State of the internet - first half of 2026
Jul. 6th, 2026 11:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yarnandglueI read somewhere that you should make a conscious effort to talk/write about the current state of the internet because so much of it is ephemeral or even just "vibes" and very quickly lost to time. Here's my thoughts on the first half of 2026, all of which are pretty much just "old man yells at cloud":
Have you noticed anything new about using the internet since the start of 2026? Any changes - good or bad?
- There's been a HUGE increase in "we're making sure you're not a bot" validation pages. Previously it would just be when entering information in a form - now it's just to view webpages. Some high-traffic websites (I'm thinking particularly of Genius) will barely let you get through a few pages without doing another validation test. I've noticed that waiting a few seconds before clicking around seems to reduce this? It could also be because I use adblockers/Firefox/have the "do not track" on so I may look less like a ~typical~ internet user and more like a bot, especially if I'm clicking links quickly.
- Speaking of bots, the Reddit homepage is now pretty much just bots reposting old content. I don't have a Reddit account so I just go straight to my favorite subreddits (r/vintagenailpolish in particular) but I would also check the homepage to see if anything significant is going on. I really don't anymore because of what a mess it all is. Lots of titles that don't match the posts, the same thing posted 5 times in a row in 5 different subreddits, the comments being extremely generic or even having nothing to do with the posts, etc.
- I've started seeing websites that allow you to login just by 2FA, without entering a password. I forget what website it was, but I realized I hadn't actually ever set a password since they steer you to 2FA entirely. Neither good nor bad, just new.
- I'm stretching the limits of the topic here a bit, but TV commercials for local businesses have clearly embraced AI. Some are even outright remaking their previous commercials in shitty uncanny valley AI for reasons that are beyond me. I'm also seeing a lot of AI in window decals and vehicle wraps.
Have you noticed anything new about using the internet since the start of 2026? Any changes - good or bad?
Song Shuffle Poem Meme
Jul. 6th, 2026 01:34 pmreeby10Snagged from mxcatmoon awhile ago :)
Put your mp3 player/phone/streaming collection on shuffle and write down the first line of the first twenty songs. Post the poem that results.
( Read more... )
Not terrible I guess, but not great either. And uhh kind of sad...
mxcatmoon awhile ago :)
Put your mp3 player/phone/streaming collection on shuffle and write down the first line of the first twenty songs. Post the poem that results.
( Read more... )
Not terrible I guess, but not great either. And uhh kind of sad...
We'll go down in history
Jul. 6th, 2026 06:19 pmkat_lair***
I don't care about football but I do care about Trans people living their best lives. This is 25min documentary by a colleague of mine on TRUK United, world’s first all-trans football team, and it is a joyful watch.
***
I don't care about football but I do care about Trans people living their best lives. This is 25min documentary by a colleague of mine on TRUK United, world’s first all-trans football team, and it is a joyful watch.
***
124 ☆ happy oops it's already july
Jul. 6th, 2026 11:59 amtinkaton➤ Someone find my motivation for me because it must be dead in a ditch somewhereeee. I have been reading my friends list (slowly, I'm always behind lol) but not been commenting on much. 🥲 And I kept meaning to write up an entry but obviously haven't!! Clearly... I think spreading my journaling out to various places (here, my media log, my physical journal, etc) is making me too lazy to update in multiple locations.
➤ Though speaking of journals lmao I caved and got a super cheap Hobonichi Techo Original A6, 2026 edition, but I'm going to use it next year as a daily journal and just ignore the year/days. I know, I know, I just said I'm too lazy to keep up with multiple journaling locales, but listen...I miss the Hobonichi paper sjhkjsfsdfs now that I'm using a fake Weeks it's just not as nice... So we'll see!! I'm already itching to get a cute cover and start using it but I have to wait until January. 😩
➤ I was finally forced out of Samsung Messages on my phone and now I have to use shitass Google Messages because Samsung hates me personally. 😑 It sucksss give me back my color customization!! However at least now I can see the emoji reacts from Apple users in group texts jsdhfkjsdf it was so funny before because it'd just be like "So-and-so liked [full original text]" five times in a row.
➤ Okay ending with a random music rec, I just stumbled across this Korean duo that debuted at the beginning of the year named dodree who combine pop with traditional Korean music. Apparently both women have a traditional art background (one is a pansori singer and one does dance). This is their latest release; they only have like, 5 songs out so far but I listened to all of them and really enjoyed them so I hope they continue to make music!
➤ Though speaking of journals lmao I caved and got a super cheap Hobonichi Techo Original A6, 2026 edition, but I'm going to use it next year as a daily journal and just ignore the year/days. I know, I know, I just said I'm too lazy to keep up with multiple journaling locales, but listen...I miss the Hobonichi paper sjhkjsfsdfs now that I'm using a fake Weeks it's just not as nice... So we'll see!! I'm already itching to get a cute cover and start using it but I have to wait until January. 😩
➤ I was finally forced out of Samsung Messages on my phone and now I have to use shitass Google Messages because Samsung hates me personally. 😑 It sucksss give me back my color customization!! However at least now I can see the emoji reacts from Apple users in group texts jsdhfkjsdf it was so funny before because it'd just be like "So-and-so liked [full original text]" five times in a row.
➤ Okay ending with a random music rec, I just stumbled across this Korean duo that debuted at the beginning of the year named dodree who combine pop with traditional Korean music. Apparently both women have a traditional art background (one is a pansori singer and one does dance). This is their latest release; they only have like, 5 songs out so far but I listened to all of them and really enjoyed them so I hope they continue to make music!
Classic Who watch: Second Doctor run
Jul. 6th, 2026 02:59 pmdickinsonsIn case you missed my First Doctor era post, here it is.
I finished the Second Doctor's era a few days ago and I've been meaning to gather my thoughts here, but hadn't found the right time.
As of now I can say Two has become my favourite Doctor, which feels a bit crazy to say. Back in the day, when I was into New Who, I kept switching from Nine (my first) to Ten (the reason I started watching the show, since I'd seen clips and gifs out there) when talking about my favourites. It's funny that I love Two so much, then, considering it was Eleven who was the most based on him when it comes to the New Who Doctors. But I digress! Let me tell you why I loved Troughton's Doctor so much. Or at least try, because there are probably more reasons I can't think of right now.
( Read more... )
I finished the Second Doctor's era a few days ago and I've been meaning to gather my thoughts here, but hadn't found the right time.
As of now I can say Two has become my favourite Doctor, which feels a bit crazy to say. Back in the day, when I was into New Who, I kept switching from Nine (my first) to Ten (the reason I started watching the show, since I'd seen clips and gifs out there) when talking about my favourites. It's funny that I love Two so much, then, considering it was Eleven who was the most based on him when it comes to the New Who Doctors. But I digress! Let me tell you why I loved Troughton's Doctor so much. Or at least try, because there are probably more reasons I can't think of right now.
( Read more... )
Spinach
Jul. 6th, 2026 09:46 amgaladhirBlergh! Some of the weird taste of last week's spinach smoothie was not just due to leaving the cottage cheese out. I'm having another one today, and the taste persists. Some of it must be because I was using spinach from the garden, and it really tastes as though it was grown in dirt. It was washed and everything but - hmn - definitely a very earthy vibe.
068 - 2 gifs; 26.02 - bridget jones's diary
Jul. 6th, 2026 02:53 pmaliensambaMedium: film
Title: Dear Diary
Fandom: Bridget Jones's Diary
Character: Bridget Jones
Prompt: free choice - 9 - "dear diary"
Notes: 2 gifs for week 09 of "26.02 - Prompt Tables" at Fandom Empire. This is for the main work.
( Read more... )
Title: Dear Diary
Fandom: Bridget Jones's Diary
Character: Bridget Jones
Prompt: free choice - 9 - "dear diary"
Notes: 2 gifs for week 09 of "26.02 - Prompt Tables" at Fandom Empire. This is for the main work.
( Read more... )
FIC: Angry Kitten (4/5)
Jul. 6th, 2026 01:17 pmluthienAngry Kitten (23105 words) by Luthien
Chapters: 4/5
Fandom: Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Hayden Pike/Jackie Pike
Characters: Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Coach LeClaire (Game Changers), Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau, Hayden Pike, Jackie Pike
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s01e05 I'll Believe in Anything (Heated Rivalry), Kittens, Cats, literal fluff, Texting, Minor Injuries, Minor Original Character(s), Misunderstandings, Soft Shane Hollander, Sprained Ankles, Jealous Ilya Rozanov, Jealousy, Depressed Ilya Rozanov, wanking, the three stages of vodka abuse, Fluff and Angst, Angst and Humor, tonal whiplash, Angst with a Happy Ending, POV Multiple, Road Trips, Cockblocking, POV Outsider, Idiots in Love, ride or die Marly, Good Friend Hayden Pike, Good Friend Jackie Pike
Summary:
Chapters: 4/5
Fandom: Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Hayden Pike/Jackie Pike
Characters: Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Coach LeClaire (Game Changers), Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau, Hayden Pike, Jackie Pike
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s01e05 I'll Believe in Anything (Heated Rivalry), Kittens, Cats, literal fluff, Texting, Minor Injuries, Minor Original Character(s), Misunderstandings, Soft Shane Hollander, Sprained Ankles, Jealous Ilya Rozanov, Jealousy, Depressed Ilya Rozanov, wanking, the three stages of vodka abuse, Fluff and Angst, Angst and Humor, tonal whiplash, Angst with a Happy Ending, POV Multiple, Road Trips, Cockblocking, POV Outsider, Idiots in Love, ride or die Marly, Good Friend Hayden Pike, Good Friend Jackie Pike
Summary:
"If you need a cat, and you deserve a cat, the universe will make sure that a cat finds you. That's the Cat Distribution System at work," the woman explains.
"But I don't need a cat," Shane says, baffled.
"Are you sure?" the bearded guy says, looking down at the box, where Shane is still stroking the kitten's head.
"Yes?" Shane says, frowning as the kitten rubs its small, bewhiskered cheek against his finger.
Shane finds a stray kitten; Ilya not so slowly loses his mind.
Chapter summary: Shane's side of the story.
Weekly proof of life: reading, watching, weather, and a few new foods tried
Jul. 5th, 2026 03:35 pmumadoshiReading: I eked it out for fully half of the year, but a couple nights ago I finished reading Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, which was wonderful.
Watching:scruloose and I watched the first episode of Widow's Bay, and I sure hope I'm not supposed to find anyone likeable so far. ("Likeable characters" is not a requirement for me to enjoy a show, but it sure does help.) We know the new season of Silo has started up, so hopefully we'll get to the season premiere sometime this coming week.
Weathering: The heat wave seems to have broken here. It's still hot in the forecast, but much more reasonably so.
Eating: It was a couple weeks ago now, but we ordered from bb.q Chicken again with Kas and I need to report that the "Cheesling" chicken (which the website just describes as "Dusted in a rich medley of sweet cheeses", but I think the order link mentioned mascarpone and cheddar) and it was so good.
More recently, we tried haskap berries for the first time! This particular pint of them, at least, were a lot like significantly-tart blueberries; I don't feel a burning need to have them again when I could just get blueberries, but I enjoyed them.
Yesterday we bought a pint of Shaker Lemon ice cream made by a local creamery and ate it with the strawberries we brought home. (I had to look up what "Shaker Lemon" actually means, and the first hits I saw were all about pie, but I assume it's the same principle of "made with entire lemons, other than the seeds".) (Also, I know we had this ice cream once before, in a summer when we got both it and the lemon ice cream on offer from another local creamery, but all I could remember was that the two were very different, and this one was available, so we clearly had to retry it For Science.)
Watching:
scruloose and I watched the first episode of Widow's Bay, and I sure hope I'm not supposed to find anyone likeable so far. ("Likeable characters" is not a requirement for me to enjoy a show, but it sure does help.) We know the new season of Silo has started up, so hopefully we'll get to the season premiere sometime this coming week.Weathering: The heat wave seems to have broken here. It's still hot in the forecast, but much more reasonably so.
Eating: It was a couple weeks ago now, but we ordered from bb.q Chicken again with Kas and I need to report that the "Cheesling" chicken (which the website just describes as "Dusted in a rich medley of sweet cheeses", but I think the order link mentioned mascarpone and cheddar) and it was so good.
More recently, we tried haskap berries for the first time! This particular pint of them, at least, were a lot like significantly-tart blueberries; I don't feel a burning need to have them again when I could just get blueberries, but I enjoyed them.
Yesterday we bought a pint of Shaker Lemon ice cream made by a local creamery and ate it with the strawberries we brought home. (I had to look up what "Shaker Lemon" actually means, and the first hits I saw were all about pie, but I assume it's the same principle of "made with entire lemons, other than the seeds".) (Also, I know we had this ice cream once before, in a summer when we got both it and the lemon ice cream on offer from another local creamery, but all I could remember was that the two were very different, and this one was available, so we clearly had to retry it For Science.)
Six Sentence Sunday/Sunday Snippet
Jul. 5th, 2026 09:06 pmluthienNot remotely six sentences from the next chapter of Angry Kitten:
Shane should tell Ilya about the kitten. Why keep it a secret? Ilya's going to make a crack about the zloy kotenok [angry kitten] acquiring his own zloy kotenok regardless of how hard Shane tries to master the art of kitten management in the meantime.
"Ilya," Shane says, and takes a deep breath. "I-"
The kitten chooses that moment to start ascending the sheer curtain at the edge of the panoramic window that takes up most of the wall on the other side of the room.
"Just a moment!" Shane drops his phone on the coffee table and sprints over to the window. The kitten is swaying dangerously on the curtain, like she's in a strong wind, and Shane grabs her off it, just in the nick of time before she falls. "No, baby, don't do that, " he says, carefully detaching one last stubborn claw from the curtain before cradling her against him. He's really going to have to find a proper name for her - if he manages to save her from herself long enough that she'll need one.
Shane should tell Ilya about the kitten. Why keep it a secret? Ilya's going to make a crack about the zloy kotenok [angry kitten] acquiring his own zloy kotenok regardless of how hard Shane tries to master the art of kitten management in the meantime.
"Ilya," Shane says, and takes a deep breath. "I-"
The kitten chooses that moment to start ascending the sheer curtain at the edge of the panoramic window that takes up most of the wall on the other side of the room.
"Just a moment!" Shane drops his phone on the coffee table and sprints over to the window. The kitten is swaying dangerously on the curtain, like she's in a strong wind, and Shane grabs her off it, just in the nick of time before she falls. "No, baby, don't do that, " he says, carefully detaching one last stubborn claw from the curtain before cradling her against him. He's really going to have to find a proper name for her - if he manages to save her from herself long enough that she'll need one.
Back to the sewing machine
Jul. 5th, 2026 10:41 amgaladhirAt the hafla there were a lot of ladies wearing very elegant galabeyas, while I was stuck wearing one that I had made for myself when I was a size 24 (and I am now a size 18.) So of course I was inspired to come home and make myself a smaller size fitted dress.
I found some fabric in Hobby Hut for £11 a metre, then followed along with Sparkly Belly's DIY Baladi/Saidi Dress tutorial on YouTube:
This was my first time sewing with stretch fabric, and I was very pleased with the result:
But of course now I have to decide on what colour sash and bra to make for it. I should have made it with a higher neckline and then you wouldn't see the bra, but as it is I've committed myself to another bra covering expedition.
(I'm thinking turquoise, for the contrast. Alternatively I already have a suitable charcoal grey satin bra, so if I can find some charcoal grey satin for a sash, that might be a cheaper option.)
I've bought some big beads and some mirror pieces to sew on, but ugh... it's turning out to be another time consuming and expensive project. I don't know why I expected differently.
067 - 1 gif; 26.02 - love and deepspace
Jul. 5th, 2026 01:15 pmaliensambaMedium: otome game
Title: Consider This Tenderness
Fandom: Love and Deepspace
Character: Sylus
Prompt: 41 - firework
Notes: 1 gif for week 08 of "26.02 - Prompt Tables" at Fandom Empire. This is for the neighbor prompt.
( Read more... )
Title: Consider This Tenderness
Fandom: Love and Deepspace
Character: Sylus
Prompt: 41 - firework
Notes: 1 gif for week 08 of "26.02 - Prompt Tables" at Fandom Empire. This is for the neighbor prompt.
( Read more... )
Icons — New Mutants
Jul. 4th, 2026 09:20 pmsheliakI thought I posted this unreasonably large icon batch a few years ago, around when I posted Dani Moonstar post of DOOM. Recently I realized this was not the case. Have the rest of the New Mutants post of doom that has been haunting my journal since 2018.
( DOOM, AGAIN )
( DOOM, AGAIN )
(no subject)
Jul. 4th, 2026 04:26 pmericareyesNullam sed est nisi, porta placerat ipsum. Integer sit amet fermentum est. Quisque nulla quam, ullamcorper nec pretium eget, lobortis et eros. |
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Galore Challenge Round 14 extended!!!
Jul. 4th, 2026 11:42 amflareonfury
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
galorechallenge is a returning Crossover Fic Challenge from LiveJournal where you would find a crossover, grab a prompt & start writing! NO CLAIMING NESSARY! Post your story to the community (or at least link to it) once you're done. Feel free to grab more than one prompt, and more than one crossover! There are no limits on how much you can write per round. Check out the rules for more information. Also once the round ends, we'll vote on our favorites by fandom & you can get a fancy award. Or if there is only 1 crossover for a particular fandom, it will move on to the next round.
While it is a multi-fandom challenge, and SO MANY fandoms are allowed, there are some restrictions, so check out the fandoms currently allowed.
Round 14 is now open until September 30, 2026 @ 11:59 EST.
Rules & FAQ | Prompts | Submit New Prompts/Crossovers |