Testing needed in advance of code push!
May. 28th, 2026 04:10 pm![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
denise posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenanceIt's been a while since we've done a full code push rather than just hotfixes for bugs, so we are well overdue! Depending on availability, we're aiming to do one sometime soon; we'll let you know specifics once we've worked out good timing for everyone who needs to be available.
However! The reason it's been so long is we kept trying to get some of the stuff that's pending to "really finished" instead of just "mostly finished", and then we once again looked around and went "oh no, this is a really big code push with a lot of changes". Those make us nervous, because while we do a lot of testing ourselves, y'all are really creative in how you use the site and we inevitably find a bunch of edge cases when we let you loose on new code with your real-world data!
So, if folks have some spare time in the next few days, it would be a huge help if you could spend half an hour or so using the site the same way you normally do but with the "Site-Wide Canary" beta features flag turned on. Canary mode is a sort of "live testing" mode: it's your real data, but running the most up-to-date code.
Canary mode always does have a few glitches -- there may be missing text strings or errors about missing database properties, which is a limitation of how we run it. We don't need to know about those, but anything else weird that you run into, leave a comment with what you were trying to do and the error message you got.
I'll repeat that the "here be dragons" caution that's on the beta features page: some things may be broken, so don't use it for when you're doing something important. But a few more eyeballs on it before the push will help the push go more smoothly for everyone.
For folks who want to concentrate on what's changing, we haven't finished the second code tour of what's going to be in this push, but the ffirst one has a good chunk of what's going to be going live. (We'll get the second half done ASAP!)
However! The reason it's been so long is we kept trying to get some of the stuff that's pending to "really finished" instead of just "mostly finished", and then we once again looked around and went "oh no, this is a really big code push with a lot of changes". Those make us nervous, because while we do a lot of testing ourselves, y'all are really creative in how you use the site and we inevitably find a bunch of edge cases when we let you loose on new code with your real-world data!
So, if folks have some spare time in the next few days, it would be a huge help if you could spend half an hour or so using the site the same way you normally do but with the "Site-Wide Canary" beta features flag turned on. Canary mode is a sort of "live testing" mode: it's your real data, but running the most up-to-date code.
Canary mode always does have a few glitches -- there may be missing text strings or errors about missing database properties, which is a limitation of how we run it. We don't need to know about those, but anything else weird that you run into, leave a comment with what you were trying to do and the error message you got.
I'll repeat that the "here be dragons" caution that's on the beta features page: some things may be broken, so don't use it for when you're doing something important. But a few more eyeballs on it before the push will help the push go more smoothly for everyone.
For folks who want to concentrate on what's changing, we haven't finished the second code tour of what's going to be in this push, but the ffirst one has a good chunk of what's going to be going live. (We'll get the second half done ASAP!)
Von's grocery stores
May. 27th, 2026 07:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
runpunkrun posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
little_detailsWould a Von's in southern California have sold basic toiletries like hair gel in, like, 2006?
Sea Otter Gets a Root Canal
May. 27th, 2026 09:59 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
daily_otter_feed
Via Point Defiance Zoo, which writes:
Our 16-year-old Southern sea otter, Clara, had a fractured tooth that was discovered during her recent wellness exam. The affected tooth was one that Clara uses to crunch through the tough shells of crabs, clams, and shrimp, all of which are key items in our sea otters’ diets. A team from Pet Dental Specialists, led by Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist Dr. Kevin Stepaniuk, joined our veterinary team to perform a root canal to ensure Clara could keep her tooth. While the fuzzy otter had her pearly whites worked on, the zoo veterinary team monitored her anesthesia and provided supportive care to ensure Clara remained healthy throughout the procedure. After the dental treatment, Clara continues to enjoy her food and enrichment with a healthy mouth.
More pics of the procedure at the image source!
Oh - and happy World Otter Day!
Me, struggling
May. 25th, 2026 12:06 pmlexinI am a bit desperate. I got taken by a company who charged me £3000 for a five year contract to look after my solar panels and the things I need to run them: the inverter and the batteries. I asked for some money from my equity release funds to pay off my credit card. The company handling my equity release said they wouldn't give me the funds without me talking to my financial advisor - and he told me that this was a scam. My solar panels should last ten years before needing support like this.
Meanwhile, I was due to get some money from the Department for Work and Pensions, and they didn't pay me because they are still working on my reassessment. The nice young man I spoke to said that he would press for the work to be done quickly, but can't guarantee anything. He also told me (though he shouldn't have) that I will continue to be paid the highest rate of care, but that my mobility payments will stop, which means that I'll be £100 less per month going forward. I am not happy, but not sure I want to upset the apple cart by making a request for a Mandatory Reconsideration. Having said that I don't understand how they can say I'm able to move better now than I could in 2022.
I have reached the end of my savings.
So that's it. I'm a toad beneath the harrow.
This would be a good time for a big win on the lottery, but I can't afford lottery tickets.
Meanwhile, I was due to get some money from the Department for Work and Pensions, and they didn't pay me because they are still working on my reassessment. The nice young man I spoke to said that he would press for the work to be done quickly, but can't guarantee anything. He also told me (though he shouldn't have) that I will continue to be paid the highest rate of care, but that my mobility payments will stop, which means that I'll be £100 less per month going forward. I am not happy, but not sure I want to upset the apple cart by making a request for a Mandatory Reconsideration. Having said that I don't understand how they can say I'm able to move better now than I could in 2022.
I have reached the end of my savings.
So that's it. I'm a toad beneath the harrow.
This would be a good time for a big win on the lottery, but I can't afford lottery tickets.
Question!
May. 24th, 2026 11:38 pmtrobadoraStill reading the 520 Day collection, but I'm also writing!
Among other things (which I can't talk about because exchanges), I'm currently working on an original thing, and I'm having trouble with a character that won't quite come together. I know rather a lot about them, but I don't have a real feel for them as a character yet.
Now, part of the reason is no doubt that I haven't fully settled on a name - characters never entirely come together for me until I've found the "right" name for them - but maybe some outside inspiration would help, too. Sometimes it does help to think about similar characters/archetypes, and where the differences lie!
To that end: if you know any good mentor characters who remain in the story after their "student" surpassed them or no longer needs them, please tell me about them! I'd really appreciate it. ♥
Among other things (which I can't talk about because exchanges), I'm currently working on an original thing, and I'm having trouble with a character that won't quite come together. I know rather a lot about them, but I don't have a real feel for them as a character yet.
Now, part of the reason is no doubt that I haven't fully settled on a name - characters never entirely come together for me until I've found the "right" name for them - but maybe some outside inspiration would help, too. Sometimes it does help to think about similar characters/archetypes, and where the differences lie!
To that end: if you know any good mentor characters who remain in the story after their "student" surpassed them or no longer needs them, please tell me about them! I'd really appreciate it. ♥
Can LSD Do This? (And If Not, Are There Any Hallucinogens That Can?)
May. 24th, 2026 04:44 pmstardust_rifle posting in little_detailsMy Extremely Square ass is writing a scene where a character does LSD, and they (AMAB NB) hallucinate seeing and fusing with a female version of themself- for the rest of the trip, their proprioception/body map is altered so that they feel as though they have a more "female" body shape (eg, breasts, wider hips).
My question is in the title- is fucking with the body's proprioception/body map/sense of touch in this way something LSD can do? Also, the contents of the trip are kind of plot-relevant, so if LSD can't actually do this, are there any hallucinogens that can (and that people take recreationally/Actually Enjoy Tripping On)?
Thanks!
My question is in the title- is fucking with the body's proprioception/body map/sense of touch in this way something LSD can do? Also, the contents of the trip are kind of plot-relevant, so if LSD can't actually do this, are there any hallucinogens that can (and that people take recreationally/Actually Enjoy Tripping On)?
Thanks!
This Is Communication
May. 23rd, 2026 12:25 pmdaily_otter_feed
Via MTSOfan, who writes, “I recently posted a photo of a bison rubbing its snout against a fallen tree trunk. Something different is happening with Luani, the American river otter. Otters use glands that leave scents to convey information to other otters. They're very social creatures!”
520 Day! :D :D :D
May. 23rd, 2026 12:35 amtrobadoraHappy belated 520 Day, everyone!
Our annual Guardian Reverse Exchange revealed two days ago, and our collection is full of gorgeous works! We have a whole bounty of drama and novel works, fanfic, fanart, podfic and vids this year. So happy-making! :D
My own exchange experience this year is all Ya Qing-centric, yay! I received a delightful Ya Qing vid fromamedia:
And I wrote a Ya Qing/Zhu Hong fic myself, forplingo_kat:
Our annual Guardian Reverse Exchange revealed two days ago, and our collection is full of gorgeous works! We have a whole bounty of drama and novel works, fanfic, fanart, podfic and vids this year. So happy-making! :D
My own exchange experience this year is all Ya Qing-centric, yay! I received a delightful Ya Qing vid from
amedia:These Boots [General]
Characters/Relationships: Ya Qing & Zhu Jiu, Ya Qing & Wang Xiangyang, Ya Qing & Ye Zun, Ya Qing & Ying Chun
Content Tags: Celebrating BAMF!Ya Qing, 520 Day Guardian Reverse Exchange 2026, Prompt Fill, Gift vid, Fanvids, Short vid (just over a minute)
Summary: Ya Qing is SO DONE with all her co-conspirators.
And I wrote a Ya Qing/Zhu Hong fic myself, for
plingo_kat:Unwritten (3,017 words) [Teen]
Relationship: Ya Qing/Zhu Hong
Characters: Ya Qing, Zhu Hong, Ying Chun, Snake Tribe's Fourth Uncle
Content Tags: Post-Canon, Post-Fix-It, Guardian Treaty, Yashou Worldbuilding, Yashou History, Fu You's Legacy, High Chief Zhu Hong, Pre-ship, First Kiss
Summary: It's foolish to have a quarrel with a dead woman, but Ya Qing does. She's had it for years, ever since she began to realise how much the Guardian Treaty and Yashou neutrality were holding her people back. Fu You's legacy looms large among all the Yashou tribes, and everything Ya Qing did was to try and escape it.
The New Guy's Right at Home Already
May. 19th, 2026 10:16 amdaily_otter_feed
Via Seattle Aquarium, which writes:
We are thrilled to welcome Zweigle to his new home in Seattle! 💙
Zweigle (pronounced z-WHY-gle) is a one-year-old North American river otter who was born at Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York. He was part of the first litter of pups born at Seneca Park Zoo. Zweigle gets his name from a Rochester-based hot dog company; apparently, when he was born, the Animal Care team thought he looked like a hot dog! 🌭
Zweigle joins 13-year-old Molalla in our river otter habitat, and the pair have grown into gracious roommates. Since the passing of Ahanu in November 2025, Molalla has been the sole river otter in the habitat. Providing companionship for Molalla was one of the key factors in Zweigle’s move from the East Coast to the West Coast. (Fun fact: Zweigle and Molalla share a birthday on January 28th!) 👯
Welcome, Zweigle! We love you already. 🫶
What are the negative of effects of not going outside for 5 years?
May. 19th, 2026 12:35 amdrfizzsmedicalkit posting in little_detailsHeya ! God it's been a WHILE since I've posted here LOL ! But I've been thinking on something I haven't gotten a straight answer for :
I have an OC , and a part of their backstory involves pretty much being locked inside their house for 4 years at 17 by their dad at an attempt to keep them away from publicity after their mother killed someone .
To be more specific on their conditions :
- They're not allowed outside unless it's absolutely necessary (example , to see a doctor)
- They have one specific friend who is allowed to come over at any time , and they do message on social media via an anonymous account.
- They do home schooling , to explain education stuff .
They finally move out and go outside more when they're 22 , aka 5 years later .
I know that a (likely permanent) damaged immune system would be one of the negative effects due to lack of vitamin D and exercise , but what else could be a side effect , physically , socially AND mentally ? And how could it be for them when actually going outside for the first time again ? I haven't gotten lots of resources for it ..
Edit : Ok so I learned I'm likely wrong on the immune system , but theres lots of traits I considered that I never considered could've been caused by this trauma ..
Also ! It's worth noting that the character would overall lack motivation to do . Anything for that matter , so exercising is kinda off the table and they lack a lot of basic self-care .
I have an OC , and a part of their backstory involves pretty much being locked inside their house for 4 years at 17 by their dad at an attempt to keep them away from publicity after their mother killed someone .
To be more specific on their conditions :
- They're not allowed outside unless it's absolutely necessary (example , to see a doctor)
- They have one specific friend who is allowed to come over at any time , and they do message on social media via an anonymous account.
- They do home schooling , to explain education stuff .
They finally move out and go outside more when they're 22 , aka 5 years later .
I know that a (likely permanent) damaged immune system would be one of the negative effects due to lack of vitamin D and exercise , but what else could be a side effect , physically , socially AND mentally ? And how could it be for them when actually going outside for the first time again ? I haven't gotten lots of resources for it ..
Edit : Ok so I learned I'm likely wrong on the immune system , but theres lots of traits I considered that I never considered could've been caused by this trauma ..
Also ! It's worth noting that the character would overall lack motivation to do . Anything for that matter , so exercising is kinda off the table and they lack a lot of basic self-care .
