awesomeers | Member Posts

I stumbled across this today, while researching hormone use on livestock:

Causing trauma to the reproductive tract can induce bleeding, and since blood is toxic to sperm, this may result in reduced conception rates, permanently infertile animals, or animal death.

It makes me wonder if that's a cause undermining conception from rape, which often features internal injuries from microabrasions up to serious tears. If so, an interesting example of self-sabotage.

And then, what about the handful of species where rough sex is normal or even required? A tomcat's barbed penis, for example. Is their sperm different somehow? Or is there some other protective mechanism in play?

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

How much damage are ultraprocessed foods really doing to your health?

New American Heart Association Science Advisory reviews current evidence about UPFs and their impact on adverse health outcomes and outlines opportunities for research, policy and regulatory reform to improve dietary intake and overall health.
Many foods we consume today are ultraprocessed, packed with unhealthy ingredients, and linked to major health risks. As consumption of these foods rises, so do chronic health issues, especially among lower-income groups. Experts are calling for clearer guidelines, better research, and systemic changes to reduce the impact of ultraprocessed foods on public health.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

silveradept

So, on the recommendation of many (including seeing things related to it popping up in my channels regularly, and a fair number of people who are apparently all-in for the main trio being a trio romantically), I watched KPop Demon Hunters.

Have some non-spoilery thoughts, in no particular order:

I wonder how ONCE feels about having gotten TWICE to be the group doing the movie credits version of one of the songs played in snippets throughout the movie.

Daniel Dae Kim and Ken Jeong make perfect sense for the roles they're cast in.

Speaking of voices, the one they cast for the greater-scope villain was delightfully correct, although the casting direction seems to have suggested that he move in the direction of "clipping syllables in an English-as-Second-Language" way. I don't want someone to speak in something that isn't comfortable to them, or to not sound like themselves, but it felt more like a conscious direction rather than someone's natural cadence to do it that way, and it made the greater-scope villain come off slightly more like a Bond villain being played for a bit of camp than as the greater-scope villain. Maybe I'm reading too much into the delivery, or maybe the intention was for this character to sound just slightly off from the rest of the cast.

The Netflix subtitlers managed not to figure out something that fansubbers of various Asian series have known for decades, and even those who subtitle K-Pop releases: how to properly subtitle songs. Which is a major strike against them for a movie that has an awful lot of singing! We didn't necessarily have to go full-on for the kind of karaoke-style, rainbow, motion-filled subtitles that fansubbers of anime and toku series got (get?) made fun of for using in their releases, but these subtitlers went in the direction of just putting the syllables of the words in the subtitles, or otherwise doing Revised Romanization of the spoken or sung Korean and leaving it at that. So there's no context to those lines, nor what they look like in Hangul (which you can see in one of the shots that is the behind-the-scenes for TWICE recording the song playing over the first part of the credits), nor a translation of what the Korean says into English (or whichever language you want as the subtitles.) Admittedly, it would be more offensive to just put [Korean] or [Speaking/Singing in a Global Language] for those sections, but only just. The purpose of the subtitling there is so that someone can follow along with the audio track and make sure they're not missing anything, and if the audio track includes singing in Korean or rapping in Korean, as it does in this movie, the subtitlers have a responsibility to render it comprehensibly. (Bets on whether Tumblr has a transcript of all the songs that renders them correctly and translates them correctly at this point?)

I'm very unhappy with the job the subtitlers did on this movie, and I think Netflix needs to release a revision to accurately reflect what happens in the movie.

I suspect there are more than a few things about the movie that I missed, because my understanding of symbology of both Korean cosmology and mythology and the intricacies of K-pop fandom isn't as complete as it should be to fully appreciate what's going on here. (I did at least understand the light sticks, banners, appearances on various shows and the part where the performers are basically on their public game anywhere the public might see them, which includes never ever wanting to say or do anything that would say there was a relationship between idols and anyone at all, including other idols. Not that it stops the fans from shipping them, either in their own groups or possibly with other groups that they're seen with or rivals with.) Most of my understanding of K-Pop comes from people like brithistorian and andersenmom, so thank you for your help and answering the silly questions that I've had over time.

I did appreciate the music through the decades montage at the beginning, and I'm not sure the average watcher will realize just how much Korean music is influenced by American styles of music through those eras, before the phenomenon that we know of as K-pop comes into existence. (And which exchanges/inherits a fair amount of its cues and norms with Japanese pop idol culture, such that we think of them as J-pop and K-pop, at least over here in my neck of cultural existence.)

Related to this, however, it looks like Sony Animation went with the same general style and animation timing that they used on the Spider-Verse movies at times while I was watching it. While, for Spider-Verse, the animation timing is a deliberate decision and works for the comic-book nature of the multiverse being portrayed, here, the dance sequences that should be smooth as butter in the animation, probably even with some extra key frames to make sure it all goes well, several of them hitched and were otherwise more jerky than I would have expected out of a studio trying to match the intricate choreography that can accompany K-pop. It's possible that these hitches and jerkiness were my Internet connection having hiccups or my computer having a hitch, but I don't think so. Others can tell me how smooth their watch was of the movie, but for the moment, I'm chalking this up to Sony Animation's house style and timing clashing with what you would want animated K-Pop to look like. (There were noticeably fewer hiccups in the action sequences, which is why I think I think it was a style decision rather than a slowdown, because action animation would be more likely to have degradation than the dance sequences, in my opinion.)

Yes, but what did you think about the plot?

It was a perfectly serviceable plot. You'll recognize all the beats if you watched the first Frozen movie, although it is harsher to the lesser-scope villain than most Disney films would be. This particular version of the movie leans heavier into the "Demon Hunters" part of the title, and I don't know if that was the right decision for the plot, because the plot sets up both a movie where action and stylish fighting, accompanied by singing, will determine the outcome (the direction they took) and a movie where the principal heroines and their principal opposition are in a for-all-the-marbles stakes idol game to be determined by who has the bigger fanbase after the agreed-upon final duel at the Idol Awards competition. That would have made the K-pop part of it much more important, and given them all the tools they needed to wage an epic battle across various releases, appearances, and the rest that wouldn't have to involve all that many attempts at direct sabotage or fighting between the two groups, even if there was an awful lot of things that could be excused as "special effects." I'm pretty sure if the writers had enough experience with how idol systems work and the less than savory elements of the companies and managers of the various idols, they could write a very good movie full of underhanded tactics, diss tracks, "accidental" social media leaks, and all the rest of it. I think focusing on the K-pop aspect would also make the internal divisions and the character conflicts in the protagonist trio work better, as each of them starts giving in to more of their worser aspects in trying to beat their rival team, and that would make the parts of the plot that are about secrets and lies work better, since the character hiding the biggest secret will have had the opportunity to see the very worst aspects of the team and believe such things are their actual selves, instead of their more restrained forms. (Which will also make the ultimate climax portion of the movie work better, as well, to make it much clearer why the protagonist team ends up where they do and the way they do before the final battle.)

Final thought: The movie could cut the gag about certain members of the trio having heart eyes and popcorn eyes about the prettiness of the pretty boys in the rival group. It doesn't actually contribute to the plot, and it makes the characters shallower in a way that doesn't suit them. They could certainly make commentary on the boys being eye candy, even supernaturally so, because that's how they're drawn to be, but the majority of the movie shows this trio as a focused, work-first, idol trio who want to enjoy their downtime, except for that one member who keeps pushing them to not take their breaks. They're not shown as flighty or otherwise susceptible to that kind of distraction, and they primarily work through it when it happens, so thy could just cut the gag entirely and replace it with something else that would work better. Like an offhand comment about how those boys are trying to get by on their looks, while they're getting by on great songs. And then eventually admit to themselves that the boys have catchy songs, too, but stay primarily focused on making their own, better songs to beat them, since they never really try to change their look to be more attractive to the fans than the pretty boys.

Current Mood: okay
Current Music: TWICE - Takedown (TWICE Ver.)

conuly

but it *is* pretty sweet!

*********************

( Read more... )

haunted_cherries

So out of curiosity (while I get my drawing skills up, at least), I went looking to see if there were MMD models for Ren and Nagisa b/c I at least know my way around the program from having used it way back in the day. (I also plan to make them in Paralives when that comes in December, but STILL xD)

I FOUND THEM.

_{escuse me while I relearn the program and POTENTIALLY MAKE 3D RENAGI ART I AM LOSING MY MIND}

Also made progress on a bunch of my ReNagi drafts (b/c I have WAY TOO MANY at this point and I need to stop feeding the GAPING MAW of the WIP Demon xD), so I'll hopefully get around to posting those soon! I might stagger it since I don't wanna spam DHJKDHSJKDS but I WILL say I at least appreciate folks for indulging me in my craziness about them!! I just love them so so much!! ; u;

_{This also leaves it open for me to grab Leona’s and Malleus' MMD models, too... 🤔}

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Landed In Brooklyn - Khantrast

conuly

It really seems like the deaths are piling up lately.

ysabetwordsmith

Today is mostly sunny and hot.

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

EDIT 8/9/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/9/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

.

Current Mood: busy

lurkingcat

One of the things that we’d been planning to do once work had finished on the house, was to provide a home for some cats again. But since we were going on holiday in July, we didn’t want to be halfway through a cat adoption process or not have cats that were settled before we disappeared for a week. So we agreed we’d start looking once we got back from holiday.

The day before we went, I saw a FB post from a friend reposting a post from an old workmate of theirs who was looking for a new home for a beloved black cat. I didn’t do anything about it because it sounded fairly urgent and I was sure that the cat would have found somewhere by the time we got back.

We got back from Portmeirion on a Friday and

battlehamster collapsed on the sofa after the five hour drive, while I started sorting laundry out. I was still sorting laundry and honestly expecting to hear some snoring when he bounced up the stairs to announce that he’d found a cat on FB. Same chain of humans, different cat. This cat had nearly had a new home but that had fallen through. Then it turned out that the other cat still needed a home too and could we take both of them. Of course we could.

So on the Tuesday we drove over to Cardiff to meet the cats and make sure that their current human was happy with us as prospective cat carers. She was moving to live with her new partner and the new landlord wouldn’t allow pets and that’s the only reason that she was trying to rehome the pair of them. And on the following Sunday she drove over to Bristol and delivered Fluffball and Chelsea and their small collection of belongings to us.

It’s been a chaotic fortnight since then. They’re both around 13-14 years, so we’re basically providing a retirement home for them. They haven’t been vaccinated for a while, so they’re booked in for that later this month. Fluffball is a very big floof of a cat, whose main motivation in life seems to be how many scruffles he can get. I’ve never had a cat that’s been so trusting so quickly. He spent about 36 hours being very, very sad and then he discovered that scruffles were on offer and crept out of his safe place for those and last night I was sitting reading on the bed and he turned up, demanded scruffles and then settled down with his head on my leg and had a snooze.

Chelsea is small black ninja. She’s probably not that small but next to Fluffball she is kind of tiny. And she’s deeply suspicious of us. It’s only in the last couple of days that she’s become comfortable snoozing anywhere other than under a sofa and she still won’t let us touch her yet. She’s apparently a mouser and she clearly wants to be outside. Alas for Chelsea, she doesn’t get to do that until she’s been here for four weeks because we want to make sure that she knows that this is where the food happens and that she won’t just run off. On the plus side, she gets to have a cat flap for the first time in her life, so she can come and go as she pleases. (Give or take us locking them in on fireworks night). She gets a little braver about people every day, so I think we’ll win her over eventually.

Current Mood: content

ysabetwordsmith

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

If everyone said what they were actually thinking, what would happen to society?

KERPLOWIE

Current Mood: busy

haunted_cherries

HAPPY FANNISH 50 FRIDAY!! I am fresh from a nap with SPOOKY TIEMS

21. Have you ever had to stop playing a game because it was too scary?

YES, YES, AND YES. I saw this question and IMMEDIATELY went back to my days with the first Resident Evil, and anyone’s whose anyone will probably know EXACTLY what scene I’m getting ready to talk about.
( Read more... )

← Previous Post || Fannish 50 Tag || Next Post →

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: Still in my Mind - Pink Pantheress

estirose

( Babbling about a possible new version of the AO3 scam )

ysabetwordsmith

Helsinki just went a full year without traffic fatalities — here's their secret

In the United States, traffic incidents are a leading cause of death, with an average of 120 people dying every day due to motor vehicle collisions.

On a global scale, a person dies from a road-related accident every 24 seconds.

But Finland’s capital city of Helsinki has pulled off something astonishing — the last recorded traffic-related death was over a year ago, in July 2024.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

haunted_cherries

Not a Reddit post having me feeling self-conscious but anyways please know that you're never obligated to read my stuff, nor am I entitled to your time in such a way. The last thing I want is to share my writing with someone and they didn't like it and didn't know how to tell me/didn't want to tell me out of fear of upsetting me. ; u;

aka "Trishelle GET THE HELL OFF REDDIT" xD

Current Mood: crushed

fourohfourrealitynotfound

It's been such a long month that I couldn't even remember if I did this for June. August is also going to be chaotic. But what can you do? Just trying to go with the flow

Goal Updates

I'm prepping to start back up on that fic that I want to write this year. Still more than half to go, we'll see if I make it.

I'm almost done with the second poem for my goal to write four this year.

July Stats

8 books read-- I've been really enjoying MurderBot
I finished 5 movies
For writing, I'm nearing the end of my take-a-break oneshot.
- I spent a total of 9 hours 59 minutes drafting 11,279 words (~19 wpm)!
I completed no crafts during July but made a lot of progress on a few things
- I spent 8h 59m on my 2025 crochet temperature blanket
- I spent 1h 4m on Tunisian crochet slippers for a friend's Christmas gift
- I spent 3 hours on tatting a bookmark
I forgot to record how many things I baked but I did manage to turn brownie mix into half-decent lava cakes, and I'm proud of that.

Current Music: Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes

ysabetwordsmith

Astronaut Jim Lovell has passed away. He flew four missions, including the famous Apollo 13 in which the crew narrowly averted disaster.

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson

( Read more... )

Current Mood: pensive

kaberett

Today I have got Somewhat Caught Up on last event's lost property Situation. My GREAT TRIUMPH was, partway through the paperwork, going "... I'm sure that brooch in particular is... Oddly... Familiar..."

-- and indeed upon going back through my records it transpires that I HAD RETURNED IT TO ITS PERSON AT THE FIRST EVENT THIS YEAR.

So my spreadsheet is duly updated and they can have it back again at the last event of the year :)

(Some other victories: cut-price overripe strawberries. More of my mother's birthday cake. Rye and caraway and poppyseed bread. the elderly niter kibbeh in the fridge still being Definitely Food and substantially enlivening dinner. Shitposting in the PD crew Discord. Starting Solutions and Other Problems with A, and the cake, and the strawberries.)

azurelunatic

Suspension of disbelief = I will not start verbally poking holes in the physics of this action movie until we are out of the movie theater

Suspension in disbelief = a frozen state of constant WTF

bluedreaming

Looking at the list of non-fic books I've read this year, I'm feeling very amused. Of the 62 books so far, I have:

- a revisit of the Murderbot audiobooks
- a tiny handful of manga
- a whole bunch of Chinese webnovels, Thai webnovels, Japanese light novels, and one Korean webnovel series
- We Do Not Part by Han Kang

It's my own little "one of these things is not like the others" game. 😂

(I really don’t care about how many books I read, what I read, etc. It’s just nice to keep track for personal memory reasons.)

🐘 🦋

kyrielle

https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/141995.html

1. What is one food (or meal) you used to hate but now love?

Brussel sprouts! Things I did not expect to learn to like...but prepared crisp in the oven, I quite enjoy them.

2. If you had to give up one of your favorite foods (or meals) for good, what would it be, and why?

Cheese. I'm already a good part of the way there thanks to significant lactose intolerance plus a tetchy gut, and much as I hate to give it up entirely, it would probably be good for me to do so, between that and the saturated fat content.

3. Which food seems like it should be healthy and isn't, and do you eat it? Why?

Most muffins. The amount of salt, sugar, and fat in some of them is such that I might as well eat a candy bar - although muffins are better for fiber, and fruits/veg if you pick the right one. I still eat them, but sparingly. If I make my own - which requires me to be less lazy - then I can do better for salt/fat, and sugar is less of a problem for me anyway. But sometimes I just have store-bought.

4. If you were an item of food, personified, what would you be and why?

A human being, same as I am now. One who hopes, despite being edible, that no one is put in the position of the Donner party ever again.

5. You've seen tomatoes and pies used for this purpose ... now think of a more inventive item of food one could throw at someone. What is it and why would throwing it at someone be hilarious?

If you're being good-spirited, showering someone with popcorn and leaving them with it all in their hair and clothes would be funny.

If you're upset but still want the funny end of upset, a raw egg would be messy and funny, but also really annoying to the target.

ysabetwordsmith

Today is sunny, humid, and hot.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I watered the patio plants and the new picnic table garden.

I picked a red cherry tomato.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I watered the savanna seedlings.

EDIT 8/8/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and the septic garden.

I found a baby preying mantis on the burn barrel and moved it to the barrel garden.

Cicadas and crickets are singing. I've seen a few fireflies.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

Profile

Own Your Awesome!

August 2025

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Page Summary

ysabetwordsmith - Safety
ysabetwordsmith - Food
silveradept - /run/media/silveradept: KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
conuly - Pink pineapple looks oddly like salmon
haunted_cherries - Creative Progress? CREATIVE PROGRESS!
conuly - Astronaut Jim Lovell, famed Apollo 13 commander, dies at 97
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
lurkingcat - Caturday
ysabetwordsmith - Philosophical Questions: Thinking
haunted_cherries - The Fannish 50 #21: Resident Evil and the Problem w/Windows…
estirose - I suspect I've found a different AO3 scam.
ysabetwordsmith - Safety
haunted_cherries - Thought Too Much and Made Myself SAD :D
fourohfourrealitynotfound - 2025 Goals - July Check-In
ysabetwordsmith - Moment of Silence: Jim Lovell
kaberett - victory of the day
azurelunatic - Disbelief, suspension thereof / therein
bluedreaming - 📚💕
kyrielle - Friday Five: Food
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding

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