Aug. 8th, 2025 06:47 pm
Dept. of Farewell
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kaffy_rJames Arthur Lovell, Jr. 1927-2025
He never actually said "Houston, we have a problem." That was apparently his crew mate, Jack Swigert, who reportedly said "OK Houston, I believe we've had a problem here." Lovell then clarified the situation further, saying "We've had a problem here. We've had a main B bus undervolt."
It doesn't matter, ultimately, because Lovell's heroism wasn't because of what he said.
Lovell, the commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission in 1970, was the face of a mission that turned from a potential tragedy to a victory of teamwork, both on the ground and in the cold and dark lunar landing module - a bloody-minded determination to get the crew home, using spit and baling wire (actually plastic bags, cardboard and duct tape) and on-the-fly math and physics problem-solving with pencils, papers and slide rules. Lovell played an active part in that kind of pre-smartphone computing; he was
These two videos are both gripping, although the first (and possibly better) one is on a page that isn't as accurate as it might have been. The one from the NASA website is slightly dryer, but with a wealth of information.*
His life, from his birth in Cleveland to his death in Lake Forest, Illinois, was so much more than that admittedly defining moment. The Wikipedia article is rigorously complete. The Washington Post's story is a good one (possibly paywalled), and the Chicago Sun Times' story, which is not behind a paywall, comes from an excellent writer and full of hometown pride. The stories talk about Lovell's love affair with rockets and space, which started when he was a kid and never ended. The stories are so worthwhile to read.
Rest in honorable piece, Commander Lovell, and may you finally walk on the moon as you make your journey to the stars.
* YouTube has decided to be a mess today, so it might be worth avoiding it.
He never actually said "Houston, we have a problem." That was apparently his crew mate, Jack Swigert, who reportedly said "OK Houston, I believe we've had a problem here." Lovell then clarified the situation further, saying "We've had a problem here. We've had a main B bus undervolt."
It doesn't matter, ultimately, because Lovell's heroism wasn't because of what he said.
Lovell, the commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission in 1970, was the face of a mission that turned from a potential tragedy to a victory of teamwork, both on the ground and in the cold and dark lunar landing module - a bloody-minded determination to get the crew home, using spit and baling wire (actually plastic bags, cardboard and duct tape) and on-the-fly math and physics problem-solving with pencils, papers and slide rules. Lovell played an active part in that kind of pre-smartphone computing; he was
These two videos are both gripping, although the first (and possibly better) one is on a page that isn't as accurate as it might have been. The one from the NASA website is slightly dryer, but with a wealth of information.*
His life, from his birth in Cleveland to his death in Lake Forest, Illinois, was so much more than that admittedly defining moment. The Wikipedia article is rigorously complete. The Washington Post's story is a good one (possibly paywalled), and the Chicago Sun Times' story, which is not behind a paywall, comes from an excellent writer and full of hometown pride. The stories talk about Lovell's love affair with rockets and space, which started when he was a kid and never ended. The stories are so worthwhile to read.
Rest in honorable piece, Commander Lovell, and may you finally walk on the moon as you make your journey to the stars.
* YouTube has decided to be a mess today, so it might be worth avoiding it.
Tags:
Aug. 7th, 2025 07:53 pm
Dept. of Recovering Spoons
kaffy_rHello and Hello and Hello
I'd written entire post. It took a lot out of me. And I hit the wrong damn key and it's gone and it isn't recoverable. Believe me, I've tried. So here's what I can do.
Trigger warning follows for a bad mental situation, although it's much better now:
( I mean it. TW for self-harm shit. )And that's that. I think I can get back to relatively wholesome posting Real Soon Now.
I'd written entire post. It took a lot out of me. And I hit the wrong damn key and it's gone and it isn't recoverable. Believe me, I've tried. So here's what I can do.
Trigger warning follows for a bad mental situation, although it's much better now:
( I mean it. TW for self-harm shit. )And that's that. I think I can get back to relatively wholesome posting Real Soon Now.
Tags:
kentucka posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomcalendarTags:
- due: no deadline,
- fandom: multifandom,
- format: bingo,
- format: given prompts,
- format: meta,
- format: recs,
- format: remix,
- format: rewatch,
- format: varied challenges,
- frequency: monthly,
- medium: any/multi,
- medium: art,
- medium: craft,
- medium: fic,
- medium: meta,
- posting: no deadline,
- site: ao3,
- site: tumblr
Aug. 3rd, 2025 11:11 am
Weird Japanese Horror Films
howdyadoitsnatty posting in little_detailsHello again (thanks for the collective 'you should probably re-consider this' last time because I kind of needed that), I've got some more weirdly specific questions that I kind of am not sure how to begin tackling:
So one of my characters is a Japanese man who sort of has a thing for schlocky pulpy horror movies, and while I'm aware of some popular-ish examples of sort of cult horror films in Japan ( Like House (1977) or Tetsuo The Iron Man (1989) which vaguely fit his themes of 'being deeply uncomfortable with the world and his body') but these always struck me as kind of obvious and well known even outside of japan and not something someone who was really into weird stuff would actually select as a 'favorite'. For the sake of clarity: this is set in the present so even relatively recent films are okay.
I guess in general I'm looking for recommendations for stuff this sort of guy would be interested in, or at least something that someone who's a bit of a weird horror junkie would consider a personal favorite.
So one of my characters is a Japanese man who sort of has a thing for schlocky pulpy horror movies, and while I'm aware of some popular-ish examples of sort of cult horror films in Japan ( Like House (1977) or Tetsuo The Iron Man (1989) which vaguely fit his themes of 'being deeply uncomfortable with the world and his body') but these always struck me as kind of obvious and well known even outside of japan and not something someone who was really into weird stuff would actually select as a 'favorite'. For the sake of clarity: this is set in the present so even relatively recent films are okay.
I guess in general I'm looking for recommendations for stuff this sort of guy would be interested in, or at least something that someone who's a bit of a weird horror junkie would consider a personal favorite.
Aug. 3rd, 2025 08:35 am
Fancake Theme for August: Marriage of Convenience
runpunkrun posting in fandomcalendar
fancake is a thematic recommendation community where all members are welcome to post recs, and fanworks of all shapes and sizes are accepted. Check out the community guidelines for the full set of rules. This theme runs for the entire month. If you have any questions, just ask!
Aug. 2nd, 2025 07:06 pm
Rec [fic]: A Series of Notes Attached to a UNIT Equipment Requisition Form by AstroGirl
paranoidangel posting in tardis_libraryTitle: A Series of Notes Attached to a UNIT Equipment Requisition Form
Creator:![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
AstroGirl
Rating: General
Word Count/Length/Size: 1093 words
Creator's Summary: How hard is it to get your scientific advisor the equipment he clearly needs?
Characters/Pairings: Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, Third Doctor
Warnings/Notes: None
Reasons for reccing: This is an amusing epistolary fic, with the usual sort of happenings going on at UNIT.
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/64572373
Creator:
Rating: General
Word Count/Length/Size: 1093 words
Creator's Summary: How hard is it to get your scientific advisor the equipment he clearly needs?
Characters/Pairings: Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, Third Doctor
Warnings/Notes: None
Reasons for reccing: This is an amusing epistolary fic, with the usual sort of happenings going on at UNIT.
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/64572373
Aug. 1st, 2025 05:30 pm
Round 153 Poll
xandromedovna posting in fic_rushcan you believe? the inexorable passage of linear time has brought us to another Round? inconceivable! anyway, when should we do this?
Poll #33451 Round 153 Dates
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10
When should we have Round 153?
View Answers
8-10 Aug
4 (40.0%)
15-17 Aug
4 (40.0%)
22-24 Aug
6 (60.0%)
29-31 Aug
5 (50.0%)
not August
1 (10.0%)
some other sixth option
2 (20.0%)
ticky box
7 (70.0%)
ticky box
6 (60.0%)
ticky box
7 (70.0%)
who will win??
5 (50.0%)
Tags:
Aug. 1st, 2025 05:58 pm
allbingo Crime Classics Bingo Card
thisbluespiritOkay, I knoooooow I am being rubbish at all my other bingos currently, but if allbingo's August theme happens to be irresistible, everything will be different this time, right? XD
(Tbf, the odds are rather better than the last few weeks anyway...)
But, I give you a Crime Classics Bingo Card made from titles from the British Library's crime catalogue:
I love it. I even got the source for The Lady Vanishes, go me! Any suggestions? (With the usual caveat of me probably doing something else anyway, heh.)
allbingo's August theme happens to be irresistible, everything will be different this time, right? XD(Tbf, the odds are rather better than the last few weeks anyway...)
But, I give you a Crime Classics Bingo Card made from titles from the British Library's crime catalogue:
| Someone from the Past | He Who Whispers | Tour de Force | Fear Stalks the Village | Antidote to Venom |
| Family Matters | Foreign Bodies | Tea on Sunday | It Walks by Night | Green for Danger |
| Settling Scores | As If By Magic | WILD CARD | The Black Spectacles | Somebody at the Door |
| Twice Round the Clock | The Man Who Didn’t Fly | Excellent Intentions | Crossed Skis | Serpents in Eden |
| The Wheel Spins | Final Acts | Deep Waters | Not to Be Taken | Bats in the Belfry |
I love it. I even got the source for The Lady Vanishes, go me! Any suggestions? (With the usual caveat of me probably doing something else anyway, heh.)
Tags:
Aug. 1st, 2025 02:45 pm
Crime Classics Bingo
smallhobbit posting in allbingoAugust's Bingo Fest is the British Library Crime Classics Bingo, with titles taken from the very long catalogue of books. Publication began in 2014 and every month a new book is published. These are all from the Golden Age of crime (approximately 1920s to 1950s), most books are full length novels, but there are also a number of short story collections. Details are available on the British Library website.
You are welcome to use whichever medium you like for completing a bingo. The fest will run from 1 August to 31 August.
The list of prompts is below, together with a sample card, but you are very welcome to make your own card as well.
And if you post to AO3, then do feel free to add to the allbingo collection.
Firstly, here are the main titles to choose from
Prompts
But, as you might expect many of the titles include the words 'Death of' or 'Murder of' I've taken these out, so you can add, or create a small card with, either (or both):
People/clothes
Places
You are welcome to use whichever medium you like for completing a bingo. The fest will run from 1 August to 31 August.
The list of prompts is below, together with a sample card, but you are very welcome to make your own card as well.
And if you post to AO3, then do feel free to add to the allbingo collection.
Firstly, here are the main titles to choose from
Prompts
| The Man Who Didn’t Fly | Someone from the Past | Serpents in Eden | Tea on Sunday | The Black Spectacles |
| Tour de Force | It Walks by Night | Settling Scores | Still Waters | Final Acts |
| Twice Round the Clock | Antidote to Venom | Deep Waters | Family Matters | Cat and Mouse |
| Silent Nights | Not to Be Taken | He Who Whispers | Excellent Intentions | Fear Stalks the Village |
| Green for Danger | Quick Curtain | Crossed Skis | Before the Fact | The Wheel Spins |
But, as you might expect many of the titles include the words 'Death of' or 'Murder of' I've taken these out, so you can add, or create a small card with, either (or both):
People/clothes
Places
Aug. 1st, 2025 02:16 pm
(no subject)
thisbluespirit posting in tardis_libraryRecs of any sort may be posted at any time, but in addition we have monthly themes. tardis_library's theme for July is now closed, and here is our new theme for August:
Crossover
"Oh my God, you're real. You're really real. Oh, this is so Galaxy Quest. I knew it. I always knew."
Doctor Who as a fandom has the perfect format for crossovers (works where DW characters meet characters from other fandoms or visit their worlds), so here is another chance to share your favourite examples of this genre.
Post your recs to the community in the normal way any time from now until midnight on 31st August 2025 in your timezone. (See Info & Guidelines for posting template and instructions). Recs posted for monthly themes have their own tag with banners at the end of the year for reccers who posted a rec for 6 or more of each year's themes.
When making your post, add the tag "other: monthly theme". (The mods can take care of any other needed tags if you prefer, but a challenge/theme tag could easily be missed.)
Our current Seasonal Challenge is Reccer's Bingo, which is open for sign ups for cards and posting recs until 21 September 2025.
Request List
Anyone may also request any specific recs they'd like to see. (e.g. "Fourth Doctor fic, not on Teaspoon," "Cheerful Bill Potts artwork," "Leela vid," "recent Ten/Rose," etc.) If you are only interested in one medium (fic/vid/art etc/), don't forget to specify.
Current requests:
* Classic Who fanvids, any Doctor/TARDIS team (music, no/minimal audio quotes preferred), especially out there on tumblr/YT -thisbluespirit
* Twelfth Doctor h/c that's not on AO3 (any pairing or gen) -ruuger
* Rose/Nine fic, any genre, anywhere - anon
* Jack/Esther fic (Torchwood) -chamilet
* Babyfic and/or de-age fic, any era/any team -romanajo123
* Fanworks in more unusual media (not Art, Fic, or Vids) -lurking_latinist
* Gen fic featuring the Doctor's scarf any era -liadt
* fic set after Planet of Giants that focus on the events of that story -scifirenegade
Make your requests in the comments here to be added to the list. (Anon commenting is on.) If you make a rec that fills any of these requests, please add the "other: request" tag to your entry so it can be found easily.)
Any other questions? Ask here or at the Info & Guidelines post, or PM the mod.
tardis_library's theme for July is now closed, and here is our new theme for August:Crossover
"Oh my God, you're real. You're really real. Oh, this is so Galaxy Quest. I knew it. I always knew."
Doctor Who as a fandom has the perfect format for crossovers (works where DW characters meet characters from other fandoms or visit their worlds), so here is another chance to share your favourite examples of this genre.
Post your recs to the community in the normal way any time from now until midnight on 31st August 2025 in your timezone. (See Info & Guidelines for posting template and instructions). Recs posted for monthly themes have their own tag with banners at the end of the year for reccers who posted a rec for 6 or more of each year's themes.
When making your post, add the tag "other: monthly theme". (The mods can take care of any other needed tags if you prefer, but a challenge/theme tag could easily be missed.)
Our current Seasonal Challenge is Reccer's Bingo, which is open for sign ups for cards and posting recs until 21 September 2025.
Request List
Anyone may also request any specific recs they'd like to see. (e.g. "Fourth Doctor fic, not on Teaspoon," "Cheerful Bill Potts artwork," "Leela vid," "recent Ten/Rose," etc.) If you are only interested in one medium (fic/vid/art etc/), don't forget to specify.
Current requests:
* Classic Who fanvids, any Doctor/TARDIS team (music, no/minimal audio quotes preferred), especially out there on tumblr/YT -
thisbluespirit* Twelfth Doctor h/c that's not on AO3 (any pairing or gen) -
ruuger* Rose/Nine fic, any genre, anywhere - anon
* Jack/Esther fic (Torchwood) -
chamilet* Babyfic and/or de-age fic, any era/any team -
romanajo123* Fanworks in more unusual media (not Art, Fic, or Vids) -
lurking_latinist* Gen fic featuring the Doctor's scarf any era -
liadt* fic set after Planet of Giants that focus on the events of that story -
scifirenegadeMake your requests in the comments here to be added to the list. (Anon commenting is on.) If you make a rec that fills any of these requests, please add the "other: request" tag to your entry so it can be found easily.)
Any other questions? Ask here or at the Info & Guidelines post, or PM the mod.
Tags:
Jul. 31st, 2025 08:23 pm
Winterfest in July - Bingo - Blackout
cmk418 posting in allbingoCreator Name: cmk418
Fandoms: L.A. Confidential
List of Prompts: Silver Bells, Silver and Gold, Baby It's Cold Outside, Send Cards, White Christmas, Special Delivery, Midnight Kiss, Holiday in Handcuffs, Pretty Paper
Link to Card:Here
( Fic link under cut )
Fandoms: L.A. Confidential
List of Prompts: Silver Bells, Silver and Gold, Baby It's Cold Outside, Send Cards, White Christmas, Special Delivery, Midnight Kiss, Holiday in Handcuffs, Pretty Paper
Link to Card:Here
( Fic link under cut )
Jul. 31st, 2025 06:43 pm
Western Fest Blackout Bingo
drabblewriter posting in allbingoFandoms: Greek myth (and various subfandoms)
Mediums: 9 three-sentence fics
Prompts: quartet, atonement, variations on a theme, unrequited pining, "Put me down!", Brokeback Mountain, "The Camp Fire Has Gone Out," cursed, "No man can walk out of his own story."
Jul. 31st, 2025 04:38 pm
Winterfest in July Blackout Bingo
spiralicious posting in allbingoCreator Name: Spiralicious
Community:allbingo
Fandoms: craft kits
List of Prompts: gingerbread house, Santa's toy shop, wreath, tree
Link to Card: My Card
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
( Read more... )
Community:
allbingoFandoms: craft kits
List of Prompts: gingerbread house, Santa's toy shop, wreath, tree
Link to Card: My Card
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
( Read more... )