Creative Jam

Jun. 14th, 2025 01:29 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
The June [community profile] crowdfunding Creative Jam is now open with a theme of "Good vs. Bad."  Come give us prompts, or claim some for your own inspiration.


What I Have Written



From My Prompts




Creative Jam

Jun. 14th, 2025 01:14 am
ysabetwordsmith: (Crowdfunding butterfly ship)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith posting in [community profile] crowdfunding
Welcome to the 144th Crowdfunding Creative Jam! This session will run Saturday, June 14-Sunday, June 15. The theme is "Good vs. Bad."

Crowdfunding Creative Jam

Everyone is eligible to post prompts, which may be words or phrases, titles, images, etc. Prompters may request a specific creator, but everyone else may still use that prompt if they wish. Prompts may specify a particular character/world/etc. but creators may use the prompt for something else anyway and post the results. Prompters are still encouraged to post mostly prompts that anyone could use anywhere, as this maximizes the chance of having creators make something based on your prompt. Please title your comment "Prompt" or "Prompts" when providing inspiration so these are easy to find.

Prompt responses may also be treated as prompts and used for further inspiration. For example, a prompt may lead to a sketch which leads to a story, and so on. This kind of cascading inspiration is one of the most fun things about a collective jam session.

Everyone is eligible to use prompts, and everyone who wants to use a given prompt may do so, for maximum flexibility of creator choice in inspiration. You do not have to post a "Claim" reply when you decide to use a prompt, but this does help indicate what is going on so that other prompters can spread out their choice of prompts if they wish.

Creators are encouraged, but not required, to post at least one item free. Likewise, sharing a private copy of material with the prompter is encouraged but not required. Creative material resulting from prompts should be indicated in a reply to the prompt, with a link to the full content elsewhere on the creator's site (if desired); a brief excerpt and/or description of the material may be included in the reply (if desired). It helps to title your comment "Prompt Filled" or something like that so these are easy to identify. There is no time limit on responding to prompts. However, creators are encouraged to post replies sooner rather than later, as the attention of prompters will be highest during and shortly after the session.

Some items created from prompts may become available for sponsorship. Some creators may offer perks for donations, linkbacks, or other activity relating to this project. Check creator comments and links for their respective offerings.

Prompters, creators, and bystanders are expected to behave in a responsible and civil manner. If the moderators have to drag someone out of the sandbox for improper behavior, we will not be amused. Please respect other people's territory and intellectual property rights, and only play with someone else's characters/setting/etc. if you have permission. (Fanfic/fanart freebies are okay.) If you want to invite folks to play with something of yours, title the comment something like "Open Playground" so it's easy to spot. This can be a good way to attract new people to a shared world or open-source project, or just have some good non-canon fun.

Boost the signal! The more people who participate, the more fun this will be. Hopefully we'll see activity from a lot of folks who regularly mention their projects in this community, but new people are always welcome. You can link to this session post or to individual items created from prompts, whatever you think is awesome enough to recommend to your friends.

Philosophical Questions: Avoidable

Jun. 14th, 2025 01:03 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

What causes the most harm in the world, but is completely avoidable?


Gosh, that's a hard one. Personal vices leap readily to mind, like adultery and alcohol. But then there are things like climate change, which is created by humans, who could choose to stop pushing in that direction but won't.


Today's Adventures

Jun. 13th, 2025 09:54 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today we went to the Marshall Farmer's Market. It's an evening market from 6-8 PM, followed by a band concert, which is way better than a morning one.

Read more... )

New Communities

Jun. 13th, 2025 04:21 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
[community profile] musicianships 
We Are The Scene.
This Community is for everyone who is involved in music in any way.
[Found via [personal profile] gothfvck]
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith posting in [community profile] crowdfunding
A friend tipped me to this campaign: Take Us North is a video game about migrants trying to cross the border into the United States of America. If you're interested and jump fast, you may be able to catch the Early Bird reward in the first 24 hours at $25, after that it jumps to $35 minimum. I backed it because I want to project to exist -- tell ALL the stories, and poke a bigot in the eye!

Take Us North description
A narrative adventure/survival game that follows the journeys of migrants and asylum seekers on their way to cross the US-Mexico border

$6,056 pledged of $30,000 goal
95 backers
29 days to go

🎮 [Early Bird] Take Us North!
$25
Backers 52
Estimated delivery Dec 2026
🚨FIRST 24 HOURS DISCOUNT!🚨 Receive a digital copy of Take Us North (PC/Steam) and digital wallpapers!
3 items included
Digital Copy of the Game Quantity: 1
High-Resolution Digital Wallpapers Quantity: 1
Invitation to Virtual Community Launch Party Quantity: 1

Read more... )

Russian Losses

Jun. 13th, 2025 03:21 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This cartoon is true, as far as it goes.

But if you think Russia is likely to blink at those losses, think again.

Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025

Jun. 13th, 2025 03:16 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This poll covers the ideas proposed in the recent call for themes. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open until at least Saturday night. If there are clear answers then, I'll close it. Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer. If you don't have a Dreamwidth account, you can vote in an anonymous comment or email to me, but include some kind of handle to distinguish yourself.

For this poll, you can vote for as many themes as you find appealing. I recommend that you don't vote for all of them, since that makes it harder to whittle down the list. The themes are arranged in alphabetical order.

Here are your options ...

Poll #33248 Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15


Which of these themes do you want featured in future fishbowls?

View Answers

Angels and Demons
4 (26.7%)

Apocalyptic Visions
3 (20.0%)

Books and Learning
10 (66.7%)

Building Mental Linkages
2 (13.3%)

Changing Personality One Habit at a Time
7 (46.7%)

Communication Styles
8 (53.3%)

Dealing with Frustration
6 (40.0%)

Emotional Regulation
7 (46.7%)

Empathy and Understanding
2 (13.3%)

Empowering Language
5 (33.3%)

Ergonomics
1 (6.7%)

Exercise and Stretching
2 (13.3%)

Faeries and Fey
7 (46.7%)

False Economy
3 (20.0%)

Fixing Loneliness or Overwhelm
6 (40.0%)

Fixit
5 (33.3%)

Goddesses and Divas
5 (33.3%)

Immigrants and Refugees
6 (40.0%)

"Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil."
7 (46.7%)

Knowledge Webs
2 (13.3%)

Language as Power and Power as a Language
4 (26.7%)

Leadership in Unusual Situations
4 (26.7%)

Managing Change and Disruption
1 (6.7%)

Non-Book Learning and Knowledge
7 (46.7%)

Ordinary Characters in Epic Stories
6 (40.0%)

Overlooked Key Moments
2 (13.3%)

Patterns and Patterning
7 (46.7%)

Personhood
5 (33.3%)

Pirates, Rascals, and Rogues
3 (20.0%)

Putting Traumatic Memories in Context
3 (20.0%)

Recognition and Recollection
3 (20.0%)

Sentient and Self-Aware Machines
6 (40.0%)

Strength in Numbers or Alone
4 (26.7%)

Time Travel Twists
8 (53.3%)

Unexpected Leadership
6 (40.0%)

Unlikely or Unwieldy Weapons
5 (33.3%)

Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance
9 (60.0%)

Westerns
2 (13.3%)

Work, Leisure, and Hobbies
5 (33.3%)

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
A friend tipped me to this campaign: Take Us North is a video game about migrants trying to cross the border into the United States of America. If you're interested and jump fast, you may be able to catch the Early Bird reward in the first 24 hours at $25, after that it jumps to $35 minimum. I backed it because I want to project to exist -- tell ALL the stories, and poke a bigot in the eye!

Take Us North description
A narrative adventure/survival game that follows the journeys of migrants and asylum seekers on their way to cross the US-Mexico border

$6,056 pledged of $30,000 goal
95 backers
29 days to go

🎮 [Early Bird] Take Us North!
$25
Backers 52
Estimated delivery Dec 2026
🚨FIRST 24 HOURS DISCOUNT!🚨 Receive a digital copy of Take Us North (PC/Steam) and digital wallpapers!
3 items included
Digital Copy of the Game Quantity: 1
High-Resolution Digital Wallpapers Quantity: 1
Invitation to Virtual Community Launch Party Quantity: 1

Read more... )

Birdfeeding

Jun. 13th, 2025 02:28 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is cloudy and steamy.  It rained last night.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

It started mizzling.

Politics

Jun. 13th, 2025 12:49 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Governor JB Pritzker (Dem IL) to Rep. Mary Miller: "I refuse to be lectured to by somebody who extols the virtue of Hitler."

I can't remember the last time I felt so represented by one of my actual representatives. \o/

Sometimes, you just gotta call a spade a spade.

Follow Friday 6-13-24: Hetalia

Jun. 13th, 2025 12:02 am
ysabetwordsmith: A blue sheep holding a quill dreams of Dreamwidth (Dreamsheep)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today's theme is Hetalia. Initially a webcomic, Hetalia was later adapted as a serialized manga and an anime series. The series personifies the nations of the world into immortal anthropomorphic characters and presents an allegorical (and often satirical) interpretation of political, historical, and cultural events throughout history and the present day. This riff is a personal favorite.

Read more... )

Poetry Fishbowl Update

Jun. 12th, 2025 10:53 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
If you want to suggest themes for upcoming Poetry Fishbowls, now is the time.  I plan to set up the poll tomorrow (Friday).  You can put your theme ideas in a comment below the Call for Themes post

Insect Apocalypse

Jun. 12th, 2025 07:56 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Here's another post about the insect apocalypse, including a trophic cascade devastating other species especially insectivores.  This one proposes electromagnetic radiation as a causal factor, which may or may not be true, and is not being studied.  It would be nice if that were a cause, because it is a factor under human control and thus could be fixed.

Sunshine Revival

Jun. 12th, 2025 04:20 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
The old [community profile] sunshine_challenge is defunct, but other folks are reviving it this summer with the [community profile] sunshine_revival. See the schedule and link below for more information. Spread the word!

Sunshine-Revival-2025-Banner-3.png

Read more... )

Books

Jun. 12th, 2025 02:23 pm
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[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
A Rainbow of Queer Books for 2025: Orange

HAPPY PRIDE 2025! For Pride this year, we’re changing up our usual rec lists. Instead of doing books with specific identities or themes, we’re focused this time on cover color! Throughout the month of June, we’ll be doing 8 rec lists, each with covers inspired by one of the colors of the original Gilbert Baker Pride Flag. We drew a little additional inspiration from the meaning behind the color and why it was included in the original LGBTQIA+ flag (in this case, orange = healing), but we prioritized color over meaning. The contributors to this list are: Sanne, Tris Lawrence, Nina Waters, polls, Shannon, Linnea Peterson and Owl Outerbridge.

Birdfeeding

Jun. 12th, 2025 01:57 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is cloudy and quite warm.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I checked the firepit.  It has burned down mostly to ashes.  I started trimming weeds around the outside edge.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked half a bag of mulberries in the savanna.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I sowed Bee Lawn Mix on a bare patch beside the garden shed.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit more work around the patio.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries in the savanna.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I finished trimming around the firepit.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed more grass along the edge of the strip garden.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed grass along the south edge of the patio.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed brush along the edge of the strip garden.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed weeds along the edge of the south sidewalk.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I intended to lay the base for the next bonfire.  I was only able to find one log big enough, and I need two.  There are some older ones but they are buried under too much brush to reach.  >_<  And it started drizzling anyhow, so fuck it.

I am done for the night.

How to Secure Yarn End on a Ball

Jun. 12th, 2025 12:21 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Use a hair clip.  It holds securely, doesn't damage yarn, molds to the shape of the ball, and tells you exactly where the end is.