patrokla posting in

Hello from this year's primary mod, Helen! Kat and Livi have largely stepped away this year, but are very kindly helping with some behind the scenes stuff. Most posts and emails will be from me :) This will be my first time doing a lot of the swaps process, so if you notice anything seriously awry, please let me know!

( 2025 schedule, links, and more! )

Questions? Check out the current FAQ. (Which will be updated this weekend to reflect international shipping issues!) If that doesn't help, feel free to comment here or email us at yuleswaps at gmail dot com!

Current Mood: determined
Current Location: under attack by hungry cats

mellowtigger

Last year for Christmas, I got several books as gifts. One was from a coworker who sent me a bestseller that I knew nothing about, "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. He's the same author behind the hit movie "The Martian" starring Matt Damon. This new book turned out to be a very enjoyable read for me.

I learned yesterday that there's now a movie based on this book, expected to arrive 2026 March 20. This movie will star Ryan Gosling, a casting choice that I enthusiastically approve for the main character. The theme behind the book is not really apparent in the unnecessarily suspense-heavy official trailer video that came out a few days ago. The plot requires understanding that our civilization on Earth is in danger because the energy output from our sun is diminishing. In fact, all of the stars around us are diminishing their output... except for one nearby star. The plot takes our main character to that solar system to investigate the issue, as a last minute effort (hence the term, "Hail Mary" in the title of the book and movie) to save humanity. The movie trailer barely shows us a glimpse of the alien character, but we'll have to see a lot more of it for the movie to match the tale in the book.

What the story is really about, however, is friendship. A human and an alien find themselves in the same strange solar system, trying together to unravel the mystery of dimming stars, before each of their civilizations collapses. They have obvious cultural and biological differences, yet they have a shared imperative with little time for research. Neither of them is the perfect representative of their species to do this particular task alone. Research together, however, they do because they must. I think that the psychological trait "openness to experience" is something that we could use a lot more of from societies that seem to be swinging towards authoritarianism. I hope this movie presents an effective motivation for strangers of that perspective to try it.

There's another plot twist involving our main character that carries from the beginning to the end of the story, so I won't go into details. But besides friendship, the story is also about redemption. After reading it many months ago, I put aside the book while feeling almost Star Trek levels of hope for humanity as a species.

I am very eager to see this film. Whichever service hosts it online will definitely receive my subscription to watch it. Sorry, but I'm still not doing theaters, not even with a mask.

james_davis_nicoll

From WOTC: exit their VTT

We have made the difficult decision to end development on Sigil. T

dialecticdreamer

False Alarm
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1542
[Saturday, May 9, 2020, a bit after 8 a.m.]

:: The next morning brings even more pressure. Vic snaps and unloads his opinions on Win. Her reaction speaks well of their future in the area. Part of the Edison’s Mirror arc. ::

Back to More Danger, More Confusion, part two
To the Edison's Mirror Index
On to

Aidan stood outside near the front door of Shandiin and Nik’s home, filling the first of the new garden tables with soil. Even with gloves, every time he had to break apart coarse clumps, he wrinkled his nose. Win drove up, parking several dozen yards before she reached the round turnabout and the large planter in the center of it. She marched closer. “Good morning, Mister Teague. Is Vic awake?”

“He’s been up for hours,” Aidan answered, chuckling. He dusted his hands, shaking his head at the soil. “I’ll need to weave a screen. That soil that Nik bought at the merchant’s was completely inadequate. It’s like half-finished compost, not proper garden soil at all. But, it’s what we have, so later today I’ll collect a few cups full of worms and let them settle in overnight before we transplant the herbs bought at the store. They’re strong and healthy, at least.”
( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

yuletide_admin_feed

Posted by morbane

https://yuletide-admin.livejournal.com/298324.html

There's a new post up on the Yuletide Admin comm regarding Yuletide 2025 Signups Closed!. Please note that there may have been a delay between that post and this crosspost.

You can go through to DW to check the details:

Dreamwidth Post

If you have follow-up questions, they can be asked in the DW comment section using a DW login, OpenID with another login, or a signed anonymous comment.

https://yuletide-admin.livejournal.com/298324.html

arlie

I subscribed to this blogger based on some recommendation or the other, and their claims of what they blogged about. This article has me giving them one strike, as in "three strikes and you are out" except that I'll probably only require one more strike to unsubscribe.

The topic is how health communicators need to act like online influencers, making themselves trusted based on their charisma and personality, eschewing evidence or anything that carries the negative taint of looking like normal health communications. Yep, they should communicate just like RFK Jr. That way they'll be believed more than they currently are.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: disappointed

ysabetwordsmith

Today is cloudy and cool.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 10/24/25 -- I planted 15 purple and pink mixed tulips in the purple-and-white garden.

.

Current Mood: busy

smartbitches_feed

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/10/mary-balogh-kdds-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=161902

A Tale of Mirth and Magic

A Tale of Mirth and Magic by Kristen Vale is $1.99 and a Kindle Daily Deal! This released in August and has a lot of catnip. What I liked is that this is still cozy and sexy.

A maker of magical jewelry finds her life turned upside down when she ends up on the run with a half-giant in this spicy and cozy fantasy romance—perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Spellshop.

Elikki may not have a family, but she has her fierce independence, boundless charm, and enough talent as a jewelry artisan to make a living on the road. Unfortunately for some, she also can’t yet manage to control her chaotic magic. . . and her temper. Sweet, soft Barra lives a quiet life with his mas and three sisters, managing the books for his family’s business. All he wants is to blend in and not make waves—a bit tricky, as a nearly eight-foot-tall purple half-giant.

When Elikki lands in hot water after dealing with a particularly rude customer, Barra finds himself helping her flee the constables. With a bounty on her back—and a severe crush forming on his end—they decide to travel together to the next town. So begins a journey filled with cozy inns, delicious meals, heaps of excellent sex, and a sprinkling of danger. As their adventures bring them closer together and the threat of capture rises they find themselves changing in surprising ways. He’s given up on finding love. She’s always refused to try. But traveling together, they may discover unexpected, powerful romance and stronger self-identities—if the bounty hunters don’t get them first.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

A Killer Getaway

A Killer Getaway by Sienna Sharpe is $2.99 and another KDD! I believe Elyse mentioned this in a previous Hide Your Wallet. Were any of you interested?

Falling in love can be murder…

No one in Lily Lennox’s life can understand why, for each of the past five summers, she has shut her successful business and chosen instead to be paid minimum wage lifeguarding at the exclusive Riovan Wellness Resort on a sun-soaked Caribbean island. Fortunately for her, they also aren’t aware of the mysterious deaths that have occurred on the island every time she’s there.

Lily always does her best not to attract attention. She is determined to make toxic people pay for the damage they do – and when your mission is murder, it’s best not to draw suspicious eyes. But this year a very attractive journalist, Daniel Black, is asking a few too many inconvenient questions. Is he there to hunt her down? And if so, how will she manage her growing attraction towards him – at the same time as getting away with murder?

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

The Last Wolf

RECOMMENDED: The Last Wolf by Maria Vale is $1.99! I really enjoyed this book and its departure from the usual shifter mythology. Vale does a great job creating a sense of place. Be warned though, there is violence in the book and it is very descriptive

For three days out of thirty, when the moon is full and her law is iron, the Great North Pack must be wild.

If she returns to her Pack, the stranger will die.
But if she stays…

Silver Nilsdottir is at the bottom of her Pack’s social order, with little chance for a decent mate and a better life. Until the day a stranger stumbles into their territory, wounded and beaten, and Silver decides to risk everything on Tiberius Leveraux. But Tiberius isn’t all he seems, and in the fragile balance of the Pack and wild, he may tip the destiny of all wolves…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

Remember When

Remember When by Mary Balogh is $2.99! This is book four in the Ravenswood series and I believe this features an older couple. It came out earlier this year!

Discover the beauty of second chances at love and life in this heartfelt new novel from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware, née Greenfield, has just presented her younger daughter to the ton, and the rest of her life belongs only to herself. She returns to Ravenswood, intending to spend the summer alone there. But the summer has other plans for her.

Born a gentleman, Matthew Taylor has chosen to spend his life as the village carpenter. Growing up, he and Clarissa were close—dangerously so, considering his family’s modest fortune. As a young man, he never would have been a suitable match for the daughter of the wealthy Greenfields. Clarissa married Caleb Ware, the Earl of Stratton, so Matthew married another, though he was widowed soon after.

Now everything is different—Clarissa has already lived the life expected of her by society. And Matthew is as attractive and intriguing as he was when they were young. As their summer friendship deepens into romance, they stand together on the precipice of change—essentially the same man and woman they remember being back then, but with renewed passion and the potential to take their lives in an entirely new direction.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You can find ordering info for this book here.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/10/mary-balogh-kdds-more/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=161902

cakewrecks_feed

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/when-the-world-ends-blame-the-ninja-deer-2025

You know how sometimes we like to zoom in to see all the wrecky details?

Well, it turns out sometimes we should zoom OUT.

Take this wedding cake, for example:

While I think you'll agree that finger-smeared "camouflage" is a true wonder to behold, there's no way for you to fully appreciate the entire artistic "tableau" - the one hinted at by that snippet of caution tape in the background - until you zoom out a ways:

I'll forgive the balloons, the little boot vases, and even the toy tractors - but two plywood boards balanced on a used tractor tire? That's time to take a stand, people. And burn it.

And, ok, since you insist:

Whoah, whoah, whoah. Where did those tiny deer come from?!

No, seriously, did you see any tiny plastic deer in those first two photos? 'Cuz I didn't.

Wait.

I just thought of something:

What if the deer were wearing camouflage?

{***}

That sound just then?

That was your mind being blown.

Many thanks to Anony M., who also provided a photo of the bridal party, but I've decided to protect the identities of the guilty. After all, any bridesmaid forced to wear a camo dress with a neon orange petticoat and cowboy boots has suffered enough, don't you think?

*****

P.S. I don't think I'll ever be OK with tires as cake stands, but they DO make pretty awesome travel mugs:

Stainless Steel Tire Travel Mug

The lid even has a hub cap! Ha! Great reviews, too.

******

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/when-the-world-ends-blame-the-ninja-deer-2025

xkcd_feed

https://xkcd.com/3159/

The inflection point was probably in late 1966 or 1967, so when Neil Armstrong flew to space on Gemini 8, plate tectonics was not widely accepted, but when he landed on the Moon three years later it was the mainstream consensus.

https://xkcd.com/3159/

james_davis_nicoll

High school student and semi-professional tarot card reader Danika Dizon assists her PI mother to look for a missing person... a teen who vanished after Danika gave her a tarot card reading.

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

andrewducker

1. Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards: (tags:funny photos wildlife )
2. Scotland to get 8% of UK's fishing funding, despite landing 60% of its fish: (tags:fish Scotland UK money wtf )
3. Aerial Photos Highlight Beauty of Kazakhstan's Mangystau Plateau: (tags:kazakhstan photos )

ysabetwordsmith

These questions come from

thefridayfive.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

smartbitches_feed

Posted by SB Sarah

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/10/ooops-no-podcast-this-week/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=161889

I goofed! There won’t be an episode this week. I apologize!

I will return to my regular schedule on October 31st.

I swear, the reason is because the expression of time having to be in numbers is insulting to me personally. (I got dates mixed up. It’s so embarrassing).

I’m sorry about that!

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/10/ooops-no-podcast-this-week/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=161889

ysabetwordsmith

Today's theme is Jpop and Jrock from Japanese music.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

edenfalling

Actual words will appear sometime over the weekend. :)

Current Mood: busy
Current Location: new brighton, mn

ysabetwordsmith

This motel was transformed into colorful affordable housing. And it's named after a civil rights icon

Once a motel in the Reynoldstown neighborhood — built in the 1960s — the space was transformed into 56 modern studio apartments for individuals or families who were previously unhoused.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

10 effective ways you can make change — in addition to attending a protest

In a nutshell: Nonviolent resistance is based on noncooperation with autocratic actions. It has proven more effective in toppling autocracies than violent, armed struggle.

But it requires more than street demonstrations.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

On mental health advice

What nobody tells you: Most mental health advice is just expensive ways to avoid hard conversations and difficult decisions.

You don't need another coping mechanism. You need to quit the job. Leave the relationship. Set the boundary. Therapy can't fix problems that require action.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

yuletide_admin_feed

Posted by morbane

https://yuletide-admin.livejournal.com/298110.html

There's a new post up on the Yuletide Admin comm regarding Last Day to Sign Up for 2025. Please note that there may have been a delay between that post and this crosspost.

You can go through to DW to check the details:

Dreamwidth Post

If you have follow-up questions, they can be asked in the DW comment section using a DW login, OpenID with another login, or a signed anonymous comment.

https://yuletide-admin.livejournal.com/298110.html

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2025: One Swap After Another || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN!

new sci-fi movie next year: Project Hail Mary

Exit Sigil

#34 False Alarm (part 1 of 1, complete)

Yuletide 2025 Signups Closed!

One Strike: Kristen Panthagani of youcanknowthings.substack.com

Birdfeeding

Mary Balogh, KDDs, & More

A Tale of Mirth and Magic

You can find ordering info for this book here.

A Killer Getaway

You can find ordering info for this book here.

The Last Wolf

You can find ordering info for this book here.

Remember When

You can find ordering info for this book here.

When The World Ends, Blame The Ninja Deer

Continents

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

Interesting Links for 24-10-2025

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Ooops: No Podcast This Week

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