2025 Schedule & Rule Updates
Jul. 10th, 2025 10:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fic_in_a_box_mod posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ficinaboxHello friends! Below is the schedule for FIAB 2025, which will run Late July-November instead of August-November.
Schedule changes, in brief:
- We've added in extra time for mod admin tasks such as tagset clean up and request checking.
- We've given you a full 2 week sign up period
- We've added a couple days of extra time to the creation period.
This extra time will help us utilize our helpers better because we won't have such tight scheduling! It will also allow for the possibility that the swaps puzzle will take longer than in previous years – we don't want to punish swappers with less creation time if it takes us longer than usual to get swaps out, so just building a little extra time into the creation period seemed best.
The rest of this post will cover:
- Updates to several specific medium tags and medium rules.
- A slight change to the way OCs can be nominated.
Discord server reminder! Fic In A Box is a complex exchange even for exchange veterans, so we thought that if we were going to invite a bunch of new people to the exchange we should provide a space where they can ask lots of questions throughout the process. This server is open to everyone (we won't kick you out if you've been doing FIAB for years already) but its purpose is to help people participate in the exchange, so it will probably be most useful/enjoyable if you're kinda confused about the exchange. Like FIAB itself, the server is an 18+ Choose Not To Warn space.
2025 Schedule:
July 24th-August 2: Nominations Pre-Gaming (participants can load tags from last year’s tagset into this tagset)
August 3-12: Nominations
August 13-16: Nominations Cleanup
August 17th-August 31th: Signups
August 20th: Swap requests open
September 6: Assignments Out By This Date
September 7: Swap requests close
October 19: Assignments Due
November 9: Last Day To Submit Makeup Assignments
November 15: Work Reveals
November 29: Creator Reveals
All deadlines are at 11:59 PM EDT except for those in November, which will happen at 11:59 PM EST
New In 2025
Mediums Rules Updates
Art Ruleset
We'll be adjusting the language for the ruleset to make it clear that if multiple characters are requested they must all be visibly within the artwork.
We will also be adding "Papercraft" (creating an image using layered paper cut into the necessary shapes) as a style to the ruleset. This will be a possible style for any art tag that doesn't specify another style (such as "Drawn") and can be requested specifically by nominating the desired art tags with at "Papercraft - " prefix.
Multimedia Works
We'll be adding more guidance for the requirements if combining two different requested medium tags into a multimedia work in the Posting Guidelines.
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Printable Sticker Page Layout
We are changing the rules for stickers to clarify a medium-checking issue we had last year. New rules will set a minimum number of stickers per sheet (five unique stickers per sheet), for an equivalent of 2k per sticker sheet.
Medium Opt-In: Audio - Fanmix
Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)
These tags will be merged into the tag "Medium Opt-In: Audio - Fanmix/FST (Fan Soundtrack)"
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Cross Stitch Pattern
We will be updating the rules for this medium to clarify that you can't auto-generate a cross stitch pattern from pre-existing art.
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Web-based choice-based IF not hosted on AO3
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Twine
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Ink
Medium Opt-In: Writing - Interactive Fiction - AO3 style Choose Your Own Adventure
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Visual Novel
We will be restructuring all of these tags into the following four tags:
- Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - AO3-style Choose Your Own Adventure
- Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Choice-Based IF Not Hosted On AO3
- Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Illustrated AO3-style Choose Your Own Adventure
- Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Illustrated Choice-Based IF Not Hosted On AO3
Length Opt-In: Drabble
Length Opt-In: Double Drabble
Length Opt-In: Triple Drabble
These are being changed to the following:
- Length Opt-In: Drabble (100 Words Exactly)
- Length Opt-In: Double Drabble (200 Words Exactly)
- Length Opt-In: Triple Drabble (300 Words Exactly)
Length Opt-In: Drabble Series
We are removing this tag because it caused some confusion last year. If you'd like to request drabble series please mention it in your optional details. Drabble series of over 1000 words are opt out (similar to other fic formats such as 5+1 things), and for drabble series of under 1000 words you may opt-in within your optional details while requesting a drabble tag.
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Craftwork
These tags will be adjusted to have an equivalent of 2k.
Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Recipe book
Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Cocktail Recipes
For clarity these will be singularized into:
- Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Recipe
- Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Cocktail Recipe
In addition it will be clarified in the rules that recipes are required to be the original creations of the poster.
Nominations Rules Updates
Original Character(s) nominations will not be accepted. This is because "Original Character(s)" is meant to mean either Original Character (singular) or Original Characters (plural) but we've seen some evidence that people who want just one or the other are selecting this phrasing simply because it's common in canonicals.
Tentatively, we will try out simply editing these nominations to be singular if they come up on the AO3 interface, but if that's too burdensome we will reject like all other incorrect tags.
Click here to view tag examples!
Elmo & Original Character(s) (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Character(s) (Sesame Street)
Solo: Original Character(s) (Sesame Street)
Not allowed per this new rule.
Elmo & Original Character (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Character (Sesame Street)
Solo: Original Character (Sesame Street)
Allowed! These tags will get you a work with one OC, plus other listed characters if there are any.
Elmo & Original Characters (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Characters (Sesame Street)
Solo: Original Characters (Sesame Street)
Allowed! These tags are phrased as plural, but per our other nominations rules "Original Characters" counts as an ambiguous group so requests with this phrasing could be filled with 1 OC or 2+ OCs.
Note that you can't limit the number of OCs if you pick a tag like "Big Bird/Original Characters (Sesame Street)" so if you're really only interested in a threesome but not a foursome, you should instead nominate like…
Elmo & Original Character & Original Character (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Character/Original Character (Sesame Street)
Allowed! These tags need to be filled with as many OCs as are listed in the tag. Per other nominations rules, you can list up to 6 characters in a relationship tag.
If Big Bird and five other characters isn't a big enough orgy/polycule for you, you can A) list the last character as the plural "Original Characters" to leave yourself open to more than 5 OCs, or B) use your optional details to opt into more OCs at your creator's discretion. (We suggest you do this in the AO3 optional details box so it's easy for us to find, rather than buried in a letter.)
A Day In The Life.....
Jul. 10th, 2025 10:00 pmdisneydream06It always comes back to bite me in the ass...
I've had it with my fellow aides at work and decided to "work" just has hard as they do.
So last night I was told, by the two aides working the evening shift, the empty patient rooms were set up and ready.
Charge nurse told me we would be getting a patient at some point during the night, so I went to check on the room that it was going into.
BIG F'ING SURPRISE to room was not set and ready for a patient.
So I got it all ready for the admission.
In the process of quality checking the glucometers in all the rooms, I saw that the other empty rooms weren't ready for admits either.
I made the comment to a couple of nurses that wasn't going to fix any of the other empty rooms unless we were going to get admissions because I am tired of picking up after everybody else.
Flashforward to the end of the shift and manager comes up to me and tells me she wants to see me in her office after I punch out.
I go to her office and she proceeds to tell me, paraphrasing, how lousy of a employee I was.
She said nurses complained that I wasn't doing my job and being lazy about things. And tonight wasn't the first complaints she has gotten.
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will put my work ethic up against any aide on our station.
But when I take a stand I am the one that gets in trouble for it.
I finally ended the "conversation" by telling her, I guess I will be a good little aide do my work, and in my head, I will do everybody else's work too.
If she wants a cold worker drone, I will give her a cold worker drone.
They are making really easy to say I F'ing Quit.
If I didn't need the healthcare coverage, I would be really tempted.
On another note, my car went into the shop this morning to be repaird.
They say it will be at least 10 days, which means at least two weeks because the shop is not opened on Sat or Sun.
They gave me a lift over to Enterprise Rental, the company State Farm uses.
Signed all the paper work and they gave me a Chevy Equinox.
I've had it with my fellow aides at work and decided to "work" just has hard as they do.
So last night I was told, by the two aides working the evening shift, the empty patient rooms were set up and ready.
Charge nurse told me we would be getting a patient at some point during the night, so I went to check on the room that it was going into.
BIG F'ING SURPRISE to room was not set and ready for a patient.
So I got it all ready for the admission.
In the process of quality checking the glucometers in all the rooms, I saw that the other empty rooms weren't ready for admits either.
I made the comment to a couple of nurses that wasn't going to fix any of the other empty rooms unless we were going to get admissions because I am tired of picking up after everybody else.
Flashforward to the end of the shift and manager comes up to me and tells me she wants to see me in her office after I punch out.
I go to her office and she proceeds to tell me, paraphrasing, how lousy of a employee I was.
She said nurses complained that I wasn't doing my job and being lazy about things. And tonight wasn't the first complaints she has gotten.
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will put my work ethic up against any aide on our station.
But when I take a stand I am the one that gets in trouble for it.
I finally ended the "conversation" by telling her, I guess I will be a good little aide do my work, and in my head, I will do everybody else's work too.
If she wants a cold worker drone, I will give her a cold worker drone.
They are making really easy to say I F'ing Quit.
If I didn't need the healthcare coverage, I would be really tempted.
On another note, my car went into the shop this morning to be repaird.
They say it will be at least 10 days, which means at least two weeks because the shop is not opened on Sat or Sun.
They gave me a lift over to Enterprise Rental, the company State Farm uses.
Signed all the paper work and they gave me a Chevy Equinox.
New Murderbot Short Story
Jul. 10th, 2025 09:33 pmmarthawellsThe new Murderbot short story is up at Reactor Magazine:
Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy
https://reactormag.com/rapport-martha-wells/
Edited by Lee Harris, art by Jaime Jones.
And Murderbot was renewed for a second season!
https://deadline.com/2025/07/murderbot-renewed-season-2-apple-tv-1236453764/
“We’re so grateful for the response that Murderbot has received, and delighted that we’re getting to go back to Martha Wells’ world to work with Alexander, Apple, CBS Studios and the rest of the team,” Chris and Paul Weitz, said in a statement Thursday.
Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy
https://reactormag.com/rapport-martha-wells/
Edited by Lee Harris, art by Jaime Jones.
And Murderbot was renewed for a second season!
https://deadline.com/2025/07/murderbot-renewed-season-2-apple-tv-1236453764/
“We’re so grateful for the response that Murderbot has received, and delighted that we’re getting to go back to Martha Wells’ world to work with Alexander, Apple, CBS Studios and the rest of the team,” Chris and Paul Weitz, said in a statement Thursday.
Thursday Recs
Jul. 10th, 2025 09:29 pmsoc_puppet posting in queerly_belovedComing in a touch late this week to balance the scales from last time 😛
Do you have a rec for this week? Just reply to this post with something queer or queer-adjacent (such as, soap made by a queer person that isn't necessarily queer themed) that you'd, well, recommend. Self-recs are welcome, as are recs for fandom-related content!
Or have you tried something that's been recced here? Do you have your own report to share about it? I'd love to hear about it!
Do you have a rec for this week? Just reply to this post with something queer or queer-adjacent (such as, soap made by a queer person that isn't necessarily queer themed) that you'd, well, recommend. Self-recs are welcome, as are recs for fandom-related content!
Or have you tried something that's been recced here? Do you have your own report to share about it? I'd love to hear about it!
Throwback Thursday, Fandom Edition: Avengelock
Jul. 10th, 2025 10:17 pmnevannaI shared a snippet of a crossover between the MCU and Sherlock, from what was arguably a very different era of fandom.
Fanfiction Masterlist and Portfolio Templates
Jul. 10th, 2025 09:40 pmlinky posting in fancodedI shared this in smallweb too, but since I know there's a lot of fannish folks here I thought these would be worth sharing here as well!
For anyone interested in making a site/section on their site for their fics, here's a really good template for a fanfiction masterlist that just got posted online! Created byceu. There's easy to follow documentation on how it works, and links to HTML tutorials if you're not familiar or need a refresher on there as well.
As said on the page showcasing the template too, it was inspired by this portfolio template by Kaylee Rowena. Which would be great for anyone who makes fanart! I might end up using this template myself whenever I get to revamping my art galleries on my own site.
smallweb too, but since I know there's a lot of fannish folks here I thought these would be worth sharing here as well!For anyone interested in making a site/section on their site for their fics, here's a really good template for a fanfiction masterlist that just got posted online! Created by
ceu. There's easy to follow documentation on how it works, and links to HTML tutorials if you're not familiar or need a refresher on there as well.As said on the page showcasing the template too, it was inspired by this portfolio template by Kaylee Rowena. Which would be great for anyone who makes fanart! I might end up using this template myself whenever I get to revamping my art galleries on my own site.
Writing technique comms on DW?
Jul. 11th, 2025 10:44 ammificDoes anyone know of any (currently active) comms on DW focussed on writing craft or technique? troyswann was asking and all I can think of are writing challenge comms like https://getyourwordsout.dreamwidth.org which are about producing words, not the craft of writing.
I also have a bunch of links saved, mostly from tumblr, on things like "worldbuilding" and "how to write fight scenes" etc. It's here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cMbhguAkJxfS9eJcacre7RpPutUo8qkx/view?usp=sharing
What other writing technique or info resources or posts do you like?
troyswann was asking and all I can think of are writing challenge comms like https://getyourwordsout.dreamwidth.org which are about producing words, not the craft of writing. I also have a bunch of links saved, mostly from tumblr, on things like "worldbuilding" and "how to write fight scenes" etc. It's here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cMbhguAkJxfS9eJcacre7RpPutUo8qkx/view?usp=sharing
What other writing technique or info resources or posts do you like?
Fanfiction Masterlist and Portfolio Templates
Jul. 10th, 2025 09:31 pmlinky posting in smallwebFor anyone interested in making a site/section on their site for their fics, here's a really good template for a fanfiction masterlist that just got posted online! Created by ceu. There's easy to follow documentation on how it works, and links to HTML tutorials if you're not familiar or need a refresher on there as well.
As said on the page showcasing the template too, it was inspired by this portfolio template by Kaylee Rowena. Which would be great for anyone who makes fanart! I might end up using this template myself whenever I get to revamping my art galleries on my own site.
Since I know there's a lot of fannish folks here I thought these would be worth sharing!
ceu. There's easy to follow documentation on how it works, and links to HTML tutorials if you're not familiar or need a refresher on there as well.As said on the page showcasing the template too, it was inspired by this portfolio template by Kaylee Rowena. Which would be great for anyone who makes fanart! I might end up using this template myself whenever I get to revamping my art galleries on my own site.
Since I know there's a lot of fannish folks here I thought these would be worth sharing!
July Anime PTW
Jul. 10th, 2025 08:33 pmbluapapilioI used my boardgame here.
I finished 6/7 from my last PTW list. I actually got a lot watched in general this time!
Avatar:
Kagami (if I land on a tile I don't want: roll a dice, if Even go forward one tile, if Odd go back (not trap tile)
Roll #1:
A 2, slow start. Prompt: villainess. Guess I'll be watching more HameFura already!
Roll #2:
Aand a 9! Mystery element. It's too bad the next season of Kamonohashi Ron isn't out for this. It's been over 10 years since I watched Durarara!! but why not. I had totally forgotten I was reading the novels and I have entries talking about the first season which I'll look through before continuing with season 2.
Roll #3:
Another 9! Prompt: Lowest rated on list. This sent me into SUCH a rabbit hole. The anime is Flaglia from about 2 years ago and it was licensed by Amazon Video but there was some delay and then just...nothing, it's not anywhere. I did find it on Youtube but it's half Japanese half-Korean and the subs are auto-generated. I can understand the Japanese parts okay but not the Korean. Maybe I'll be okay between them all??
Roll #4:
A 1, PTW list tile. I'm going to use my skill because I have too much I want to continue right now to start something new. I rolled Odd with 1 so I went back a tile. Prompt: animal on the cover. Picked the first one I saw with Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE!. Not the prettiest animal around but it'll do.
Roll #5:
A 10, right past the trap tile (I was sweating). Prompt: Reincarnated into another world. Welp the only other one besides HameFura on my CW list is TenSura, wasn't planning on watching more so soon but why not. That seems to be my attitude today.
Roll #6:
A 9 and the end. Reward: Wind Breaker.
Where to watch:
Flaglia
I finished 6/7 from my last PTW list. I actually got a lot watched in general this time!
Avatar:
Kagami (if I land on a tile I don't want: roll a dice, if Even go forward one tile, if Odd go back (not trap tile)
Roll #1:
A 2, slow start. Prompt: villainess. Guess I'll be watching more HameFura already!
Roll #2:
Aand a 9! Mystery element. It's too bad the next season of Kamonohashi Ron isn't out for this. It's been over 10 years since I watched Durarara!! but why not. I had totally forgotten I was reading the novels and I have entries talking about the first season which I'll look through before continuing with season 2.
Roll #3:
Another 9! Prompt: Lowest rated on list. This sent me into SUCH a rabbit hole. The anime is Flaglia from about 2 years ago and it was licensed by Amazon Video but there was some delay and then just...nothing, it's not anywhere. I did find it on Youtube but it's half Japanese half-Korean and the subs are auto-generated. I can understand the Japanese parts okay but not the Korean. Maybe I'll be okay between them all??
Roll #4:
A 1, PTW list tile. I'm going to use my skill because I have too much I want to continue right now to start something new. I rolled Odd with 1 so I went back a tile. Prompt: animal on the cover. Picked the first one I saw with Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE!. Not the prettiest animal around but it'll do.
Roll #5:
A 10, right past the trap tile (I was sweating). Prompt: Reincarnated into another world. Welp the only other one besides HameFura on my CW list is TenSura, wasn't planning on watching more so soon but why not. That seems to be my attitude today.
Roll #6:
A 9 and the end. Reward: Wind Breaker.
Where to watch:
Flaglia
Anime PTW List:
[Isekai/Villainess] My Next Life as a Villainess [ ]
[Action/Mystery/SPN] Durarara!! s2 [ ]
[Fantasy] Flaglia [ ]
[Magical Boys] Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! [ ]
[Isekai/Fantasy] Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken [ ]
[Action/Slice of life] Wind Breaker [ ]
[Isekai/Villainess] My Next Life as a Villainess [ ]
[Action/Mystery/SPN] Durarara!! s2 [ ]
[Fantasy] Flaglia [ ]
[Magical Boys] Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! [ ]
[Isekai/Fantasy] Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken [ ]
[Action/Slice of life] Wind Breaker [ ]
Pride Bingo Blackout
Jul. 10th, 2025 08:24 pmcmk418 posting in allbingoI had 18 prompts done by the end of June so I thought I'd take a few extra days to finish it all.
Creator Name: cmk418
Fandoms: Queer as Folk (US, 2022) - 25 fics, crossover with Queer as Folk (UK) for 1 fic
List of Prompts: Hope, Attraction, Resistance, Identity, Coming Out, Liberation, Belonging, Education, Transition, Inclusion, Mentorship, Visibility, Activism, Comfort, Bear, Femme, Exploration, Change, Sex, Name, Glitter, Support Group, Love, Discovery, Euphoria
Link to Card
( In Depth Fic Listing By Character )
Creator Name: cmk418
Fandoms: Queer as Folk (US, 2022) - 25 fics, crossover with Queer as Folk (UK) for 1 fic
List of Prompts: Hope, Attraction, Resistance, Identity, Coming Out, Liberation, Belonging, Education, Transition, Inclusion, Mentorship, Visibility, Activism, Comfort, Bear, Femme, Exploration, Change, Sex, Name, Glitter, Support Group, Love, Discovery, Euphoria
Link to Card
( In Depth Fic Listing By Character )
Book review: "The Tyrant Baru Cormorant"
Jul. 10th, 2025 05:47 pmrocky41_7 posting in booknookTitle: The Tyrant Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade series book #3)
Author: Seth Dickinson
Genre: Fantasy
Author: Seth Dickinson
Genre: Fantasy
Today I finished the latest book in the Baru Cormorant series (fourth book remains to-be-released), The Tyrant Baru Cormorant. Y'all, Baru is so back.
! Spoilers for books 1 & 2 below ! (Book 1 review) (Book 2 review)
! Spoilers for books 1 & 2 below ! (Book 1 review) (Book 2 review)
If you've looked at other reviews for the series, you may have seen book 2, The Monster Baru Cormorant, referred to as the series' "sophomore slump." I disagree, but I understand where the feeling comes from. The Monster feels like a prelude, a setting of the board, for The Tyrant. The Monster puts all the pieces in place for the cascade of schemes and plays that come in The Tyrant. They almost feel like one book split into two (which is fair—taken together, they represent about a thousand pages and would make for one mammoth novel).
( Read more... )
Daily check-in
Jul. 10th, 2025 07:48 pmmecurtin posting in fandom_checkinThis is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Thursday, July 10, to midnight on Friday, July 11 (8pm Eastern Time).
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Poll #33348 Daily check-in poll
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 16
How are you doing?
I am OK
10 (66.7%)
I am not OK, but don't need help right now
5 (33.3%)
I could use some help
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans live with you?
I am living single
5 (31.2%)
One other person
7 (43.8%)
More than one other person
4 (25.0%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Grumble Grumble...here's some good news, and a flower?
Jul. 10th, 2025 05:30 pmshadowkatConfusing day at work, and the muggy weather plus sleep issues is making me irritable? Also, people, sigh, can be annoyingly headache inducing, can't they?
Anyhow, grumble, grumble...I'm grateful for my mother (who continues to be lovely), Gregory's Coffee - it has great Matcha Lattes, and Decaf Cappucinos, and is no more than five minutes from my desk - plus I can pre-order, and get discounted deals. I'm also grateful for flowers. Trees. And New York City.
Plus? Very grateful for the lovely folks who provided the good news items below, and continue to do so - basically, I'm grateful for the American Resistance and it's Global Allies, thank the universe you exist.
Disclaimer: As always, good news like humor and beauty is more often than not in the eye of the beholder and your mileage may vary on this.
I only share them, because they give me hope and make me feel better - and I hope they do the same for anyone else who may stumble upon this journal entry. If I can bring a smile or a tear of hope to someone...today? Than I'll feel I accomplished my aim or at the very least attempted it. All I can do is try.
Good News from the American Resistance & It's Global Allies
1. More than 600 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees, scientists, and academics signed a declaration of dissent from the agency’s policies under the Trump administration, warning that they “undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment.”
https://www.standupforscience.net/epa-declaration
[Gotta give the poor federal agency employees credit? They keep fighting and speaking out against the evil new administration.]
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/30/epa-employees-declaration-dissent-trump?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
2. I think this one is a repeat? But just in case, it's not, here we go again: The Miccosukee Tribe is partnering with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to safeguard lands as part of a ‘moral obligation.’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/15/miccosukee-tribe-florida-wildlife-corridor-foundation?sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40
Now, as the Trump administration continues its wholesale slashing of federal funding from conservation projects, the Miccosukee Tribe is stepping up to fulfill what it sees as a “moral obligation” to return the favor.
The tribe is looking to buy and protect environmentally significant lands, including some that once provided refuge, in a groundbreaking partnership agreement with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. The corridor is an ambitious project to connect 18m acres (7.3m hectares) of state and privately owned wilderness into a contiguous, safe habitat for scores of imperilled and roaming species, including black bears, Key deer and Florida panthers.
3. A coalition of 20 states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for sharing personal health data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/CA%20v.%20HHS%2C%20Complaint%207.1.25.pdf
4.Key West City commissioners voted 6-1 to void the 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
https://www.keywestislandnews.com/2025/06/key-west-city-commission-voids-agreement-with-ice-and-reaffirms-its-status-as-a-welcoming-city/
[Apparently Key West is not in agreement with the Governor of Florida?]
5.Tesla’s new delivery numbers are in, and they’re worse than expected.
https://gizmodo.com/teslas-numbers-are-in-and-theyre-not-good-2000623670?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
6.E. Jean Carroll says she plans to give away the millions Donald Trump was ordered to pay her—just to annoy him. [This is the woman who won the defamation case and civil sexual assault case against him - when he claimed she lied when she said he raped her - and went on to vilify her in the media.]
https://www.thedailybeast.com/e-jean-carroll-reveals-why-shell-give-away-her-80m-from-trump-to-p-him-off/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
7. Terminated NIH grants are being reinstated almost entirely in blue states. [These are the science and research grants that the Trump Administration attempted to terminate.]
https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/03/nih-cuts-grant-restoration-complicated-by-limits-to-court-order-trump-dei-restrictions/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-
f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
8.A federal judge in Washington ruled that the Trump administration can’t categorically deny asylum claims from people crossing the southern border.
https://archive.ph/7gw1e
9.A government ban on Hungary’s annual Pride parade backfired when more than 100,000 people marched through the Hungarian capital, far more than have taken part in previous such events.
https://archive.ph/kzI5C#selection-4467.0-4467.195
[The internet makes authoritarianism kind of difficult to enforce.]
10.Tuesday’s election of Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre to fill a vacant seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors put Democrats back in control of San Diego’s most powerful governmental agency.
https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/07/02/aguirres-win-puts-democrats-in-charge-at-pivotal-time/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
11.An iPhone app called ICEBlock is alerting users to nearby ICE sightings. Its designer said he wanted to do something to help in the face of what he sees (correctly) as rising fascism.
[Technology also makes authoritarianism more difficult to enforce - than many sci-fi writers apparently realized. I'm looking at you, Philip K. Dick.]
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/30/tech/iceblock-app-trump-immigration-crackdown?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
12.Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa and Latin America penned a first-ever joint ecological appeal ahead of the next U.N. climate conference in November.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/01/climate-justice-bishops-asia-africa-latin-america-251045
13.Singer Angélique Kidjo became the first African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx2g5znggpo
14.A Tennessee man pardoned by Trump for taking part in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 is back behind bars, for life, convicted of plotting to kill the law enforcement officers who had investigated his case.
https://archive.ph/dXNaQ#selection-517.23-517.112
15. Thanks to Mayor Brandon Scott’s focus on violence intervention programs, Baltimore has seen a nearly 23 percent drop in murders from this time last year.
https://archive.ph/3ajyY
16. Six months into congestion pricing in New York City traffic is down and business is up. Also, the revenue generated by the program is funding critical transit upgrades that will benefit millions of New Yorkers.
https://www.threads.com/@govkathyhochul/post/DLu_bqUxRJO?xmt=AQF0ZAWwIBQtTEin6rbwpHCXtAp3OGNzp92OIOiamSxIgQ
[That's actually true - the funds are going to various state of new repair, climate resilancy projects, and critical improvements across the MTA. And the financial district is pleasant to walk around.]
( the rest of the 37 items )
And here's a few flowers...life is always better with flowers.
Anyhow, grumble, grumble...I'm grateful for my mother (who continues to be lovely), Gregory's Coffee - it has great Matcha Lattes, and Decaf Cappucinos, and is no more than five minutes from my desk - plus I can pre-order, and get discounted deals. I'm also grateful for flowers. Trees. And New York City.
Plus? Very grateful for the lovely folks who provided the good news items below, and continue to do so - basically, I'm grateful for the American Resistance and it's Global Allies, thank the universe you exist.
Disclaimer: As always, good news like humor and beauty is more often than not in the eye of the beholder and your mileage may vary on this.
I only share them, because they give me hope and make me feel better - and I hope they do the same for anyone else who may stumble upon this journal entry. If I can bring a smile or a tear of hope to someone...today? Than I'll feel I accomplished my aim or at the very least attempted it. All I can do is try.
Good News from the American Resistance & It's Global Allies
1. More than 600 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees, scientists, and academics signed a declaration of dissent from the agency’s policies under the Trump administration, warning that they “undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment.”
https://www.standupforscience.net/epa-declaration
[Gotta give the poor federal agency employees credit? They keep fighting and speaking out against the evil new administration.]
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/30/epa-employees-declaration-dissent-trump?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
2. I think this one is a repeat? But just in case, it's not, here we go again: The Miccosukee Tribe is partnering with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to safeguard lands as part of a ‘moral obligation.’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/15/miccosukee-tribe-florida-wildlife-corridor-foundation?sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40
Now, as the Trump administration continues its wholesale slashing of federal funding from conservation projects, the Miccosukee Tribe is stepping up to fulfill what it sees as a “moral obligation” to return the favor.
The tribe is looking to buy and protect environmentally significant lands, including some that once provided refuge, in a groundbreaking partnership agreement with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. The corridor is an ambitious project to connect 18m acres (7.3m hectares) of state and privately owned wilderness into a contiguous, safe habitat for scores of imperilled and roaming species, including black bears, Key deer and Florida panthers.
3. A coalition of 20 states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for sharing personal health data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/CA%20v.%20HHS%2C%20Complaint%207.1.25.pdf
4.Key West City commissioners voted 6-1 to void the 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
https://www.keywestislandnews.com/2025/06/key-west-city-commission-voids-agreement-with-ice-and-reaffirms-its-status-as-a-welcoming-city/
[Apparently Key West is not in agreement with the Governor of Florida?]
5.Tesla’s new delivery numbers are in, and they’re worse than expected.
https://gizmodo.com/teslas-numbers-are-in-and-theyre-not-good-2000623670?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
6.E. Jean Carroll says she plans to give away the millions Donald Trump was ordered to pay her—just to annoy him. [This is the woman who won the defamation case and civil sexual assault case against him - when he claimed she lied when she said he raped her - and went on to vilify her in the media.]
https://www.thedailybeast.com/e-jean-carroll-reveals-why-shell-give-away-her-80m-from-trump-to-p-him-off/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
7. Terminated NIH grants are being reinstated almost entirely in blue states. [These are the science and research grants that the Trump Administration attempted to terminate.]
https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/03/nih-cuts-grant-restoration-complicated-by-limits-to-court-order-trump-dei-restrictions/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-
f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
8.A federal judge in Washington ruled that the Trump administration can’t categorically deny asylum claims from people crossing the southern border.
https://archive.ph/7gw1e
9.A government ban on Hungary’s annual Pride parade backfired when more than 100,000 people marched through the Hungarian capital, far more than have taken part in previous such events.
https://archive.ph/kzI5C#selection-4467.0-4467.195
[The internet makes authoritarianism kind of difficult to enforce.]
10.Tuesday’s election of Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre to fill a vacant seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors put Democrats back in control of San Diego’s most powerful governmental agency.
https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/07/02/aguirres-win-puts-democrats-in-charge-at-pivotal-time/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
11.An iPhone app called ICEBlock is alerting users to nearby ICE sightings. Its designer said he wanted to do something to help in the face of what he sees (correctly) as rising fascism.
[Technology also makes authoritarianism more difficult to enforce - than many sci-fi writers apparently realized. I'm looking at you, Philip K. Dick.]
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/30/tech/iceblock-app-trump-immigration-crackdown?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453
12.Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa and Latin America penned a first-ever joint ecological appeal ahead of the next U.N. climate conference in November.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/01/climate-justice-bishops-asia-africa-latin-america-251045
13.Singer Angélique Kidjo became the first African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx2g5znggpo
14.A Tennessee man pardoned by Trump for taking part in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 is back behind bars, for life, convicted of plotting to kill the law enforcement officers who had investigated his case.
https://archive.ph/dXNaQ#selection-517.23-517.112
15. Thanks to Mayor Brandon Scott’s focus on violence intervention programs, Baltimore has seen a nearly 23 percent drop in murders from this time last year.
https://archive.ph/3ajyY
16. Six months into congestion pricing in New York City traffic is down and business is up. Also, the revenue generated by the program is funding critical transit upgrades that will benefit millions of New Yorkers.
https://www.threads.com/@govkathyhochul/post/DLu_bqUxRJO?xmt=AQF0ZAWwIBQtTEin6rbwpHCXtAp3OGNzp92OIOiamSxIgQ
[That's actually true - the funds are going to various state of new repair, climate resilancy projects, and critical improvements across the MTA. And the financial district is pleasant to walk around.]
( the rest of the 37 items )
And here's a few flowers...life is always better with flowers.
[Challenge #153: Analogous] Original Fiction: 'The Sorceress'
Jul. 10th, 2025 03:53 pmbut_can_i_be_trusted posting in vocab_drabblesTitle: 'The Sorceress'
Fandom: Original Fiction
Author:but_can_i_be_trusted
Rating: G
Word Count: 300
Characters/Pairings: Original
Warnings: None
Notes: Crossposted to100words
Summary: His is an opinion that I have a great amount of respect for.
( The Sorceress )
Fandom: Original Fiction
Author:
but_can_i_be_trustedRating: G
Word Count: 300
Characters/Pairings: Original
Warnings: None
Notes: Crossposted to
100wordsSummary: His is an opinion that I have a great amount of respect for.
( The Sorceress )
Mushrooms
Jul. 10th, 2025 05:40 pmysabetwordsmithToday we cooked up the mixed carton of fancy mushrooms from the Champaign Farmer's Market. They included pink oysters, blue oysters, lion's mane, and some little brown things with long stems and caps the size of a thumbnail. We sauteed them in sunflower oil, seasoned them with garam masala, and added some chopped bacon.
The result tasted good, but not much better than our usual mix of mushrooms, and it was twice as expensive. The oysters were good, but don't taste notably different from the usual white to light brown ones. We did not care of the stringy texture of the lion's mane. Also, they cooked way fast and shrank way down, which left a small amount of stir-fry. They might have worked better in something like wild mushroom spaghetti sauce. So it was interesting to try, but not worth repeating.
The result tasted good, but not much better than our usual mix of mushrooms, and it was twice as expensive. The oysters were good, but don't taste notably different from the usual white to light brown ones. We did not care of the stringy texture of the lion's mane. Also, they cooked way fast and shrank way down, which left a small amount of stir-fry. They might have worked better in something like wild mushroom spaghetti sauce. So it was interesting to try, but not worth repeating.
Day 1633: "Absolutely trash."
Jul. 10th, 2025 02:42 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
wtfjht_feed1/ A federal judge blocked Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, approving a class-action lawsuit to sidestep a recent Supreme Court ruling that limited nationwide injunctions. Judge Joseph Laplante said denying citizenship would cause “irreparable harm” and that the case wasn’t “a close call.” Laplante approved a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all babies born after Feb. 20 who could lose citizenship under Trump’s order, and temporarily blocked the policy nationwide. The Justice Department called the ruling “an obvious and unlawful attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court’s clear order,” which barred broad injunctions but allowed class actions. The judge paused the injunction for seven days for an appeal. Trump’s order is set to take effect July 27 if no court blocks it before then. (New York Times / CNN / Politico / Washington Post / Axios / Bloomberg / Reuters / ABC News / NBC News / Wall Street Journal)
2/ A former Justice Department attorney accused Trump officials of ignoring federal court orders and pressuring lawyers to lie to judges during deportation cases. Erez Reuveni gave Congress texts and emails showing Emil Bove – a former top DOJ official, ex-Trump defense lawyer, and current nominee for a federal appeals court seat – allegedly told subordinates they might have to say “fuck you” to the courts while deporting migrants under a wartime law. Reuveni was fired in April and labeled a “disgruntled employee” by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Internal messages, for example, showed officials falsely claiming Kilmar Abrego Garcia was a gang leader to justify his illegal deportation to a Salvadoran prison, despite a judge’s order not to remove him. “The Department of Justice is thumbing its nose at the courts,” Reuveni said. The Senate is currently considering Bove for a lifetime seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. (New York Times / CBS News / Politico / New Republic)
3/ The FBI used polygraph tests to ask senior officials whether they’ve said anything negative about Director Kash Patel. The questioning is part of a broader effort by Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino to identify internal critics and crack down on leaks, former officials said. Dozens of senior personnel have reportedly been removed, reassigned, or placed on leave since the new leadership took over. One former agent described the shift as favoring “ideological purity.” (New York Times)
4/ A federal appeals court upheld a $5 million civil verdict against Trump for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The 2nd Circuit said Trump “had not demonstrated” any trial errors that would justify a new proceeding. In 2023, a Manhattan jury found Trump liable for assaulting Carroll in a department store in the 1990s and defaming her in 2022 when he called her story “a hoax and a lie.” Trump is separately appealing another $83.3 million verdict over similar statements. (CNBC)
5/ FEMA couldn’t deploy rescue teams to the Texas floods without Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s sign-off – a delay that lasted three days. FEMA officials said the new DHS rule requiring Noem’s personal approval for spending over $100,000 delayed deployments, including search and rescue teams, aerial imaging, and staffing at call centers. Noem defended the response, saying “every single thing they asked for, we were there,” and dismissed the report as “absolutely trash.” Noem and Trump have both called for eliminating FEMA “as it exists,” even as Texas has relied on the agency for the rescue efforts, housing, and food. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who sits with Noem on a Trump-appointed council to dismantle FEMA, called the agency “slow and clunky” and said states can respond “more effectively.” (CNN / NBC News / The Hill / NPR / Bloomberg)
The midterm elections are in 481 days.
Support today's essential newsletter and resist the daily shock and awe: Become a member
Subscribe: Get the Daily Update in your inbox for free
[ SECRET POST #6761 ]
Jul. 10th, 2025 06:12 pmcase posting in fandomsecrets⌈ Secret Post #6761 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
01.
( More! )
Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 06 secrets from Secret Submission Post #965.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.