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https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/beltane-2026-05-01

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 1, 2026 is:

Beltane • \BEL-tayn\ • noun

Beltane refers to the Celtic May Day festival.

// Beltane falls each year approximately halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.

Examples:

“On May 1, we celebrate what began as the ancient Celtic holiday of Beltane. ... It started at sundown April 30, when, according to Celtic lore, the evil spirits that had wreaked havoc on humans since Halloween had a last fling before the dawning of May 1 cast them into their annual six-month exile. The night of April 30 is still celebrated, especially abroad, with bonfires and revelry.” — Deane Morrison, The Owatonna (Minnesota) People’s Press, 26 Mar. 2026

Did you know?

To the ancient Celts, May Day marked the start of summer, and a critical time when the boundaries between the human and supernatural worlds were removed, requiring that people take special measures to protect themselves against enchantments. The Beltane fire festival originated in a summer ritual in which cattle were herded between two huge bonfires to protect them from evil and disease. The word Beltane has been used in English since the 15th century, but the earliest known instance of the word in print—as well as the description of that summer ritual—appears in an Irish glossary commonly attributed to Cormac, a king and bishop who lived in the south of Ireland near the end of the first millennium.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/beltane-2026-05-01

I have made bingo down the G column of my 4-1-26 card for the Flower Fest Bingo. I also made 5 extra fills.

G1 (Edge of Enchantment) -- "Edge of Enchantment" (Coracle Shores)
G2 (Black Hero) -- "Any Terms You Offer" (Not Quite Kansas)
G3 (Zinnia) -- "Play Off the Energy of the Crowd" (Polychrome Heroics: Broken Angels)
G4 (Lilac) -- "Beautiful, Tough, Shiny, Resilient" (The Blueshift Troupers)
G5 (Devil's Tongue) -- "So DONE with It All" (standalone)

B1 (Request) -- "Their Hidden Source" (One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis)
B3 (Escape) -- "Someone Who Was Trying to Be Sober" (One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis)
B5 (Exception) -- "The Grabber" (Monster House)

I4 (Moonlight Sensation) -- "An Equally Valid Way of Being" (The Moon Door)

N1 (Big Smile) -- "Eat It Happily Because It Is Good" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)

Current Mood: accomplished

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The Kickstarter for The Crane Rider's Tale is now live!

Features:

Chinese-fantasy inspired murder mystery

Medieval Chinese art aesthetic

You get to ride a giant bird

M/m and f/f romance storylines

Gameplay style: visual novel adventure with Disco Elysium-like dicerolls

Finished game will be playable on Windows/Mac/Linux (itch.io and Steam)

Trailer:

Watch on YouTube

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( Read more... )

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norway

Current Mood: good
Current Music: Oilers at Ducks, game 6

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memes: random holiday

Fandom: The Old Guard
Pairings: Joe/Nicky
Characters: Joe, Nicky, a lot of OCs
Rating: Explicit
Length: 40,000 words
Creator Links:

mellyflori
Theme: Arranged marriage, No canon required, Complete AU, Historical AU, Mundane AU, Diplomatic marriage, Enemies to friends (to lovers), Royalty AU

Summary: “I’m certain this is not what you wanted from a marriage any more than I did.”
For a second, Joe is on the receiving end of the most intense stare he’s ever seen. He almost dares to hope for an argument, something unexpected, then his husband blinks, and he’s back to being that blank-faced stranger Joe first met earlier that day. “On the contrary. An advantageous match is all a prince should ever want.”
It was too much to hope that Nicolò might possess wit or charm that he felt free to express behind closed doors. Joe tries to hide a sigh. On the bright side, he thinks, at least it’s forever.

Reccer's Notes: A marriage based on a political arrangement is less than ideal, but Nicky and Joe cautiously move to friendship, then friends with benefits, with each wishing for more. Unfortunately, their tentative journey toward love gets waylaid when their fathers -- still immersed in long-held grudges -- break up the pair "for security." Cue Joe riding in pursuit of his hoped-for love, followed by some astute, verbal sleight-of-hand to force their fathers' acceptance of the marriage remaining intact for the requisite happy ending. Lots of fun, and highly recommended.

Content Notes: None

Fanwork Links: We Wouldn’t Be Standing Here So Tall, by Mellyflori at AO3

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We made it to the end of April! \o/ If you have completed any of your short-term goals or subgoals, and/or you're still chugging away at your ongoing goals, then pat yourself on the back. You worked hard for that. We've also gotten through the second month of spring. If you're doing seasonal goals, you may have finished the first of your spring ones and/or be looking ahead to the summer batch.

I'm continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them.

These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 9
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 16
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 23
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31

( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

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A Witch's Cure: The Black Hat Society Book 1 by Catz Collins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

I completed another ebook last night: A Witch’s Cure by Catz Collins. It is the first book in the “Black Hat Society” series of witch-lite books. The main character is Kacyn Ramsey.

Ramsey witches all have a special gift. Kacyn’s is the gift of healing. When her beloved grandmother is diagnosed with a terminal illness, however, all Kacyn can do is ease her pain and give her more time. Her cousin, Dorothea, fancies herself a spellcaster, yet all of her spells seem to go awry. Kacyn is further handicapped by the fact that she is currently without a familiar. She and Dorothea visit a neighboring farm, where Kacyn gets a black kitten she names Jet. Not only does Joseph Tallchief have a kitten for her, but the corn grown on his farm seems like the final piece of the puzzle to heal Grams. Too bad he doesn’t seem inclined to help.

The story was cute enough, but world-building was sadly lacking. Worst of all, it ended with no real resolution. Many things were left hanging at the conclusion of the book.

Favorite lines: Kittens bring out the long forgotten frisky side of older cats.

Can’t condone giving this anything higher than an average rating of three.

Current Mood: good
Current Music: Oilers at Ducks, game 6

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I started Rome on the 7th, put it down, and then picked it back up after The Pitt wrapped up. I managed about two episodes a day, which for me is incredibly dense TV viewing. But HBO shows tend to do that. Also wanting to wrap it up by the end of the month for no other reason than arbitrary calendar dates.

I feel like I should dig up an icon or two.

In other arbitrary calendar news, it's something of a relief knowing I have a bit of a schedule to stick to. The letter transcription's going to be at least three days a week, telecommuting, so it'll be nice to have that external framework built around something I get at least some pleasure out of doing.

Current Mood: okay
Current Music: nothing now

The theme the April 2026 challenge is…
fanmix manifesto
Make a manifesto as a fanmix. Basically: remember ship manifestos? Like that, but a fanmix. Imagine that you're trying to convince someone to ship your OTP, watch your show, or fall in love with your fave… through a fanmix. Or you could pick your favorite band's top 10 best songs and convince us that U2 is actually cool.* (If you include some meta, you can crosspost to

fanifesto and get that community going again.)
*I love U2.

Remember, the themes are optional. You're welcome to fill old challenges, too.

If you post a mix for this challenge, please remember to tag it with challenge 5: fanmix manifesto.

Here are the posting guidelines if you need a refresher.

Don't forget: the 3weeks4dreamwidth Mini Mix Meme is still open, too~

Fanmixers might be interested in the

lyricaltitles Album Challenge running this month: The challenge is to take an album of your choice and for each song, write a fic, using a lyric from the song as the title. This is a low-stakes, personal challenge, of course; there's no penalty for not finishing or running late.

Current Mood: okay

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Hi, folks!

I'm currently writing crime fiction set in contemporary London, and I'm trying to figure out whether a police officer on the radio would be specifically identifiable to someone listening in.

Does the Met use radio callsigns that are unique to each officer? Or are callsigns assigned to specific beats, instead? Or a secret third thing?

Thanks!

Work-related. I'm the bridge between two groups and I found the issue and (hopefully gently) suggested a correction.

It worked.

HUZZAH.

Now I'm hungry, I need to get some food, and I'm going to be solo supporting the system this PM because supervisor is taking some time-off-in-lieu of hours already worked. (I kind of did this last weekend).

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work

This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 30, to midnight on Friday, May 1 (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #34541 Daily check-in poll

Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 15

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
7 (46.7%)

One other person
5 (33.3%)

More than one other person
3 (20.0%)

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.

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daily

I meant to have the recs update done earlier, but I fell asleep and then I had to make dinner etc. etc. But it is done now:

unfitforsociety has been updated for April 2026 with 14 recs in 4 fandoms:

* 10 Heated Rivalry
* 1 The Pitt
* 2 Batfamily and 1 Batfamily/Avengers crossover

***

Today's poem:

If your mirror breaks
by Joy Kogawa

if when you are holding a
hand mirror when you are
sitting in the front seat of a car
and the mirror breaks
you must stop everything quickly
step on the brakes
leap from the car

if when you are holding in
your arms a mirror and you
feel the glass sudden in your veins
if your throat bleeds with
brittle words and
you hear in the distance the
ambulance siren

if your mirror breaks into
a tittering sound of tinkling glass
and you see the highway stretch
into a million staring splinters
you must stop everything gently
wait for seven long years
under a sky of whirling wheels

if your mirror breaks
oh if your mirror breaks

***

And that's a wrap on National Poetry Month 2026!

***

Current Mood: productive
Current Music: Stars vs Wild on tv

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( You're about to view content that the journal owner has marked as possibly inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. )

Current Mood: gloomy
Current Location: surprisingly chilly today actually

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Intro/FAQ
Days 1-15

In May we will be right here, at least to start with! I'll continue hosting May 1-15, and

dswdiane will host us from May 16-31. I'll announce again when we're ready to gang over there. In the meanwhile, I'll start a fresh tally for May, and (once people have checked in) update this post to be the final tally for April.

My check-in: ~~No writing yet. Will update later if events warrant.~~ Alibi editing.

Day 30:

china_shop

Day 29:

acorn_squash,

badly_knitted,

carenejeans,

china_shop,

cornerofmadness,

dswdiane,

goddess47,

sanguinity,

sylvanwitch,

trobadora

Day 28:

acorn_squash,

badly_knitted,

carenejeans,

china_shop,

cornerofmadness,

dswdiane,

sanguinity,

the_siobhan,

trobadora

( More days )

When you check in, please use the most recent post and say what day(s) you’re checking in for. Remember you can drop in or out at any time, and let me know if I missed anyone!

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write every day

Themes of the last two months
1. In March especially I listened to a ton of Gallaghers as mood music for an Oasis fic I was writing. (As opposed to, you know, all the other reasons that I listen to them.) In particular I listened to Liam's most recent solo project a lot, C'mon You Know, which came out four years ago.

2. My cold early spring albums, specifically the first Mumford and Sons album and an old favorite, New Reveille, which is kind of country-adjacent but with fiddle, banjo, and cello. I love the strings, the vocals, and the angsty/dark vibe. For example, Hounds or Conway Shore. Does anyone have recs for more stuff like them? They released one album eight years ago, and it doesn't look like they exist anymore as a group.

3. Female-led country/Americana artists in general. Kacey Musgraves, Molly Tuttle, a little bit of Ashley Monroe and Kathleen Edwards.

4. Lord Huron, mostly Cosmic Selector Vol 1 in March and Strange Trails in April, as the weather has warmed up.

My top artists (by # of streams)
March:
1. Liam Gallagher
2. Oasis
3. New Candys
4. Lord Huron

April
1. Oasis
2. New Reveille
3. Molly Tuttle
4. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Favorite songs:
1. Still White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter by Lana Del Rey. It's just so weird and has like five layers of irony. The more I hear it the more I love it. Nobody does it like Lana.

2. Dry Spell by Kacey Musgraves, a serious-sounding but goofy-hearted song about how she hasn't had sex in almost a year and is SUFFERING. The music video is a hoot. This is the first single for her album that comes out tomorrow, which I'm super stoked about.

3. Suit and Tie by Soda Blonde. This reminds me a bit of London Grammar, although this gal's voice is very different. I love the moody vibe and the synths.

4. Everything Burns by Molly Tuttle. More banjo, some political rage, and a great driving sound. Between this and New Reveille (and I guess Mumford and Sons too), it's really clear that I love high-energy, moody rock songs with banjo. More of that, please!

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topic: music

The final bundle of Mongoose Traveller material - Twelve Volumes of the Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society, collected articles etc. for the Traveler RPG

MONGOOSE JTAS (from May 2024)
https://bundleofholding.com/presents/JTAS2026

Last time this was offered I said "So far I've only checked out one volume, which ran to 130 pages and had some fun stuff on organized crime, some interesting ships, and so forth. Presentation is good and art is adequate although you have to wonder why the cover of volume 10 (below), showing characters in combat, has one character (possibly male, you can't really tell) wearing full body armour while a woman who appears to be part of the same team is wearing some belts of equipment but otherwise has her upper torso and head unarmoured and exposed. Not quite a brass bikini but close...

I think it's a reasonable deal at about $25 if you want lots of relatively unrelated material for the system - but something more structured may be a better idea for someone who isn't spending a LOT of time playing the game.And again I forgot to post this when the bundle opened - many apologies!"

I think that this is still true - this is useful material for GMs who are already familiar with the Traveller universe and can cherry-pick ideas from articles that aren't necessarily similar in theme etc. New GMs may feel a bit lost at first.

Posted by slimemoldtimemold

https://slimemoldtimemold.com/2026/04/30/links-for-april-2026/

http://slimemoldtimemold.com/?p=5071

The big news in blogging this month is Inkhaven 2 (sponsored by WordPress dot com). The first Inkhaven happened back in November 2025, and this one is even more. Wow.

This time, about 55 residents (it’s hard to count exactly since some staff members are also ~residents) published one blog post of at least 500 words every day all 30 days of April, and only one person failed to publish each day before midnight! Some people even managed to consistently post more than once a day. Wow again. The organizers will likely be running another Inkhaven in autumn 2026, so if this has you feeling curious, you can express your interest here.

Below is a list of some of the Inkhaven blog posts we liked a lot. We can’t claim that these are the best, or even our favorite posts. Some of our favorite posts, we have almost certainly forgotten to list here. There are simply too many. And the list is biased towards posts that came out early in Inkhaven, because we are still working to catch up on the more than 1,500 posts and more than 800,000 words produced. But all that said, here’s a selection:

Other highlights from Inkhaven include Speedhaven, “a one-night speed-writing competition at Inkhaven Fair, 25 April 2026” where “writers raced the clock; the audience picked the winners.” You can read the entries on the archive, including a riff on one of the best memes of all time: Bottomless Pit Supervisor Performance Review.

Feeling anxious about all these blog posts you might be reading? Well then you are in luck. In collaboration with one of these very authors, we are looking for anxious people to participate in some research: What’s Up with Silexan? A Pilot Study on a Promising Anti-Anxiety Drug

We should also announce the third issue of our science zine THE LOOP. It is available here, and what’s more, this and all previous (and future) issues are now available on THE LOOP SITE at looploop.blog — enjoy! For commentary on one submission, you may also like conq’s piece In the Loop.

Finally, blogger and statistician Andrew Gelman weighs in on Inkhaven: Blogging and writing style. We are tickled by some of his descriptions, such as: “I started to read the very first post, Kill Yourself Cave, by Remy, but then halfway through some sort of ad popped up and I couldn’t read the rest–I guess I’d need to buy some sort of subscription?”

https://slimemoldtimemold.com/2026/04/30/links-for-april-2026/

http://slimemoldtimemold.com/?p=5071

May Day Participation Guide

One-day general strike, via Indivisible.

You in?

Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.

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Praise then darkness, and creation unfinished

Don't mourn, organize

Beltane

Bingo

Kickstarter: The Crane Rider's Tale (game)

Norge. Trondheim

Days worth celebrating

The Old Guard: We Wouldn’t Be Standing Here So Tall by Mellyflori

New Year's Resolutions Check In

Book 38, 2026

All roads.

Challenge #5: Fanmix Manifesto

Metropolitan Police Radio Callsigns

the delightful feeling of having fixed an issue

Daily Check-In

and you feel the glass sudden in your veins

the scientist's methodology applied to art

Write Every Day: Day 30

March and April in Music

Thursday's Traveller Bundle - JTAS

Links for April 2026

May 1st General Strike

About Me

A Few Useful Links

Page summary

Style credit

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