, viewed the report as a full exoneration.
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/21/nx-s1-5755800/robert-s-mueller-iii-ex-fbi-director-who-led-2016-russia-inquiry-dead-at-81
Our "Beloved" President, the class act that he always is, said on a 'Truth' Social post minutes after Mueller's death was announced - direct quote - "Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!".
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/trump-rejoiced-i-m-glad-he-s-dead-just-minutes-after-it-was-announced-robert-mueller-had-died/ar-AA1Z8lVW
newbie !
Mar. 29th, 2026 11:35 pmbingqiu posting in addmeName: vile or frank
Age: early 20s
I mostly post about: animanga/fandom, my life (serious, tmi topics included) and rarely some sort of politics (just stuff i find here and there). this is basically my journal.
My hobbies are: reading & writing, listening to music, drawing, collecting, gaming.
My fandoms are: corpse party, indie rpg horror, vns, nu carnival and more will be mentioned in my posts. im a former rhythm game player (enstars, twst, hypmic) who loves horror and older media so that should generalise what i enjoy a bit more. i embrace cringe with open arms and am trying to unlearn shame.
I'm looking to meet people who: are weird and have big thoughts. i would love to find people who are willing to interact or enjoy what i post even if its passively. if youre a spiritual fictionkin, please interact too. i subscribe back and dont be afraid to comment.
My posting schedule tends to be: somewhat sporadic but im not inactive for too long.
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: terfs/transphobes/(trans)misogynists, right-wingers, transid, racists, zionists, pedos.
Before adding me, you should know: im quite a lenient person by nature. i dont care about shipcourse whatsoever because online discourse itself is a headache and nuance is always forgotten. people are weirdos in general. i also put a warning before a triggering topic via the cut function. i have fluctuating mental health and i am not a mentally healthy person. no minors.
We saw Project Hail Mary last night - NO SPOILERS
Mar. 29th, 2026 04:17 pmthewayneWhen a movie is based upon a book or graphic novel, there's three ways of comparing it to the original source material: not as good, did it justice, or better than. It is very rare that a movie is better than the source material.
For me, this movie was better than the book.
Several books - for me - do justice to the source. To name a couple, the 1973 Michael York/Richard Lester Three Musketeers, V For Vendetta: those did a pretty darn good job of representing the source material and bringing it to life. Let's ignore what Lester and the producer was doing to the actors behind the scenes... Then you have the movie adaptation of Alan Moore's comic series Watchmen, which massively deviated from the source material.
This movie was one of those very rare occasions where I feel that the book was much better than the movie, and lots of people think the book is pretty darn great.
I did not like the book Project Hail Mary. I wrote about this last year. I liked The Martian and enjoyed the movie, then last year I read Artemis and PHM back to back and realized they were a combination of Dr. Who and perhaps Mary Sue: a hero who could do absolutely anything.
It really turned me off, to the point that I had very little interest in seeing the movie. But Russet wanted to see it, and I like spending time with my wife, so last night off we went.
And I have to say that the team did an excellent job of adapting the book and turning it into something that was much more palatable for my taste: he's not a GOAT or a JOAT, he's really good in his field and has some understanding outside of that, but he ain't The Doctor. The movie is long at 2:50, and I did have to bail at one point for an extended pee break, fortunately at a point where there was no big action going on and I remembered from the book what was likely to be happening.
I had some minor quibbles of things that I would have really liked to have seen included, but it was already a pretty darn long movie, it didn't need to be made longer.
I am hoping that the same production team might adapt Artemis and make it more palatable, that may or may not be possible. We shall see. I'm sure there will be a clamoring for it since with the success of The Martian and now PHM, the bidding on anything written by Andy Weir will definitely be heating up.
Definitely recommended if you like contemporary space science fiction.
Oh, almost forgot to mention: nothing in the end credits, so once they start rolling you're safe to run for the restroom.
On a side note, have I mentioned the web site/smart phone app Run Pee? You can look up a movie, and it will tell you during what scenes you're safest to run off to the bathroom. Useful information to be armed with. The one problem with this app is it seems to update all the freaking time, so load it before you leave home and be prepared for a bit of a wait until it's ready to be queried.
For me, this movie was better than the book.
Several books - for me - do justice to the source. To name a couple, the 1973 Michael York/Richard Lester Three Musketeers, V For Vendetta: those did a pretty darn good job of representing the source material and bringing it to life. Let's ignore what Lester and the producer was doing to the actors behind the scenes... Then you have the movie adaptation of Alan Moore's comic series Watchmen, which massively deviated from the source material.
This movie was one of those very rare occasions where I feel that the book was much better than the movie, and lots of people think the book is pretty darn great.
I did not like the book Project Hail Mary. I wrote about this last year. I liked The Martian and enjoyed the movie, then last year I read Artemis and PHM back to back and realized they were a combination of Dr. Who and perhaps Mary Sue: a hero who could do absolutely anything.
It really turned me off, to the point that I had very little interest in seeing the movie. But Russet wanted to see it, and I like spending time with my wife, so last night off we went.
And I have to say that the team did an excellent job of adapting the book and turning it into something that was much more palatable for my taste: he's not a GOAT or a JOAT, he's really good in his field and has some understanding outside of that, but he ain't The Doctor. The movie is long at 2:50, and I did have to bail at one point for an extended pee break, fortunately at a point where there was no big action going on and I remembered from the book what was likely to be happening.
I had some minor quibbles of things that I would have really liked to have seen included, but it was already a pretty darn long movie, it didn't need to be made longer.
I am hoping that the same production team might adapt Artemis and make it more palatable, that may or may not be possible. We shall see. I'm sure there will be a clamoring for it since with the success of The Martian and now PHM, the bidding on anything written by Andy Weir will definitely be heating up.
Definitely recommended if you like contemporary space science fiction.
Oh, almost forgot to mention: nothing in the end credits, so once they start rolling you're safe to run for the restroom.
On a side note, have I mentioned the web site/smart phone app Run Pee? You can look up a movie, and it will tell you during what scenes you're safest to run off to the bathroom. Useful information to be armed with. The one problem with this app is it seems to update all the freaking time, so load it before you leave home and be prepared for a bit of a wait until it's ready to be queried.
Hi!!!
Mar. 29th, 2026 02:59 pmdeantestines posting in addmeName: Cecil / Dean
Age: 16
I mostly post about: Fanfiction, alterhumanity, selfshipping
My hobbies are: i like writing and ignoring all of my other hobbies to watch youtube videos, telling people to listen to annabelle dinda and the indigo girls, and laying in my bed. wondering
My fandoms are: oh boy what a question! I like spn, house md, wtnv (cecilos... <3), pluribus, ive somehow been getting back into undertale aus which unsettles me but i miss afterdeath, homestuck, hellaverse.. but like not really but like kinda, kpop, really just any music, death note
I'm looking to meet people who: like the things i write and will uncritically comment loving things on my writing (jok(you can criticize me i dont bite ( i cry but i dont bite)))
My posting schedule tends to be: sporadic
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: i dont like typical darkship content or the people who post it, and i dont really like interacting with like 21+ people online
Before adding me, you should know: idk my favorite ship has a bit of a silly agegap (20yrs) so if that bothers you. uhm. thatll bother you. I like. <am> cecil palmer. so if THAT bothers you that will also bother you i think thats it
Age: 16
I mostly post about: Fanfiction, alterhumanity, selfshipping
My hobbies are: i like writing and ignoring all of my other hobbies to watch youtube videos, telling people to listen to annabelle dinda and the indigo girls, and laying in my bed. wondering
My fandoms are: oh boy what a question! I like spn, house md, wtnv (cecilos... <3), pluribus, ive somehow been getting back into undertale aus which unsettles me but i miss afterdeath, homestuck, hellaverse.. but like not really but like kinda, kpop, really just any music, death note
I'm looking to meet people who: like the things i write and will uncritically comment loving things on my writing (jok(you can criticize me i dont bite ( i cry but i dont bite)))
My posting schedule tends to be: sporadic
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: i dont like typical darkship content or the people who post it, and i dont really like interacting with like 21+ people online
Before adding me, you should know: idk my favorite ship has a bit of a silly agegap (20yrs) so if that bothers you. uhm. thatll bother you. I like. <am> cecil palmer. so if THAT bothers you that will also bother you i think thats it
hello!
Mar. 29th, 2026 10:02 amchurin posting in addmeName: Jude
thank you for reading and i hope y'all have a lovely day!! <3
Age:30's
I mostly post about: fandom stuff with some light personal/irl stuff! i also just enjoy talking to friends and mutuals!
My hobbies are: drawing, writing, listening to and making music, html coding, journaling, nature/photography
My fandoms are: genshin, honkai, zenless zone zero, selfshipping, fnaf, ffxiv, gachiakuta, bleach, one piece, my chemical romance, danmei, vaporwave...the list goes on~
I'm looking to meet people who: are into similar interests and like to talk!
My posting schedule tends to be: sporadic
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: all i ask is that you don't be a jerk or hateful/bigoted person, that's it!
Before adding me, you should know: can't think of any real heads up or warnings! my irl/personal posts never get heavy, but if they do (which will be rare) then i'll of course make sure to post a warning somewhere! other than that i'm chill
thank you for reading and i hope y'all have a lovely day!! <3
