Adventures in the Public Domain: On Updating Out-of-Copyright Works
Jan. 21st, 2026 12:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
james_davis_nicoll
Should we attempt to bring older works into the modern age?
Adventures in the Public Domain: On Updating Out-of-Copyright Works
The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride, volume 1 by Midori Yuma & Mamenosuke Fujimaru
Jan. 21st, 2026 09:09 amjames_davis_nicoll
Nanao must chose between staying with her abusive family or accepting the offer of marriage from handsome, wealthy, sincerely considerate Yako. A dilemma for the ages!
The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride, volume 1 by Midori Yuma & Mamenosuke Fujimaru
Wednesday Word: Falchion
Jan. 21st, 2026 07:06 amcalzephyr posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
1word1dayFalchion - noun.
This fancy sword with French and Latin name origins (Old French: fauchon; Latin: falx, "sickle") is a one-handed, single-edged sword. Usually about 37–40" in length, surviving examples are rare. There are two kinds of falchions, which you can read more about on Wikipedia.
This fancy sword with French and Latin name origins (Old French: fauchon; Latin: falx, "sickle") is a one-handed, single-edged sword. Usually about 37–40" in length, surviving examples are rare. There are two kinds of falchions, which you can read more about on Wikipedia.
By This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy, CC0, Link
The Day in Spikedluv (Tuesday, Jan 20)
Jan. 21st, 2026 06:18 amspikedluvToday was an actual no-shopping day!
I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, did a load in the dishwasher, went for several walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered.
I watched the final three eps of Heated Rivalry. (I know I said I wasn’t going to comment until I did a re-watch, but why did no one tell me how emotional I was going to get over the final eps?!! Also, Christina Chang makes one guest appearance on Numb3rs and I remember her for the rest of my life, apparently.)
Despite spending so much time on that, I also found time to write! I added ~1,400 words to my SFBB fic! I had some tea in the afternoon, and chose Afternoon tea, which seemed kind of tasteless to me. Since I like my tea weak, I didn’t think that could actually happen.
ETA: I forgot to mention that I watched HGTV's Home Town! I liked this ep. They did a reno for a couple where the wife has fibromyalgia. Also, interesting how many people moving to Laurel do so because of the show!
Temps started out at 10.7(F) and dropped to 9.5 before I left the house. The forecast called for a high of 13, but it reached 19.9. It was windy, though, so it felt much colder. So freaking windy! There was some sun, which helped with my mood, but didn’t make it feel any warmer.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded okay when I talked to her. She’d had some company throughout the day; my aunt and uncle were there earlier and Sister A was there when I called. The Hospice nurse visited today. Mom said eating was going well, so that's a bonus.
I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, did a load in the dishwasher, went for several walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered.
I watched the final three eps of Heated Rivalry. (I know I said I wasn’t going to comment until I did a re-watch, but why did no one tell me how emotional I was going to get over the final eps?!! Also, Christina Chang makes one guest appearance on Numb3rs and I remember her for the rest of my life, apparently.)
Despite spending so much time on that, I also found time to write! I added ~1,400 words to my SFBB fic! I had some tea in the afternoon, and chose Afternoon tea, which seemed kind of tasteless to me. Since I like my tea weak, I didn’t think that could actually happen.
ETA: I forgot to mention that I watched HGTV's Home Town! I liked this ep. They did a reno for a couple where the wife has fibromyalgia. Also, interesting how many people moving to Laurel do so because of the show!
Temps started out at 10.7(F) and dropped to 9.5 before I left the house. The forecast called for a high of 13, but it reached 19.9. It was windy, though, so it felt much colder. So freaking windy! There was some sun, which helped with my mood, but didn’t make it feel any warmer.
Mom Update:
Mom sounded okay when I talked to her. She’d had some company throughout the day; my aunt and uncle were there earlier and Sister A was there when I called. The Hospice nurse visited today. Mom said eating was going well, so that's a bonus.
WIP Wednesday
Jan. 21st, 2026 10:01 pmparadisedinermod posting in paradisedinerWhat are you working on? Stuck on a plot point and want to talk it out? Have a canon question or looking for a resource? Anything and everything about your WIPs is welcome. Any kind of WIP counts, including fic, fanart, graphics, meta, icons, etc.
Optional questions are below. If there's something else you want to say about your WIP, please add it and we can update the meme.
You can contribute to the post until we put up the next WIP Wednesday! We are embracing the slower pace of Dreamwidth.
[ New Music Monday | Rec Something Wednesday | Monthly General Chat | Comment Fest ]
Optional questions are below. If there's something else you want to say about your WIP, please add it and we can update the meme.
You can contribute to the post until we put up the next WIP Wednesday! We are embracing the slower pace of Dreamwidth.
Writing status/check-in/where am I at?
Jan. 21st, 2026 07:57 amvriddyReached a couple of milestones yesterday, and I'm mentally basically ready to shift back into working on my original projects. Just trying to remember where I'm at with everything. Also cool milestone alert!
Milestone alert: GYWO monthly goal for January, reached! ;)
With my pledge, I should write 12.5k words a month, and now I'll have reached it at least once this year!! It feels really good to start the year being on track. As much as Time Is A Construct, I think I should be careful not to set myself up for big editing projects in January in the future, in general.
I'm so surprised that over 5k of that was for a Spring Thunder fic. Like. I do write freely for tiny fandoms! But usually it's more like coughing out a vignette or a missing scene, or a tiny fix-it to deal with canon stress. Not a full hurt/comfort rescue mission. In the end though, I wrote it for the same reasons I wrote those shorter vignettes in the past: it feels good :D It feels right. It was fun. AND I get to reread and enjoy something tailored to my id in the future :D I was delighted with myself by the end of the first draft, hopefully that'll hold when I return to it for edits :D
Time-sensitive fics
I'll likely just let most of the unposted stuff I wrote rest for a while. Couple of exceptions I have in mind:
- Well I do need to proofread and post my Candy Hearts assignment. That would be good to do on time XD
- For my last 600 words to reach the milestone yesterday, I wrote something for Wind Breaker that will probably be invalidated by a new manga chapter next week. I'd like to clean that up and post it so there's a chance it can be enjoyed as-is for a few days before becoming canon divergent XD
- Not really time-sensitive, but I want to post a couple of BNHA fics to get them out of my mind. One was written a couple of years ago for a collaborative project that never quite completed its landing and I think it's long enough. I need to free my mind of it before I forget it even exists.
Original stuff
( Soul Thief edit preps Take Two )
This was supposed to help me figure out what to do this morning, but it didn't really help in the end! Maybe I'll see if there's a fic in an editable state. I know there's a couple of finished drafts in there, but for some of those I wanted to do a canon review first... Gah!! So many fun things to do, so little time :D
What I'm Reading: That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers (2025)
Jan. 20th, 2026 08:05 pmdelphi✓ kingstoken's 2026 Book Bingo: eBook/Audiobook
That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You is a 2025 memoir by comedian/musician/online personality Elyse Myers. It's a collection of essays, free verse poetry, and lists that take a humorous but heartfelt look at formative and vulnerable moments in her life, with a retrospective understanding of the anxiety and undiagnosed neurodivergence that often shaped them.
Stories include a childhood fixation on a Magic 8 Ball, overthinking and missing the obvious during a teenage game of Seven Minutes in Heaven, college panic attacks, Parisian dates gone awry, beach encounters gone sour, and conquering the mysteries of gravel roads. Anyone familiar with Elyse Myers' work online knows she has a way of telling a story and getting a laugh while also not being afraid to be earnest. If you haven't seen her videos before, you can check her out on TikTok or on Youtube.
I don't listen to a ton of audiobooks, my main exception being memoirs that are read by their authors. That usually works out for me, but in this case I really wish I'd gone with the print book for three reasons:
1) It turns out the print edition is full of little illustrations and creative formatting that brings a lot to some of the pieces.
2) One of the things I enjoy about Myers is her more freeform and sometimes frenetic delivery, but this was a more sedate and traditional audiobook performance.
3) Related to #2, several stories triggered some secondhand embarrassment for me and having to listen to that be slowly relayed instead of being able to read faster during those was rough.
( An Excerpt )
kingstoken's 2026 Book Bingo: eBook/AudiobookThat's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You is a 2025 memoir by comedian/musician/online personality Elyse Myers. It's a collection of essays, free verse poetry, and lists that take a humorous but heartfelt look at formative and vulnerable moments in her life, with a retrospective understanding of the anxiety and undiagnosed neurodivergence that often shaped them.
Stories include a childhood fixation on a Magic 8 Ball, overthinking and missing the obvious during a teenage game of Seven Minutes in Heaven, college panic attacks, Parisian dates gone awry, beach encounters gone sour, and conquering the mysteries of gravel roads. Anyone familiar with Elyse Myers' work online knows she has a way of telling a story and getting a laugh while also not being afraid to be earnest. If you haven't seen her videos before, you can check her out on TikTok or on Youtube.
I don't listen to a ton of audiobooks, my main exception being memoirs that are read by their authors. That usually works out for me, but in this case I really wish I'd gone with the print book for three reasons:
1) It turns out the print edition is full of little illustrations and creative formatting that brings a lot to some of the pieces.
2) One of the things I enjoy about Myers is her more freeform and sometimes frenetic delivery, but this was a more sedate and traditional audiobook performance.
3) Related to #2, several stories triggered some secondhand embarrassment for me and having to listen to that be slowly relayed instead of being able to read faster during those was rough.
( An Excerpt )
Science
Jan. 21st, 2026 12:13 amysabetwordsmithStanford scientists found a way to regrow cartilage and stop arthritis
Scientists have found a way to regrow aging cartilage, raising hopes for arthritis treatments that could make joint replacements obsolete.
Scientists at Stanford Medicine have discovered a treatment that can reverse cartilage loss in aging joints and even prevent arthritis after knee injuries. By blocking a protein linked to aging, the therapy restored healthy, shock-absorbing cartilage in old mice and injured joints, dramatically improving movement and joint function. Human cartilage samples from knee replacement surgeries also began regenerating when exposed to the treatment.
Well, that would be super useful ... if it's not blocked by megacorps making the current arthritis treatments. Then again, most politicians are old and would probably like to have this option, so maybe they'll tell the megacorps to fuck off for once.
Scientists have found a way to regrow aging cartilage, raising hopes for arthritis treatments that could make joint replacements obsolete.
Scientists at Stanford Medicine have discovered a treatment that can reverse cartilage loss in aging joints and even prevent arthritis after knee injuries. By blocking a protein linked to aging, the therapy restored healthy, shock-absorbing cartilage in old mice and injured joints, dramatically improving movement and joint function. Human cartilage samples from knee replacement surgeries also began regenerating when exposed to the treatment.
Well, that would be super useful ... if it's not blocked by megacorps making the current arthritis treatments. Then again, most politicians are old and would probably like to have this option, so maybe they'll tell the megacorps to fuck off for once.
Good News
Jan. 21st, 2026 12:11 amysabetwordsmithGood news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
Tuesday word: Grandfamily
Jan. 20th, 2026 08:40 pmsimplyn2deep posting in 1word1dayTuesday, January 20, 2026
Grandfamily (noun)
grandfamily [grand-fam-uh-lee, fam-lee]
noun, plural grandfamilies
1. a family in which one or more children live with and are raised by their grandparent or grandparents: Grandfamilies exist because of absent parents, and the circumstances behind that can vary greatly from one case to the next.
Origin: First recorded in 1960–65; grand ( def. ) + family ( def. )
Example Sentences
“I hear from the grandfamily caregivers that they don’t want to be a part of ‘the system,’” Keith Lowhorne, vice president of kinship with the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parents Association, said in the report.
From Washington Post
Gentry said she hopes more grandfamily communities like hers pop up around the country so residents can provide support for one another when resources are not readily available.
From Seattle Times
More older Americans are finding a haven in the “grandfamily housing” communities sprouting nationwide.
From New York Times
There are at least 19 grandfamily housing programs with on-site services across the United States, financed by a mix of public and private funding, according to Generations United, a nonprofit focused on intergenerational collaboration.
From New York Times
Projects are underway in Washington, D.C., and Redmond, Ore., and lawmakers in the House reintroduced the Grandfamily Housing Act, which would create a national pilot program to expand grandfamily housing.
From New York Times
Grandfamily (noun)
grandfamily [grand-fam-uh-lee, fam-lee]
noun, plural grandfamilies
1. a family in which one or more children live with and are raised by their grandparent or grandparents: Grandfamilies exist because of absent parents, and the circumstances behind that can vary greatly from one case to the next.
Origin: First recorded in 1960–65; grand ( def. ) + family ( def. )
Example Sentences
“I hear from the grandfamily caregivers that they don’t want to be a part of ‘the system,’” Keith Lowhorne, vice president of kinship with the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parents Association, said in the report.
From Washington Post
Gentry said she hopes more grandfamily communities like hers pop up around the country so residents can provide support for one another when resources are not readily available.
From Seattle Times
More older Americans are finding a haven in the “grandfamily housing” communities sprouting nationwide.
From New York Times
There are at least 19 grandfamily housing programs with on-site services across the United States, financed by a mix of public and private funding, according to Generations United, a nonprofit focused on intergenerational collaboration.
From New York Times
Projects are underway in Washington, D.C., and Redmond, Ore., and lawmakers in the House reintroduced the Grandfamily Housing Act, which would create a national pilot program to expand grandfamily housing.
From New York Times
AI时代 | age of AI
Jan. 20th, 2026 09:47 pmstarandreaMy workplace requires the use of LLM as AI, so I pay particular attention to how it comes up in my hobbies. Every day is a chance to learn more than I knew before.
Will AI replace Chinese teachers | Chinese podcast #184, by Dashu Mandarin 大叔中文
Ben: I don't think I'll be replaced by AI; I'll be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI.
Richard: You'll be replaced by PeiPei.
PeiPei: Follow me!
Richard: If you can't beat them, join them, right?
Ben: 我是觉得呃我不会被AI取代但是我会被会AI的。
Richard: 你会被珮珮取代。
PeiPei: 跟着我干吧！
Richard: 对打不过就加入是吧？
Will AI replace Chinese teachers | Chinese podcast #184, by Dashu Mandarin 大叔中文
Ben: I don't think I'll be replaced by AI; I'll be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI.
Richard: You'll be replaced by PeiPei.
PeiPei: Follow me!
Richard: If you can't beat them, join them, right?
Ben: 我是觉得呃我不会被AI取代但是我会被会AI的。
Richard: 你会被珮珮取代。
PeiPei: 跟着我干吧！
Richard: 对打不过就加入是吧？
Poem: "A Hurricane of Butterflies"
Jan. 20th, 2026 08:27 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem was written outside the regular prompt calls, inspired by a discussion with a_natural_beauty. It also fills the "WILD CARD: Denial" square in my 2-1-25 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. It has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred.
( Read more... )
a_natural_beauty. It also fills the "WILD CARD: Denial" square in my 2-1-25 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. It has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred.( Read more... )
Here at the end of the lonely world
Jan. 20th, 2026 07:47 pmmusesfoolThe conference was interesting, if maybe 1 panel too long (it ended at 4:55 pm, but the last panel was...not great, imo), though the lunch options were, to me, appalling. (Many people ate and enjoyed the sandwiches but there was not one that I would eat. I made do with salad, chips, and cookies.) My boss and I both felt validated by some things being mentioned that we already do and some that we are planning to do (if the new board chair approves), so that part was good too.
It was hard to get up (it was hard to sleep, knowing I had to get up 90 minutes earlier than usual), but I did it. I also saw two fun signs on the way: "Lube Entrance" and "You can ship anything." Asdevildoll said when I told her, I'll take AO3 tags for $200, Alex. *g*
Now I'm going to try to stay awake for another hour and then go to bed because I am le tired.
*
It was hard to get up (it was hard to sleep, knowing I had to get up 90 minutes earlier than usual), but I did it. I also saw two fun signs on the way: "Lube Entrance" and "You can ship anything." As
devildoll said when I told her, I'll take AO3 tags for $200, Alex. *g*Now I'm going to try to stay awake for another hour and then go to bed because I am le tired.
*
Website Updates
Jan. 20th, 2026 05:29 pmysabetwordsmithThanks to a lot of work by fuzzyred, you can now read A Poesy of Obscure Sorrows on its own landing page. :D This series of linguistic poetry uses novel words presented in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.
fuzzyred, you can now read A Poesy of Obscure Sorrows on its own landing page. :D This series of linguistic poetry uses novel words presented in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.
Tags:
a wee bit giddy
Jan. 20th, 2026 02:20 pmyaaurensSo at work cohort yesterday, I volunteered to read, which I've been trying to avoid, just cuz... I dunno. I will happily read Shakespeare out loud with my pals, but reading out loud to strangers reminds me too much of childhood and being put on the spot and getting teased for not being able to pronounce certain letters right.
Anway. I read my section, and someone else in cohort that I had been messaging sent me a very sweet message saying, "thank you for reading, you have a very soothing, calming, trusting voice sir" and then called me Mr T-- and I just about diiiiied. She's from the south and always calls every Ms -- and Mr -- which is just adorable now that I'm mostly over hating the very gendered nature of it, but eeeee apparently when I read it's not painfully obvious and that makes me very happy indeed.
Anway. I read my section, and someone else in cohort that I had been messaging sent me a very sweet message saying, "thank you for reading, you have a very soothing, calming, trusting voice sir" and then called me Mr T-- and I just about diiiiied. She's from the south and always calls every Ms -- and Mr -- which is just adorable now that I'm mostly over hating the very gendered nature of it, but eeeee apparently when I read it's not painfully obvious and that makes me very happy indeed.
(no subject)
Jan. 20th, 2026 01:49 pmolivermoss* More straight hockey content creators liking Heated Rivalry and not being weird about it. This time it's Eck. Two guys write for the channel. One really preferred the Skip content, but interestingly the other was more into Hollanov. It's only ten minutes, but it doesn't say anything revolutionary. it's interesting that it's happened again.
* The Sens' Heated Rivalry jerseys sold out in about an hour. The sales benefit Ottawa Pride Hockey.
Importantly, this is the logo for the Ottawa Pride Jerseys:
Perfection.
* I haven't watched the whole thing, this goes on the pile with some other interviews to watch when I have time, but Linus Ullmark has addressed the batshit rumors about his brief leave of absence in this interview. I've only seen a clip, but he talks about why so many players seen closed off in interviews, don't talk about their lives, and seem to not have personalities. There has been a lot of talk about how it's a real thing in hockey culture that players are closed off, never give real answers and seem to be robots all running on the same software.
That this is a real thing/problem is hockey has been something hockey fans have been trying to explain to parts of HR fandom. There is a certain Kraken who still gets dunked on by Canadian sports media for a single comment taken out of context back in 2014, he later wound up being trained by Sid himself in No-Speak, the art of saying literally nothing ever in front of media.
Anyway, I am still new to hockey but it must be frustrating to see a lot of new people come in with very strong assumptions about what is and isn't accurate in the GCU books. Hockey isn't a monolith, there are exceptions. Joey, for example, is very open about parts of his life and does chat with fans. But also, hockey players being media trained into being politeness bots who say nothing is also a big part of the scene.
* The Sens' Heated Rivalry jerseys sold out in about an hour. The sales benefit Ottawa Pride Hockey.
Importantly, this is the logo for the Ottawa Pride Jerseys:
Perfection.
* I haven't watched the whole thing, this goes on the pile with some other interviews to watch when I have time, but Linus Ullmark has addressed the batshit rumors about his brief leave of absence in this interview. I've only seen a clip, but he talks about why so many players seen closed off in interviews, don't talk about their lives, and seem to not have personalities. There has been a lot of talk about how it's a real thing in hockey culture that players are closed off, never give real answers and seem to be robots all running on the same software.
That this is a real thing/problem is hockey has been something hockey fans have been trying to explain to parts of HR fandom. There is a certain Kraken who still gets dunked on by Canadian sports media for a single comment taken out of context back in 2014, he later wound up being trained by Sid himself in No-Speak, the art of saying literally nothing ever in front of media.
Anyway, I am still new to hockey but it must be frustrating to see a lot of new people come in with very strong assumptions about what is and isn't accurate in the GCU books. Hockey isn't a monolith, there are exceptions. Joey, for example, is very open about parts of his life and does chat with fans. But also, hockey players being media trained into being politeness bots who say nothing is also a big part of the scene.