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aurora

Congratulations to the 2025 Aurora Award Winners!

The winners are:

Best Novel: The Siege of Burning Grass, Premee Mohamed, Solaris
Best YA Novel: Heavenly Tyrant, Xiran Jay Zhao, Tundra Books
Best Novelette/Novella: The Butcher of the Forest, Premee Mohamed, Tordotcom
Best Short Story: “Blood and Desert Dreams“, Y.M. Pang, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Issue 408
Best Graphic Novel: Star Trek Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way, Ryan North, art by Chris Fenoglio, IDW Publishing
Best Poem/Song “Cthulhu on the Shores of Osaka“, Y.M. Pang, Invitation: A One-shot Anthology of Speculative Fiction
Best Related Work: Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Two
Stephen Kotowych, editor, Ansible Press
Best Cover Art/Interior Illustration: Augur Magazine, Issue 7.1, cover art, Martine Nguyen
Best Fan Writing and Publication: SF&F Book Reviews, Robert Runté, Ottawa Review of Books
Best Fan Related Work: murmurstations, Sonia Urlando, Augur Society, podcast

Six Sentence Sunday

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Mexican indigenous runner Candelaria Rivas Ramos won a 63km ultramarathon in 7 hours, 34 minutes?

Posted by Jack Izzo

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/candelaria-rivas-ramos-runner/

Rivas is a member of the Rarámuri, an indigenous group known for traditional long-distance running.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/candelaria-rivas-ramos-runner/

Current Mood: okay

Entry tags:

Into the woods

Public

Octagonal structures, Wyre Forest, 10th August 2025

191/365: Industrial remnants, Wyre Forest
Click for a larger, sharper image
I had a quiet Sunday, which was fine by me, but I did go for a fairly long walk in the afternoon. This took me off the beaten track in the Wyre Forest -- although there were footpaths, I met one person (and his quiet dog) in at least half an hour, and this on a dry Sunday in August. Anyway, I went looking for structures I remembered from several years ago, and happily I found them. These are almost certainly relics of the once-significant charcoal burning industry in the forest, which survived into the early 20th century. The flat light makes it hard to see, but there's a second octagonal, brick-sided structure behind the main one. Perhaps they were part of small kilns, or perhaps they held pools to wash charcoal. I don't know.

Debunking rumor Paul McCartney visited Phil Collins in hospital

Posted by Cindy Shan

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mccartney-collins-hospital-visit/

In the widely shared images, the former Beatle appeared to play guitar right-handed despite being famously left-handed.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mccartney-collins-hospital-visit/

Entry tags:

cooking,
recipes

Culinary

This week's bread: the Collister/Blake My Favourite Loaf, strong white/wholemeal/einkorn flour, turned out v nice.

Friday night supper: grocery delivery came so early that I had time to whip up dough, etc, for sardegnera (with Calabrian salami).

Saturday breakfast rolls: the ones loosely based on James Beard's mother's raisin bread, with Marriage's Light Spelt Flour. I think the current mace is a bit underpowered? I thought I had sprinkled on a fair amount but it didn't really come through.

Today's lunch: smoked haddock with butter beans - using Belazu Judion Butter Beans since actual dried butter beans are still being hard to come by - the haddock seemed a bit bland? - maybe I need to add further seasoning when mingling the poached fillets and the beans; served with slowcooked tenderstem broccoli (not bad considering it boiled dry a couple of times), and the whomping adult courgettes I was sent instead of baby ones (at least they weren't actual vegetable marrows) cut into batons and white-braised with sliced red bell pepper.

[ SECRET POST #6792 ]

⌈ Secret Post #6792 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

( More! )

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 35 secrets from Secret Submission Post #972.
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.

Another volume in prospect

Your amanuensis is pleas'd to announce that Volume 24 of Clorinda Cathcart's Circle, Connexions: Widening Circles, is now available for pre-order, and will be publisht in form electronickal and as a handsome bound volume, on 29th of this month:

Several problems persist in troubling the circle around Clorinda, Dowager Marchioness of Bexbury. It is feared that there may be further adverse repercussions from the Hackwold Incident, while Baron Fendersham continues to linger in Town although Lady Wauderkell has taken retreat in a convent. New acquaintances are drawn into the circle, and new contacts flourish. Certain difficulties are unexpectedly resolved, while unanticipated trials arise.

Entry tags:

Wheel of Fortune (1987)

I have a running list of games I remember from my childhood that I add to whenever I think of one. I always think there can't possibly be any more game memories to unearth, and I'm always wrong. For this one I blame/credit

zorealis, who brought it up during one of our regular nostalgia rambles.

Wheel of Fortune is a letter-guessing game based on the long-running US game show. It's like Hangman, or if the kids don't play Hangman anymore then it's like Wordle. The added strategy element is that before you guess a letter you have to spin the wheel to determine how many points your guess will be worth if it's right. The wheel also features bad outcomes like skipping your turn or losing all your points.

vanna white gestures to an unfinished puzzle TH_ P___T_D D_S_RT

vanna white gestures to an unfinished puzzle TH_ P___T_D D_S_RT

This DOS version of the game is very easy and probably aimed at children. You can play hotseat multiplayer, otherwise the game provides NPC opponents who don't exactly pass the Turing Test; I found it difficult to lose to them even when I tried. They'd cheerfully guess Q or Z for no reason, even while R and T were still sitting there like so many low-hanging consonant fruits. Poor pixel Vanna White always kept a professional smile on her face as she clapped encouragingly for each spin of the wheel, but I know she was secretly judging us, languishing in her pixel heels as she waited for someone to guess a right letter so she could awkwardly shuffle over there and turn it already, for God's sake.

The reason I was trying to let them win was that I was curious what would happen. When a human player wins, they get to do a solo bonus round. Would it make me sit through the computer doing it too?

( Let's find out )

I don't think I played this game very much as a kid. Even in 1987 there were more engaging options. But if you're like me and have been holding onto memories of it in some dusty disused corner of your hippocampus, you can play Wheel of Fortune in your browser.

Sunday Sweets: Leggo My LEGO

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-leggo-my-lego-2025

For all you parents who think your kids have nothing but LEGO on the brain:

Found here, and made by Sweet on Cake
They do.

Or, ok, at least sometimes it seems that way. But really, who can blame them? And who can resist a cake made of LEGO that is actually cake?

By Cakes & Biscuits by Lisa, photo by Cracker's Art [more party pics at the link]

Part of me wants to play with that forklift. The other part wants a fork and a glass of milk.

The classic primary color bricks are still the most popular, of course:

By Cakes By Ashley

But now there are also pretty pastels out from the new LEGO Friends line:

By Star Bakery

Not to mention those mini-figs sure have come a long way, am I right? I love the little shoes.

The most popular LEGO series, though - at least going by the amount of cakes I've seen for it - is Ninjago:

By Cuteology Cakes

These little ninjas are EVERYWHERE. In fact, there's probably one behind you. You just can't see him, because he's a ninja. And also probably really small.

Then there are the LEGO video games, which have taught us that every beloved movie character is at least 43% cuter when LEGO-fied:

By Mike's Amazing Cakes

Na na na na na na na nanananaa...BATMAN!

By CakeCentral member natskys

You remember Luke, right? He's the guy who flew around in the Millennium Falcon...

Submitted by Mary Anne P., made by Cake Central member hvanaalst

...with that guy who found the Ark of the Covenant:

By Julia's Cakes

"Cakes. Why did it have to be cakes?"

Here's a Sweet for a real LEGO wizard:

By MegMade Cakes

LEGO love isn't just for kids, though, and I have the wedding cakes to prove it!

By Mad Eliza's Cakes and Confections

Don't you love the brick borders? Such a fun touch!

Or for something a little less subtle and a lot more WOW:

By Couture Cakery

WOW. Look at those details!

Now there's a wedding built on a firm foundation of fun, fondant, and... er... flowers. Love it.

Happy Sunday!

*****

P.S. Speaking of flowers, have you seen the ones made out of LEGO? 'Cuz they are SO COOL:

LEGO Flower Bouquet Building Kit

Such a sweet gift idea. I like how you have to do a double take to realize what they're made of!

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/sunday-sweets-leggo-my-lego-2025

Black cowgirls are a real part of American history. This image isn't

Posted by Rae Deng

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/black-cowgirls-image/

Authentic photos of real Black cowgirls are rare, but they exist.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/black-cowgirls-image/

Entry tags:

Beyond Apollo by Barry N. Malzberg

Two Americans set out for Venus. Only one returned. Where is the missing man? Evans knows but Evans is not a reliable witness.

Beyond Apollo by Barry N. Malzberg

(no subject)

Happy birthday,

loligo!

Entry tags:

Trans Rights Are Human Rights.

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Sunday Sale Digest!

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/08/sunday-sale-digest-43/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=149975

This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you'd like to join, we'd love to have you!

Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun!

If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section with exclusive content and events.

Everything you’re used to seeing at the Hot Pink Palace that is Smart Bitches Trashy Books will remain free as always, because we remain committed to fostering community among brilliant readers who love romance.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/08/sunday-sale-digest-43/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=149975

SBTB Bestsellers: July 26 – August 8

Posted by Amanda

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/08/sbtb-bestsellers-july-26-august-8/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=149995

The latest bestseller list is brought to you by popsicles, portable fans, and our affiliate sales data.

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood Amazon | B&N | Kobo
A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath Amazon | B&N | Kobo
The Perfect Rake by Anne Gracie Amazon | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay
Not That Duke by Eloisa James Amazon | B&N | Kobo
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose Amazon | B&N | Kobo
The Griffin’s Mate by Zoe Chant Amazon
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare Amazon | B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay
Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner Amazon | B&N | Kobo

I hope your weekend reading was super chill.

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/08/sbtb-bestsellers-july-26-august-8/

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=149995

Sunday Secrets

Posted by Frank

https://postsecret.com/2025/08/10/sunday-secrets-566/

https://postsecret.com/?p=49949

The post Sunday Secrets appeared first on PostSecret.

https://postsecret.com/2025/08/10/sunday-secrets-566/

https://postsecret.com/?p=49949

Voicemail Secrets

Posted by Frank

https://postsecret.com/2025/08/10/annual-voicemail-secrets/

https://postsecret.com/?p=46087

In this online exhibition of audio secrets, you will hear a collection of voicemails from friends, parents, brothers, sisters, partners, loved ones. Some are funny, many are brief and heartfelt. Listen here. Or upload your own voicemail, story, and photos.

Our profound gratitude to everyone who contributed their emotional voicemail and soulful story. Special thanks to exhibition curator, Savannah Morin, and the team at Automatic. This exhibition was made possible with the generous support of the PostSecret Patreons.

The post Voicemail Secrets appeared first on PostSecret.

https://postsecret.com/2025/08/10/annual-voicemail-secrets/

https://postsecret.com/?p=46087

Classic Secrets

Posted by Frank

https://postsecret.com/2025/08/10/classic-secrets-572/

https://postsecret.com/?p=49962

The post Classic Secrets appeared first on PostSecret.

https://postsecret.com/2025/08/10/classic-secrets-572/

https://postsecret.com/?p=49962

I don't think any of my Old World players frequent DW

A book I'm thinking of having play an important role in the campaign is Heinrich and Moritz Tod's Morally Uplifting Tales for the Edification of Recalcitrant Children, the Tods being the Old World analog of the Brothers Grimm. Uplifting Tales is an important cultural artifact and also the sort of book you'd read to kids at bed time if you wanted them to cry themselves to sleep.