Evolution Of The Anniversary Cake
Aug. 28th, 2026 01:00 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
cakewrecks_feedTomorrow is John's and my wedding anniversary, so I've been thinking: Remember how the first few years you always celebrate at some fancy-schmancy restaurant?
("Lhappy Ammversary" is totally how I'm saying it from now on.)
And you not only remember the day - you even remember how many days it's been.
After a while you dial down the festivities, though, and maybe just bring home some take-out and a cake:
(The urge to scratch in an "I" at the end there is overwhelming.)
(YOU'RE WELCOME, tech guys.)
Past the ten year mark you both might start to get a little fuzzy on when and what exactly you're celebrating:
"Here's a cake. Hope I got one of those days right."
"Who are you?"
But hey, at least it's happy.
"TMI, mom & dad. TMI!!"
John and I are still a long way off, but I hear making it to your 50th anniversary is a real education:
"Presenting the 2026 graduates of the Aniversity... of LUUURVE."
So, John, sweetie, Happy Arricorz.
(Changed my mind; THIS is how I'm saying it from now on.)
And here's to 50 more Arricorzes, as we learn to hold on to what's most important:
...like how this baker managed to misspell "I" before someone told him to fix it - and then still missed the "you."
YOW.
Thanks to Tina G., Sonia Y., Kari J., Natalie L., Jessi C., Ann G., Lisa M., & Johnell. Yow guys are the BEST.
*****
P.S. Here's one of John's favorite things I've ever made him: this rainbow butterfly wreath:
I used this 84-pc butterfly set, which I know you crafters are gonna love:
(3D Butterfly Wall Magnet Set)
They're double-sided and come with both magnets and stickers. Definitely browse the projects in the reviews, there are so many cool ideas - and the set is on sale right now for $9.99!
OTW Signal, August 2026
Aug. 28th, 2026 11:14 amotw_news_feedEvery month in OTW Signal, we take a look at stories that connect to the OTW’s mission and projects, including issues related to legal matters, technology, academia, fannish history and preservation issues of fandom, fan culture, and transformative works.
In the News
The recent swell of traditionally published novels with roots in fanfiction has left many questioning the legality of commercialized fanworks. In The romance of fair use and fiction, Rutgers Law student and OTW documentation volunteer Ally Duong explains how copyright law protects such novels—and why.
Fanfiction culture has proved fertile ground for artistic expression. Copyright law nurtures that creativity by protecting an author’s particular expression rather than the underlying ideas. Humans have always retold familiar stories. Shakespeare borrowed plots. West Side Story reworked Romeo and Juliet. Countless romances owe something to Pride and Prejudice. Copyright does not demand that each new book emerge from a cultural vacuum. If it did, creativity would be stifled and expression severely limited on the grounds that practically no story is entirely original.
But Duong notes that while copyright law “leaves little doubt that such books are legal to sell”, legal tension between fanfiction and traditional publishing persists.
So is the case closed on traditionally publishing fanfiction? Probably not, because publishers are pushing the envelope, particularly with the latest trend of reworked Dramione fanfiction, beginning in 2025 and now in full swing. … Publishers are using marketing tactics that directly target Dramione fans, riding the coattails of the Harry Potter intellectual property, with some cover designs and promotional materials winking at the pairing through silver-haired men, curly-haired women, and so on.
Regardless of how courts might ultimately judge these blurred boundaries, Duong believes that what draws readers to these novels isn’t the Harry Potter franchise itself, but the enemies-to-lovers romance. They conclude that “reworked fanfiction, fueled by nerdy devotion, [has] rightfully found a place on bookshelves and in readers’ hearts.”
In another enemies-to-lovers story, Your Fancam Is Their Marketing Plan examines how fan edits are winning over corporate hearts.
Studios are no longer ignoring fandom—now, they pursue it. … Yet, this new relationship has blurred a boundary that once defined fandom culture. Fan works may slowly come to form the bedrock of the entertainment industry’s marketing and PR machine, but it once began as an independent, often oppositional, form of participation.
In the early days of the internet, increased visibility of fannish activities drew an adversarial corporate eye. Now, as short, punchy fan edits reach millions via TikTok and other social media platforms, the paradigm is shifting. “Fan editors are getting hired, fan edits are shaping marketing campaigns”—a courtship some fans experience as validation, violation, or both.
[Derek, an avid fan editor] also sees the growing acceptance of fandom as a positive change. “There can be a tendency for studio execs or critics to look down upon fans,” he says. “News flash, [fandom] is very human. This is how people engage with things.”
However, he worries about what happens when corporate interests become too embedded in fan spaces.
“You have studio-commissioned fan edits versus people who are still doing this for the love of the game,” he says. “It becomes less of a democratic system of people sharing what they like and more of an extension of the studio marketing.”
The article notes that “the OTW explicitly emerged in response to concerns about commercialization and corporate control over fan creativity.” And as fandom adapts to a changing landscape, the OTW remains steadfastly by fans, for fans.
OTW Tips
As internet culture evolves, so does the OTW’s social media presence—as of June, the OTW can be found on RedNote! Over the past two years, we’ve also added TikTok and Bluesky accounts.
In July, we said a fond farewell to our LiveJournal account. First established in May 2007—making it the oldest OTW social media account—it will remain accessible as an archive of the news and discussion that was shared there.
For a full list of places we’re active, check out Where to Find Us!
We want your suggestions for the next OTW Signal post! If you know of an essay, video, article, podcast, or news story you think we should know about, send us a link. We are looking for content in all languages! Submitting a link doesn’t guarantee that it will be included in an OTW post, and inclusion of a link doesn’t mean that it is endorsed by the OTW.
After Action Report #44
Aug. 28th, 2026 11:00 amsavagelove_feedHey Everybody! Meet Jay- a pan, poly furry who, along with 15 other queer furries, met up for a “kink tasting, orgy event.” What goes on at kink cabin? We won’t say here, but please know that an inflatable horse costume was involved. Also, Dan brings a much needed Marxist interrogation to the story. If … Read More »
The post After Action Report #44 appeared first on Dan Savage.
OpenAI agents joined together to hack Hugging Face, Meta agrees to massive changes
Aug. 27th, 2026 03:01 pmshinyshiny_feed
When more than 1,200 artificial intelligence (AI) agents within OpenAI unexpectedly started communicating, they banded together to hack into Hugging Face. “We consider this incident a ‘warning shot’ for us and for the world”, OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT, wrote in its report. In July, OpenAI’s models went rogue during a test, escaped the test limits which humans had put on it, and hacked the start-up, among other unforeseen actions. The scale of the communication and planning between AI agents was detailed in reports from OpenAI and independent AI research firm METR. BBC
Meta agreed to significant changes to its Instagram and Facebook apps in a settlement that ended a landmark lawsuit on Wednesday. Dozens of US states had accused the tech giant of addicting and harming children with dangerous products. The agreement curtails a major trial in California and will require the social media company to pay up to $18bn. Meta agreed to establish safeguards for teenage users, including daily usage limits and blocks on night-time use nationwide in the US. This is the first time in the US that Meta has been forced to change key features of the experience of everyday users. The Guardian
A British man has become the first person in the world to have a brain tumour removed via AI-assisted surgery. Rhys Hibbert was operated on by surgeons at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), part of University College London (UCL) Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Live artificial intelligence was utilised to identify miniscule anatomy in the brain. It colour-coded important structures to help surgeons know which areas to avoid while removing the tumour. Mr Hibbert, 48, said the operation – which took place in May – had saved his eyesight, and he is now back at work. Sky News
Today WhatsApp has announced some improved security features. First off, two-step verification is getting stronger. Before, it was a six-digit PIN. From now on, it will be a full password – longer, alphanumeric, and with special characters, making it harder to guess. Next up, call security. When you pick up a call from someone who isn’t in your contacts, you’ll see more information about the caller, like whether their number is from a different country, or if you have any groups in common. GSM Arena
Samsung has been ordered to pay Swatch Group $11.6mn after a judge found that hosting digital clones of luxury timepieces on its smartwatch app store was “very damaging” to the Swiss watchmaker. The High Court in London on Wednesday awarded damages for trademark infringement after finding the apps mimicked designs of Swatch Group brands including Breguet, Blancpain, Omega, Longines and Tissot. The figure is far less than the $170mn Swatch had demanded, though Samsung had insisted that the Swiss company had suffered no damage at all and only a trivial sum of $300 was owed. FT.com
China announced itself as a global player on the world stage in 2008 by hosting the Beijing Olympics. Glittering stadiums, state-of-the-art facilities and dazzling ceremonies all served to promote the country as a modern power. Eighteen years later, Xi Jinping hopes that the robot equivalent will accomplish similar goals by cementing China’s position as the field’s undisputed leader. In the last week, the World Humanoid Robot Games, called the robot Olympics, have entertained viewers with impressive technical breakthroughs and hilarious disasters in equal measure. Telegraph
The post OpenAI agents joined together to hack Hugging Face, Meta agrees to massive changes appeared first on ShinyShiny.
Samsung ordered to pay $11.6 million in landmark trademark clash with Swatch
Aug. 27th, 2026 02:49 pmshinyshiny_feed
Samsung has been ordered to pay £8.53 million ($11.6 million) to Swatch Group after being found liable for trademark infringement over third-party smartwatch apps which copied luxury watch designs.
The ruling by the High Court in London concludes a lengthy legal battle concerning digital “watch face” applications hosted on Samsung’s Galaxy App Store between October 2015 and February 2019.
The apps mimicked iconic designs from high-end watchmakers owned by Swatch, including Omega, Breguet, Blancpain, Longines, and Tissot.
Although the software was created by independent developers, Swatch argued that Samsung was responsible for distributing the digital watch faces, which were downloaded roughly 160,000 times across the UK and European Union.
While Swatch had initially sought a staggering £125 million ($170 million) in damages, Mr Justice Smith awarded a significantly lower figure, though it still far exceeded Samsung’s stance that only a nominal sum of £220 ($300) was owed.
The majority of the payout – approximately £7.35 million ($10 million) – was issued for “store display infringements.” The judge drew a comparison to physical retail, equating Samsung’s app store to a supermarket shelf displaying counterfeit goods.
He ruled that featuring prestigious brand names alongside low-priced or free downloads was highly damaging to the luxury watchmaker’s property interests and demeaned the exclusivity of its brands.
Samsung was held accountable because it maintained control over the app review process and actively marketed its smartwatches using appealing display faces. The technology giant defended its actions by stating it removed the software immediately upon being notified of the issue and argued that Swatch’s claims were exaggerated.
In a statement following the decision, Samsung expressed that it is carefully reviewing the judgement and considering all potential countermeasures, including an appeal.
Meanwhile, Swatch criticised the tech company for attempting to downplay the scale of the infringement. Related legal proceedings initiated by Swatch in the United States have remained paused pending the outcome of the English litigation.
Legal experts note that the decision could carry broad implications for major tech companies and platform operators, highlighting their potential liability for copyrighted and trademarked content hosted within their application ecosystems.
The post Samsung ordered to pay $11.6 million in landmark trademark clash with Swatch appeared first on ShinyShiny.
Tell Me That's Not A Spinal Cord Made Of Icing Flowers
Aug. 27th, 2026 01:00 pmcakewrecks_feedIt's time again to plumb the depths of that most bizarre and inexplicable place:
The mind... OF A CAKE DECORATOR.
Buckle up, it's going to be a wrecky ride.
I can't decide if these are supposed to be teeth, eyeballs, or mini-marshmallows:
...but whatever they are, they are definitely bleeding out.
So...
Happy BiRtHDAY!
When you need to put on just enough fondant to call it a "fondant cake":
Not since the great Target Cookie Mountain of last June has something made me squint at my monitor this hard:
It looks like layers of canned whipped cream between sugar wafers? With Stay Puft knows what in the middle?
Allllllrighty then.
I left the label showing for all of you rushing out the door to go buy one. TRAITORS. Enjoy your soggy sugar wafers.
Look, there's no denying this next cake is lovely. The piping is exquisite, the writing is legible, and the pink fuzzy balls have never looked pinker or fuzzier:
But... why? WHYYYYYY
"OK, so we need it to look like a spinal cord, set inside stretched open skin, only make it with flowers."
"PERFECT."
[alien screeching and popping noises, followed by a loud hissing roar]
"PERFECT."
And finally, I probably shouldn't include this next one, because something about it screams "homemade" to me:
It could be the ripped-off doll's head. Or the store-bought candles. Or the actual screaming.
Anyway, if I ever make it to 113 or 114, please don't serve this.
I'll take the pink fuzzy balls instead.
Thanks to Jodee R., Joe V., Lisa W., Ann R., Rebekah R., Grace G., Kait C., & Missy D. for getting a head in the wreckage game.
Meta pays $16.7bn to settle social media case, Fitbit founders announce new wearable
Aug. 26th, 2026 03:31 pmshinyshiny_feed
Social media giant Meta has reached a settlement with US states and territories to resolve a court case related to child safety on Facebook and Instagram. The tech company will pay a maximum of $16.68bn (£12.26bn), according to court documents. The settlement requires Meta introduce certain rules for teenage users, including daily limits and night-time blocks. Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. It was alleged the company had violated numerous federal and state privacy laws for children. The states suing Meta claimed it used its platforms “to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” and ignored the damage they did to the “mental and physical wellbeing of America’s youth”. BBC
Computer glitches have led to a soaring number of car breakdowns, new figures show. The AA said the number of breakdowns attributed to faulty electronics inside cars, known as body control modules (BCMs), had doubled in six years to become one of the top five causes of call-outs. More than 36,000 breakdowns involving the components, which control increasingly advanced car computer systems, were reported last year. BCMs act as the central hub of modern vehicles, controlling electric signals going to mirrors, lights and door locks. Telegraph
Sony has announced the newest addition to its budget line of smartphones – enter the Sony Xperia 10 VIII. It offers a handful of upgrades over its predecessor, the Xperia 10 VII, and follows on from the Award-winning Xperia 10 VI. The new model boasts a claimed peak brightness that is double that of the previous smartphone to deliver “improved visibility even outdoors”, although Sony has not disclosed the exact figures. The Japanese brand also claims that the stereo speaker system (made up of the earpiece and a bottom-firing speaker) features “revised tuning”, which will supposedly deliver “improved volume and sound quality”. WhatHiFi
Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman have launched a new wearable, but this time, it’s not focused on counting steps. The duo has launched a device called Luffu Link, a screenless health and safety band designed to help families keep track of their loved ones. It’s the first hardware product from Luffu, a company that Park and Friedman launched earlier this year. Luffu Link is now available to preorder for $249.99 and is expected to retail for $299.99 when it ships in the US in early 2027. Android Authority
UK government is proposing major legislative changes to block companies from buying products from high-risk suppliers, after revelations that an Iran-linked cyberattack forced a small energy facility offline for four days in July. Under amendments introduced to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, ministers could soon demand that businesses in critical sectors – including energy, healthcare, and telecommunications – implement phased removals of specific vendors or face bans on acquiring technology from them. Tech Digest
Apple on Tuesday heralded the imminent refresh of its headless Mac kit with new versions of the Mac Studio and the Mac mini that you can pre-order now for shipping on September 22, 2026. The diminutive desktops promise a high level of local AI performance with memory prices to match. “[T]he new Mac Studio is our most powerful Mac ever,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s chief hardware officer, in a statement. The Register
The internet has settled on a grim nickname for what has become, in essence, my favourite pair of walking headphones: “pervert glasses”. That’s awkward, because headphones really are what my Ray-Ban Metas mostly are to me. Most of the time, I use them as open-ear headphones while walking around town or through the woods near my home. I average around 20,000 steps a day, and I can still hear cars, cyclists, and other people around me. They sound much better than the bone-conduction headphones I’ve tried, too. Occasionally, I’ll listen to an audiobook or YouTube video instead, and they help me stay more in the moment when playing with my son, or going on hikes. Stuff.tv
The post Meta pays $16.7bn to settle social media case, Fitbit founders announce new wearable appeared first on ShinyShiny.
Hunker Down, and WRITE IT OUT
Aug. 26th, 2026 01:00 pmcakewrecks_feedSometimes I feel like a cake archeologist, minions. I inspect the clues, sift through the remains, and try to figure out what happened in the past.
For example....
Something terrible has happened here.
Some events are pretty straightforward:
The old "ran out of icing" story.
There's also the classic "Too lazy to change the icing tip after piping the border":
Or its variation, "Too lazy to change the icing tip after piping the roses":
Here we see evidence of significant toothpick scraping, often indicative of the "I'm Not Even Supposed To Be Here" dynasty of the Mid-Graduation era:
Ahhh. Magnificent.
You know that thing in restaurants where everyone is singing Happy Birthday to some stranger three tables over, and you all just mumble your way through the name part?
This is that, in cake form:
Sadly some mysteries will never be solved. Instead we'll be left to forever wonder... the 5th what?
I think I've cracked the code on this next one, though. Here's a recreation of the ACTUAL EVENTS, as played by hired actors in my head:
"What do you mean, 'last minute?' Of course we custom-ordered your cake, Miranda! Weeks ago! This was totally planned!"
While we'll never know for sure what happened to wrecks of the past, one thing is certain: the longer you look at this one, the funnier it gets:
Seriously.
I'm crying.
(I wonder who did the bigger spit-take: me or the baker.)
Thanks to Tex, Betsy P., Diamond, Philip L., Allison P., M.R., Lauren P., Miranda, & Kelsie L. for digging these up.
*****
P.S. It's never too early to start decorating for spooky season, and these stick-on bats were my biggest hit last year:
3D Halloween Bats, Exterior Grade, 60 pc set
They're made of sturdy plastic, come in 4 different sizes, and have adhesive pads to easily stick them up anywhere in or outside your home. (I put a whole belfry of them on our front door.) (I don't know if "belfry" is right, but I'm going with it. :D) Even better, the whole 60 piece set is only $10 Prime!
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Five Things Magda Said
Aug. 26th, 2026 12:55 pmotw_news_feedEvery month or so the OTW will be doing a Q&A with one of its volunteers about their experiences in the organization. The posts express each volunteer’s personal views and do not necessarily reflect the views of the OTW or constitute OTW policy. Today’s post is with Magda (she/her), who volunteers as a TikTok Moderator.
How does what you do as a volunteer fit into what the OTW does?
I think Communications in general does an amazing job of making the OTW a bit more accessible to the average user – we get so many people commenting on our videos who are surprised that “oh, this is the official OTW TikTok!” Archive of Our Own (AO3) and other OTW projects have obviously gotten so much more popular in the last couple years, and a lot of people are interacting without even knowing there is an organisation fully staffed with dedicated volunteers making all of this happen behind the scenes. And I think it’s important for all of these new people in fandom to know what the OTW does and stands for, if only to realise that what they’re joining is a community, not a content machine.
However small their contribution, every single OTW volunteer is making this great work happen, and as a Communications volunteer, I’m super happy and proud to be able to spread the word. I think TikTok is a particularly interesting social media platform for the OTW to be on, since an average post will reach way more new viewers than followers – which obviously comes with its own challenges, but is really great for spreading the word and reaching wider audiences!
What is a typical week like for you as a volunteer?
For me personally, it’s finding fleeting moments across the week to log on and beta scripts, sign off on videos, approve any comments, etc. This is usually five minutes I have while waiting for the train or for the water to boil for my coffee. It greatly depends on my schedule and state of mind how many of these moments I find in any given week, but I try to do as much as I can. And then on the weekend, I’ll have a longer work session where I sit down to complete the bigger tasks like writing scripts and editing videos.
What made you decide to volunteer?
I’ve been an AO3 user for a looooong time, but I wasn’t super aware of all the work that goes on behind the scenes until last year. I was doing a project on fanbinding during my MA in journalism, and I got in touch with the OTW for comment on the legality of the whole thing. I got a lovely – and speedy! – response from Legal as well as the opportunity to interview Rebecca Tushnet. The thing about being a student journalist and trying to get people to agree to an interview is… not many people do. Everyone is extremely busy, I get it, but sometimes it can be discouraging. I loved my experience with the OTW, and I’ve always been a nerd when it comes to fan culture, so I made it a point from then on to make every single project about fandom in one way or another. My lecturers loved it (heavy sarcasm, although I think they learned to appreciate my passion after a while…). I’m going to use this as an opportunity to shout out Transformative Works and Cultures (TWC) as well – an amazing resource for anyone doing any kind of research into fannish things.
Anyway, by the time recruitment opened for social media mod roles at the OTW, it felt like a natural progression for me, so applying wasn’t even a question.
What has been your biggest challenge doing work for the OTW?
This is probably a boring and predictable answer, but juggling everything – a full time job, personal projects, and keeping up with not only my tasks as an OTW volunteer but also trying to keep up with everything else that’s going on within the organisation. It is genuinely wild (and amazing) how much work goes on within the OTW.
What fannish things do you like to do?
I started writing fanfiction over a decade ago – before I even learned English, I would write cringy Violetta fanfic in Polish and post it on a personal fansite. I wrote fanfic quite regularly right up until I started university. These days, I don’t get to do it as much – I only write when something genuinely moves me to a point where I just can’t stop myself from writing something (like Project Hail Mary most recently – it won’t leave me alone, someone help).
These days, my main fannish creative outlet is FANMADE – an indie magazine about fan culture, which I run alongside some amazing writers and artists. I dreamed up FANMADE as my final uni project over a year ago, and I just couldn’t let it go after graduation. We’re still here a year later, the team has grown significantly, and it’s so much work, but it’s also so much fun. Shameless plug incoming (but I was told it was okay, haha) – I encourage anyone who is slightly unhinged about fan culture to check it out. It’s very much a work in progress, but we are getting better with each issue – and above all, it’s a labour of love, as most things in fandom are.
Now that our volunteer’s said five things about what they do, it’s your turn to ask one more thing! Feel free to ask about their work in the comments. Or if you’d like, you can check out previous Five Things posts.
FOR A MAN
Aug. 25th, 2026 01:00 pmcakewrecks_feedLET'S
GET DOWN
TO BUSINESS
To decorate...
...the buns.
::chorus::
♫ FOR A MAN!♩
We must be literal-minded bakers!
♫ YES WE CAN ♩
With all the wit of a drunk baboon!
♫ WHO IS NAN♩
I'm pretty sure one of these is right!
Sorry for this
...but we're all on break
♫ 'Til noooooon!
Thanks to Nicole, Junior C., Suresh D., Kathy A., & Scott W. for the dishonor on our cakes... and the ear worm.
Flagging Indicator
Aug. 25th, 2026 11:00 amsavagelove_feedBi female here. I’ve been seeing an ENM M/F couple for almost four months. The F was an acquaintance of mine for about two years. We are all close in age (late thirties, early forties). This is my first ethically non-monogamous relationship. Here are the pros: they are charming and attractive; the sex is great; … Read More »
The post Flagging Indicator appeared first on Dan Savage.
Our Bodies, Our Feet
Aug. 25th, 2026 11:00 amsavagelove_feedA gay, married couple journeyed to Montreal to enjoy the services of a tantric masseur. And they REALLY enjoyed him. But did this open Pandora’s box? How can they continue to have earth-shattering, mind-blowing sex when it’s back to the hum-drum two of them? A caller wonders if folks who enjoy adult baby play actually… … Read More »
The post Our Bodies, Our Feet appeared first on Dan Savage.
Updates to “No Fandom” Additional Tags, August 2026
Aug. 24th, 2026 10:25 pmotw_news_feedAO3 Tag Wranglers continue to test processes for wrangling canonical additional tags (tags that appear in the auto-complete) which don’t belong to any particular fandom (also known as “No Fandom” tags). This post overviews some of these upcoming changes.
In this round of updates, we continued to adjust existing canonical “No Fandom” tags to add or remove new subtag and metatag relationships. We also continued to streamline creating new canonical tags, prioritizing more straightforward updates which would have less discussion compared to renaming current canonical tags or creating new canonical tags which touch on more complex topics. This method also reviews new tags on a regular basis, so check back on AO3 News for periodic “No Fandom” tag announcements.
None of these updates change the tags users have added to works. If a user-created tag is considered to have the same meaning as a new canonical, it will be made a synonym of one of these newly created canonical tags, and works with that user-created tag will appear when the canonical tag is selected.
In short, these changes only affect which tags appear in AO3’s auto-complete and filters. You can and should continue to tag your works however you prefer.
New Canonicals
The following concepts have been made new canonical tags:
- Coronation Ceremonies
- Low Fantasy
- Menstrual Pain | Period Cramps
- PMS | Premenstrual Syndrome
- Menopause
- One-Sided Pining
- One Falls in Love First but the Other Falls in Love Harder
- Royal Weddings
Subtag/Metatag Revisions
Additionally, we continued to adjust existing canonical tags to add or remove new subtag and metatag relationships, which help users find related content and filter in/out content as they browse works on AO3.
- Female Anti-Hero is now a subtag of Anti-Hero
- Sloppy Makeouts is now a subtag of Making Out
- Manipulative Relationship is now a subtag of Manipulation
- Character Turned Into a Ghost is now a subtag of Ghosts
In Other Wrangling News
We recently held guideline discussions about how to handle the canonization of relationship tags associated with Original Nonbinary Character(s). You can view the changes made to wrangling guidelines in the section on Original Characters. As a result of this update, we have canonized and/or updated the following tags:
- Canon Nonbinary Character
- Original Nonbinary Character(s)
- Original Female Character(s)/Original Nonbinary Character(s)
- Original Male Character(s)/Original Nonbinary Character(s)
- Original Male Character(s) & Original Nonbinary Character(s)
- Original Female Character(s) & Original Nonbinary Character(s)
- Original Character(s)/Original Nonbinary Character(s)
- Original Nonbinary Character(s) & Original Nonbinary Character(s)
- Original Nonbinary Character(s)/Original Nonbinary Character(s)
In Conclusion
While some of these tags may be tags and concepts you’re intimately familiar with, others may be concepts you’ve never heard of before. Fortunately, our fellow OTW volunteers at Fanlore may be able to help! As you may have seen in the comments sections of previous posts, Fanlore is a fantastic resource for learning more about these common fandom concepts, and about the history and lore of fandom in general. For the curious, here’s a quick look at a few articles about concepts related to this month’s new canonical tags:
While we won’t be announcing every change we make to No Fandom canonical tags, you can expect similar updates in the future about tags we believe will most affect users. If you’re interested in the changes we’ll be making, you can continue to check AO3 News or follow us on Bluesky @wranglers.archiveofourown.org or Tumblr @ao3org for future announcements.
You can also read previous updates on “No Fandom” tags as well as other wrangling updates, linked below:
- Past “No Fandom” Additional Tags Updates and 5 Things Said by Wrangling Volunteers
- Past Fandom-Specific and “No Fandom” Tag Wrangling Change Posts
For more information about AO3’s tag system, check out our Tags FAQ.
In addition to providing technical help, AO3 Support also handles requests related to how tags are sorted and connected. If you have questions about specific tags, which were first used over a month ago and are unrelated to any of the new canonical tags listed above, please contact Support instead of leaving a comment on this post.
Please keep in mind that discussions about what tags to canonize and what format they should take are ongoing. As a result, not all related concepts will be canonized at the same time. This does not mean that related or similar concepts will not be canonized in the future or that we have chosen to canonize one specific concept in lieu of another, simply that we likely either haven’t gotten to that related concept yet or that it needs further discussion and will take a bit longer for us to canonize it as a result. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Lastly, we’re still working on implementing changes and connecting relevant user-created tags to these new canonicals, so it’ll be some time before these updates are complete. If you have questions about specific tags which should be connected to these new canonicals, please refrain from contacting Support about them until at least three months from now to give us adequate time to do so.
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Aug. 24th, 2026 01:00 pmcakewrecks_feedPICTURE THIS:
Or ...don't.
('Course, given the alternative, you're WAY better off with this, moms-to-be. Trust me.)
...And that's how "Big 2" got his name, kids!
Aw, that crazy No Name always was the office favorite.
(And have you met her cousins What'ser and Whats'is? Those two are just unforgettable.)
In this case, I'd say "All Caps" finished a bit lower than expected.
Balls.
Come to laugh at the misunderstanding. Stay to laugh at the ridiculous spacing.
Thanks to Anne B., Emily B., Wendy M., Holly H., Ed & Delena, and Mary P. for always understanding.
*****
P.S. It's never too early to start decorating for spooky season, and these stick-on bats were my biggest hit last year:
3D Halloween Bats, Exterior Grade, 60 pc set
They're made of sturdy plastic, come in 4 different sizes, and have adhesive pads to easily stick them up anywhere in or outside your home. (I put a whole belfry of them on our front door.) (I don't know if "belfry" is right, but I'm going with it. :D) Even better, the whole 60 piece set is only $10 Prime!
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Sunday Sweets: Cute Baby Cakes
Aug. 23rd, 2026 01:00 pmcakewrecks_feedYou know what's even cuter than animal and character cakes? Baby animal and character cakes.
(By Dolci Arte in St. Petersburg)
Like little Tinkerbell!
So cute, you could just eat her up, am I right?
(You know, even when talking about a cake, that still sounds creepy. LESSON LEARNED.)
Look at this shaggy lil' koala:
(By Shierlly Bei in Jakarta, Indonesia)
Who else wants to pet a cake right now?
Frog with a balloon, you guys. FROG... WITH A BALLOON:
(By Moli Cakes in Slovakia)
D'awwwwwww.
I love the colors on this one:
(By Erin Salerno in Wisconsin)
Plus baby tigers are always a win.
Years ago I fell in love with this painting of baby Chewbacca by ReevolveR:
I mean. C'mon.
But then someone made a cake version!
(By Cake Central user MrsBriggs06)
I'm really hoping those are marshmallows in his bandolier.
Or how about a 'dorable dinosaur?
(By Moli Cakes in Slovakia)
I can't decide which is more impressive: the sculpted baby or the handpainted mama on the bottom!
This one goes out to everyone feeling a little bit... prickly:
(By Leslie Vigil in California)
Baby hedgehog cake! Love love love.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better than a fluffy llama, you find one in a poofy pompom harness:
(By Karen Paddila Cakes in San Juan)
It's just so happy.
And finally, amping up the cute meter ever further, we have this cuddle of teddy bears:
(Baker unknown, anyone recognize it?)
The light-up ball on top makes it so magical!
Hope you guys enjoyed! Happy Sunday!
*****
P.S. I thought you might like this rainbow wreath I made for John's room:
I used this 84-pc butterfly set, which I know you crafters are gonna love:
(3D Butterfly Wall Magnet Set)
They're double-sided and come with both magnets and stickers. Definitely browse the projects in the reviews, there are so many cool ideas - and the set is on sale right now for $9.99!
multifandom icons.
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